Opening day
Vancouver Public Schools will begin the 2014-15 school year on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
School changes
Vancouver iTech Preparatory, a magnet school with a science, technology, engineering and math focus, will expand to include grades 6 through 11. Middle school students will attend school at the Jim Parsley Education, Family and Community Center located at 2901 Falk Rd., Vancouver, WA 98661. High school students will attend school at the Clark College Building on the Washington State University Vancouver campus.
Lewis and Clark High School is changing its hours. School hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Technology
Students at four middle schools will receive iPads as the rollout of the district’s one-to-one student computing model continues. Approximately 3,100 iPads will go to sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders at Discovery, Gaiser, Jason Lee, and Jefferson middle schools. Teachers at those schools spent the past year learning how to use these devices effectively for instruction. They will join the other schools that were the first group to receive one-to-one devices last school year, thanks to a community-approved technology levy passed in February 2013.
In 2014-15, teachers at all district high schools and Vancouver School of Arts and Academics also will receive iPads and professional development training in preparation for the 2015-16 school year, when students in those schools will receive one-to-one devices.
Common Core State Standards
Along with districts across the state, VPS will formally implement Common Core State Standards this fall.
Events
The district has launched the next chapter of its Design II strategic plan. Design II, Chapter 2 was developed with the input of students, parents, staff members and the Vancouver community and identifies the district’s focus and goals for the next six years.
Superintendent Steve Webb will host patron tours for parents and community members on Nov. 7, 2014; Jan. 23, 2015; and March 20, 2015.
VPS will host its inaugural Go Ready! Back-to-School-Readiness Festival on Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The festival, held at 4040 Plomondon Rd. (Boys and Girls Club), will provide haircuts, backpacks, supplies, vaccinations, shoe vouchers and other back-to-school essentials from more than 30 community partners. Admission and services are free; participation is limited to Vancouver Public Schools students and their families.
The district will host its fifth annual weLearn Tech Shows for parents, students and community members. Dates have not yet been set.
School administrative changes
Starlet Heitz, former associate principal at Roosevelt Elementary School, is now principal at Lake Shore Elementary School, replacing Scott Leary, who retired.
Bobbi Geenty, former Walnut Grove Elementary School principal, is now principal at Marshall Elementary School, replacing Karen Leary, who retired.
Troy Winzer, former associate principal at Felida and King elementary schools, is now principal at Minnehaha Elementary School, replacing Kris Porterfield, who retired.
Esteban Delgadillo, former associate principal at Columbia River High School, is principal of Walnut Grove Elementary School.
Jody ViDelco, former principal at McLoughlin Middle School, is now principal of Lewis and Clark High School.
Rob Duncan, former principal at Lewis and Clark, is now an associate principal at Columbia River High School.
Travis Boeh, former associate principal at Fort Vancouver High School, is now principal at McLoughlin.
Ken Roberts, former teacher mentor and administrative intern, is now an associate principal at Fort Vancouver. Darby Meade, former dean of students at Vancouver iTech Preparatory, is now an associate principal at Hudson’s Bay High School.
Brian Hanson, former associate principal at Hudson’s Bay, is now a teacher mentor. Curtis Smith, former Alki Middle School principal, has left the district.
Darci Fronk, former principal at Salmon Creek Elementary School, is now principal of Alki.
Heath Angelbeck, former associate principal at Discovery Middle School, is now principal at Salmon Creek. Jennifer Holm, former teacher and administrative intern at Vancouver iTech Preparatory, is now an associate principal at Discovery.
Katie Ronning, former teacher and administrative intern, is now the associate principal at Felida and King elementary schools.
Jessica Graham, former special services manager, is now an associate principal at Roosevelt.
School board changes
Mark Stoker is serving as president and Edri Geiger is serving as vice president of the board of directors during the 2014-15 school year. The board also includes Kathy Gillespie, Mari Greves and Dale Rice.
Designated student representatives are Bailey Sievers, Columbia River High School; Jaina Bailey, Fort Vancouver High School; Ethan Mayers, Hudson’s Bay High School; Ethan Martorano, Lewis and Clark High School; Katelyn Courter, Skyview High School; Joseph Beuselinck, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics; and James Keirnan, Vancouver iTech Preparatory.
Classroom additions
School officials anticipate that the construction on new classrooms at Sarah J. Anderson and Eleanor Roosevelt elementary schools will be completed this fall. A two-story addition with six classrooms is being added at Sarah J. Anderson. At Roosevelt, two classrooms are being added to each of the existing three wings. The new classrooms will help alleviate overcrowding at those schools and eliminate the need for a total of 10 portable classroom units. Both projects were paid for through the capital projects fund, which includes the last of the Phase III bonds approved by the community in 2001.
Family-Community Resource Centers
Tamara Shoup, former Family-Community Resource Center partnerships coordinator, is now director of family engagement and FCRCs, replacing Jennifer Blechschmidt, who left the district.
Alishia Topper, former senior development director with the Fort Vancouver National Trust and current Vancouver City Council member, will be director of strategic partnerships for FCRCs.
Catherine MacCallum-Ceballos, former FCRC site coordinator at Discovery Middle School, is now the technical assistance coordinator for the FCRCs.
Chris Olsen, executive director for teaching and learning, will serve as the FCRC task force leader, a duty performed by Tom Hagley, chief of staff, for the past six years.
Karla Schlosser, Special Services administrator, will continue to oversee Title I resources allocated to the FCRCs and will work closely with Olsen in leading the Family Engagement/FCRC goal area as the district begins to implement its Design II, Chapter 2 strategic plan.
Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools
The foundation is accepting donated school supplies, which may be dropped off at the following Columbia Credit Union branches through Aug. 19.
Downtown
703 Broadway, Vancouver, WA 98660
Hours: Monday though Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Grand Central
108 S. Grand Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661
Hours: Monday though Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Fourth Plain
3003 NE 62nd Ave.m Vancouver, WA 98661
Hours: Monday though Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Hazel Dell
808 NE 98th Circle, Vancouver, WA 98665
Hours: Monday though Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Salmon Creek
13100-A N.E. Highway 99, Vancouver, WA 98686
Hours: Monday though Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Individuals also can drop off donated school supplies Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the district office, located at 2901 Falk Rd., Vancouver, WA 98661. For larger donations, contact the foundation at 360-313-4730. Receipts can be provided upon request.