State of the District
October 20, 2021
District resiliency steeped in community's support
As a district, we will continue to address the challenges we have faced in the past 20 months. Some of these include:
- finding ways to address the social-emotional and academic needs of our students while adhering to safety protocols mandated by the state
- addressing staffing shortage and staff absences exacerbated by quarantines and contact tracing
- balancing the health and safety of our students and staff with the need to remain in-person
- continuing to focus on our strategic roadmap, which includes our five foundational goals (1. Achievement 2. Equity 3. Stewardship 4. Partnerships and 5. Continuous Learning) while also navigating the challenges presented by a global health crisis
As new Superintendent, I will continue to listen to stakeholders, learn about our district, be visible and engaged in the community. Towards the end of the school year, I will prepare a report for the school board, which will include a summary of what I have learned and what I envision our next steps are in collectively reinforcing aspects about our system that are going well and enhancing those that are identified areas of improvement.
It is with relentless commitment that we pursue our district mission to have every student graduate with the knowledge and skills for future learning and success no matter what challenges we face.
Thank you Sedro-Woolley families and community members for your amazing support and partnership.
We continue to remember that we are STRONGER TOGETHER!
Dr. Miriam Miralles Mickelson
Superintendent
Sedro-Woolley School District
Enrollment dip results in funding loss
Sedro-Woolley School District had 4,399 students enrolled during the 2019-2020 school year.
Enrollment took a substantial hit during the 2020-2021 school year, decreasing by 316 to 4,083 students, which resulted in a loss of about $3.1 million in funding.
The numbers have rebounded slightly during the current year with about 4,164 students, including 160 students enrolled in the Sedro-Woolley Virtual Learning Academy.
Federal funding helps carry district through pandemic
Sedro-Woolley School District most recently received about $5 million through the ESSER III funding from the federal government to address learning gaps and pandemic-related costs.
As per the federal mandate, twenty percent of the money has been dedicated toward learning loss — the district dramatically expanded its summer school offerings. This portion of the money will also be used for before- and after-school tutoring for students who need additional support, along with I-Ready personalized instruction. The district is also using the money to fund the Sedro-Woolley Virtual Learning Academy for students who do not yet feel ready to return to in-person learning.
The other 80 percent of the expenditures will be spent on curriculum, supplies, additional staffing hours, interpretation services, additional chromebooks as well as PPE and other supplies necessary because of COVID-19.
Unlike state and local levy funding, ESSER funding is one-time money provided by the federal government to help tide districts over until the pandemic ends and school districts can overcome losses in revenue from state funding due to lower enrollment.
Like most local districts, Sedro-Woolley used its first round of ESSER funds, about $200,000, for personal protective equipment and technology.
Transportation recognized for Exceptional Results
Snapshot: Fall Athletics
CHEER
Head coach: Lauren Van Der Pol
The cheer team is excited to be back on the sidelines cheering on our Cubs. We have a total of 20 cheerleaders this year, three of whom are seniors. This is the first year that we have been able to cheer during the regular season with our expanded team. Previously we had 16 cheerleaders and now have 20 cheerleaders on the sidelines at home varsity football games. We are very excited to cheer on the rest of our teams this year.
WIAA Scholastic Award - Team GPA: 3.274 (Distinguished)
CROSS COUNTRY
Head Coach: Shawn Vantassel
The Cubs cross country team has once again proved that early season work reaps massive benefits in competition. No matter what trail condition is put ahead of them it is overcome with grit, strength, and a mental toughness that most sports could only call a punishment but for us it is just another day to compete. Our young team has a focus on the years to come and what it means to have long term goals and the work it will take year round to accomplish them. Be on the lookout for Cubs cross country to be flooding the trophy cases and standing at the top of podiums for the next few years!
WIAA Scholastic Award - Boys Team GPA: 3.108 (Distinguished)
WIAA Scholastic Award - Girls Team GPA: 3.507 (Outstanding)
FOOTBALL
Head Coach: Dave Ward
The Cubs have looked strong so far this season, even with a few COVID-19 related challenges. The team had 73 students turn out for the C, JV and Varsity squads. The athletes have put in a lot of long hours in the weight room over the summer months, and it has shown on the field with impressive outings. The Cubs Varsity program is currently 5-1 with several key games to determine playoff contention in the coming weeks. The coaching staff hopes that the lessons & success on the field carry over into the classroom.
WIAA Scholastic Award - Team GPA: 3.293 (Distinguished)
GIRLS SOCCER
Head Coach: Natalie Sakuma
The Cubs have a young team this year on the pitch, with only three seniors on the squad. The team had over 40 students turn out, including a large freshman class of 17. We are excited about these increasing numbers and are excited to see what the future holds for them. The girls are showing their physical and mental fortitude this season as quite a few battle some foot injuries and others are stepping up to fill important roles. This team is full of zeal and tenacity for the game and that has been incredibly evident in every match they've had this season.
WIAA Scholastic Award - Team GPA: 3.295 (Distinguished)
GIRLS SWIMMING
Head Coach: Jillian Dees & Eric Anderson
This year we have a very spirited team willing to swim the most challenging events. This has paid off for quite a few of them with district qualifying times and a win yesterday against Ferndale. We also have some great new additions to our team this year!
WIAA Scholastic Award - Team GPA: 3.648 (Outstanding)
TENNIS
Head Coach: John Hull
Boys Tennis is having a great season! This group has done great on the courts and in the classroom this fall. Even though we are a fairly young squad we are winning matches and have several players ranked at the District tournament. We are hoping to get at least two of the teams to the state tournament.
WIAA Scholastic Award - Team GPA: 3.607 (Outstanding)
VOLLEYBALL
Head Coach: Chris Tesarik
The Girls Volleyball season is up and running. Facing challenges from Covid rules and regulations the girls are making the best of things and are so thankful to have a full season. The High School program added a 4th team (Blue Team) this year. We have over 50 girls participating program wide.
Varsity is playing well and looking good going into districts in one of the strongest leagues in the state of Washington. Each night is a battle with top teams in 1A, 2A and 3A classifications. This year's varsity is led by 7 seniors. Kiah Trammel, Abby Virata, Grayson Mast, Torrie Nasin, Madison Nasin, Jamie Bartok and Lily DeVries.
Varsity is also in the running for Academic State Champions, The Varsity team with the highest average GPA for its activities and classification is recognized as Academic State Champion. Varsity Volleyball has a 3.829 average GPA. As a coach this is what being a Student/Athlete is all about and so proud of them!
WIAA Scholastic Award - Team GPA: 3.829 (Outstanding)
Sedro-Woolley alumni return home
We continue to see many familiar faces in our hallways as our graduates return to serve in the district.
Alumni who have been hired for the 2021-2022 school year include:
Certificated (Teachers):
Drew Aungst
Michelle Backstrom
Bonnie Belles
Cassidy Mast
Alycia Rehagen
Garrett Swatzina
Gabriel Wilson
LeathAnn Moser
Audrey Pralle
Classified:
Dylan Fedina - Mechanic
Colin Belles - Custodian
Desiree Dunn - Custodian
Brent Schaner - Technology
Kristen Carlson- Paraeducator
Shelly Olsen - Secretary
Partnerships
The district has established several new partnerships for the 2021-2022 school year.
Books of every genre are now available for ALL Sedro-Woolley School District students and staff at the Sedro-Woolley Library, no matter where they live in the district.
Available through an inter-local agreement between the school district and the library district, students and staff just have to go to the library and sign up for the card. Some schools are already working to sign students up for their new library card at school as well. The library will be providing professional development to the district's teachers and librarians in the future on the myriad of resources available at the library, to support both instruction and student learning, as part of the partnership.
The library’s many options are also great for students with reading and learning disabilities.
For those students who need a quiet space to study, there’s a quiet room available afterschool with free Wi-Fi available 24/7. The library expanded the reach so patrons can use the Wi-Fi in the parking lot and on the plaza even when the library is closed. Computers are also available for those who need additional time working on homework but who may not have a device at home.
Visit https://www.centralskagitlibrary.org/ for library hours and more information about the library’s various programs.
Project S.H.A.R.E.
The district also is participating in Project S.H.A.R.E.(Supporting Health and Resiliency in Education) with a $1.5 million grant in cooperation with the Mount Vernon School District and the Northwest Educational Service District 189. Funded and supported by Kaiser Permanente, the grant focuses on mental health awareness and access for school employees, aiming to learn what supports the district needs and how we can provide them for our employees.
Project S.H.A.R.E. goals include:
- Build and expand upon existing multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)
- Promote and address mental health needs of staff and students
- Assist in the navigation of existing mental health resources and networks
- Establish an approach that enhances the natural strengths and assets each school district possesses
- Develop comprehensive trainings and workshops to address staff health and well-being
Mental health therapist
The district and Skagit County Public Health are partnering together to fund a licensed mental health therapist or school social worker. The person will work with staff to ensure appropriate Social/Emotional supports for Tier 2 (targeted interventions for small groups with no more than 4-5 students) and Tier 3 (intensive intervention for 1:1 care) are in place for students while also serving three days per week at the SWHS Student Health Center and one day each week at SSHS and CMS.
Farm to school grant
United General District 304 received a $91,832 Farm to School grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will help it reach more students in the Sedro-Woolley School District through June 2023. This follows an earlier planning grant that was also awarded through the USDA.
The earlier planning grant allowed the school district to purchase a food processor so it can chop its own produce, rather than relying on bringing in processed foods. It also helped staff receive training on ways to prepare the fresh produce, and to get recipes that will entice young eaters to try new things.
The Farm to School program teaches students about healthy food and how it's raised by local farmers. The program’s garden-based education also will provide students with a hands-on experience they don’t get in a classroom. Samish, Central and Evergreen elementary schools have school gardens in various stages of development.
While healthy food is part of the Farm to School program’s mission, it’s not the only part. Students also will learn where their food comes from, how to team up with others and how to care for the environment.
The Sedro-Woolley program will also focus on cooking from scratch with local ingredients in school kitchens, and blending school gardens into school life.
Capital Levy Update
In February 2020, Sedro-Woolley School District voters approved a six-year capital levy to fund a wide range of capital improvements to the district's facilities. Proposed improvements focused on maintenance and repair projects to extend the life of all the district's school buildings while also enhancing school safety and technology, improving the energy efficiency and performance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
One of the improvements completed in 2021 was installing new boilers on the east end of the A building at Sedro-Woolley High School. The boilers are much smaller than the old steam boilers (located in the gymnasium building across 3rd Street from the main building) and will only heat water instead of making steam, which is much safer and efficient.
Projects completed so far include a covered play area at Samish (a partnership between the district and the school's parent group), a new roof on an Evergreen portable, a new roof on the Sedro-Woolley High School Gymnasium, and a new roof on Big Lake Elementary School's gymnasium and B building.
The district is also currently working to purchase portables to relieve classroom crowding.
Work scheduled for the spring/summer of 2022 includes:
- Replacing the main roof on Sedro-Woolley High School's A building
- Replacing the roof on Sedro-Woolley High School's C building
- Replacing the HVAC system at Evergreen
- Replacing the main building roof on Big Lake Elementary School
- Replacing the siding at Lyman Elementary School
- Replacing the roof on Central Elementary School
- Replacing the unit vents in the classrooms at Clear Lake Elementary School
- Installing a backup generator at Samish Elementary School to keep septic and restrooms running during power outages
- Replacing the roof on Clear Lake Elementary School
- Repairing sinkholes in the asphalt parking lot at Lyman Elementary School
- Sealing the blocks/bricks at Sedro-Woolley High School to stop water from leaking into the building
Work schedule for the fall of 2022 includes:
- Adding ADA access at the main entrance of Central Elementary School
- Replacing the single portable at Clear Lake Elementary School
- Replacing the heater and ventilation system at State Street High School
- Adding handicap accessible restrooms to State Street High School
The district will collect $2.5 million per year for six years. This will cost taxpayers 64¢ per $1,000 in increased property taxes in 2021, 64¢ per $1,000 in increased property taxes in 2022, 61¢ per $1,000 in increased property taxes in 2023, 59¢ per $1,000 in increased property taxes in 2024, 57¢ per $1,000 in increased property taxes in 2025 and 55¢ per $1,000 in increased property taxes in 2026.
See the Project List & Photo Gallery.
District continues efforts to combat COVID-19 in schools
The Sedro-Woolley School District continues to follow state-mandated health and safety protocols. Students and families are helping us each day by following the requirements and allowing us to continue in-person learning. While we were required by Skagit County Public Health to close one school for about a week because of a high number of positive cases, we have been able to keep the rest of our schools open, despite seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases countywide.
Our COVID-19 district response team is in constant communication with the Skagit County Public Health regarding COVID-19 cases in our schools. Decisions on who needs to quarantine is made by the county in coordination with the district.
The school principal and/or district leaders will communicate directly with impacted families or staff members of confirmed COVID-19 cases or those who are confirmed close contacts. As part of this process, the district will communicate about length of quarantine and how to shift to remote learning.
Families or staff who do not receive such a notification have not been identified as a close contact and are not required to quarantine.
The health, safety, and well-being of our school community remains our top priority. We are following sound protocols aligned with Skagit Public Health guidance to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the health or our school community.
We also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of wearing masks, physically distancing from others, and regularly washing your hands.
The primary symptoms of COVID-19 are:
• Fever (defined as subjective or 100.4°F or higher)
• Cough
• Loss of sense of taste and/or smell
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or body aches
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea (defined as two or more loose stools in 24 hours)
If anyone in your household develop(s) any of the above symptoms, all unvaccinated household members should stay home, contact a provider for medical evaluation and testing, and notify childcare/school/work/etc.
Please visit the COVID-19 Information page on our website for the latest updates on the COVID-19 dashboard. The dashboard is only updated on Fridays to allow our nursing team to concentrate on contact tracing and communicating with families who are directly impacted.
We also have established a COVID-19 email address (covidquestions@swsdonline.com) and direct phone line (360) 855-3841.
We sincerely appreciate all your help and support as we work together to mitigate risks and ensure the learning process continues in our school community.