"Our Message" to the Legislature

 

Blaine School District #503
Serving Blaine, Birch Bay and Pt. Roberts Communities
K-12 Enrollment: 2131 Students (2009-10)
Total Budget: $20,984,562 (2009-10)
Superintendent: Ron Spanjer (rspanjer@blainesd.org)

Initiatives in Place/Indicators of Progress:

  • Partnering with Head Start to assure for the purposeful alignment of instructional strategies and subsequent transition for preschool age students.
  • Implementing an Extended Day Kindergarten program for the neediest students in our system and are seeing significant results in early math and literacy skill attainment.
  • Working with staff to complete relevant training and subsequent implementation plans for the Response To Intervention (RTI) model.
  • Working with students 3-8 (80 students) in an after school academic and activity based model that assures for timely intervention support to our students in greatest need.
  • Training teachers at the 9-12 level in the use of AVID strategies, with the intent to extend this instructional focus to the 6-8 level as additional resources become available.
  • Leadership Team completion of three years of Leadership Academy work, with an emphasis on developing and sustaining models for system-wide collaboration specific to evidence of high levels of student learning.
  • Recipients of Newsweek recognition three years running and U.S. News and World Report recognition this year for our work with a significant number of students in Advance Placement classes.
  • In 2009, the Blaine School District experienced substantial gains in student performance on the WASL, at a significant number of grade levels, when compared to prior year results. In addition, students in the District are performing at or above State of Washington averages in 15 of 19 combined grade level and content areas being tested.
  • The percentage of students meeting standard in reading increased at Grade 3, and also at Grade 6, by 17 and 14 points respectively, with gains also posted at Grades 4,5,8, and 10.
  • The percentage of students meeting standard in math increased at Grade 5, and at Grade 6, each improving by 10 points, with gains also posted at Grades 3 and 8.
  • Most noteworthy in the content area of science was a 22 percentage point gain at the 8th grade level.

Prior Program Year Adjustments: ($618,000 in 2008-09 and $1,100,000 in 2009-10)

Administrative, Certificated and Classified Staff Reductions (Larger Class Size/Limited Remediation Support)/Reduction in 9-12 Course Offerings/Reduction in Enrichment Experiences For Students/Reduction on Level of Curriculum and Technology Upgrades/Reduction in Budgets to Buildings

2010-11 Program Year Factors/Largest Variables: I 728 ($205,000) and K-4 Enhancement ($285,000)

Additional Administrative, Certificated and Classified Staff Reductions (Larger Class Size/Limited Remediation Support)/Continued Reduction in 9-12 Course Offerings/Reduction in Enrichment Experiences for Students/Further Cuts in Building Budgets

We ask that the Legislature consider alternative sources of revenue to fund at minimum the commitment to K-4 enhancement in 2010-11. The net impact on program is immeasurable and, once eliminated, will take years to recover from. Early, intensified intervention is essential to student success.