Opening day

Vancouver Public Schools will begin the 2015-16 school year on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Enrollment

The projected enrollment is 22,696 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. This projection does not anticipate a significant change in enrollment from the number of full-time equivalent students during the 2014-15 school year.

New educators

Approximately 183 new teachers, counselors, psychologists and other certificated staff members are joining district schools this year. This represents an increase in hiring over the previous school year.

Technology

Vancouver Public Schools’ rollout of one-to-one technology to students and instructional staff members will continue this fall as students at Columbia River, Fort Vancouver, Hudson’s Bay and Skyview high schools begin using iPads. Fifth-grade teachers will receive devices to prepare for a deployment of one-to-one tech to their students in the 2016-17 school year. Secondary schools also will begin using Canvas, a learning management system.

Patron tours

Superintendent Steve Webb will host three free patron tours for anyone interested in learning more about the district and seeing schools firsthand. The tour on Oct. 30, 2015, will feature Walnut Grove and Marshall elementary schools. The Jan. 22, 2016, tour will take visitors to King Elementary School and Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. On March 25, 2016, visitors will have a chance to spend time at Columbia River High School and Discovery Middle School. Each tour is from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes an optional $4 lunch prepared by culinary arts students from Fort Vancouver High School. Advance registration is required; call 360-313-4720 or email susan.knable@vansd.org.

Family-Community Resource Centers

The district’s FCRCs provide services and information about community resources to address the broad range of student and family needs. Sarah J. Anderson, Marshall and Walnut Grove elementary schools will welcome new FCRCs in fall 2015, bringing the district total to 16.

The district also recently launched a mobile FCRC. The mobile FCRC will serve schools without onsite FCRCs, as well as travel around the city to provide support to kids and families at school events, at resource fairs and in underserved neighborhoods.

Bond and levy

If approved by the district’s board of directors, a bond measure and levy could be on the ballot in early February 2016. The bond would fund school upgrades and replace several of the district’s oldest schools in order to create an equitable learning environment where every child can prepare for a successful future. The levy would provide local funding for basic education and help maintain current programs and services.