Dear Anacortes School District Families,

We wanted to inform you of a recent update to the student calendar for February. The "Evening Conferences" scheduled for February 12 have been removed. Please see the corrected schedule below:

• February 10: K-5 Half-Day (Conference Planning)
• February 11: K-5 Half-Day (Afternoon Conferences)
• February 12: K-5 Half-Day (Afternoon Conferences)
• February 13: K-12 Half-Day (Afternoon & Evening Conferences, No Pre-K)
• February 14: K-8 Half-Day (Students Only)
• February 17: No School – Presidents Day  

For your convenience, the updated printable calendar is available here: 2024-25 Student Calendar.

A friendly reminder that the week of February 10 to 14, 2025 is conference week for our K-12 students! Please be sure to mark your calendars and prepare for these important discussions about your child’s progress.

Thank you for your attention to these updates. If you have any questions, please email us at information@asd103.org.   

Sincerely, 

Anacortes School District 

Dear Anacortes School District Community,

I am sharing an update with you on the district’s financial challenges and the steps we must take to ensure the long-term health of our schools. These decisions are not made lightly, and we are committed to maintaining transparency throughout this process.

It is important to understand that Anacortes School District is not alone in navigating these financial difficulties. Many districts across Washington State face similar challenges, and this issue is part of a broader trend impacting public education statewide.

Like other districts, we are facing significant financial pressures, including:

• Declining Enrollment: We’ve seen a decrease in enrollment by about one percent annually, which reduces both state and local funding tied to student numbers. A further decline of one percent is expected in the coming years.

• Compensation Levels Exceeding Revenue: Employee contract compensation levels continue to exceed the revenue we receive from the state.

• Rising Costs: Inflation has significantly increased the costs of materials, supplies, and operational necessities, especially insurance premiums and utilities.

• Insufficient State Revenue: State funding has not kept pace with increasing costs, leaving a growing budget gap.

As a result, the district’s fund balance is projected to drop to 1.36% by the end of this school year, significantly below the required minimum of 4%. Over the past three years, we have implemented financial reductions, including a 20% reduction in administrative roles, a 14% reduction in classified staff, and a 3% reduction in teaching positions. These measures have been essential in helping us maintain a balanced budget despite ongoing financial pressures.

Total Reductions: 

• 2022-2023: $900,000

• 2023-2024: $3,200,000

• 2024-2025: $1,300,000

Looking ahead to the 2025-26 school year, we anticipate needing to reduce an additional $1.5 to $2 million from the $50 million budget. This challenge is compounded by expected enrollment declines, employee contract costs exceeding state revenue allocations, and potential increases from employee group bargaining in the coming years. 

The projected budget reductions for the next few years are as follows:

• 2025–2026 School Year: A reduction of $1.5 to $2 million, driven by enrollment declines and potential employee contract obligations.

• 2026–2027 School Year: A reduction of at least $600,000 due to projected enrollment declines and potential employee contract obligations.

• 2027–2028 School Year: A reduction of at least $600,000 due to projected enrollment declines and potential employee contract obligations.
  2028–2029 School Year: A reduction of at least $600,000 due to projected enrollment declines and potential employee contract obligations.

To address these challenges, we are committed to a thoughtful and collaborative process. While staffing reductions may be necessary, these discussions will take place internally, in accordance with our labor group process, and with the utmost respect for the confidentiality of personnel matters. We will continue to keep staff, families, and community members informed as we work through these difficult decisions.

While these reductions are challenging and complex, our commitment to providing high-quality education for every student remains steadfast. We are committed to navigating these challenges and securing a sustainable future for our schools.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support during this challenging time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Justin Irish, Superintendent 

Dr. Becky Clifford Named Next Superintendent of South Whidbey School District

We are proud to announce that Dr. Becky Clifford, our Assistant Superintendent, has been named the next Superintendent of South Whidbey School District, effective July 1, 2025. While her departure is bittersweet, we celebrate her outstanding contributions to Anacortes and know she will bring the same passion and dedication to her new role.

Reflecting on her time in Anacortes, Dr. Clifford shared: "I am incredibly excited for this new opportunity, but I will deeply miss this community—the students, staff, families, and our amazing partners. Serving Anacortes has been an honor, and while I look forward to my next chapter, we still have important work to accomplish before I leave. Saying goodbye will not be easy."

Dr. Clifford’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing key initiatives, such as enhancing curriculum and instructional practices, expanding social-emotional learning and mental health services, strengthening partnerships with local organizations, and overseeing the transformation of our special education services. Her ability to foster collaboration and champion student success has left a lasting impact on our district.

Superintendent Dr. Justin Irish reflected on her time in Anacortes: "Dr. Clifford and I began our journey in Anacortes together, and it has been an incredible experience working alongside her these past several years. Her commitment to students and her collaborative spirit have profoundly shaped our district. While we will miss her leadership, I am excited to see her thrive as she serves the South Whidbey community."

Dr. Clifford will remain in her current role through June 30, 2025, ensuring a smooth transition. Details regarding the process to fill this position will be shared in the coming weeks.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Clifford on this remarkable achievement and wishing her every success in her new role.

If you have any questions please email information@asd103.org. 

Adverse Weather Routes Now Available on My Ride K-12 App

Dear Anacortes School District Families,

With winter right around the corner, we want to make sure you are prepared for any weather-related disruptions that may affect school schedules and transportation. The Adverse Weather Routes are now available on the My Ride K-12 app. Please review your student’s stop location and pick-up time, as both may differ from their regular schedule in the event of adverse weather.

What You Need to Do

• Check your student’s bus stop information on the My Ride K-12 app to stay updated on potential changes. Adverse weather conditions may lead to delays or modifications to pick-up and drop-off times and locations.

• Download My Ride K-12: Parents and guardians are encouraged to download the My Ride K-12 app from their preferred app store. The app is available on both the Apple App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android).
  My Ride K-12 – Apple App Store (iOS)
  My Ride K-12 – Google Play Store (Android)

• To ensure you receive timely notifications about school closures, delays, or weather-related changes, please:
  - Review your Skyward account to make sure your contact information is up to date. If needed, report any changes to your child’s school.
  - Opt-in to receive text message alerts by texting “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. (If you’ve already opted in, no further action is needed.
  - Follow us on social media at Anacortes School District Facebook for real-time updates.

Important Reminders

• Ensure that your students are dressed appropriately for cold weather. This includes wearing warm coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and appropriate footwear, as students will be outside for activities such as recess, bus rides, and other outdoor activities.

• If your child is in elementary school, we encourage parents or guardians to meet them at the designated Adverse Weather Routes stop. If your child cannot navigate their way home (no older sibling or neighbor to walk with), they will be returned to school for safe pick-up.

• Timing Changes: Adverse weather may cause pick-up or drop-off times to vary. Please plan for possible delays and ensure your child is dressed appropriately for changing weather conditions.

• If your family has special transportation needs and your student’s transportation is impacted by weather, you will be notified directly with updated stop times or locations.

• For more information about adverse weather closures, delays, or transportation, please visit our Adverse Weather Closures & Delays page. 

If you have any questions regarding transportation or weather-related changes, please contact our transportation team at (360) 503-1155 or email Karen Garrison, Transportation Supervisor at kgarrison@asd103.org or Becky Sitton, Dispatcher at  rsitton@asd103.org.

Thank you for your attention to these updates and encourage you to prepare in advance for any weather-related changes this winter.

Sincerely,

The Anacortes School District Transportation Team

Transition of School Intervention Program to NWESD

The Anacortes School District and Island Health are excited to welcome the Northwest Educational Service District (NWESD) into our partnership to provide high-quality mental health services for middle and high school students. For nearly 15 years, Island Health has partnered with the district to offer free, confidential mental health support to students at Anacortes and Cap Sante High School, and Anacortes Middle School. This award-winning program has helped remove barriers to mental health care by placing Island Health social workers directly in the schools.

The Mental Health School Intervention Program (SIP) has been vital in supporting students facing depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and more. The Island Health Foundation (IHF) has funded the program since its inception, covering part of the cost of school-based social workers.

“It is exciting to see that after 15 years, the innovative SIP model is becoming mainstream and that there are now alternative funding sources for mental health in schools. We are thrilled to strengthen this partnership to support mental health both in our schools and in our clinics. The addition of NWESD enables more community resources to help address a critical need and investment in students’ lives,” said Island Health CEO Elise Cutter.

As more school-based mental health programs emerge and new funding sources become available, we are pleased to announce the transition of these services to NWESD. This shift reflects our continued commitment to student mental health.

"The Island Health Foundation remains committed to funding mental health initiatives in our schools, and we are excited that the innovative SIP model is becoming mainstream and expanding to include NWESD,” said Island Health Foundation Executive Director Marta McClintock.

Over the past three years, NWESD has successfully provided clinical school-based mental health services across the northwest region. During the 2023-24 school year, one of their clinicians served our elementary schools, with matching funds from the Anacortes School Foundation. As part of this transition, NWESD will now support a position for the secondary schools, while Island Health will continue to provide crisis management and zero-barrier services at their clinics.

Under the expanded partnership, NWESD will hire, train, and manage Mental Health Professionals (MHPs) through its licensed Behavioral Health Agency (BHA) to work in the Anacortes School District. This will be primarily funded by a federal grant from the Department of Education, with matching funds from the IHF providing $50,000 per year, per secondary-level social worker until designated funds are depleted.

“We are deeply grateful for our long-standing partnership with Island Health and the IHF, whose support has been invaluable. We are equally excited about expanding this collaboration with NWESD, confident that this transition we will continue to make a significant impact on our students’ lives and invest in their future,” said Dr. Rebecca Clifford, Assistant Superintendent.

In a press conference today, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal proposed a significant increase in funding for Washington public schools in the next state budget, totaling $2.9 billion. This will be the largest budget request submitted to Governor Inslee's office for inclusion in the 2025-27 state budget. It is crucial for the governor and legislature to fund this request to ensure that all students in Washington receive a high-quality education. 

This funding request is to address the current underfunding of K-12 education in Washington and cover essential public education needs. Reykdal emphasized the importance of fully funding special education, providing reliable transportation for all students, and covering the inflationary cost of materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC), which include school utilities, insurance, classroom supplies, technology, maintenance, and more.

Please take a moment to review how the lack of funding has impacted us locally by clicking here.

To watch the full press conference click here.

Key Transportation Updates 

We have important updates about transportation routes and stop locations for the upcoming school year. Please take a moment to check out the changes:

- All routes and stop locations have changed from prior years.
- Some stops have become larger community stops.
- Do not assume that because your student rode a bus last year, they will be on the same route this year. 

Note:  All students receiving special education transportation services have been routed and can expect transportation as communicated on the My K-12 app or by the transportation department.

If you have not completed a transportation request form in Skyward Family Access you must do that immediately so your student can be routed.

1. Log into Skyward Family Access.
   Note: Forgot your login or password? Simply hit “Forgot Login/Password?” and a link will be sent to your email currently on file. If you are still having issues, please email information@asd103.org and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

2. Under other online forms for each of your students find the Transportation Request Form. 

3. In the upper-right-hand corner of the Transportation Request Form, you will see an “Other ID” number that begins with 07. Write that number down, you will need it for the My Ride K-12 app to find your student (see screenshot) in the next step.
   Note: If you need assistance locating your student’s Other ID number call (360) 503-1200.

4. Download the MY Ride K 12 app to access the most up-to-date route information. For more information or instructions on how to download the My Ride K-12 app go to: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/32-Transportation

5. Check your student’s route information to confirm their new bus stop and schedule. If you do not see your student’s route in the My Ride K-12 app by 5:00 pm today, you may need to transport your student to school. 

6. Please inform your students of the change to their route and whether their route will service all three elementary schools so they are aware.
   
   If you find that there is no information available or if the information provided is incorrect, please do not hesitate to call our Transportation Department at (360) 503-1155 or email Rebecca Sitton at rsitton@asd103.org for assistance.
   
   Thank you for your attention to these important updates. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work to arrange transportation services for all students.

Important Transportation Updates for Anacortes School District Families

Dear Anacortes School District Families,

We have important updates about our transportation routes and stop locations for the upcoming school year. Please take a moment to check out the changes:

- All routes and stop locations have changed.
- Some stops have become larger community stops.
- Do not assume that because your student rode a bus last year they will be riding the same bus, this includes students receiving special education services.

To ensure a smooth transition, we kindly ask all families to:

1. Complete the transportation request form in Skyward Family Access which can be found under other online forms for each of your students. 
2. From the Transportation request form, you will see an other ID number (begins with 07) in the upper right-hand corner. Write that number down, you will need it for the My Ride K-12 app. 
    

3. Download the MY Ride K 12 app to access the most up-to-date route information.

4. Check your student’s route information to confirm their new bus stop and schedule.
5. Inform your student if their route will service all three elementary schools, so they are aware of the change.

If you find that there is no information available or if the information provided is incorrect, please do not hesitate to call our transportation department at (360) 503-1155 or email Rebecca Sitton at rsitton@asd103.org for assistance.

Thank you for your attention to these important updates. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work to improve our transportation services for all students.

For more information or instructions on how to download the My Ride K-12 app go to: https://www.asd103.org/District/Department/32-Transportation

Anacortes School District Transportation Department

REQUIRED Annual Student Information Update Now Open

The Anacortes School District is excited to announce that the REQUIRED Annual Student Information Update for the 2024-25 School Year is now open in Skyward! This essential process allows families to easily update their information on file and complete necessary forms, such as food service applications.

How to access and update Information:

1. Log into Skyward Family Access.
   Note: Forgot your login or password? Simply hit “Forgot Login/Password?” and a link will be sent to your email currently on file.

2. Click on “REQUIRED ANNUAL STUDENT INFORMATION UPDATE” and follow the steps for each student enrolled.

3. To update your address, please visit your student’s school after Monday, August 19th to provide verification documentation, such as a city utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, etc.

Completing the annual update confirms your student’s registration for the upcoming school year. Additionally, it ensures we have the most up-to-date ways to keep you informed about what’s happening in the Anacortes School District!

“This required process is essential for ensuring we have accurate information to support our students and keep our community informed,” said Superintendent Dr. Justin Irish. 

For any questions or assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to the district at information@asd103.org.

Instrucciones en español

Anacortes School District Statement on Recent Student Tragedy

It is with profound sadness that the Anacortes School District confirms the loss of one of our High School students. Our hearts break for the family, friends, classmates, and staff members affected by this tragic event. The Anacortes School District is committed to fostering an environment where every student feels safe, supported, and valued. 

In response to this tragedy, we are taking immediate steps to provide support and resources to all students, staff, and families affected:

1. Grief Counseling and Support Services:  We encourage anyone in need to seek support, and details on how to access these services will be communicated to all students and families.
   
   Mental health professionals were available at the Anacortes High School campus today. Continued support will be available at Anacortes High School on:
   
   Date:  Monday, July 29, and Tuesday, July 30
   Time: 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm
   Location: Anacortes High School 1600 20th Street, check-in at the main office.
    

2. Community Resources: We are collaborating with Island Health to provide comprehensive support to staff and students. A list of these resources is on our website.

As families, your role in helping your students process this loss is crucial. Encourage open conversations, listen to their feelings, and reassure them that it’s normal to grieve. On our website, you’ll find helpful resources specifically designed to assist children in coping with tragedy and grief. These resources offer valuable support during challenging times, helping children process their emotions and find ways to heal.

The Anacortes School District remains committed to the well-being of its students and staff and will continue to work hard to support those affected by this loss.