Aberdeen Schools
Helping you stay informed about our district.
Aberdeen School District No. 5 -- April 16, 2020
Learning Packets
The Aberdeen School District is now immersed in a Distance Learning Model through the remainder of this school year. There may be some changes along the way, but school is back in session through distance learning.
Find your student's school online and navigate to the teacher pages. Every teacher in the district has information for their students on their web page.
There are opportunities for all students to make progress this spring.
In this Issue:
- Kindergarten / Preschool Registration
- 2020-21 Budget Planning -- Important presentation from Dr. Henderson regarding the need for budget reductions.
- Update for High School students
- Update for Miller Students
- Update for K-5
- Food Service
KINDERGARTEN & PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION
2020-2021 BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS
ASD5 preparing for significant reductions
Superintendent Alicia Henderson shared sobering news with the district’s Budget Advisory Committee on Thursday, April 16, during an online meeting watched by 80 members of the staff and community.
Due to the pandemic, various state and county officials are advising the district to plan for reduced property tax collections and reduced funding from the state in 2020-2021. The district is also expecting a decline in enrollment. The projected budget reductions total almost $6.5 million to keep the district solvent.
Prior to the pandemic, Aberdeen was already preparing for reductions of $2 million next year due to declining enrollment and funding inequities under the state’s funding model that impacts property-poor districts like Aberdeen the hardest.
Employees make up more than 80 percent of the district's budget. Dr. Henderson shared that she will be taking a resolution to the Board of Directors at the Tuesday, April 21 (remote online) public meeting seeking a directive to prepare for a “reduced educational program.”
Dr. Henderson said Aberdeen must prepare for the expected shortfall as it would not be prudent to build a budget based on the hope of future funding to offset the impact of the pandemic.
“We need to budget for the worst and hope for the best” when it comes to revenue that might be forthcoming to offset the needed reductions, she told the Budget Advisory Committee.
The committee met for 2.5 hours, but due to the amount of financial material presented to explain the current situation, there was not much time for comment in the online meeting format.
Committee members will be sharing their views and insights with Superintendent Henderson as they process the presentation in the coming days. The presentation can be accessed by clicking the button below. All interested patrons are invited to review the material and offer feedback and comment to Dr. Henderson at ahenderson@asd5.org.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Updates for High School students
Students should make sure they've accessed their teachers' web pages and are actively participating in the Distance Learning Program.
Students should have access to the materials they need to complete their work this spring by finding the materials available online or by picking up a weekly Learning Packet. Packets are available at the lunch sites from 10 a.m. to Noon.
Graduation
Graduation will take place on June 12. Stay tuned, as the details are still being worked out, but this date provides enough time for seniors to complete their requirements.
All seniors who were on track to graduate will have the opportunity this spring to complete their requirements and take part in the June 12 ceremony. Students are expected to stay in touch with the school so that there is clear communication on what needs to be done.
Senior Boards
Seniors are still required to take part in Senior Boards if they want to graduate. Presentations will take place the week of June 1-5. See the link below for additional information from the high school. Reassure your student that their advisor and the Guidance Center are available to help them!
Update for Miller Junior High students
Just like the high school students, Miller students should find their teachers on the Miller site and follow the posted instructions on how to take part in the class.
Update for K-5 students
Find your school, Find your teacher:
Students should learn how to navigate to their school's web site, and then find their teacher's web page under the "Staff" button.
If students are having difficulty finding anything on the web site, please contact the principal or their teacher via email.
If accessing the instructional materials online is a problem, K-5 students can pick up Learning Packets at Food Service locations.
For your convenience, links to each of the grade schools are provided below. Principals are ready to help parents and students stay connected to school.
Reminders for Parents
Repeating Grades?
Many parents are worried that students will be required to repeat a grade because they've fallen behind this spring. Or parents of younger students, in particular, have said they plan to request that their student repeats the grade.
Unless the school discussed possible retention with you during parent conferences, students will be "rolled up" and remain with their age-level peers this fall. The district will be ready to teach to a broader spectrum of readiness at each grade level.
Reach out to teachers
Teachers are keeping virtual office hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Please encourage your student to use their district-issued email to communicate with their teacher(s). Social media is not an acceptable form of instructional communication between students and teachers.
The district is updating the website with resources on a regular basis under the Instructional Materials links.
Need a device?
If your student needs a device, please email the principal.
Need internet access?
Please check the internet access resources link on our website to obtain these services for reduced or free. If you know of someone with little or no internet access, please share this information with them.
Passwords to school resources
In order to access your child’s passwords, user names and badges, please contact your child’s teacher through their district email.
FOOD SERVICE
10 a.m. to Noon Weekdays
Breakfast and Lunch grab 'n go bags are served weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon at various city parks throughout the district and delivered to rural bus stops.
Learning Packets for all grade levels are available during the breakfast/lunch pickup times.
All children and youth under the age of 18, and enrolled students over 18, are eligible to receive meals at no charge. ID is not required and there are no forms to fill out.
If you have a special circumstance you would like the district to consider, please contact Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org, or Jaime Matisons, jmatisons@asd5.org
Staying in touch with Leadership
- Superintendent Alicia Henderson, ahenderson@asd5.org
- Business Office, Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org
- Human Resources, David Glasier, dglasier@asd5.org
- Special Education, Rick Bates, rbates@asd5.org
- Career & Technical Education, Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
- Teaching, Learning & Technology, Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
Don't forget to check the Instructional Resources page often for updates that may come about from OSPI, especially for high school students.
Aberdeen School District Board of Directors
Next next meeting of the Board is Tuesday, April 21. It will be online and a link will be posted.
Next edition
The next edition of the ASD5 e-Newsletter will appear next Thursday, April 23.
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The Aberdeen School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: David Glasier, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; dglasier@asd5.org; Dr. Richard Bates, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; rbates@asd5.org.