Letter to Editor | Thank you, Orcas Island

||| FROM ERIC WEBB for ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT |||

Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Community, 

I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the voters of Orcas Island for your support of our school levy. The preliminary results indicate that our levy is currently passing at 75.57%. The renewal of the Educational Program and Operations Levy will ensure this essential funding source for another four years. 

This levy makes up nearly 17% of the district’s budget and helps pay for the following items:

• Essential staff such as classroom teachers, nurses, counselors, social workers, and administrators (these positions are not fully funded by the State)
• Educational programs like athletics, music, art, farm to classroom, and district garden
• Educational support for students with special needs
• Career-readiness programs including opportunities for exploration, acceleration, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM)
• Professional development for teachers, para educators, principals, and educational support staff
• Social emotional learning programs
• Daily operations to support safe, clean, healthy, and well-maintained school facilities and classrooms

Your levy dollars will be used thoughtfully and deliberately with our students’ best interest at heart to maintain the level of education and opportunities that you have come to expect at Orcas Island School District. 

We recognize that our local community supports students not only with the passage of this levy but also with parental involvement, volunteerism, and community attendance at sporting events, concerts, and other student activities.  We are humbled by the support we receive from you year after year!

I am honored to serve as your Superintendent,