The latest issue of the Anacortes Pride, the district's quarterly newsletter, is out now. The Pride is mailed to every Anacortes household. Check out this issue for graduation highlights, senior profiles, district retirees, and much more! 

If you would like additional copies, or have any questions or feedback, please contact the Superintendent's Office at information@asd103.org

The Anacortes School District has launched a new website (www.asd103.org). The new platform was selected by a committee of district staff and parents. The new site offers better compliance with ADA requirements and is easier for staff to update and maintain. The new site has also been designed to be more compatible with mobile devices. 

We will continue to update and refine content over the summer. Please reach out if you find errors, or typos, or have any questions: information@asd103.org We welcome your feedback on the new site! 

Questions? Contact the Superintendent’s Office: information@asd103.org

Each summer, our principals assign all newly enrolled elementary students into one of our three elementary schools. Anacortes is a non-boundary district, so students are assigned to an elementary school based on a number of factors, including class size, sibling placement, parent preference, and transportation needs. 

Students who attended an ASD elementary school this past school year will attend that same school next year, unless you have requested a transfer. 

Placement timelines: 

• June 30: First round of building placement emails will be sent for anyone with a completed registration by June 22. 

• August 5: Second round of building placement emails will be sent for anyone with a completed registration by August 1. 

• August 26: Teacher placement emails will be sent to all families; any final building placement emails will be sent as well. 

We encourage families to register early to help with our placement assignment process. Student registration paperwork can be found here: https://anacortessd.cyberschool.com/files/user/2/file/Online_Enrollment_Parent_Instructions.pdf

Elementary school supplies are the same across all schools. The list of supplies can be found here: https://anacortessd.cyberschool.com/District/130-School-Supplies.html

Questions and appeals? Contact Anne Berard in the Teaching & Learning Department: aberard@asd103.org or (360) 503-1212

Heather Paddock has been hired as the district’s next Teaching & Learning Director, effective July 1, 2022. Paddock currently serves as a principal with Everett Public Schools. She has previously served as assistant principal, instructional coach, and middle school teacher. Paddock will take over the position from Angie Miller, who has chosen to return to a classroom teacher position for the next school year.  

“Heather’s background will make her an excellent leader for our Teaching & Learning Department,” said Superintendent Justin Irish. “With her experiences in the classroom, instructional coaching, and serving as principal, she deeply understands the throughline between the classroom and the district office. She also has the strong ability to connect with others, building positive relationships with students, staff, families, and community members.” 

The Teaching & Learning Director is responsible for overseeing the district’s curriculum implementation and adoption, professional development programs for teachers, and ensuring student achievement across all grade levels. 

“I am excited to get to know the Anacortes School District and community,” said Paddock. “My experience in a wide range of schools has provided me the perspective to understand the unique needs of students, staff, and families. I approach this role with a love of teaching and learning for both students and staff.” 

Questions? Superintendent Justin Irish (360) 503-1211 or jirish@asd103.org 

The Anacortes School District is proactively reviewing its budget projections for future years and making adjustments based on student and staff needs in light of future federal funding reductions and a drop in student enrollment. For the 2022-23 projected annual budget, the Anacortes School District would face a $2.4 million shortfall. However, because of its proactive and conservative budgeting process and strong community support for passing school levies, the district will not need major budgetary adjustments for the 2022-23 school year. The district’s projected budget for 2022-23 and is currently estimated at $45,104,207.

The district anticipates continued declining enrollment rates in future years, due to various factors including declining birth rates and housing availability. The district’s student enrollment has dropped by almost 250 students over the past two school years due to COVID. School districts across the country have seen similar declining enrollment rates due to the pandemic. The district received federal and state COVID relief funding for the 2020-21 and 2021-2022 school years to support enrollment reductions and the costs associated with its response to COVID. Those funds will be exhausted during this next budget cycle.  

Next school year’s deficit will be made up through attrition, staff reassignment, continued use of COVID relief funds, while also using some of the district’s reserve fund. 

“We are working creatively to make budget adjustments, with our primary focus on serving students in the classroom. We are not reducing staff at this time. Some staff are being reassigned to other positions, and we will consider not filling other positions as they become vacant,” said Irish. 

The district has made the following reductions for the 2022-23 school year: 

• Did not fill the Executive Director of Technology, Food, and Transportation. These duties have been reassigned to the Executive Director of Finance and Operations.
• Reduced deans at Island View Elementary and Anacortes High School
• Reduced materials, supplies, and operating expenditures   
• Eliminated all positions funded by COVID-related grants 

COVID relief funds will end in 2022-2023, so the district is making long-term plans to ensure continued effective fiscal management. The district will continue to invest in long-term, proactive budget planning and filter all decisions through the district’s strategic five-year plan and annual operating plan.

“We commit to being transparent and taking a strategic approach to our budgeting process for next year to ensure high academic, social, and emotional student success,” said Irish. “We look forward to engaging stakeholders in our strategic planning and budget processes next year and beyond.” 

The school board will review the draft budget on August 11, 2022, and vote on the final budget on August 25, 2022. 

Questions? Superintendent Justin Irish (360) 503-1211 or jirish@asd103.org 

We are deeply saddened by the news of a school shooting in Texas yesterday. Although we may be many miles away from Uvalde, Texas, we all feel the impact of violence that touches a school. We offer our deepest condolences to the families, students, staff and community that are grieving such a profound loss. 

Student & staff safety is our utmost priority. We have systems and plans in place to keep us as safe as possible, and are further refining our current safety plans. 

Our current safety measures include: 

• Secure entrances at all buildings 
• Regular drills with students to help them know how to respond in emergency situations
• Established safety plans. We are also reviewing and revising these plans to make them even more effective. 
• A School Resource Officer assigned to middle and high schools. 
• Collaborative partnerships with the Anacortes Police and Fire Departments. 
• Mental Health support at all schools. 

We know that these tragedies hit close to home, and can cause you and your children to have questions. Make time to talk and listen to your children’s concerns. Keep explanations developmentally appropriate. Reassure your children that their teachers, principals, and all school staff will do everything they can to keep them safe at school. 

Here are some additional resources for families: 

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (nasponline.org)
• How to talk to kids after 14 children, teacher killed in Texas school shooting - ABC News (go.com)
• How to talk to children about shootings: An age-by-age guide (today.com)
• How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings | Common Sense Media
• Guidelines-Talking-to-Kids-About-Attacks-Two-Sided-Onesheet-Format.pdf (schoolcrisiscenter.org) 

Questions? Contact Superintendent Justin Irish, jirish@asd103.org, (360) 503-1211

We are deeply saddened by the news of a school shooting in Texas yesterday. Although we may be many miles away from Uvalde, Texas, we all feel the impact of violence that touches a school. We offer our deepest condolences to the families, students, staff and community that are grieving such a profound loss. 

Student & staff safety is our utmost priority. We have systems and plans in place to keep us as safe as possible, and are further refining our current safety plans. 

Our current safety measures include: 

• Secure entrances at all buildings 
• Regular drills with students to help them know how to respond in emergency situations
• Established safety plans. We are also reviewing and revising these plans to make them even more effective. 
• A School Resource Officer assigned to middle and high schools. 
• Collaborative partnerships with the Anacortes Police and Fire Departments. 
• Mental Health support at all schools. 

We know that these tragedies hit close to home, and can cause you and your children to have questions. Make time to talk and listen to your children’s concerns. Keep explanations developmentally appropriate. Reassure your children that their teachers, principals, and all school staff will do everything they can to keep them safe at school. 

Here are some additional resources for families: 

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (nasponline.org)
• How to talk to kids after 14 children, teacher killed in Texas school shooting - ABC News (go.com)
• How to talk to children about shootings: An age-by-age guide (today.com)
• How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings | Common Sense Media
• Guidelines-Talking-to-Kids-About-Attacks-Two-Sided-Onesheet-Format.pdf (schoolcrisiscenter.org) 

Questions? Contact Superintendent Justin Irish, jirish@asd103.org, (360) 503-1211

Annette Woolsey will receive the 2022 Brodniak Award for Cultural Arts Education for her decades of advocacy, funding, and support of the arts both in the schools and the greater community.

Woolsey was director of Anacortes Youth Arts from 1992 through 1997, a board member of the Anacortes Arts Festival, a member of the ASD Cultural Education Committee and the Education Committee at the Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA). She also sat on the board of ArtsEd WA, formerly known as Washington Alliance for Arts Education, for 10 years. She was a board member and active participant in Fidalgo DanceWorks for 15 years and has helped fund special arts projects in the school district and projects that link ASD students with Syrian refugees through poetry and art. In addition, Woosley serves on the jazz committee funded by the Manieri Endowment to the City of Anacortes.

In her nomination of Woolsey, retired Fidalgo teacher and former recipient of the Brodniak Award Sherry Chavers lauds Woolsey for her staunch support of youth arts and her tireless advocacy for the arts in all forms: dance, music, cross-cultural connections through poetry and art. 

“She has a passionate belief that children need art to be fully realized and to express themselves creatively,” said Chavers. “She believes that art is for ALL children and that it offers a ‘safe space’ to thrive. She deserves this because of her fierce and long-lasting commitment to the arts and the youth of Anacortes School District.” 

Woolsey found out about the award at a Manierei jazz committee meeting and was completely floored. She gives credit to the teachers and artists who have linked students to the many values the arts teach: achievement, suppleness of mind, cooperation, understanding of technology and the value of content, diversity and equity.

“I’m deeply honored that my work in the community has made a meaningful contribution to the school district,” Woolsey said. “It’s been a joy to see young people in our community, often students who are struggling in other areas, blossom and grow through the arts.”

The Walter A. Brodniak Cultural Education Award was created in 1977, upon Mr. Brodniak's retirement as Superintendent of the Anacortes School District, "to foster growth of the cultural arts in the District." The award is given each spring to a student, faculty member, administrator, school director, community member or community organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the cultural arts in the Anacortes School District during the current school year.

Woolsey will be recognized on May 19th at the school board meeting to be held at AHS library at 6:15 p.m. 

Questions? Contact the Superintendent’s Office: 360-503-1211 or tramsay@asd103.org 

The Anacortes School District has reached an agreement with Daniel Williams, principal at Anacortes High School. Williams was hired as principal on July 1, 2021. The district’s insurance provider will cover the costs of the settlement. 

The district denies any of the allegations made in Williams’ claims. Both parties acknowledge that the agreement is not, and will not be construed as an admission of wrongdoing, liability or a violation of any duty, contract, law or regulation. Mr. Williams is no longer serving as principal at Anacortes High School. 

The district will continue to support the high school staff and students, especially through busy year-end activities. Families, students, and staff should reach out to Dr. Erin Duez if they have questions or need additional support. Superintendent Irish, Assistant Superintendent Becky Clifford, and other members of the district’s leadership team will continue to provide support as needed.

Questions? Contact Superintendent Justin Irish, jirish@asd103.org or (360) 503-1211

Dr. Erin Duez and Dr. Brian Hanrahan have been named as finalists for the principal position at Anacortes High School. Staff, families, students, and community members are invited to a public forum on Monday, May 23, 2022, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Brodniak Auditorium at Anacortes High School to hear a brief presentation from each candidate and engage in an audience Q&A. This presentation will also be live-streamed (youtube.com/ahslive). Feedback will be collected both in-person and electronically, although only in-person audience members will be able to ask questions of the candidates. 

These finalists will also take part in a multi-part interview panel at Anacortes High School next week, which will include meeting with students and staff, a building tour, and a performance exercise. 

Duez currently serves as Principal at Cap Sante High School and Assistant Principal at Anacortes High School. Hanrahan currently serves as Principal at Island View Elementary in Anacortes.

“This process has multiple facets to ensure that the successful candidate is able to navigate all aspects of the job,” said Superintendent Justin Irish. “We want to see how they engage with students, staff, and families. We also want to understand how they use decision-making processes to design rigorous learning opportunities for students.” 

The finalists were selected from a well-qualified pool of applicants following a comprehensive search for the next leader of Anacortes High School. An interview panel, composed of high school staff, student representatives, district administrators, and the superintendent chose the finalists for their background and experience leading schools and establishing a positive school culture. 

The principal at Anacortes High School oversees approximately 80 certificated and classified staff, and a student body of approximately 700 students. The high school has been recognized in the past for its high graduation rates, and achievement of students in academics, arts, and extracurricular activities. The principal serves on the District’s Leadership Team and helps guide the district’s focus on developing rigorous learning opportunities for all students. 

Questions? Superintendent Justin Irish, jirish@asd103.org or (360) 503-1211 

Anacortes Middle School Principal Patrick Harrington has accepted a position with the Oak Harbor School District as Assistant Superintendent, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. 

Harrington has served with the Anacortes School District for nearly 20 years, serving as assistant principal and principal at Anacortes Middle School. Harrington has also served as the district’s safety director for the past five years. 

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the district, its families, and its students for the past two decades,” said Harrington. “It has also been a pleasure serving under Superintendent Irish, as he guided our team through a couple of tough years. Our team is stronger because of his leadership. It was a very tough decision to leave the district.”  

Harrington noted he is grateful for the collaborative team at the middle school and district office. 

“The opportunity at Oak Harbor is the right step for me, professionally and personally, at this stage in my career, though I will be sad to leave the close friends and colleagues I have here in Anacortes,” said Harrington. 

Dr. Justin Irish noted Harrington’s strength in building relationships with his staff, families, and students. 

“Patrick’s knowledge of the community, district operations, and past practices has been invaluable to me,” said Irish. “He is truly a team player who will be missed. As sad as I am seeing him leave our district, I am excited for him to have a new opportunity. I fully support him as he advances in his career.” 

The district will develop a recruitment plan to hire the next middle school principal, with opportunities for staff and community input.  

Questions? Superintendent Justin Irish, (360) 503-1211 or jirish@asd103.org