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Facilities Task Force Members Needed
The Pasco School District Facilities Task Force is seeking interested community members to join the task force. Meetings will begin again in April, with the group meeting monthly, normally from 6-8 p.m.
The PFTF will cover both short and long term school facility needs.
If you would like to serve on this committee or would like more information, please contact Assistant Superintendent of Operations John Morgan at 509-543-6098 at jmorgan@psd1.org. | |
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DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM | |
Pasco School District is now accepting applications for the Two Way Dual Language Immersion Program through April 20.
Through this education model, students learn to think, communicate, read and write in two languages: English and Spanish. The program begins in kindergarten and continues through grade seven.
The program is accepting applications from interested Pasco parents whose children are English speaking and will be first time kindergarten students in fall 2012. Testing will take place in April and May, and acceptance into the program is based on eligibility, test scores, commitment for six years, and parent involvement.
For more information and application materials please contact Leann Nunamaker at 543-6748 or lnunamaker@psd1.org.
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PEAK! of the WEEK
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Feb. 27-March 2
Kiwanis Club of Pasco
Longfellow Elementary
March 5-9
Country Gentleman
Markham Elementary
March 12-16
Bank of America
Stevens Middle School
March 19-23
All Star Motors
Longfellow Elementary |
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Photo Galleries
Please click on the images to view a photo gallery.
Read Across America
March 7, 2012
Chiawana Bus Tour
March 1, 2012
PHS Student Shadow
February 1, 2012
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 THANK YOU PASCO VOTERS The Pasco School District Maintenance and Operations Levy passed Feb. 14 with 61.4 % approval. The levy will provide vital local and state levy equalization dollars that fund essential educational programs and basic operations for the district. Once again, Pasco voters support Pasco kids. Thank you to all voters and to all who encouraged family and friends to vote as well. |
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READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
 | | Please click on the image to view a slide show of Read Across America Day. |
On March 2, schools across the district participated in Read Across America Day, celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Please enjoy a slideshow of the different ways reading was celebrated in the Pasco School District by clicking on the image above. |
DISTRICT REFINANCING EQUALS LOWER TAXES FOR PASCO HOMEOWNERS
Pasco School District has refinanced its callable 2004 and 2006 bonds in order to take advantage of a lower interest rate. This refinancing will save Pasco taxpayers a total of $1.6 million dollars over the next ten years.
"The savings will be passed on directly to taxpayers in the form of lower taxes," says Superintendent Saundra Hill. "The money saved by the refinancing is not available for District expenses."
The expected reduction is approximately four cents per $1,000 of assessed home value. A homeowner with an assessed value of $200,000 will realize an $8 reduction in bond taxes, for example.
The Pasco School Board accomplished this savings by approving the issuance of $22,510,000 in refunding bonds on Feb. 22. The District has been monitoring bond market conditions. Low interest rates allowed the District to exceed its savings target. Interest rates averaged 2.26% on the new bonds compared to 5.12% on the old debt.
"We are proud of the work that is being done to ensure that we are good stewards of public money," said Hill. "We know that money is tight for a lot of families and that every bit helps."
Late last year Pasco School District was included as part of a statewide analysis by the State Auditor's Office of school district practices in non-instructional areas. Pasco School District was identified for best practices that lead to efficiencies in general administration, operations and maintenance, and food services, according to Washington State Auditor's Office Communications Director Mindy Chambers. That report will be published later this year. |
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CHANNEL THREE DELTA SEGMENT
An informational television program about Delta High School was featured on Charter Cable channel 3 and YouTube. Principal Deidre Holmberg and three students give an overview of the Delta High educational offerings.
To view the segment please click on the following image.
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DISTRICT HIGHLY CAPABLE PROGRAM IN NOMINATION PROCESS
Pasco School District is in the process of identifying students who qualify for the Highly Capable Program, commonly known as Project Spectrum.
Students are nominated by teachers to participate in the program for academically high achieving students in grades 3-5. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers if they feel their student is a candidate for the program. Letters with testing dates and details were sent to all parents with children in grades 2-4.
To qualify for consideration for the program, students should be among the top ten percent of their class and be achieving significantly above grade level.
The program for English-speaking students is at Ruth Livingston Elementary and the program for Spanish-speaking students is at Robert Frost Elementary. There are a limited numbers of spaces available for 4th and 5th grade students to join the program.
Parents with any questions regarding this program can contact their child's principal, Livingston Principal Susan Sparks at 546-2688 or Frost Principal Dominique Dennis at 543-6795. |
HONORING CITIZENS FOR BETTER SCHOOLS
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Pictured from left to right, are: Chairman Mike Miller, Superintendent Saundra Hill, Robin Hay, Ryan Brault, Tom Hitt, Howard Roberts Jr., John Morgan, Rubén Peralta, Randy Nunamaker, Heidi Redfield, Miranda Bowman, Jamie Southworth, and Jean Ryckman. Not pictured are: Bill Pennell and Joy Reilly. |
The Citizens for Better Schools, led by chairman Mike Miller, were honored with Pride of Pasco pins and received special recognition at the Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 14 for their outstanding support of the levy campaign. |
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