State of our School District
Posted by Gary O'Rielly
on Jun 22, 2016
Our Special Guest speaker last week was Amy Beth Cook, Superintendent of the Lake Stevens School District. Amy Beth has been the Superintendent for the past five years. She shared a unique overview of the successes of our students, faculty, staff of the District as well as future insights.
Our Lake Stevens community is growing. In the 2011-12 school year there were 8,134 students and this year, 2015-16 there were 8,400 students. The School District has developed the 4 C's of Education: Communications; Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity. Graduation rates are among the highest in Snohomish County schools. In the creativity arena, what about the 5th grade student who developed a Mars rover. In the technology area, the second technology levy provided wireless every where in the school district. Chrome books will be given to all students from grades 6th through 12th. Employers need kids with good technology skills and this will give students the ability to use these technology devices to succeed in the future. Pocket devices are part of student learning abilities from as early as 2 years old. The District has a award winning VWX Robotics program. It started just 3-4 years ago and the 1st year the students went to the world competition in VWX Robotics.
Amy Beth thanked the community for the passage of the $116 million dollar bond. Lake Stevens is at 24% of collection for levies whereas many school districts are at the top level of 28%. Full day kindergarten is a critical beginning learning level. Full day Kindergarten was originially offered on a fee basis but beginning this year, the state is paying for full day kindergarten which requires more full day classrooms. Plus the District received $24 million dollars for lowering classroom size.
The construction program is moving ahead. The District will be breaking ground in about two weeks for the P5 campus on Lake Drive that will be home for up to 250 pre-school students and up to 700 elementary age students. We currently have 6 elementary schools and with the addition of the 7th this will causing some boundry changes. A video observancing the District's 60th Anniversary was part of Amy Beth's presentation. A new logo and the golden Viking program are part of our new venture into the next decade.
Lake Stevens has a outstanding education system, led by an incredible person in Amy Beth Cook with a staff to match. Thank you for being part of our program each year and updating us on the State of the School District.