Tag Archives: central kitsap school district

CK School Budget Woes: “What Can We Do?”

An article was posted earlier today by the Kitsap Sun Staff concerning tomorrow’s Central Kitsap School Board meeting where district officials and board members will discuss and act upon a resolution to make serious and significant teacher staffing cuts/layoffs.

The board will hold a study session on the matter beginning at 5 p.m., then act on a resolution to make the cuts during the regular board meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. The board meets at the district administrative offices in the Jenny Wright Building, 9210 Silverdale Way.

District officials have effectively avoided laying off teachers in recent years by being financially prudent and proactive. But despite this year’s especially big budget cuts, it’s clear that the district won’t be able to delay the inevitable. The district has to cut $3.4 million from its $115 million operating budget.

A number of people commented on the article, offering some of the typical ‘blame-shifting’ broad brush stroke criticisms, but offering little, if any, constructive ideas or actions for improving the situation.

It caused me to stop in the midst of my day and ponder,

“What can I do to make a difference?”

We look at these huge bureaucratic problems like budget shortfalls and think they’re just to big and massive for us to make any positive contribution/change.

I think of all the teachers who will soon be without a job – people who have dedicated themselves to one of the most time-honored professions – no longer using their passion and training to help educate our kids. Where will they go, what will they do?

And I think of our kids, forced into larger classroom sizes. Remaining teachers having to do more with less.

Maybe now would be a good time for those of us who are able, to volunteer in a classroom. We don’t have to be a rocket scientist, just a willing helper. Read a book, help a student with their homework, grade some papers.

And for those who can’t volunteer, a few letters or emails to our elected representatives with some choice words about Olympia’s need to reform the way it currently funds public education wouldn’t hurt.

One person may not be able to solve our budget woes, but we just might be able to make a positive impact in the life of a student or make a teacher’s job easier to manage!

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Brackets, Barack, and Bruce

Rich Jacobson

Well, it was a week for a couple of major upsetting defeats…

My beloved No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks were sent packing after falling in their second game of the NCAA Tournament to 9th seeded Northern Iowa.

And, after some serious arm-twisting and back room pay-offs, President Obama’s National Healthcare Bill was passed and signed into law.

Well, at least for the Jayhawks, there’s always next year!

On a more positive note, I had the pleasure of attending the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce President’s Luncheon this past Wednesday. As the Vice-President of CSTOCK’s Board of Directors, I’ve recently started attending our Chamber events to network with local businesses.

I have to say that newly hired Executive Director Michael Broome is doing an outstanding job of generating positive buzz and organizing meaningful Chamber events. The future of Silverdale’s Chamber is looking very bright!

During the luncheon, the Chamber bestowed an “Excellence in Education” award to one of our local educators within the Central Kitsap School District – well-known and well-loved teacher, Bruce Larson.

For 36 years, Bruce has been a teacher and basketball coach at Central Kitsap Junior High. He had been commended the night before by the CKSD Board of Directors for his devotion to his students’ academic and athletic success.

Throughout his teaching and coaching career, Bruce Larson has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to academic success in the classroom as well as good sportsmanship on the court. His fellow teachers describe him as a positive role model who connects with his students through humor. He understands that lessons taught in the classroom and in competition are tools for future success and works closely with parents to motivate and monitor students progress.

I can personally vouch for Coach Larson’s abilities and valued service to our students. As a Father of 3 boys who passed through the hallowed halls of CK Junior High, I observed first-hand the respect and rapport he engendered with students. He also coached my son, Elliot, in basketball during 8th grade.

Central Kitsap Schools and our community-at-large is fortunate to have so many gifted educators like Bruce Larson who provide such valued role models and equip our students to excel.

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CKSD Hosts Public Meetings for Critical Budget Issues

Rich Jacobson

The Central Kitsap School District will be hosting four public meetings this month regarding development of its operating budget for next school year. Parents and community members are invited to attend to learn more about the budget process and to provide feedback.

The following meetings are scheduled:

Thursday, March 18th
5:00 pm-6:00 pm and 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
Jenne-Wright Gymnasium
9210 Silverdale Way NW

Monday, March 22nd
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Klahowya Secondary School Auditorium
7607 NW Newberry Hill Road

Tuesday, March 23rd
6:30 pm-7:30 pm
Olympic High School Forum
7070 Stampede Blvd. NW

Based upon initial state budget proposals, CKSD could be required to reduce up to up to $4.3 million from its $115 million budget. However, the District will not know the full extent of its budget shortfall until the final state budget is released.

SCHOOL FUNDING FACTS
In an era of increasing expectations, high accountability and federal requirements, further state cuts to K-12 education will have a devastating effect on student achievement.

For more information, GO HERE.

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State Budget May Force CKSD to Get Blood from a Turnip

Rich Jacobson

Prior to the vote on the recent CK Support School Levy, there was quite a stir of rather heated debate occurring here on the Kitsap Sun website regarding the respective merits of voting yea or nay.

Many of those commenting faulted WA State officials for not properly funding local public education. Still others placed the blame on district superintendents, staff, and school boards for not exercising prudent fiscal responsibility.

Well, if you weren’t aware, both the Senate and the House released their budget proposals last Tuesday, and next week, will negotiate a finalized budget. The negative impact that the extreme reductions proposed in this budget draft could have at the local level would be catastrophic.

Just in case you want to see what impact the proposed budget would have, please click here to view the School Funding Facts II, or click here to view the supporting documentation.

As our state legislators hash out the last minute details of the budget, the good folks down at Central Kitsap School District are continuing their efforts in developing CKSD budget options for school year 2010-11. Their proactive and fiscally conservative approach over the last several years has allowed them to anticipate and avoid the drastic large-scale layoffs faced last spring by other districts throughout the state and to keep cuts from impacting the classroom.

However, ultimately, the solvency of CKSD’s financial future rests with our elected legislators and the governor. Our district financial personnel have already made all the reductions they can without taking any severe measures. Unfortunately, our district has little additional financial resources available to effectively absorb the multi-million dollar reductions contained in the current budget proposals.

Anyone who is familiar with our Superintendent, Greg Lynch, Executive Director David McVicker, and the hard working members of our school board, knows how seriously they all take their responsibilities and stewardship of district finances. These are all people who genuinely care about the quality of education our kids receive, and seek to equip our teachers and school staff with all the resources necessary to maintain that result.

I am extremely grateful to the voters of Central Kitsap who approved the recent levy renewal. The current economic times are tough on all of us and it’s not easy to commit even more of our hard earned dollars to a cause that is supposed to be fully funded by State government.

Let’s hope that the folks in Olympia find some other way to cover the budget shortfalls than to further impede our school district’s ability to ensure educational excellence.

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CK Schools Levy Renewal – A Sound Investment

Rich Jacobson

There’s been a lot of somewhat heated, yet healthy discussion/debate regarding the upcoming local school support levies being voted upon by February 9th.

You can follow one of the ‘lively’ conversations HERE.

A rather interesting and timely article appeared in today’s Kitsap Sun:

“Judge Rules State not Fulfilling Duty to Fund Education”

KS Staff Blogger Marietta Nelson offers an ensuing commentary that poses the probing question: “What’s Missing?”

I can’t speak personally for the other districts within Kitsap County, but I can vouch for the Central Kitsap School District both as a resident and a parent of four CKSD students.

One of the benefits of living here in Central Kitsap is the sense of family and community that we all share. For those of us whose children have attended CK schools we have experienced firsthand the value and quality of education provided by the educators and staff of Central Kitsap School District.

I’ve never seen teachers and administrators who take such an active role in the lives of our kids. Superintendent Greg Lynch and the School Board Members (especially Chris Stokke) can be seen at nearly every school function or activity (even taking time out to personally read books in class to elementary students). Such occasions have afforded me countless opportunities of becoming better acquainted with our school leaders/administrators.

We are most fortunate here in Central Kitsap to have such highly qualified administrators/staff, and dedicated board members, all who possess high ethical standards and personal integrity.

A vote of “YES’ to renew the upcoming CK school support levy is not only a vote for our kids, but it’s also a vote of trust and confidence in our teachers and district leadership, to empower them all to continue their proven track record of educational excellence!

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12 CK Teachers Achieve National Board Certification

Rich Jacobson

CKSD Educators Achieve National Board Certification

Pictured (left to right): Board President Chris Stokke, Dan Kontos (OHS), Scott Borgmann (CKJH), Cynthia Larson-Faragalli (WO), Janet Hegtvedt (BR), Andrea Tabert (SI), Penny Timm (CV), Janice Jacobson (BR), Lisa Pitcher (CV), David Pitcher (KSS), Superintendent Greg Lynch

Not pictured: Heidi Erickson (BR), Mindy Halstead (BR), Robbin Scheer (CO)

Twelve educators were honored by the Central Kitsap School Board during their meeting last Wednesday night for attaining National Board Certification. This is the highest number yet for our District!

Honorees, family members and friends came to celebrate at a reception prior to individual recognition at the School Board meeting where each teacher received a personalized frame to display their certificates. In addition, CKSD Superintendent Greg Lynch presented the School Board President, Chris Stokke, with a “perpetual plaque” listing the names of all CKSD National Board Certified teachers. The plaque will be displayed permanently in the Jenne-Wright Administration Center, and new names will be added each year.

In his address to the assembly, Superintendent Lynch shared the following:

“It takes a tremendous amount of hard work and determination to earn National Board Certification. We currently have 29 National Board Certified teachers; 8 teachers earned their Certification last year and twelve teachers this year, over a 30% increase! I am exceptionally proud of their success and dedication to excellence. It also is a testament to our District’s commitment to advancing student learning and to the importance of powerful teaching and learning.”

This year, 1,248 Washington teachers were certified, placing the state second nationally in new National Board Certified teachers. Washington’s 3,974 total National Board Certified teachers place the state fifth in the nation.

Congratulations to all the honorees for all of your dedication and hard work in completing such a distinctive level of achievement!

To learn more, Click here.

Remember to vote ‘YES!‘ in Support of the Upcoming School Replacement Levy!

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More Kudos for Central Kitsap Schools

Rich Jacobson

central-kitsap-school-district-creatively-controls-costs With the vote on the Central Kitsap School Support Replacement Levy coming soon, it’s nice to report instances where our local school board and district employees are working hard to manage/curtail the financial challenges associated with operating our public schools.

The efforts of Central Kitsap School District to save money and maximize energy efficiency are paying off—literally. During its meeting on January 13th, the School Board accepted a check from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) in the amount of $76,091.

(To read the full text of the press release, please click here.)

In addition, due to the hard work of our Facilities Department, CKSD employees have joined in the campaign to reduce energy consumption—with amazing results! Thanks to their efforts, the District has saved (in the form of cost avoidances) over $1 million in energy costs and has received or been approved for PSE grants and rebates totaling more than $884,474 since implementing an energy conservation program in October 2001.

Kudos to Superintendent Greg Lynch, the School Board, and all CKSD employees for your part to reduce energy consumption and better control spending!

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Central Kitsap Junior High celebrates 50th Anniversary

Rich Jacobson

central-kitsap-junior-high-school-50th-anniversay Central Kitsap residents won’t want to miss out on the upcoming celebration recognizing 50 years of educational excellence, history, and tradition at Central Kitsap Junior High.

The school will mark its 50-year anniversary next week with a community celebration on Tuesday, January 19th. Festivities will begin at 3:00 p.m., when the CKJH Boys Basketball Team will host the John Sedgwick Generals in the New Gym.

A special recognition ceremony honoring alumni and staff will occur at halftime. Also beginning at 3:00 p.m., the school will host an Open House in the cafeteria and Old Gym. Members of the public are invited to view memorabilia from CKJH’s earliest days, watch a commemorative slideshow, and enjoy some light refreshments. The Open House is scheduled until 6:00 p.m.

As a parent of 4 kids who have all gone through CKJH, we have benefited greatly from the incredibly gifted and dedicated school staff. We are extremely fortunate to have educators who are so diligently committed to the rounded development of our children.

All the more reason to vote ‘YES’ on the upcoming School Support Levy Replacement!

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Central Kitsap School Support Levy

Rich Jacobson

I have to confess that I’m slightly biased. central-kitsap-school-support-levy-2010

Okay, I’m more than slightly biased. I’m very biased.

My wife is an elementary teacher in the Central Kitsap School District. All 4 of our kids have attended CK schools and 3 have already graduated from Central Kitsap High School (named 7 times as one of the top high schools in the nation). As a local real estate professional, one of the bigger selling points that attracts new residents to our area is the reputation our district has earned for providing students with a quality education.

On February 9, 2010, Central Kitsap residents will have the opportunity of voting to replace the School Support Levy. The current levy, approved by voters in 2006, is at a rate of $2.16 per thousand of assessed value. For the first year of the new proposed School Replacement Levy, the rate would increase from $2.16 to approximately $2.49 per thousand of assess value.

central-kitsap-school-levy-helps-support-music-programs With all the recent decisions being made for us in our nation’s capitol, directing our hard-earned tax-paying dollars towards bailing out Wall Street and underwriting nationalized health-care, it’s nice to know that each of us can have a direct, positive impact by deciding to invest in our community, and the continued level of educational excellence being offered to our children.

I would encourage you to take just a moment and access the Central Kitsap School District website, and view the “Did You Know” page which lists many of the recent accomplishments by CK students and staff.

And please Vote ‘YES’ to replace the Central Kitsap School Support Levy!

For more detailed information, go to Central Kitsap School Support Levy.

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