Each year, Lake Washington School District asks parents to provide feedback on their experiences with district schools. This year, this survey is also open to community members.

In order to participate, you may either:

• Click on this link or
• Copy-paste the entire following link between quote marks (NOT including the quote marks) in a web browser
  " http://research.zarca.com/k/SsWYVTsSUsPsPsP "

This data will help the district understand your experiences with our schools, where we are doing well and where we might improve. Your feedback is very important to us. Please take the survey by the end of the day on Monday, June 6, when it closes.

At the April 18 meeting, the school board reviewed the annual Executive Limitations report on facilities. This extensive report includes information on long-term facilities planning, maintenance and repair work, custodial services, energy conservation, and other efforts to ensure sound and healthy school facilities. Board President Jackie Pendergrass remarked on the number of different areas where the facilities department has realized cost savings.

At the May 2 board meeting, the board approved proclamations recognizing teachers and school nurses for their respective national days. The board discussed a possible change to the governance policy concerning regular board meetings. The policy change would clarify board meetings and times. There was a discussion of the different means used to communicate board meeting dates and times, particularly when changes are made to the board schedule.

The board also reviewed a plan proposed by Dr. Kimball to carry out a required director district review. After each federal census, the district has eight months to review the populations and if necessary, redraw the director districts to balance populations. That work is beginning now. If a rebalance is needed, proposed plans will be presented in the fall. Dr. Kimball recommended holding the required hearing on the matter in early October, for final adoption in late October or November. The district must complete the process by December 4.

Redrawing the director district boundaries will not affect any directors elected in the fall of 2011. Three positions - director districts one, two and five - are up for election this fall. This redistricting will apply to subsequent elections.

After the April 18 Board meeting, the school board and district administrators joined parents of this year's fourth grade students in a "linkage" session. These sessions allow the board to hear from constituent groups around a specific topic. These parents have students in the first class that will go to middle school in sixth grade. At the May 2 board meeting, the board summarized what they heard with this meeting  of parents from across the district.

One theme was the one-year problem of both fifth and sixth grade students having their last year in elementary school at the same time. Most elementary schools have specific experiences that last year, which could include outdoor education or lead roles in the school play. The concern was how to make that last year special for both classes. Some parents suggested that since the two classes will be moving at the same time, more activities should take place together next year so they can support each other in their new middle school the year after.

Another theme was that of making the transition smooth for students and parents. Parents advocated for a lot of communication to ensure they and their students know what the changes will be. Parents expressed appreciation for the regular communication and involvement in elementary schools. They asked if middle schools would be more inclusive of parents than junior highs.

Parents also asked that the district and individual schools use this change as an opportunity to improve our model for educational delivery.  They expressed interest in having fewer teachers for the 6^th graders by teaching subjects in a block - language arts and social studies taught together by the same teacher, for example.

The board was pleased that the concerns expressed by parents were also those areas that schools have identified as issues and are already working on them. Dr. Kimball noted that he heard parents concerns about the emotional needs of students and families and how important it will be to attend to those needs as we make that transition, particularly through thorough communication.

A linkage session with seventh grade parents is scheduled in early June.