Marysville School District Connection Newsletter, Fall/Winter 2021-2022

DISTRICT NEWSLETTER Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Message from the Superintendent

Dr. Chris Pearson, Interim Superintendent

Welcome to the fall/winter edition of the Connections newsletter. We have done our best to navigate the various challenges of reopening schools full-time while supporting our students’ physical safety and sense of well-being. Thankfully, we have had great support from everyone in our school community. Now, as we head into December, we have managed to return to somewhat of a sense of normalcy, including completing a full fall sports season, hosting several different community events, and just recently completing parent-teacher conferences.

We also started the year focusing resources to support our students academically, socially, and emotionally. Emotional and physical safety are a top priority, along with creating a sense of belonging where each student feels valued, safe, and included. In support of this, we created Equity Advisory Teams, composed of students, parents, staff, and community members, to develop an Educational Equity Policy which was recently adopted by the Board of Directors. This followed the creation of the Equity Statement featured below. Go to https://bit.ly/MSDEquityPolicy to read the full version of the policy.

Although the Pandemic has brought many challenges and uncertainties, our students and staff are happy to be in school. We are seeing evidence of their learning every day, along with their accomplishments in extra-curricular activities such as art, music, band, and sports.

Moving forward, we have a lot happening here in our district. During the next couple of months, MPHS and Totem Middle School will complete their mascot change and selection process. You can learn more at https://www.msd25.org/ page/mascot-change-process. Additionally,

MARYSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM SafeSchools through our Vector Alert Tip Reporting System allows you to quickly, easily, and anonymously report safety concerns to school officials 24/7/365. Help us create a safer learning environment - to submit a tip or report harassment, intimidation, or bullying or unsafe behaviors, go to https://msvl-wa. safeschoolsalert.com/.

we have begun the superintendent search process that includes multiple opportunities for community feedback on the qualities they are seeking in their new leader. And we will be asking our community to vote on two levy measures on the February 8, 2022 ballot: an Educational Programs and Operations replacement levy, and a Technology and Capital Projects replacement levy. More information about these measures are included in this newsletter and also available on the district website at https:// www.msd25.org/page/levy-and-capitallevy-2022 including a list of community meeting opportunities.

Thank you to our families for your continued support. We are all stronger together.

Sincerely, Dr. Chris Pearson

Marysville School District Equity Statement

Disparities- a noticeable and usually significant difference.

Working together with Marysville communities and Tulalip Tribes, the Marysville School District holds itself accountable for eliminating group based disparities and barriers and ensures access to support each student in an equitable and inclusive environment. We value and honor the cultural diversity of every student, our families, staff, and community members in helping each student achieve personal and educational goals.

Difference Barriers - obstacles that can cause hindrance or stop progress completely.

Equitable - each person, receives what they need in the way of resources, attention, and support.

Inclusive - welcoming spaces and opportunities for all.

4220 80th Street NE • Marysville, WA 98270

Levy Facts & Information REPLACEMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS LEVY & REPLACEMENT TECHNOLOGY AND CAPITAL PROJECTS LEVY On February 8, 2022, Marysville School District will ask voters to renew their commitment to students and schools through two replacement levies. The two levies continue support for the educational programs and services students currently receive and provide for the improvement and maintenance of the facilities where they learn and grow. The replacement levies have a combined lower tax rate reducing the burden of cost to taxpayers by .30 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

PROPOSITION 1: REPLACEMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS LEVY Successful passage of these replacement measures on February 8, would provide educational program and operations levy funds to enable the District to maintain the current level of support for: •A thletics and extra-curricular programs including art and music programs • Smaller class sizes • Early learning/preschool • Nurses, librarians, and counselors • Students with disabilities • Transportation

PROPOSITION 2: REPLACEMENT TECHNOLOGY AND CAPITAL PROJECTS LEVY The technology and capital levy funds will continue the enhancement and implementation of technology systems including: • Technology infrastructure and hardware, including one-to-one devices and the most updated instructional and innovative technology.

• Licensing software • Staff training for the effective integration of technology in the classroom.

• Keeping our classrooms up-to-date with modern technology.

This levy will also allow the District to acquire, construct, equip, and make other capital improvements to facilities including health and safety improvements, including (but not limited to): • Roof and Siding Replacements • Fire System Updates • HVAC Improvements

WHAT IS A “REPLACEMENT” LEVY? Levies are the second-largest funding source for public school districts. Often called the “life-blood” of a public school system because local levy dollars help fund important academic and extra-curricular supports for students and critical health, safety, and facility improvement needs...areas that are not funded through state and federal funds. “Replacement” is renewing taxpayer commitment for the next four-year levy term. It is not an added or new tax and in these replacement levies case, the combined measures are projected at .30 cents per thousand less than the current measures.

• Boiler Improvements • New Playground Equipment • Improved Security Systems

Quick Facts Proposition 1...

• is the 2nd largest funding source for the Marysville School District's overall budget • is an investment in the future of our students and schools • provides necessary funding for enrichment activities

Proposition 2...

• ensures students, families, and the community receive the same level of service across learning environments • provides connectivity, hardware, software, and training for students and staff • provide students, families, and the community with 24/7 Wi-Fi access across all buildings, and funds routers, power sources, and wiring to maintain capacity and improve access and speeds

Important Dates and Information

HOW MUCH WILL THE REPLACEMENT LEVIES COST?

The replacement levies have a combined lower tax rate reducing the burden of cost to taxpayers by .30 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The chart below shows the projected rates for the next four years which is the term of both replacement levy measures.

Current 20212022 Rate per Thousand

Projected 2023 Rate per Thousand

Projected 2024 Rate per Thousand

• Community Webinars via Zoom • Election Day is Tuesday, February 8, 2022.

• Ballots will be mailed on January 20 and must be turned in by Election Day via mail or at any dropbox location by 8 p.m.

• Property tax exemptions may be available to homeowners who are 61 or older, disabled, and meet certain income requirements. Go to https:// snohomishcountywa.gov/328/ Property-Tax-Exemptions to learn more and check qualification status.

Note: Income levels have changed and many senior citizens on a fixed income may now qualify.

Projected 2025 Rate per Thousand

Projected 2026 Rate per Thousand

EPO

$2.500

$2.204

$2.193

$2.180

$2.183

Technology & Capital Levy

$0.607

$0.601

$0.602

$0.599

$0.594

Combined Total

$3.107

$2.805

$2.795

$2.779

$2.777

Projected Savings:

$0.302

Celebrating Our Students, Schools and Programs Career and Technical Education Recent data shows that students who have taken two or more CTE classes in the same program area have a 91.6% graduation rate in Marysville. Do you know?: • CTE (Business and Marketing) students have been directly involved with the process to select a new MP mascot. This includes being part of the steering committee, working with the consulting firm, and demoing surveys/collecting data in class.

• CTE (Careers with Children) students have been working with preschoolers in a collaboration with the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.

• CTE (NJROTC) students have been conducting Color Guards (the Color Guard is a group of four cadets that present the United States and Air Force flags at games and ceremonies) around the region. The most recent being an intimate event at Boeing with their Native American Network and Peter McDonald Sr. (WWII Navajo Code Talker).

Learn more about our exciting CTE programs for students at https://www.msd25.org/page/career-and-technical-education-cte

Marysville Computer Repair Lab (Legacy High School)

Event - December 4, 2021, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Community Computer Service and Sales Day The student-led computer repair lab at Legacy High School is hosting a special event for the community on Saturday, December 4, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Are you in need of computer help? Do you have old technology that you need to recycle? Legacy High School students are excited to help!  Computer Sales of Refurbished Systems Windows 10 Pro Systems.  Computer Repairs and Tune-up.

Sign up for a time slot at: https://goo.gl/ uIV19r. Labor is free of charge.  Tech Training Sessions  Old Technology Recycling

Save the Date!

“I Have a Dream Multicultural Festival” Saturday, January 15, 2022 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Transitional Kindergarten Program at Liberty Elementary - Promise K!

What is “Promise K”? Promise K is a free, full-day, early entrance kindergarten for children who are scheduled to enter kindergarten in the upcoming fall, but will start school this year in January.

To be eligible for screening, children must: • be 5 years old by August 31, 2022 • live within the boundaries of Liberty Elementary • not be currently enrolled in an early learning program • demonstrate academic and/or social-emotional needs Promise K will start on Tuesday, January 10, and will run through the last day of school, which is currently June 23, 2022.

For more information, please contact Brittany Renfro at brittany_renfro@msvl.k12. wa.us

Enhancing Student Learning Pandemic era learning has brought many learning opportunities to the Marysville School District education community. With the support of our levy dollars, providing access for all of our learners during remote learning was one such opportunity. We were able to provide devices to our students. Because of this push for access, our school district currently has a 1:1 technology-rich learning environment grades K-12.

A 1:1 learning environment helps move our district forward with inequitable practices that allow our teachers to create rich learning content and our students to access content anytime and anywhere. Technology-rich learning environments allow for more voice, choice, and expression of learning. Technology integration supports tools for creation, not just curation, of content that connects directly to the heart and soul of what our students are curious about learning, and the ability to support students in their pursuits after graduation.

Serving Bilingual and Multilingual Students and Families Bilingual and multilingual Hispanic students and families make up approximately12% of our school district population. In order to provide our students and families with quality customer service and assistance in our schools, we have hired additional bilingual staff in our schools this year: • Ada Garza - Hispanic and Migrant Program Coordinator • Irvin Enriquez - MPHS and MGHS Hispanic Family Liaison • Wendy Messarina - Liberty Hispanic Family Liaison • Priscilla Smith - QCT Hispanic Family Liaison • Jazmin Guzman (former MPHS student) - MMS Bilingual Paraprofessional • Rosario Garcia - Cascade Bilingual Paraprofessional We are still looking to fill two additional positions. If you are bilingual and interested in serving our Hispanic students and families, please contact the Marysville School District at (360) 965-0000, ask for Human Resources.

Providing Support for Students and Families As part of the district’s Title I, Learning Assistance Program, McKinney-Vento/Foster Care programs, our staff focuses resources to provide both academic and other support services for our students who may be experiencing homelessness.

Some examples include: • Math interventionist for students • Middle and high school-level graduation liaisons • Adult mentor program for students In addition, our school district partners with the community to support families through the Holiday Toy Store, meals, and other basic needs through our Connections Center. Academically, the LAP and Title I staff have run assessments alongside classroom teachers to determine students who are in most need of interventions in Reading/ELA or Math and have begun offering services in small group work or through a push-in model. They have also begun the process of identifying “What Is Intervention in Marysville?” and, our list of approved and vetted products. This is exciting work that will help our intervention staff with clarity.

If your family is experiencing homelessness or is in need of additional support, there is help and support.

Contact us at (360) 965-0049.

Native Voices Virtual Youth Arts Academy Building on the powerful work of Since Time Immemorial tribal sovereignty curriculum, the Native Voices Virtual Arts Academy is a collaborative, sovereignty-grounded, arts learning project between tribal nations, tribal compacts, OSPI, and public schools serving Native middle school youth. OSPI provided a Native Voices Virtual Youth Arts Academy November 15 - 19. Eight Totem Middle School Native American students participated in the academy. The students took classes in beading, cedar weaving, printmaking, Tribal games, and writing/speaking.

Guaranteed Admission Pilot The Marysville School District is partnering with five of our state universities (Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, Central Washington University, and The Evergreen State College) to participate in a Guaranteed Admission Pilot. MSD students meeting (1) A minimum GPA or minimum GPA/class ranking and (2) Completion of the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs) for the partner institution will be guaranteed admission to the school: • CWU - GPA 3.0 and CADRs completion • EWU - GPA 3.0 and CADRs completion • Evergreen - GPA 2.5 and CADRs completion • WSU - GPA 3.6 or ranked in top 10 percent of high school class and CADRs completion • WWU – GPA 3.0 and CADRs completion Students meeting the criteria or on track to meet the criteria by high school completion are guaranteed admission to the institution.

Students eligible for guaranteed admission must apply to the institution by completing an admissions application and any additional requirements and steps by the institution; and are encouraged to engage in challenging high school coursework and maintain their high school GPA during their senior year to meet the guaranteed admission criteria.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT Marysville School District complies with all federal and Washington State rules and regulations and will provide equal employment opportunity and treatment for all applicants and staff in recruitment, hiring, retention, assignment, transfer, promotion, and training. Such equal employment opportunity will be provided without discrimination with respect to race, creed, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society.

The following employees have been designated to address questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator, Gregg Kuehn, Director of Risk Management, Facilities, and Maintenance, 360-965-0110; Title IX Officer, Tracy Souza, Director of COVID-19 Health and Safety, 360-965-0076; Section 504 Coordinator and ADA Coordinator, Trish Campbell, Executive Director of Special Education, 360-965-0174.

Discrimination and discriminatory harassment may be reported to any school staff member or to the district’s Civil Rights Coordinator, listed above. You also have the right to file a written complaint. Address: 4220 80th Street NE, Marysville, WA 98270. Website: www.msd25.org. Marysville School District is a drug- and tobacco-free workplace.

Policies that address this issue are Policy 3210 “Non-Discrimination” & 5010 – “Non-Discrimination and Affirmative Action.” These Policies are available online at www.msd25.org at your school, or at the District Office: 4220 80th Street NE, Marysville, WA, 360-965-0000.

Fall Sports

Winter Sports

We had a great fall sports season! At the time of the nearing publication of this newsletter, Marysville Pilchuck are in the 3A playoffs. In addition, members of our Swim and Dive team qualified for districts and state, and two cross country runners qualified for state. All of our athletes have accomplished so much and we are very proud of them!

Middle and high school winter sports are underway! At Marysville Getchell and Marysville Pilchuck High Schools, boys basketball, girls basketball, boys swim and dive, boys wrestling and girls wrestling, and cheer are off to a great start. Boys basketball is also underway at Tulalip Heritage High School At Tulalip Heritage, and boys basketball and volleyball at our middle schools. Go teams!

COVID-19 Testing Site Now Open The Marysville School District COVID-19 drive-up testing site is now open to serve students and families.

Parents or guardians must be present for any students under age 18 to be tested. The testing site is located at the Marysville School District Educational Service Center, 4220 80th Street NE. Enter on the east side of the building at the main entrance and follow the directional signage (south) to the site.

Beginning November 15 the site has access to rapid testing for COVID-19. PCR testing for COVID-19 will be accessible beginning November 22. PCR tests take 24 hrs or more to process.

Please reserve a testing appointment by calling (360) 965-0081 or email covidtesting@msd25.org. Rapid tests between 7:30 am and 3:30 pm does not require an appointment but you may experience wait times. The testing site is open from 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Friday with the exception of access to PCR testing on Fridays which will close at 1:00 pm in order to get the test submitted for analysis prior to the weekend.

Go to https://www.msd25.org/page/covid-19-drive-up-testing to learn more about the testing site and the upcoming vaccination clinic.

Celebrating the Arts: “All Together Now!” - the Musical The Drama Club students under the direction of MPHS drama teacher Mr. Roy Klementsen, were excited to celebrate the return of live theatre at the M-PHS auditorium with performances of MTI’s All Together Now! When schools were closed to in-person learning, drama students performed over Zoom “Disney’s Freaky Friday” and “Singin’ in the Rain” overcoming some incredible obstacles to turn a live performance into a “Zoom performance”.

The production of “All Together Now” marks the first time students performed on stage and everyone was excited to be involved. Students worked hard since the middle of September learning the songs and choreography to bring music and dance back to the M-PHS auditorium. Health and safety protocols were followed for performers and audience participants alike. The students performed the play four times over the course of three days.

The performance was a collaboration between Marysville Pilchuck and Marysville Getchell students. The production was led by MGHS student Jack Lawler and student Annie Brediger led music rehearsals. Students in the club were in charge of costumes, choreography, lighting, and sound.

Kiwanis and Soroptimist Students of the Month Congratulations to our Students of the Month.

We are so proud of you!

September

Shawn Reyes, MGHS

Kaya-Marie Soloman, MGHS

October

Josiah Frank, MPHS

Emma French, MPHS

November

Abbygail Bojador, MGHS

4220 80th Street NE, Marysville WA 98270 (360) 965-0000 Fax (360) 965-0006

Andrew Christensen, MGHS

www.msd25.org