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Last fall, the District decided to establish guidelines that would refine the processes used for improvement and innovation, including the development of school-initiated pilot projects. The District formed a K-6 Educational Programs and Innovation Committee which has been charged with the task of reviewing and recommending processes for piloting new ideas or programs. The committee is composed of parents, teachers, classified staff, administrators and school board representatives. It has been meeting since last November and will present its recommendations in May. Donations Preserve Programs, Support Innovation The District is blessed to be the recipient of community generosity. It receives donations and grants from many different groups such as businesses, community organizations, Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs), athletic and music boosters, and of course, the Bainbridge Schools Foundation (BSF), which provides invaluable support for district priorities. During the past 5 years, when state funding has been drastically reduced, donations from BSF have exceeded $4 million dollars, allowing the District to retain staff, maintain class size, train teachers, preserve important educational programs and services (e.g. art, music, counseling, educational support), and fund innovation. Many fundraising organizations accept designated grants or donations for specific programs or projects. PTOs collect donations for Outdoor Education, and booster clubs accept donations for specific sports or music programs. BSF receives some donations for specific purposes such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and support for special education. It has also covered start-up costs for innovative programs such as ST Math and Zeno Math two programs for elementary students and families. The use of designated donations to support STEM, the WINGS special education program, and the Spanish Immersion Pilot are consistent with past practice and have ensured that projects such as Spanish Immersion are cost neutral for the District. One of the concerns raised about the Spanish Immersion Pilot relates to district documentation and acceptance of donated funds. All donations over $1,000 are submitted to the Board of Directors for approval through the Consent Agenda, and BSF donations are no exception. Currently, the Districts forms used for all donations - provide a general description of how those funds will be utilized. Both the District and BSF Board members are aware of the concerns that have been expressed about the level of detail in these forms and are jointly working on revisions to reporting, documentation, and communication processes. Feasibility Study for Spanish Immersion The District is currently conducting a feasibility study for the Spanish Immersion Pilot Project. Initial results and future options will be presented to the School Board on March 14 for approval on March 28. The study will incorporate a great deal of data that will address questions related to student enrollment, staffing, and multi-year curricular and instructional implications. A copy of the study is included in the Board packet for the March 14th meeting and is available online through the District website. World Languages in Elementary Grades The Bainbridge Island School District regularly reviews curriculum. In the last two World Language Program reviews, elementary language instruction has been identified as an important goal; however, budget cuts have been a barrier to implementation. This year, the K-6 Educational Programs and Innovation Committee identified world languages as an important innovation to consider, and a brief survey was conducted to gauge parent interest. The survey results indicated that elementary world language instruction is of great interest to Bainbridge Island families, with moderate interest in immersion programs and significant interest in Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES) programs which involve regularly scheduled classes taught by specialists during the school day. A subcommittee is being formed to research options for providing world language instruction to all of our elementary students. Community Commitment to Excellence in Education Bainbridge Island has a long-standing tradition of passionate debate, and the topic of Spanish Immersion is no exception. It has been evident from the start that every person who has expressed an opinion on this subject cares deeply about the quality of education of our children. Our schools are great because our community cares, and we welcome your comments and suggestions as we work to innovate and improve. Sincerely, Mike Spence, President, Board of Directors Faith Chapel, Superintendent
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