District Update
January 14, 2022
Dear families,
We have been receiving questions about remote learning, and I would like to say that we do not intend to shift to remote learning - now or in the immediate or distant future. Our district goal is to remain in person, safely, for the rest of the year. We remain steadfast and committed to that goal despite experiencing sub shortages. I am very hopeful we can meet this goal because of the hard work, dedication and commitment of our staff, our continued adherence to health and safety protocols and the support of our families and community;.
I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank all our staff members for covering for one another. We have never seen this many unfilled absences in our buildings. Teachers are covering classes during their prep periods; specialists are teaching core classes; paras are working in unfamiliar areas outside of the scope of their regular duties; and many other staff members are asking where they can be most useful and helping out where and when needed. I’ve even had one of our longtime maintenance workers offer to help in a classroom if needed. They do all this with a level of energy, enthusiasm, and positivity that makes their interactions with students very inspiring and heartwarming to see. I am in buildings a lot, and I am amazed by the heroic work of our staff.
I would also like to thank our principals and assistant principals for continuing to cover absences that are not covered by substitutes (if you’re interested in applying to be a substitute in a multitude of positions, please visit our Job Openings page). Since Fall, our principals have been filling in as teachers, playground duties, crossing guards, dish washers and more. Our district leaders are also clearing their calendars and helping out in schools wherever needed, from covering for teachers and classified staff to doing lunch duty to recess supervision. The amount of work everyone in our district is willing to do to keep our students in person safely has been admirable.
And, finally, we appreciate our families. Your patience and understanding during this unprecedented surge has been incredibly helpful. We are in this together and appreciate many of you asking how you can help. We are following sound protocols aligned with expert health guidance to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the health of our community while keeping students in school.
We ask that you continue to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. If your student is feeling sick, they should stay home from school. If they are experiencing symptoms of the virus, they should schedule a test. The Sedro-Woolley School District Health Services team offers free diagnostic testing for students and staff with symptoms of COVID-19. To schedule an appointment and complete pre-test paperwork, visit https://form.jotform.com/213156543945055. Testing is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday on regular school days. All appointments will need to be scheduled, as drop-ins cannot be accommodated at this time. The testing site is outside the front doors of the Admin Annex (201 N. Township, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284). Once you have filled out the paperwork online and arrived, please do the following:
Park in the designated COVID-19 testing space located at the front of the building.
Call 360-855-4453 to let staff know you have arrived and remain inside your vehicle.
Results take approximately 15-20 minutes to process and staff will use the phone number given on the form to report the results back to you, as well as answer any questions you may have.
Health Services will then report all COVID-19 results – positive and negative – within 24 hours to the Health Department using the web-based reporting tool called US Digital Service’s SimpleReport.
We are closely monitoring the spread of the virus and tracking cases in our classrooms, buildings, and community. We would ask that you encourage your student to practice healthy hand hygiene, wear masks properly, social distance when possible and stay home when exhibiting any possible COVID-19 symptoms to prevent further spread.
Most of you have probably already heard about the recent Department of Health K-12 Schools Requirements. The department has provided a one-page snapshot of the changes that were announced on January 7, including updates to isolation, quarantine and contact tracing. Because of the current supply chain shortage, the district will not be able to do the Test to Stay for students until more tests are available.
Again, thank you for your support and patience as we work through this. We will continue to share information with you as soon as it becomes available. If you have any questions, please email questions@swsdonline.com.
Sincerely,
Dr. Miriam Miralles Mickelson
Superintendent
Replacement Levy Information
Levy-funded costs
This brief list gives an example of what some of our current levy dollars pay for in the Sedro-Woolley School District.
What happens if voters don't approve the measure?
If the Feb. 8th levy fails to garner the required 50% vote to approve, two things will happen concurrently: The school board will have to decide whether or not to run the levy again in the April 26th special election and at the same time decide how to substantially reduce programs and services to balance the 2022-2023 budget. The district would have to identify the programs/positions to be reduced/eliminated before the April 26th levy results are known/certified in order to notify staff.
Federal funds helps carry district through COVID
Sedro-Woolley School District most recently received about $5 million through the Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (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. ESSER funding is on a reimbursement basis, the district has to make a grant application with OSPI, and then must extend its own current resources before ESSER funds can be received. Districts go through a claims process to be reimbursed.
Sedro-Woolley used the Cares Act funding ($647,000), for personal protective equipment and food service.
The district received $2,225,770 as part of ESSER II, using the funds for the 2021 summer school to address learning loss, preparing the schools for reopening, buying student laptops, providing hotspots.
Levy is capped
If property values go up, local schools will not receive more funding. While property taxes may fluctuate, the district only collects the total amount approved by voters as part of the capped amounts.
Property values may rise or fall, but according to state law, schools collect no more than the total dollar amount voters approve. SWSD's replacement levy will continue to collect $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The proposed replacement levy will collect $11,919,069 in 2023, $12,515,023 in 2024, $13,140,774 in 2025 and $13,797,813 in 2026. These are the capped amounts or lids based on a 5% growth projection per year of the community’s assessed value.
When property values rise then the levy rate of $2.50 per $1,000 decreases. Conversely, if property values fall, the levy rate could only rise to the lid of $2.50 per $1,000.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I’m really excited to tell you about our new tutoring services for students in grades 7-12, provided by Paper.
Paper is a secure, online tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students in over 200 subjects and more than 4 languages.
Paper tutors have been specially trained to conduct expert, academic support in a secure, chat-based platform. With a commitment to helping students learn, they’ll never give students answers, but rather interact with them in an encouraging tone to lead them forward.
This is a free service that we’re providing (paid for with ESSER funds), so students are encouraged to use it as much as they need, whenever they need. Our teachers also have accounts and will be able to review all student activity to see what they’re working on and provide more targeted instruction as needed.
If you’d like to learn more about Paper you can sign up for a Paper hosted Parent Info Session, available in both English and Spanish. Or if you’d like to speak to a member of the Paper team directly, you can reach them at parents@paper.co.
To see Paper and the help it offers firsthand, we encourage you to login with your students. To get started, simply visit PAPER’s student login page, type your school’s name, and login via Google using your school credentials
We’re thrilled to offer our students the unlimited, 24/7 support that Paper provides and we can’t wait to see what we’re able to accomplish together.
These Tutorial Videos are also helpful for students and families!
Sincerely,
Mike Olson
Assistant Superintendent
Individuals impacted by November Flood events can now apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance
President Biden declared a major disaster in the State of Washington, and ordered federal assistance to help those impacted by flooding and mudslides that occurred from November 13 to November 15, 2021. This action makes federal funding available to impacted individuals in Clallam, Skagit and Whatcom Counties, as well as the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe and the Quileute Tribe.
This process is handled entirely by FEMA and is separate from previous damage assessment information collection processes conducted by Skagit County. Those who submitted a damage assessment form to the County will need to resubmit directly to FEMA to be considered for assistance. If you did not submit a damage assessment form, but have damages related to the November 13-15, 2021 flood event, you are still eligible to apply for individual assistance from FEMA.
Impacted individuals can go to disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to apply. 1-800-462-7585 is also available for those who need TTY assistance.
You will need the following to complete your registration:
- Social Security Number (SSN) OR the SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien
- Annual Household Income
- Contact Information (phone number, mailing address, email address*, and damaged home address)
- Insurance Information (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
- Bank Account Information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)
*You will be required to provide an email address if you want to review the status of your application online. If you do not provide an email address, you will be required to contact FEMA to review your information and receive status updates.
“We want to say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the damage assessment forms, Governor Inslee, Reps. Larsen and DelBene, and Senators Cantwell and Murray, who all supported this request for a disaster declaration to the President,” said Sheriff McDermott, who also serves as Department of Emergency Management Director. “We know many are hurting, and we hope this assistance helps.”
If you have questions or need additional information, contact the Department of Emergency Management at 360-416-1850. You may also contact the FEMA Helpline directly at 1-800-621-3362. Helpline services are available from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST, 7 days a week.
Adverse Weather
The 2021-2022 Emergency Communications Bulletin has been updated for this school year. Please review for changes.
This Newsletter has information on how to sign up for information and where to go for news.
As you will see in the documents, we make decisions about whether to have a two-hour late start or to cancel school as early as possible because we know how difficult it is for our families to juggle a last-minute call. Our transportation director and transportation coordinator both drive some of our more challenging bus routes starting at 3 a.m. We also typically consult multiple weather forecasts and also try to take staff commutes into consideration as well as teenage drivers when making the final decision by 4:45 a.m. Safety is paramount and we try our best to make the right call. Ultimately, in adverse weather, families make the final call on whether or not to send their children to school.
COVID-19 testing now available
Sedro-Woolley School District Health Services team has expanded access to timely diagnostic testing for SWSD students with symptoms of COVID-19.
The testing will be free of charge and will only be offered to ONLY students and staff showing symptoms. To schedule an appointment and complete pre-test paperwork, visit https://form.jotform.com/213156543945055. Testing will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on regular school days. All appointments will need to be scheduled, as drop-ins cannot be accommodated at this time.
We will have a drive-up, outdoor option for convenient access outside the front doors of the Admin Annex (201 N. Township, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284). Once you have filled out the paperwork online and arrived, please do the following:
Park in the designated COVID-19 testing space located at the front of the building.
Call 360-855-4453 to let us know you have arrived and remain inside your vehicle.
Results take approximately 15 minutes to process and we will use the phone number given on the form to report the results back to you, as well as answer any questions you may have.
Health Services will then report all COVID-19 results – positive and negative – within 24 hours to the Health Department using the web-based reporting tool called US Digital Service’s SimpleReport.
Please note this is NOT the Test to Stay program. We do not currently offer testing for those who are NOT presenting with symptoms. As testing supply availability increases, we hope to expand the testing opportunities. We will be sure to keep you updated on any changes.
IEP Recovery Services
COVID-19 Information
The district nursing staff 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.
If you do not receive such a notification, it means that your student has not been identified as a close contact and does not need 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 your child or 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. Additionally, if you're awaiting test results for COVID-19, do not come to school until you have received confirmation of a negative test. Staying home when experiencing symptoms also helps our schools' close contacts and quarantine numbers. Following these everyday preventative actions helps reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
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.
For more information about COVID-19 protocols in the district, including the district dashboard, please visit our COVID-19 Information website.
Email: covidquestions@swsdonline.com
Phone: (360) 855-3841
Box Tops are now digital
Updated SWHS Athletics Ticket Information - *LIMITED CAPACITY*
January 13, 2022
Dear SWSD families,
The district received a request yesterday from Skagit County Public Health to place a pause on allowing spectators at indoor events. We did not immediately update families as we wanted to be thoughtful in our approach to this request. While we want to respect the county’s efforts on reducing COVID-19 exposures during the current surge, we believe with proper mitigation efforts, we can keep our students and families safe.
Beginning Friday, January 14, 2022, through Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, Sedro-Woolley School District will take the following mitigation measures for all spectators:
Sedro-Woolley High School
NO food or drink except for athletes
6 feet distance between households
3 feet distance between students
No concession stands
Face coverings, worn properly over mouth and nose, required
Home Team
Each C and JV athlete is allotted two tickets to be purchased if name is on the pass list provided by the coach.
The C and JV fans will need to leave when their game is over. (Not attending the varsity game, maximum of 50 fans)
Varsity athletes will be allotted two tickets to be purchased if their name is on the pass list provided by the coach. (maximum of 30 fans)
Each band member and cheerleaders will be allotted n 1 ticket per member if name is on pass list provided by supervisor (maximum of 40 fans)
We will allow no more than 30 seniors for the student section (ASB or School ID required). The process will be communicated with students on Friday, Jan. 14.
Visiting Teams
During this two-week pause, we will allow a maximum of 50 away fans at varsity events.
Each varsity athlete will be allotted two tickets for a pass list. Those names will be on a list at the gate and only those named can purchase a ticket.This will be provided by the opposing teams’ AD. If it is a student on the pass list, they can show their ASB card for a student rate. With varsity athletes each getting 2 tickets this can allow for a combination of family and friends, maximum of 30 fans.
20 tickets will be provided to athletic directors for senior students only to be purchased.
NO spectators for C Team or JV AWAY games. This would mean that the gate opens at a specific time (see schedule) for each event.
NO away band or cheer squads.
*Capacity of the SWHS gymnasium is capped at 300 total people.
Sedro-Woolley High School will also provide free live streaming of athletic events hosted in the gymnasium during the next two weeks starting Saturday, Jan. 15 for fans who are not comfortable attending events in person.
Cascade Middle School (Only one home event - Jan. 25)
NO food or drink except for athletes
6 feet distance between households
No concession stands
Face coverings, worn properly over mouth and nose, required
Each Cascade athlete will be given 3 adult tickets to give to their families. Spectators must have a ticket to enter.
Visiting fans will not be allowed at this event.
Cascade students will not be allowed to attend.
All ticket holders will need to enter the school through the main entry doors (McGarigle Road entrance) and go directly to the gym where their student is playing.
Ticket holders will be asked to leave at the end of their student’s game and not remain for other games.
Please note: Outside rental groups of ANY Sedro-Woolley School District facility will continue to follow their approved COVID-19 safety plans as outlined by current Department of Health guidance and are also responsible for enforcing the rules at their events.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in following the mitigation efforts above in reducing stress on our critical health systems in Skagit County.
Sincerely,
Dr. Miriam Miralles Mickelson
Superintendent