School Board Recognized, Programs Expand, Projects Begin

— by Kimberley Kimple, Orcas Issues reporter —

The Orcas Island School District Board January meeting opened with students, teachers and the Music Advocacy Group honoring the board with handmade gifts, chocolates, and words of kindness in recognition of School Board Appreciation Month.

With preconstruction meetings out of the way, work has begun on Capital Projects at the Orcas Island School District campus. Trenching is completed at the new multi-purpose music room site with underground electrical work to begin in February.

Preparation for the track and field will include relocation of the Eastsound Water User Association water main, which is slated for completion in March. The Board approved track surfacing, including an in-situ base in lieu of asphalt, with a synthetic polyurethane track surface – an upgrade from the previous plans for a gravel surface. Coming in at $399,889.00, the cost for the surfacing will be covered by the $1 million donation to the district for the project, bringing the new total for OISD projects to $8,557,318.00.

Orcas High School Principal Kyle Freeman and teacher Ryan Kennedy reported progress on the Career and Technical Education Program, which provides students with skills in applied, hands-on settings in thirteen different courses within Culinary Arts, Business and Math, Construction, Computers and Technology, and Work-based Community Internships. With 95 students currently enrolled in the program, Freeman and Kennedy continue to work toward expand offerings in coming years.

“These programs inspire new passions that students never knew they had,” shared Kennedy, “From an incredible culinary arts room to the woodshop, we really see great things.”

By increasing course options to reach more students, the program has an opportunity for further funding through the state, which will help provide students with more tools and resources. Additional partial funding acquired by the Perkins Grant has helped to cover costs for increased professional development within the program, bringing all OISD Career and Technical Education teachers to Resident-CTE certification standards.

Amidst some changes in OISD Policies this month, the Board adopted a new Montessori Policy, which states the district be fiscally responsible in supporting the Montessori Classroom, maximizing public, private, and philanthropic resources. The district will continue to recognize the Montessori Classroom as a separate school within the district, while it continues to implement best practices and demonstrate student success reflecting district outcomes. The Montessori Classroom will be expected to observe and abide by guidelines developed by the district, which will continue assessment, data collection and review as a means to determine effective implementation.

With generosity on behalf of community members and local non-profit organizations, community philanthropy continues to support OISD students. Donations accepted this month included a full set of new boys and girls basketball uniforms; $1,690 from the Orcas Island Community Foundations Holiday Catalogue for the purchase of Elementary School Library books; and $7,690 from the Orcas Island Education Foundation and Art for Orcas Kids to support art instruction.

Orcas Island School District Board meetings are open to the public and take place on the fourth Thursday of each month in the school Library.