Re: The Future of the Shoreline Schools
Dear Shoreline Schools Community,
One week after the difficult decision to close two of our elementary schools and move two district programs, it is time to focus on our children and the future of the Shoreline School District. It is important that we remind ourselves of the positive outcomes that will eventually result from the painful processes of the past few months. With our decisions we have protected our valued resources and supports for the children and families of our community.
Although our efforts to reduce expenditures and decrease spending are ongoing, the District’s financial infrastructure is headed in the right direction. The $7 million in reductions of the past two years have brought our revenues and expenditures better into balance. Our next goal will be to restore the necessary ending fund balance in the general fund, in order to regain the full use of our annual resources and be fiscally prepared for the unknown issues that confront any organization.
Shoreline can now look forward to a future when we will be able to fully restore the budget for essential curriculum and instructional supports for our students and be able to provide the outstanding professional development programs valued by our community and staff. We can now anticipate a day when we are able to adequately budget for the maintenance of our facilities and care of our school grounds. Our community and staff expect and deserve all of these resources, and as we all know, they have been nearly eliminated in the past few years.
As we continue the discussion for the next month of boundaries and attendance areas for the nine new elementary sites, I encourage the community to keep an open mind with respect to how to best distribute the K-6 population plus Room Nine Community School between the remaining sites. Thoughtful, collaborative and creative problem solving is needed now more than ever.
The District has received a significant number of emails, letters and comments expressing many perspectives. One conclusion is certain; we will not select a plan that meets with the approval of everyone. Hopefully, we will be able to arrive at a decision that meets the long-term goals and philosophy of the district; a system of schools that will take our students and families into the future with balance and equity.
Undoubtedly, the most important focus for everyone involved in the Shoreline School District at this time needs to be the children of our community. Research shows that children are far more flexible and resilient than adults. Children will feel secure, when the adults that care for them provide words of assurance, confidence in the future and have an optimistic outlook. I appeal to staff, parents and community members to provide this support for our children. Coming together as a community has never been more essential and I have great confidence that we will be able to continue to unite around this important work.
Sincerely,
Sue Walker
Superintendent