School Board Reviews Chicken Pox, Math Curriculum and Budget in Regular Meeting

— by Leif, Orcas Issues reporter–

In the first of four reports to the Orcas Island Public School Board on Thursday, July 26th, San Juan County Health & Community Services Director Mark Tompkins and Community Health Manager Ellen Wilcox addressed the assembly. They updated the status of the Varicella, Chicken Pox outbreak and detailed the ongoing public health immunization strategy.

The more general picture according to Tompkins, is that Washington State has one of the worst immunization records in the nation, and that the County of San Juan is near the bottom of the list. Ms Wilcox MSW MPH is heading up the local health department’s program to improve community immunity, the key to protecting vulnerable individuals which includes the oldest, the youngest, the pregnant, and the chronically ill.

As of November 1, 2017, the Orcas school body was technically out of compliance with immunization standards by 83% according to Ms Wilcox. To clarify, this is the lack of documentation of immunity or exclusion, includes non-county residents in the OASIS program, and excludes the many who have been recently vaccinated or verified. By comparison, Lopez schools are 100% in compliance and San Juan Island after more than a year on the new program is at about 50%.

The wake up call has been the ongoing Varicella outbreak, still with a current 17 cases, down from a maximum number of 100 cases in the schools, 30 in preschool, and impacts on infant care at Kaleidoscope. 60-70 children were vaccinated during the first days by the County Health Department greatly improving the outlook. There are at present no Orcas clinics able to provide pediatric inoculation: the Orcas Family Health Clinic lacking a qualified provider, the UW Medicine clinic lacking clinical refrigeration at this time.

As a final note, text of the existing state legal code was made available. RCW 28A.210.120 provides for exclusion of students without documented immunity or exemption from school attendance. The board and administration have the latitude to act prudently with this new long term program, finding out the actual numbers of students affected and prioritizing higher exposure risks. Wilcox states that there have been recent regional outbreaks of measles and mumps, the real risk of encephalitis and more serious exposure due to local and international travel. Tompkins emphasises that San Juan County is susceptible in all categories but that the small population sizes allows rapid response.

In follow up, Jen Taylor the UW Medicine Orcas clinic manager stated that a new refrigerator is on the way and may take a couple of weeks to come on line. She is coordinating with Ellen Wilcox who states in a phone interview that vaccinations are available now in the Health and Community Services clinic housed in the Orcas Senior Center. 360-378-4474 is the number to make an appointment, and vaccine is free.

Ms Wilcox also stated that in coordination with Cathy Ferran in the school superintendent’s office, they will have a September 4th back-to-school clinic at the school. Superintendent Webb said that school nurse  Cindy Sapp will have her hours doubled this year to effect the new initiatives.

The second report to the school board by Marny Gaylord and Diane Boerstler presented the Elementary Math Curriculum Pilot. This program will pilot Bridges Math for K-2 and My Math for grades 3-5. ALEKS and Redbird Math online software will also be piloted for their advanced capabilities to individualize learning and testing and for links to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines.

Ms Boerstler emphasized the aims of this pilot as making math fun, going beyond memorization to life integration to make math thinkers with game based active learning, frequent testing and a well structured curriculum that is supported by educators locally and regionally. It was praised as a universal language accessible to ELL, English Language Learners.

Superintendent Eric Webb again stressed personnel as the main concern. The school district is hiring many new teachers, and still looks for a new substitute teacher and recently must start looking for new maintenance staff. New employee orientations are a focus.

New playground equipment is on its way and will be installed closer to the building and the old equipment will be repaired. HVAC repairs are well under way and mechanical startup is scheduled for the end of August.

Administrators participated in a training for new emergency preparedness including “active shooter” scenarios. Teachers will receive Safe Schools training at the start of the school year.

Keith Whitaker updated the Business Report earlier in the session: the buses are on their way and have made it to Mount Vernon and will be delivered soon. There is a “fatal condition” with bus 5 which requires $6-8k in repairs and so will be replaced at auction in Issaquah shortly, giving a serviceable fleet for next school year.

Whitaker reviewed the five funds: Vehicle, Associated Student Body, Debt Service, Capital Projects, and the General Fund. The F-195 F document or Four-year Budget Plan Summary filed with the OSPI, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, was reviewed specifically with reference to long term solvency. With state budgetary concerns this is constantly under review.

Public comment was taken. The primary concern expressed by four individuals remains the procedure for admission to the changing OISD Montessori program. Superintendent Webb met with groups of parents this last month to address related matters and how these might be addressed by the new steering committee. Board chair Brownell and Superintendent Webb expressed empathy with the stresses and uncertainty of this transition and faith in the steering committee in finding a resolution after many years of changing administrative oversight.

Final resolutions to adopt fiscal 2018-19 budget and curriculum were adopted and the meeting adjourned by board president Brownell.