Superintendent's Messages
April 13, 2010 Dear Northshore Staff and Community, On Monday of this week - after close to a month in an extended special session - the Legislature adopted an operating budget for the coming year. While the impacts of that budget are better than some of the earlier budget proposals considered by the Legislature, the adopted budget still requires close to $3 million in budget adjustments in Northshore for next year. Specifically, the adopted budget eliminates the last remaining Learning Improvement Day for our teachers. It also eliminates the remaining Initiative 728 class size reduction funding and reduces the enhanced staffing allocation for grade 4 (although the enhanced allocation for grades K-3 are maintained). On Tuesday of this week, the School Board was presented with a budget adjustment proposal to address this $3 million gap. The adjustment proposal includes the use of alternative revenue sources (use of fund balance and interest earnings), utility reductions (efficiencies and price stability), and staffing modifications (shifting portions of some positions to the Capital Projects Fund, further consolidating transportation routes, and restructuring the special education extended school year). To the greatest extent possible, we have worked to maintain our current class size ratios, support continued curriculum updates, and minimize the impact on students in the classroom and our teaching and support staff. The Board intends to take action on the budget adjustment recommendation at their regularly scheduled meeting on April 27. During the legislative session, a new law was also passed to allow communities to provide more local levy support to their schools. This law would allow the Board to run a supplemental levy election to enhance the operating levy approved by our voters in February. Such a levy would mean an additional $7 to $12 million in local levy funding over the next four years. Between now and April 27, I invite you to provide your feedback and input on our priorities as a district, the adjustment plan being considered by the Board, and a new law enacted by the legislature this spring to allow more local levy support for schools. The district will host three budget workshops next week - April 20 at the Bothell High School Commons; April 21 at the Inglemoor High School Cafeteria; and April 22 at the Woodinville High School Commons. Each workshop is from 6 - 8 PM. For those unable to attend a workshop, I encourage you to submit your feedback and input via an electronic survey available on our website at www.nsd.org.
Dear Northshore Friends & Colleagues, Last night's election results lead me to be cautiously optimistic that the Northshore community has again stepped forward to support our mission of "Strengthening Our Community Through Excellence in Education." While many votes are yet to be counted, it appears certain that the Renewal Education Operations Support Levy and the Renewal Technology Levy will easily maintain the 50% simple majority necessary for passage. The Capital Projects Bond, which requires a 60% supermajority, is less certain. Further vote counts later this week will determine the final outcome. I want to take this opportunity to give some much-deserved thanks. Many community volunteers and district employees have worked tirelessly on this election over the past several months. I can't thank each of them enough for their hard work and dedication on behalf of our students and staff. Their efforts are crucial to our success. I also want to thank our community for not only renewing our levies, but for also renewing through their votes and tax dollars a commitment to maintain a world class education for the young people we serve. The Northshore community has a long and proud history of supporting its schools. This election continues that tradition.
October 6, 2009
With the November 3 election behind us, I would like to share some results that impact our district.
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