February 3, 2025: Affirming Our Shared Values in Support of Students, Families, and Staff

Message from the Superintendent

February 3, 2025

Dear Northshore Colleagues: 

In Northshore we are committed to providing safe, inclusive, and welcoming schools for each and every student, their family, and our staff. Diversity is our greatest strength, and our policies and actions reflect these values.

I want to take this opportunity to address the recent executive orders issued by our new federal administration - some of them impacting our families, students, and staff. Last Thursday night you should have all received additional guidance on our approach to engagement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This is a follow up to information shared on January 21, 2025 in District Highlights. This guidance has been reviewed by our legal counsel. It also supports our long-standing procedure 4411, Relations with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Law Enforcement Agencies. While it is unlikely that ICE will use changes to Homeland Security policies to access schools, it is important that we all understand our legal requirements and moral obligations to our students and their families. 

And on January 29, 2025 the president signed an executive order with the intent to limit support and care for our transgender and gender expansive students as well as narrowing how we teach about and support our highly diverse student population. I want to be very clear that our continued support of our students - our community’s children - will not change. We will continue to uphold Washington State laws, comply with OSPI, and our own Northshore Board policies and district procedures. There are two important things to note regarding this most recent executive order impacting our students, their families, and our staff. First, I want to remind staff that while executive orders are written directives that manage the federal government's operations, they can be challenged in court, overturned if they lack support from the Constitution or statute, or overturned by a sitting president by issuing another executive order. Congress can also pass legislation that makes it difficult to carry out such an order. Additionally, our public schools are not federal agencies - the focus of the executive order - and the federal funding that Northshore does receive is minimal. 71.6% of our funding comes from the state and 14.6% comes from local bonds and levies. The remaining funds are a combination of grants, private donors, and some federal funding. As we navigate these federal announcements, please keep this information in mind. 

One of the many reasons I love Northshore is that we are clear about our shared values. These values have not and will not change. We will continue to be a school district that honors our commitments to each and every student, their families, and staff. We will continue to provide safe, inclusive, affirming, and welcoming working and learning environments. Above all, we will continue to care for each other and demonstrate kindness. These values are the foundation of our District policies, and we will hold ourselves accountable to them. If you have any questions about my expectations - don’t hesitate to reach out. 

In other news, last Monday Northshore visited with our Legislative Representatives as well as Governor Ferguson’s policy staff. Our committed School Board Directors, parents, Labor Partners, staff, and students shared how continued budget shortfalls are impacting our students. I want to thank our representatives for listening and engaging with us. I also want to celebrate our incredible students. As you are aware, January 27th was a non-student day and our students chose to use their day off to visit Olympia and share their perspectives and stories. I am so proud of our student leaders - they give me great hope for our collective future.

I also want to share a budget poem written by Kimberly Leatherman, one of our incredible special education paraeducators at Sorenson Early Childhood Center. She also represented Northshore in Olympia and read her poem to our Legislative Representatives. She is pictured above, doing what she loves - supporting and educating our youngest leaders. I was able to see her in action during the School Board visit to Sorenson last Thursday. 

"WE NEED FUNDING"

With current gaps in funding

Our future is at stake

But you can make the difference

In decisions that you make

We do our jobs to impact lives

We invest our heart and soul

We go above and beyond, each day

So our kids can achieve their goals

I have bargained for the last five years

to put supports in place

And last year we were focused on supports to be erased

Our seasoned teachers leave each day

With broken hearts, in tears

Screaming "WE NEED FUNDING" falling on deaf ears

So today we stand before you

United in our plea

To uphold your paramount duty

Fully fund us finally

(Kim Leatherman 1/26/25)

Thank you to everyone fighting for our students and our community’s well-being. Below in District Highlights you will find again, resources and related Northshore policies and procedures. Please review them. 

In partnership, 

Michael Tolley
Superintendent

Highlights from Around the District

Have a story you would like to see shared in the "Highlights from Around the District" section of this message and on our website? Submit using this form.

All children present in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have a right to attend public school. In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled in the case Plyler v. Doe, confirming that states cannot deny students a free, public education based on their immigration status or their parents’ or guardians’ immigration status. Immigration status and citizenship, like other student data, is protected under FERPA. Northshore employees should not ask for or record a student’s immigration status. Learn more about immigrant student rights, related Northshore Policies and Procedures, and other resources here.

Relevant policies, procedures, and documents that refer to racial and educational justice, gender inclusive schools, nondiscrimination, and safety concerns include: 

• Racial and Educational Justice Policy 0001
• Gender Inclusive Schools Policy 3211 
• Gender Inclusive Schools Procedure 3211P
• Gender Support Plan
• Nondiscrimination Policy 3210
• Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
• Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying Policy 3207
• Prohibition of Discrimination, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Procedure 3207P
• Report a Safety Concern

February is Black History Month! The concept of this celebratory month was created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who has come to be known as the “Father of Black History” for his efforts to insert and elevate the experiences, histories, key contributions, and lives of Black peoples and communities in American history. During this month and every day, the Northshore School District recognizes and affirms the lives, intersecting identities, histories, and experiences of our Black students, families, community members, and staff.

February is Career & Technical Education Month! This week, we will also celebrate these programs during the annual Career & Technical Education Open House for Parents and Students. Students who will be in high school next year and their families are invited to join us for an evening of program exploration, course planning, and career inspiration on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Bothell High School Commons. With more than 30 programs represented at the open house, everyone is invited to connect with teachers and current students while learning about courses and student leadership opportunities.

National School Counseling Week 2025 is Feb. 3-7, 2025, celebrating the unique contribution of school counselors within our U.S. school systems. The theme is School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. This week, and every week, we appreciate the critical role our school counselors play in the development and growth of our Northshore students. Thank you, school counselors!

Important Dates

The following section features non-school days, Northshore School Board meetings, and religious and cultural observances, including dates listed on the Days of Highest Impact and Days of Fasting charts that are part of Northshore’s Religious and Cultural Observances Calendar. This aims to expand awareness about the multiple forms of diversity among our students and families, the days that students may not be at school due to religious observances, and the days that students may be fasting. 

Feb. 1-28

• Black History Month
• Career & Technical Education Month

Feb. 5

• Early Release Wednesday

Feb. 7

• Elementary Schools Only - Early Dismissal for Conferences by Invite

Feb. 10

• School Board Regular Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
• School Board Study Session, 6 p.m. - Topic: 2026 Bond and Levy Planning

Feb. 12

• Early Release Wednesday

Feb. 17

• Presidents’ Day - No School

Feb. 18-21

• Mid-Winter Break - No School

Feb. 26

• Early Release Wednesday

The following section features additional important dates, including those listed on the Full Religious and Cultural Observances chart three, which is part of Northshore’s Religious and Cultural Observances Calendar.

*Begins at sundown of previous day/ends at sundown

Jan. 27

• Isra and Mi’raj* - Islamic
• International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Feb. 1

• Imbolc* - Neo Pagan

Feb. 13

• Tu B’Shvat/Tu B’Shevat* - Jewish

Feb. 14

• Valentine’s Day - U.S. Culture

Feb. 15

• Nirvana Day - Buddhist

Feb. 19

• Day of Remembrance (Japanese Internment) - U.S. Culture

Feb. 25

• Maha Shivaratri - Hindu

Feb. 26-28

• Ayyam-i-Ha* - Baha’i

Northshore School District is enriched by the many experiences and perspectives each individual member brings to our District and community. Therefore, our District prohibits discrimination based on age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, cognitive, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Civil Rights and ADA Coordinator for Staff: 
Jerred Kelly
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7622 or 7604
TitleIXOfficer@nsd.org  

Title IX Coordinator: 
Jerred Kelly
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7622 or 7604
TitleIXOfficer@nsd.org 

The Northshore School District shall provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the District’s academic, activities, or employment programs without discrimination. In addition, the District provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups in its programs and activities.

Section 504 and ADA Coordinator for Students: 
Rick Ferrell
Director of Student Services
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-8972
425-408-7632
rferrell@nsd.org 

Any Northshore School District staff and community member has the right to raise concerns or make a complaint regarding discrimination under this policy without fear of retaliation. The above-listed employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged unlawful discrimination.