A district-by-district primer, in alphabetical order
Bethel
Estimated student population: 17,500.
School starts: Sept. 8.
School ends: June 20.
What’s new: Renovated Spanaway Lake High School; Liberty Junior High opens as the district’s sixth junior high; new boundary alignments to accommodate the new junior high and to create a more direct feeder system between elementary, junior high and high schools.
Budget watch: A $1 million grant will allow the district to make energy conservation improvements. The district will spend $4.2 million in reserve funds to preserve jobs. A reduction-in-force notice was issued earlier in the year for nine teachers, but eight were re-hired into different jobs and one left the district. The district is opening new buildings, but not expanding custodial staff. Deans’ positions at the junior highs have been eliminated.
Phone: 253-683-6000.
Web: www.bethelsd.org.
Carbonado
Estimated student population: 185.
School starts: Wednesday.
School ends: June 9.
What’s new: A video science program for grades one-five; new algebra textbooks for grade eight; playfield has been resurfaced. One new teacher: Megan Turner will teach first grade.
Budget watch: The district did not have to reduce staff, but no pay raises have occurred for two years. It has asked for more support from the community to assist with field trips.
Phone: 360-829-0121.
Web: www.carbonado.k12.wa.us.
Clover Park
Estimated student population: 11,700.
School starts: Sept. 8.
School ends: June 23.
What’s new: Construction paid for by the 2006 bond continued at Lakes High School during summer break, including a start on a new auxiliary gym. The contractor is relocating construction-related parking at Lakes, which will free up the lower parking lot for student and staff use. Students and staff should be able to move into Lakes’ Phase II building in December. Plans are being developed for a new track, field and tennis courts to be built in 2011.
With passage of another bond in 2010, preliminary work has begun on a new Hudtloff Middle School.
A new partnership with Clover Park Technical College allows the district to offer programs for ninth- and 10th-grade students in the Alternative for Individuals High School, while the college provides programs for 11th- and 12th-grade students.
Clover Park High School is expanding its science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiative this year.
Budget watch: District officials tapped $1.4 million from the fund balance to offset budget reductions; didn’t replace all positions as individuals retired or left the district; maintained reductions in place from previous years; and used stimulus funds for 25 classroom coaches. Deeper reductions are anticipated for the 2011-12 school year.
Phone: 253-583-5000.
Web: www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us.
Dieringer
Estimated student population: 1,435.
School starts: Sept. 7.
School ends: June 15.
What’s new: K-eight social studies curriculum aligned to state standards. It uses a wide range of instructional materials, including Web-based material.
Budget watch: The district is maintaining budget cuts implemented during the 2009-2010 school year, including a reduction in activity buses and institution of athletic and activity fees. Full-day kindergarten is no longer funded by the district but is tuition-based.
Staffing levels and programs for students have been maintained due to community support, enrollment growth, staff willingness to forgo contract negotiations, and using reserve funds. Due to increased student enrollment, additional teachers have been hired.
Phone: 253-862-2537.
Web: www.dieringer.wednet.edu.
Eatonville
Estimated student population: 2,001.
School starts: Sept. 8.
School ends: June 23.
What’s new: Superintendent Rich Stewart started in July, having come from the Dayton (Wash.) School District. Remodeling continues at Eatonville Middle School and Columbia Crest Elementary School.
Budget watch: Eliminated the French program at Eatonville High School. Reduced work days in the central office. Through attrition, the district did not rehire three positions districtwide. Building budgets reduced.
Phone: 360-879-1000.
Web: cruiser.eatonville.wednet.edu.
Federal Way
Estimated student population: 21,500.
School starts: Thursday.
School ends: June 16.
What’s new: Superintendent Rob Neu began work July 1; he was previously a superintendent in Waterford, Mich. A rebuilt Lakota Middle School opens. A new district policy automatically places students who qualify, based on state test scores, into advanced classes.
Budget watch: Despite reductions in state funding, the budget will be almost the same as last year. Staffing and service levels are maintained. The district will see additional funding from increased levy collections and state levy assistance dollars. Carryover funds also provide a cushion, allowing all-day kindergarten to continue. About half of the federal stimulus money that the district received last year – $2.4 million – was saved for use this year to support existing programs.
Phone: 253-945-2000.
Web: www.fwps.org.
Fife
Estimated student population: 3,250.
School starts: Wednesday.
School ends: June 15.
What’s new: Adopted new three-year teacher and coach contracts starting this fall.
Budget watch: The district is maintaining its current programs on an annual budget of $34 million for the coming school year.
Phone: 253-517-1000.
Web: www.fifeschools.com.
Franklin Pierce
Estimated student population: 7,561.
School starts: Tuesday.
School ends: June 17.
What’s new: Math curricula for middle school and language arts curricula for high school; district-funded expansion of full-day kindergarten.
Budget watch: Eliminated one central office administrative position; reduced summer school spending; eliminated temporary paraeducator positions.
Phone: 253-298-3000.
Web: www.fpschools.org.
Orting
Estimated student population: 2,200.
School starts: Wednesday.
School ends: June 17.
What’s new: Honors classes for middle school students were added; administration office has moved to 121 Whitesell St. N.E. (the former middle school).
Phone: 360-893-6500.
Web: www.orting.wednet.edu.
Peninsula
Estimated student population: 9,200.
School starts: Wednesday.
School ends: June 17.
What’s new: Gig Harbor High School is changing from a modified block schedule to a six-period day; the district will provide the ACT Explore test for students in grades eight and nine, and the PSAT for grade 10. The district also will be an SAT testing site in October and June.
Budget watch: A budget task force made up of district and community representatives will review programs in anticipation of continued state funding cuts.
Phone: 253-530-1000.
Web: www.psd401.net.
Puyallup
Estimated student population: 21,364.
School starts: Thursday.
School ends: June 16.
What’s new: Bell schedules are new on Wednesdays for students in all grade levels, and a change in the daily bell schedule at Wildwood, Sunrise and Edgerton elementary schools. (Schedules are posted on the district website.) Applied algebra and applied geometry classes are added at all four high schools; a magnet program is created for pre- engineering students at Puyallup High; and the college-preparatory Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is expanded to Edgemont Junior High School.
Budget watch: Staffing reductions consistent with expected lower enrollment; improved energy efficiencies through the use of energy-efficient computer software and decreased use of copiers; and salary freezes for administrators, office professionals, paraeducators and others.
Phone: 253-841-1301.
Web: www.puyallup.k12.wa.us.
Steilacoom
Estimated student population: 4,745. (Combination of brick-and-mortar schools, 2,845; and the Washington Virtual Academy online school, 1,900.)
School starts: Thursday.
School ends: June 16.
What’s new: Building schedule changes for mainland schools were necessary to accommodate new bus routes; high school switches to a six-period day; new Superintendent William Fritz is on board; a new K-five math curriculum is in place.
Budget watch: The district automated the way bus routes are developed using an online database, making them more efficient and resulting in cost savings. The number of teachers remains about the same as last year.
Phone: 253-983-2200.
Web: www.steilacoom.k12.wa.us.
Sumner
Estimated student population: 7,800.
School starts: Sept. 7.
School ends: June 21.
What’s new: A goal is implemented to increase the number of students meeting standards in math by 10 percent; several school modernization projects funded by a $114 million bond approved by voters in 2007 are near completion; a new Lakeridge Middle School and modernized Victor Falls Elementary open to students this year; Bonney Lake Elementary students will attend school at Elementary No. 9 for one year due to construction; and Sumner Middle School modernization will continue.
Budget watch: Middle and high schools are switching to a six-period day, requiring fewer teachers; most of the staff reduction was achieved through attrition. Temporary furloughs for administrative and office staff throughout the year, with an estimated savings of nearly $140,000.
Phone: 253-891-6000.
Web: www.sumnersd.org.
Tacoma
Estimated student population: More than 30,000.
School starts: Thursday.
School ends: June 14.
What’s new: Math textbooks were purchased for grades kindergarten through eight; academic improvement initiatives, funded by federal grants, were launched at Giaudrone, Stewart and Jason Lee middle schools; Hunt Middle School is temporarily closed and is scheduled to reopen in a new building in 2014.
Budget watch: Tacoma Public Schools has had no teacher reductions. However, the district has an ongoing initiative to review all vacant positions before authorizing them to be filled. Some positions are being held vacant.
Phone: 253-571-1000.
Web: www.tacomaschools.org.
University Place
Estimated student population: 5,167.
School starts: Tuesday.
School ends: June 17.
What’s new: The district plans to complete the final projects approved by voters in a 2006 bond measure for $86 million: a remodel of the Curtis High School swimming pool and performing arts center. It also continues to improve math achievement through the “Math: Getting it” grant received in 2009.
Budget watch: The district has maintained the reductions made last year, so there are no new staff reductions.
Phone: 253-566-5600.
Web: www.upsd.wednet.edu.
White River
Estimated student population: 4,100.
School starts: Wednesday.
School ends: June 14.
Budget watch: There were no teacher layoff notices in the spring, but Superintendent Tom Lockyer said that “where we didn’t need to fill positions, we didn’t.” Like many in education, he is watching carefully what is happening at the state level and how that will affect education funding.
Phone: 360-829-3814.
Web: www.whiteriver.wednet.edu.
Compiled by Debbie Cafazzo, staff writer
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