School Enrollment = State Funds — Looking Good

School Board Hears Feedback on Change to Athletic Policy

By Margie Doyle

At the August 20 Orcas Island School District (OISD) Board of Directors meeting, the full board (with Vice Chair Chris Sutton videoconferencing from Washington DC) heard some positive news.

First the school enrollment is looking strong, with 20 more “heads counted” in the elementary school  than estimated in the conservative projection last spring. Also, Bruce Orchid, OASIS teacher, said that the Alternative Learning OASIS program, has an additional enrollment of 170 students.

Elementary/Middle School Principal Kyle Freeman, said that enrollment numbers have gone up since his last report a week earlier. “We’re looking at real numbers; we have a robustly full school. It’s a good problem to have.”

Second, the fund balance appears to be healthy, if not optimal, with Business Manager Keith Whitaker saying it should come in at $130,000 after receipts already deposited in the bank are accounted for. OISD Board Chair Tony Ghazel complimented the Business Office for their timely and thorough work.

Third, the board approved full restoration of 5 full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching staff. Board Member Janet Brownell voiced her support for a  second kindergarten teacher on several occasions, and the board amended its original motion to allow for consideration of unspecified additional teaching staff (rather than dedicating the additional time to any OISD school or program).

Fourth, it was announced that Orcas Island Education Foundation (OIEF) has added a donation link to its website for contributions to keep the school library open. (See  www.oief.org) In the current year’s budget, it is only open to teachers.

Fifth, work on high school siding is coming along in a timely manner, as reported by project manager Drew Reed, who said that  the contractor, Artus  will install new energy-efficient windows at no added cost.

Sixth, plans for the entire elementary school to take swimming lessons the second week of school at YMCA Camp Orkila were announced by Principal Freeman.

Seventh, OISD Superintendent/High School Principal Barbara Kline reported the district was awarded a Safety Net grant for Special Education of $50,000, “thanks to Kari Schuh and the teachers for getting the information [in the grant application]. It’s much worse than taxes,” Kline added. She reported that high school enrollment looks to be about 160 students, and that the OASIS programs are up about 400 students in grades K-12.

And then there was the matter of why Chris Sutton was in Washington DC: he and his wife Kate Long were accompanying their nine-year-old daughter Arla , the Washington state representative at the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge “State Dinner” hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama on Monday, August 20.

Arla’s entry in the national competition, “Salad Noodle Wraps,” was a prize winner in the Student Chef contest, sponsored by the Farm to Cafeteria committee, when she teamed with her classmate Millie Kau. The national contest rules only allowed for one winner from each state.

There was thoughtful and sharp discussion of the change to the OISD Athletic Policy Handbook that was inserted after several meetings of concerned parents and school administration and approved by the OISD board at its July meeting. The change allows students who are “in the presence of” alcohol or banned substances” a first-time suspension from a team sport.

Parents and teachers Kari Schuh and Lori Oakes registered their disappointment with the change in policy. Oakes said, “The policy does not encourage kids to use drugs and alcohol, but says it’s okay to stay at a party where there’s illegal drinking or drug use. We’re setting our kids up to fail.

“It is not our kids’ job to take care of other kids who are making bad choices. We are putting this responsibility on our children, On this island the adults can’t stop other adults from drinking and driving, and we want to put this responsibility on our children.

“Not all kids can say, ‘My parents will kill me,’ but even the kids whose parents don’t care could say, ‘C’mon guys we’re all on the same team, let’s get out of here.’”

Teacher Pam Jenkins said she was also disappointed with the change, saying, “We’re working to discourage the use of drugs and alcohol in kids; this is a place where we can hold the line on that and say there are certain standards.”

Parent Amber Paulsen said, “In no way does [the change in policy] condone underage drinking or drug use, but it prepares kids for the tough choices that you must make yourself and allows the family to promote its own policies.

Parent Bob Phalan said, “I want to thank the board for the changes to athletic policy; they have brought at-risk kids into the fold to make better choices.”  Phalan and others pointed out that the 7-day suspension should specify that participation in one game will be denied and that the player will be allowed at team practices.