The 2007-08 school year has opened with both high hopes and high expectations for the students and staff of the West Valley School District . The most significant challenge for the District is the shift in public education from a “seat-time” model to a “standards-based” model. For those of us involved in this enterprise, we have come to the end of one era and the beginning of another. As you are probably well aware, this has caused a fundamental shift in the way we do our work. From my perspective, because of the quality work done by our staff over the years, the students of the West Valley School District are well positioned to make this leap.

For the coming year, our primary focus will continue to be the improvement of student learning. There are a number of other big goals for the District that will also occupy our resources. However, the key for us is, and always will be, that “through mutual support and the combined efforts of our families, schools and community we will provide a safe, high quality learning environment in which each student experiences success every day.”

As already noted, we have come to the end of an era in public education in the State of Washington . The practice of giving a student a diploma for earning enough credits by sitting in a seat long enough and earning an A, B, C, or D is over. Beginning with this year’s senior class, a student will have to demonstrate a certain level of knowledge and skill in reading and writing (i.e. meet a standard), in addition to earning the credits, to receive a diploma this spring.

In 1993, the State of Washington set in motion the change in graduation requirements for a high school diploma. Beginning with this year’s senior class, students have to do the following to earn a high school diploma: 1) earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) by passing the 10th grade reading and writing WASL and the math portion of the test or pass a math class in their senior year; 2) complete a culminating project related to their vocational interests or to a passion of theirs; 3) complete a plan for what they plan to do the year after high school; and 4) earn 24 credits in specific subjects. To help prepare our students for these changes, the West Valley School District included the project and the plan as requirements for graduation beginning two years ago.

For the WVHS Class of 2008, 97% of the seniors have met the WASL requirement. This includes all of our special education students who may earn the CAA or a Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA). Only four students have not met the reading standard; three students have not met the writing standard; and four students have not met both the reading and writing standard. Students had another opportunity this summer and will have one more chance in the spring to retake these assessments. Keep in mind that students must still pass all of their classes to earn the credits and must complete their project and plan requirements in order to graduate.

Our focus as a District will be to continue reviewing the instructional materials we use, to continue working with our teachers to improve their instructional practice and to continue implementing effective academic interventions to ensure our students have every opportunity to meet the State and District graduation requirements in 2008 and beyond. At the same time, we want to help all students meet their full potential which is always a challenge given the limited resources we are provided to do what is expected of us. By every measure of effectiveness we are doing well, but we will always look for ways to improve student learning.

Another obvious priority for the District will be continued work on the new West Valley High School . If you have had the opportunity to drive by the site or to visit our website you can see the progress that has been made. The project is moving along on schedule. The site work that began in July is almost complete. Apollo Inc. has done a nice job of getting the site ready for construction. Our general contractor, Walker/Leone and Keeble, submitted the low bid to do the work for the foundation which is the next step in the construction process. They are currently setting up the forms for the foundation and have started pouring concrete. The goal is still to have the foundation completed before the winter weather in the Yakima Valley sets in.

Since the building is very large, the contractor will be laying the foundation in phases. This will allow for the walls to begin going up as sections of the foundation are completed. Anderson Masonry submitted the low bid for the masonry walls and they are scheduled to begin setting the brick walls this month. The District is preparing to open bids on the structural steel, electrical and offsite utility portions of the work on the new high school. Construction will continue all winter, weather permitting. So far the only delays have come on the road improvements on Zier Road and 96th Avenue which are now scheduled for next summer.

We will continue to update progress on the new high school on the District website (www.wvsd208.org). In addition to the high school work, the District is currently in the process of updating its long-range facilities plan. Because of residential growth in the area we have been experiencing overcrowding at some of our elementary schools. Last spring the District looked at the possibility of redrawing school attendance areas as an interim step. There was a great deal of concern shared about the proposal. As a consequence, a group of parents and patrons began looking at permanent solutions to the projected overcrowding, particularly at the elementary level. They are expected to make a recommendation to the School Board sometime later in the school year.

A third priority for the West Valley School District this year is the continued implementation of the strategic plan. Two years ago, we worked with the community to update the plan, the West Valley Schools Tomorrow, first developed in the 1991-92 school year. Four strategies, or areas of focus, were identified: 1) learning opportunities, 2) facilities, 3) diversity and 4) communication and involvement. Action plans were developed for each area and work was begun last year to implement the plans.

An annual update went out to those who participated in the process of updating our strategic plan. Highlights of things that were accomplished last year include adding another year of math and another half-year of science to our graduation requirements bringing both totals to three years; updating the District’s safety and security procedures to be better prepared for emergencies that may occur; working with Central, Heritage and YVCC to recruit a more diverse workforce to the District; and expanding our transition programs for students beginning school in the District as well as moving from one level to another (e.g. JHS to HS).

For the coming year, the District will be again looking to implement the recommendations made in the action plans. This includes developing a K-12 career awareness curriculum, developing a maintenance profile identifying the needs of each of our facilities, conducting diversity training for our staff, and developing a Community Helpers program to assist parents at our schools. The District will be creating a link on our webpage to keep you up-to-date on the work related to the West Valley Schools Tomorrow.