2007-08: Success now and in the future

Can you hear the final bell? That’s the sound of summer break! And the entire Issaquah School District community deserves some reflection and relaxation after such a significant school year: 2007-08 was foundational—years from now, we will still be building on the strong foundations we put in place today.

Literally! Thanks to the successful 2006 bond, Issaquah High right now awaits bulldozers to begin the school’s first total rebuild since 1962; Skyline High’s major remodel is on the same timeline for completion in 2010, and it won’t be too long before Maywood Middle School and Liberty High are remodeled.

Dr. Steve Rasmussen visiting
Sunset Elementary School.

Achoo! Luckily, that demolition dust has not clouded our long-term vision. Superintendent Steve Rasmussen tacked up his WSU posters in the Superintendent’s office last July and immediately concentrated his leadership on plotting a strategic plan to put the District’s mission into action. (Of course, he had several thousand people to meet and 24 schools and various District facilities to visit at the same time!) This high-level planning with the School Board continues today and will result in a fluid, multi-year roadmap with measurable targets to ensure that every student graduates prepared for the challenges of a dynamic global environment.

Teachers took a significant step toward this goal when they ratified a three-year contract in September with the District mission embedded in it. That makes our entire school system stronger as teachers focus their instruction, training, and collaboration on cohesive, comprehensive learning goals that span kindergarten through 12th grade.

Speaking of professional development—did you know that a powerful teacher is five times more influential than any other education factor on student achievement? That means the Issaquah community made a tremendous investment in its children by donating more than $160,000 in the Issaquah Schools Foundation’s spring Calling for Kids fund-raiser. Thank you! That money will allow all our teachers the opportunity to get the latest training in research-backed strategies to reach all levels of learners and to apply for National Board Certification.

This year, we continued to strengthen all aspects of instruction through individual school Continuous Improvement Plans as well as additions such as a biology adoption and increased numbers of curriculum coaches. However, two areas stole the spotlight this year: Math and high school programs.

Elementary teachers across the District committed to implementing the new Everyday Math curriculum right. They spent much of their Wednesday collaborative planning time together to hone their instruction. All elementary students now spend 70 to 90 minutes daily learning consistent, fundamental math lessons. The results are already showing in upward standardized test scores. Because of this capacity in younger grade levels and Microsoft Math Initiative grant money for classroom support, the District was able to create a new middle school math sequence that will open the door for every student to reach higher math courses in high school.

And that’s great news! We want to provide every opportunity for students to graduate with an immense depth of knowledge and skill to be competitive. Recognizing this imperative, the state for the first time this year began requiring students to show their mastery of core subjects via the WASL (or an approved alternative) in order to graduate. Our seniors capably rose to the challenge.

Our high schools, however, are always looking to improve. A District proposal to alter Liberty’s block schedule turned into an even better alternative this May: All our high school principals will spend next year researching and gathering input to create a high school experience that best matches students’ needs. Everything—everything!—that affects learning is on the table, including graduation requirements, which a separate committee is now evaluating.

“All in” was also the theme of the boundary review process begun in February. While the District has made smaller, localized boundary shifts in the past decade, this is the first time that every school has the possibility for change as lines are drawn to accommodate a new middle school and elementary opening on the Sammamish Plateau within the next two years. The committee still has to finalize its recommendation next fall, but the current proposal creates a truly remarkable, long-lasting feeder pattern for students: With one exception, students will stay together with their classmates from elementary through high school.

Yes, the 2007-08 school year has been filled with “news”— new buildings, a new superintendent, new curriculum, new contracts, new partnerships, and new boundaries. Each has contributed to a strong foundation of student learning that will continue to support greater levels of achievement in the years ahead.

SO HOLD ON! 2008-09, here we come!