Construction and upgrades are in progress at 28 district schools.  Here’s a rundown of the projects.

Remodel and expansion projects

• Columbia River High School: Final design phase of remodel and expansion; construction scheduled to begin winter 2020
• Early Childhood Special Education assessment center: Will move to remodeled McLoughlin classroom pod; remodel scheduled to begin spring 2020
• Eisenhower Elementary School: Construction of two new K-3 classroom additions underway
• Felida Elementary School: Construction of five new K-3 classroom additions and remodeled restrooms underway
• Franklin Elementary School: Going to bid for expansion of parking lot, classroom additions and elimination of portables; construction to begin November 2019
• Fruit Valley Community Learning Center: Construction currently underway of four K-3 classroom additions
• Harney Elementary School: Four new K-3 classroom additions completed; secure entry and Family-Community Resource Center renovation underway
• Lieser School: Programs will move to remodeled Marshall building; remodel scheduled to begin spring 2020
• Sacajawea Elementary School: Final design phase of remodel and expansion; project out to bid
• Salmon Creek Elementary School: Two new K-3 classroom additions completed August 2019
• Vancouver School of Arts and Academics: Final design phase of remodel and expansion; construction to begin spring 2020

New and replacement schools

• Fir Grove: In final design phase of new replacement school; construction to begin January 2020
• Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School: New replacement school under construction; scheduled to open fall 2020
• Marshall Elementary School: Construction underway; scheduled to open spring 2020
• McLoughlin Middle School: Construction underway; scheduled to open spring 2020
• Ogden Elementary School: New replacement school opened Aug. 27, 2019
• Truman Elementary School: Under construction; scheduled to open fall 2020
• Vancouver Innovation, Technology and Arts Elementary School: Final design phase of new school; construction to begin January 2020
• Vancouver iTech Preparatory: New school under construction; scheduled to open January 2020
• Walnut Grove Elementary School: Design phase of new replacement school is complete; construction to begin November 2019

Upgrades and improvements

• Hazel Dell Elementary School: In design phase of Family-Community Resource Center renovation, roof replacement and HVAC upgrades
• Hough Elementary School: Addition of HVAC/air conditioning and replacement of windows to begin spring 2020; currently in design phase of Family-Community Resource Center renovation and secure entry
• Jason Lee Middle School: In final design phase of classroom and Family-Community Resource Center improvements and secure entry
• Jefferson Middle School: Safety improvements in parking lot
• Kiggins Bowl Stadium: In design phase for upgrades to stadium, concessions, restrooms and new turf currently; track feasibility study in progress
• Lincoln Elementary School: Renovation of Family-Community Resource Center; secure entry, HVAC and exterior lighting improvements; scheduled for summer 2020
• Minnehaha Elementary School: Addition of secure entry scheduled spring/summer 2020
• Roosevelt Elementary School: Renovation of Family-Community Resource Center, secure entry; scheduled spring/summer 2020

All school construction and upgrade projects are paid for with funding from the bond measure passed by voters in February 2017.

View the full scope of bond construction and upgrade projects.

Positions originally identified as possible budget cuts preserved; associate principal moves

Thanks to the availability of $6.5 million in one-time state levy equalization assistance and the use of $3.81 million in one-time money from district reserves, Vancouver Public Schools will preserve many of the positions originally identified as possible cuts in the 2019-20 school year.

Among the positions restored are:

• 21 teachers
• 11.8 FTE counselors
• 19 media clerks
• 7 counseling clerks
• 4 wing clerks at Skyview High School
• 2 deans of students
• 4 teachers on special assignment (instructional technology facilitators)
• 1 teacher on special assignment (curriculum and instruction)
• 3 maintenance grounds crew
• 15 custodial positions

District personnel are working with union association leaders to notify recalled staff according to contract language.

Additional administrative changes announced

Several associate principal moves will take place for the 2019-20 school year. All personnel changes are subject to approval by the school board.

Tony Liberatore, associate principal at Columbia River High School, will move to Fort Vancouver High School. Liberatore is replacing John Schultz who is leaving the district.

Nick Davies, a teacher at Jesuit High School in Portland, will fill the associate position at Columbia River.

Luis Castro, currently associate principal at Gaiser Middle School, will move to Fort Vancouver High School as associate principal.

Allison Watson, associate principal at Fort Vancouver High School, will fill an associate principal role at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Watson is replacing Andrea Sperry who is leaving the district.

Mandie Arai-Green, currently a teacher and administrative intern at Ogden Elementary School, will become associate principal at Gaiser.

Scott Sartorius, current associate at Discovery Middle School, will be associate principal at Eisenhower and Lincoln elementary schools.

Katie Ronning, current associate principal at Felida Elementary School, will be associate principal at Discovery Middle School.

Mike Meskel, associate principal at Hudson’s Bay High School, will fill the associate position at Felida Elementary School.

Greg Roberts, currently associate principal at Eisenhower and Lincoln elementary schools, will be associate principal at Hudson’s Bay High School. Roberts is replacing Patrice Woods who is leaving the district.

Amber Beardmore, a teacher and administrative intern in the Camas School District, will be associate principal at Hudson’s Bay High School.

Vancouver Public Schools received a clean audit report for the 13th consecutive year. The official audit released by the Washington State Auditor’s Office evaluates the integrity of district financial statements, internal controls and compliance with state and federal laws and grant funding requirements. There were no findings of deficiencies or management letters calling for significant improvement in any area.

“This report validates our diligence and responsible management of public tax dollars,” said Board President Rosemary Fryer. “We are grateful to this community for its continued trust in our public schools.”

The audit period was from Sept. 1, 2017, through Aug. 31, 2018.

Said Brett Blechschmidt, chief fiscal officer, “Thirteen consecutive years of clean audits can only happen when countless professionals throughout the district take seriously the responsibility of properly handling the public funds with which we are entrusted. Our community has repeatedly and overwhelmingly stepped up to support our students, so it is gratifying to reward that trust with yet another clean audit.”

Dear VPS community,

If the legislature doesn’t act on a comprehensive set of solutions to provide full funding for basic education, vital programs and services that serve students will be at-risk throughout the state. Today, the Seattle Times reports that 253 of the 295 Washington districts expect to face a budget shortfall next school year. Further, more than one-third of the districts anticipate the need to draw down their entire cash reserves over the next three years. A district insolvency crisis looms on the horizon.

I urge you to read the following article for more details. VPS advocacy efforts are highlighted in the story.
https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/legislatures-solution-to-mccleary-school-funding-case-leaves-most-state-districts-projecting-budget-shortfalls/

As I’ve said, again and again, we did not create this situation. Now, more than ever, we all need to advocate for sensible policy solutions to the “McCleary mess” handed to us by elected leaders in Olympia.

Sincerely,
Steve Webb

Read the VPS budget shortfall press release.

Ballots are due on Tuesday for Vancouver Public Schools’ levy election. Two levies—an  education and operations levy and a technology levy are on the ballot. These levies are not new taxes. They will replace the levies expiring this year.

Voters should vote both sides of the ballot. Ballots can be dropped in the mail (no postage necessary) and must be postmarked by Feb. 12. Ballots also may be dropped off in one of the 24-hour drop boxes located in several Vancouver locations. On election night ballots must be dropped off by 8 p.m.

Depending on weather, on election day only, voters may drop off ballots at several school drop-off locations from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, if schools close due to snow or ice, these ballot drop-off locations will close as well.

• Anderson Elementary School, 2215 NE 104th Street
• Chinook Elementary School, 1900 NW Bliss Road
• Felida Elementary School, 2700 NW 119th Street
• Hazel Dell Elementary School, 511 NE Anderson Road
• Minnehaha Elementary School, 2800 NE 54th Street
• Salmon Creek Elementary School, 1601 NE 129th Street
• Walnut Grove Elementary School, 6103 NE 72nd Avenue

Due to forecasts of snow this weekend and next week, the Clark County Elections Office is encouraging voters to mail their ballots as soon as possible.

Learn more about the levies.

Since its introduction nearly seven years ago, Vancouver Public Schools’ one-to-one technology program has expanded to provide digital tools to all students in grades three through 12. Training and professional development for teachers and administrators are major components of VPS’ successful one-to-one technology program.

Instructional technology facilitators—teachers on special assignment—lead the work to ensure educators have what they need to use technology effectively for teaching and learning. Professional development focuses on the use of educational applications, communication and collaboration tools, innovative instructional practices and robust coaching. The goal is to use the power of technology to amplify student growth and access to rich learning experiences.

At Salmon Creek Elementary School, third- through fifth-grade teachers have embraced digital tools in a blended learning model to offer students choice and ownership of their learning.

“Blended learning can be defined as face-to-face learning combined with self-paced learning and online learning,” said Principal Heath Angelbeck. “We’ve leveraged student voice and choice as a key component at Salmon Creek Elementary.”

Salmon Creek fourth-grade teacher Daphne Russell describes students as digital natives—users of technology at a very young age. Teachers, on the other hand, have adopted technology-rich classrooms, but are not digital natives—they weren’t born into it.

“It’s something we’ve had to embrace,” said Russell.

When she began teaching at Salmon Creek last year, Russell received her iPad and computer. While she was familiar on how to use them, she didn’t know what to do with them as a teacher. She set a goal to attend all the trainings so she could learn to use the devices as a teaching tool. She describes her first training as transformative. The skills she acquired in her trainings led her down the path to learn more.

“I had an opportunity with my teammates to go to a blended-learning professional development, which as a professional development was a blended experience itself,” said Russell. “As a teacher, I sat in a classroom setting and I also did online learning. It was a blended experience to teach me and to teach my colleagues about a blended-learning experience. There was no going back.”

Using digital tools in a classroom environment allows students to work on lessons at their own pace, and at the same time allows the teacher the freedom to work with students in small groups or with those who may need extra help. Digital tools also allow students to be creative in demonstrating their learning and understanding in multiple ways.

Students take ownership of their learning because they can control it. Many educational applications provide online feedback and support. If a student’s response to a problem is incorrect, the student is able to review and learn the material before moving on. In addition, students can take the iPads home and still collaborate with their teacher and classmates online. Parents also can be active partners in their child’s learning through login access to their child’s device.

“The most important thing to me is the equity that happens when you have the iPads and the technology,” said Russell. “When you leverage all these tools, it levels the playing field. It gives each child the same materials that they can use at home.”

As teachers and administrators become proficient with digital tools, they are valuable mentors and leaders with their colleagues. The focus on mentoring creates a model of innovation and change as school technology leaders lead the way for others. Providing educators with tools and support is critical in sustaining the program into the future and improving learning for all students.

“This is not a finished product, it’s a work in progress. With all the tools I have, I can customize the experience for each child,” said Russell. “It’s truly a journey. I suspect this will be a lifelong learning experience for me, and it’s my hope that it empowers students and that it supports their families. It really gives me the opportunity to love what I do all the more.”

Be ready

Winter weather conditions can be difficult to predict, but there are a few steps you can take to prepare for possible school closures or delays.

• Make sure your contact information is up to date so the school staff can reach you if necessary.
• Know how to receive school closure information and where to find it.
• Have a backup plan for work and/or child care if schools are closed, delayed or released early.

What you need to know when the storm hits (or threatens to)

The decision to close schools or delay opening them is not taken lightly. The safety of students and staff is a top priority.

When winter weather hits, a transportation crew begins driving in different areas of the school district at 3 a.m.

With advice from the transportation crew and a meteorologist, the superintendent will make a decision regarding the operation of our schools. If possible, this decision will be made by 5 a.m. If a two-hour late start was declared the prior evening, we will attempt to make the decision by 7 a.m.

If it is decided to close schools, delay opening them or release students early, that information will be immediately shared via one or more of the methods listed below. This information will be posted only if there is a schedule change to report.

If it is decided to continue with a regular school day, then no information will be reported, and parents and staff will know that schools are operating on regular schedules.

If schools are closed or dismissed early, after-school and evening activities also will be canceled. Community use of schools will be canceled only if schools are closed.

In the event of an early release, families will be notified by phone call and/or email. Elementary students who ride the bus or walk will not be released until verbal confirmation about arrangements has been made with families.

There are several ways to get school closure information

• Go to the VPS homepage at www.vansd.org
• Go to FlashAlert at http://flashalert.net/news.html?id=393 (from this link, anyone can subscribe to receive FlashAlert notifications via email)
• Download the free Vancouver Public Schools mobile app to your smartphone or tablet, http://www.vansd.org/mobileapp.
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see our school closure posts: www.facebook.com/VancouverPublicSchools and @VancouverSD.
• Call the district’s Snow/Closure Info line at 360-313-1401 or General Information at 360-313-1000.
• Check radio, television and newspaper websites.
• Automated phone calls will be made to families if schools are closed early during the school day, or if the decision to close is made the night before.

Snow bus routes

Snow bus routes have been developed for some school buses that serve the schools listed below. These alternate routes will be used when icy or snowy conditions exist on some of the school district’s most difficult roads. Snow routes will be used for morning and afternoon routes. Snow bus routes are safer during bad weather conditions. The snow routes are posted at vansd.org/snow-routes.

When snow bus routes are announced, there will be no service to some bus stops. Alternate bus stops will be used.

We encourage students to ride school buses to and from school during adverse weather conditions. School buses are a safe and reliable form of transportation.

Elementary schools: Anderson, Chinook, Felida, Sacajawea and Salmon Creek
Middle schools: Alki, Gaiser, iTech Prep, Jefferson and VSAA
High schools: Columbia River, iTech Prep, Skyview, Vancouver Flex Academy and VSAA

School closure makeup days

Because full-day school closures must be made up by students and school staff, four make-up days are built into the school calendar. This year, the four designated make-up days—Jan. 25 and June 14, 17 and 18—will be used to make up four days missed due to the delayed start of school. Any school closures this winter will be made up after June 18.