School Board Upbeat about the Year Ahead

 — by Ed Sutton —

On Sept. 24, the Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board convened its first regular meeting since the dedication of the newly renovated campus on Aug. 29. The mood at the monthly board meeting was upbeat and enthusiastic about the new school year. The building project was completed on time and a final accounting of the total cost is expected to be within budget. The renovation project, which began in June, 2014, was funded by the community with an $11.9 million bond levy.

Enrollment for the 2015-16 school year totals 405 students in the K-12 programs, with an additional 443 students enrolled in the OASIS Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) program, including grades K-12. Superintendent Eric Webb is beginning his second year as the top educator and is joined by the new K-6 Principal Teresa Mayr, and “oldtimer” Kyle Freeman, the grades 7-12 Principal who has been an administrator at the OISD since 2009.

As reported by Superintendent Eric Webb in a recent letter to parents, “US News and World Report, Newsweek, and the State Office of Public Instruction have all recognized the District … as a top school in the State and Nation.” In remarks following the board meeting, Supt. Webb outlined three issues of importance:

• First, consideration of a running track facility that would be partially funded by a $1 million anonymous donation;
• Second, a review of the Special Education Program is needed;
• Third,  a realignment of the educational program to meet the Washington State standards is both timely and necessary.

Questions of the Superintendent about the total capital costs of a conversion of the athletic fields to include a running track caused him to guesstimate that an amount in the range of $1-1.5 million [in addition to the already donated $1M] would be reasonable. He said, “That figure might also include some needed renovation to the ‘old gym,’ particularly in the locker rooms.”

The Board and Administrators will hold their annual retreat in October, during which discussions will center on the needs and challenges facing the District in the near and mid-term future, according to Supt. Webb.