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Well, good evening everybody and once again, welcome to our continuing community forums across the Shelton School District We're recording this so it'll be available for folks after if they're unable to make it here tonight And if you have questions, there are question mark or question blanks there You can go fill those out so we can get to those. My name is Jeff Slakey I'm with KMAS radio, and I'm just really happy to help facilitate these conversations here. This is our third one We're going to be at Mountain View on the 18th, and we have three representatives here from Evergreen Elementary home of the Wildcats principal Paula Kennedy Academic assistant principal Kat Kelly and our superintendent here is Wyeth Jesse So again, this is just a conversation about what's been going on in this school year here at Evergreen some things that These folks here at the dais can share out to you in the public and to help better understand What's happening here at Evergreen especially and this is a very Exciting and unique school here in the Shelton School District.
So I'm going to talk with Paula here first as we go through this Give us an overview a little bit about the school Tell us a little bit about the makeup how this works and why this is a so unique here in the Shelton School District So our school has a dual language program in it And so what that constitutes is we have English classrooms and we have classrooms that are made up of Spanish and English learning happening within the classroom and The the really exciting part about Evergreen this year is we have really grown in our culture and our collaboration and Our student growth and so between last year and this year we have grown from Extraordinary amounts fifteen point four percent to twenty one point four percent and we have this goal of thirty percent Students meeting the reading standard at third grade and when I say that in third grade that also Happens in all the other grade levels when we it's the growth is in every grade level. It's really exciting And you've been here for a while now as a principal, right This is my fourth year. And what have you tell me a little bit about how you've seen the growth over these four years with the students we we had a change in curriculum and instruction with very high expectations and our teachers worked very hard to Adapt to teaching that curriculum with fidelity and meeting those student needs and as we Became better at teaching the curriculum and creating more resources that meet each of our individual students needs and looking at the students story strength and needs we started to see this tremendous growth and as we see what's working we do more of it and We've really been able to look into the data and and it's It's empowering to our staff to see the growth It's empowering to our students and when you start on a trajectory of growth in the nature that we have everybody teachers students staff start to work really hard and with the determination of setting goals and meeting goals and The families are all working with us.
We're teaming with the families. We're working with student engagement activities We're sending things home. So it becomes this team experience of collaboration for student outcomes Okay, can you explain how a kind of a day? Unfolds here, especially with dual language.
Is it 50-50 split or how does the how does it work like this? Yeah, first off. Thank you all for being here this evening. So Our school is hosts a 50-50 dual language program.
It's a district-wide program So students from across the district can attend our dual language program that we host here at Evergreen Elementary 50-50 means that it's half the day in Spanish and half the day in English and That's generally by content area. So our For example word study in Spanish takes place every day a lot as well as word study in English Science and math are in Spanish and then language arts We have a year-long calendar for what language we're supporting some of those Common core standards in for Spanish and English across each unit plan How long has this been going on here at at this school? Why is Paula anybody have an idea? I've been here four years. It's been going on for four years that I know of I've been in the district for eight years It was going on all eight years that I've been here.
I'm gonna ask Conde Gonzalez if he could tell me how long It was in the k3 at that time So 20 21 years something like that Thank You Conde and is there a particular reason why Evergreen was chosen for this is this a and why it's welcome everyone So there's a rich that is it's a rich history for Evergreen And specifically the multilingual population we serve It didn't always start that way. Actually, it really started more as a world language it really was a lot more about immersion and a lot of families really wanting their student to learn both English and Spanish and There's an unfortunate history here too is that families were Let me pick the right word here were highly Suggested To come to Evergreen if they were to get if they were multilingual earners or newcomers to the community So that that was actually what was going on early on in the history for Evergreen And so there was this like mix of population here at this school It was really had a thing of you know, it is it was still an all district draw But really wasn't as much As it is today where it's truly an option program you can opt into it because If you were to get multilingual services, it was gonna be at the elementary level wasn't a be at Evergreen It wasn't so much at the other elementaries And so there's some sorted history here for the Shelton school district And I think it's best that we acknowledge that we acknowledge What was what happened in the past and where we are today It's it's changed over time and how things have come and gone and who wants to get those services or not This community has changed also about the students we serve. I mean over the last Ten years.
There's been a significant increase in the number of students who? Where English is not the primary language at home. In fact Today here in the Shelton school district over 50% of the families English is not the primary language spoken at home And even within that last 10 years was primarily in the beginning of those 10 years was mostly Spanish-speaking families and now increasingly our families are have migrated here from Guatemala and They primarily speak Mama Concable. And so those are just some of the shifts and origins and you know districts Not just like Shelton, but other districts they too and the history of America.
There's this shift different cultures migration Coming and goings and the populations change Significantly and I think that kind of round out that where it's been definitely since I got here Is you know committed to dual language, but it is part of doing multi Lingual services, which is a state mandate not just here at Evergreen But also across the other two elementaries across the entire district and That service in my estimation Wasn't as high quality as it is today. There's been a lot of work one of the things we did do is hire a coordinator for multi-lingual sources that was not here a Coordinated strategies which we build out with families and experts when we got here for this trajectory plan And now we implement those so it's just been a lot of evolution about how that's gone and who gets served After a student leaves Evergreen, what do they do? With what are they? How do they continue their education? I mean, how do they keep working on those skills that they learned here? Is that part of the other schools? Well from a secondary standpoint through the world languages departments they are accessing those courses we had a significant number of students Graduate with their seal of biliteracy in the last couple years, which means that they demonstrated proficiency in both English and another language We've launched for example the stamp test in We have it in Spanish as well as other languages, but even in mom we have students who are Shelton Promise students attending the Evergreen State College who Move through Evergreen and are bilingual and moving on to their college experiences So it just depends on the student and the family And the decisions they make with their academic journeys. How's the school year going Paula? Outstanding we are just moving forward and Our Teachers are working on developing unit plans to debt together collaborating.
We're putting together Spanish and English resources at the unit plans all our student materials are provided in Spanish is and we are moving forward our students are showing growth already and We're consistently looking at the data and taking it apart and Deciding next steps and growing. It's really exciting. We are Just moving forward the excitement is tremendous and the student growth When you go in and talk with a student the student can tell you what level of reading they're at They can share with you where what their goal is they can tell you about what they're working on in the classroom It's very exciting.
This is very different than four years ago Thanks again everybody for being here. If you have questions, there's some Sheets right over there you can fill out and bring them up to me how when you're looking for teachers here Wyeth How do you put that out on? Indeed or whatever. How do you explain the type of learning that is here and are the teachers fully bilingual That is a great question and has some complexity actually to it One just off the bat a school like evergreen is unique It's an it is what some people would term high needs.
I mean they are gonna be just not only just because of the multilingual population, but it's really about the this this school has the highest rate for Rating for the percentage of kids that qualify for free and reduced lunch, which is really about poverty level I haven't led many of these kind of schools. It is hard to staff those to begin with right off the bat. So and Once you have a commitment you want to find people who are committed to serving this population If you're not committed to serving this population, it's not gonna work.
It's not a one-time shop. These kids deserve Continuity of service they need a consistency and you need to build a relationship with the students and their families That is really going to be ultimately really essential And then you got technical skills, right you have technical skills like Can you really follow the wide range of learners that you're gonna have at your schools? And that is you're gonna have to be able to diverse diverse learners we have kids that are highly capable in in the class and we have kids that are just emerging or maybe just our recent migrants to here and we're English or they didn't have a formal formal education or a Partially formal education wherever they came from so you got to be able to address all those things Know that be ready on your toes take it on and and have that and then there's also Because the dual language program is here. There is gonna be requirement that they are gonna be able to have specific skill set in understanding Specific to Spanish and English so you do have to have a command on both sides So if you're having that can they be able to teach those And teach the content areas on top of it at the elementary level my last part though Is how do we do that when we post we recruit it is difficult? We are in competition with other other schools and other school districts For those coveted positions where people have all that range of skills and commitment.
That's unique to here And you know, we've done well in it but it is times where we do have to have special exemptions where people have to have Specific visas if they come from out of the country where we have to work with them In the lawyers the district does sponsor that we do are committed to this We will support those people in their certification and their visas so they continue So we do have continuity of keeping those staff here who are here as well as going out and recruit and finding those positions But it is always going to be a competitive nature. I think in the future We got a lot of kids boomeranging that left So we had actually a couple teachers this last year that were slated to come back and they end up getting positions at other places Not because of us but just because of their family situation. So it's out there.
It's gonna continue to draw I think because of that and then I would be Remissive without my opportunity to say, you know, we're always looking for people that don't just speak Spanish, but mom and conca bowl as well Sure Over the last it's been a few years I suppose but I've had the opportunity to judge some of the science fairs here and those were so fun to see this kids Presenting their science experiments in both languages last year I came and they did the reading we did the reading thing a lot of community people were here to see that and Just good opportunities. I think to just find out what's going on in the classrooms, especially here I think when we've talked to these other schools that it's been a long time Maybe since anybody's been in an elementary school who doesn't have kids here or even if they have them Maybe just dropped them off and and then they're off for their day and the other and the parents are off for their day But there's a lot of unique things Across the district here specifically. So when you are talking why it's about the school to your Counterparts across the state or wherever.
What do you what do you say about? Well, this is what we got going on here and it's working or this it's really great something like that That's a lot right there Jeff. I I Am really proud of evergreen. I mean, I know a lot of the staff here.
We have you know, they see me come here I love speaking to them. We've had some real candid conversations been a lot of need for continuous improvement this There was a lot of things that were not all being on the same page some of that is a long history of again, like I was saying like if if If you're gonna serve these students, you know serve them. Well, you have to be committed to that work and you also have to Work as a team.
It's it's been a real thing of High needs schools have a lot of turnover. And so I think there's been a lot of Commitment upon the staff here To really buckle down and figure out how to work to best support these students when I got here 9% of the third graders We're meeting standard in reading and writing. We're at 21% That's an incredible jump the state's recognizes the number one district in all of the state out of 295 districts for growth in early literacy and that's large part because of evergreen elementary and I think that that should be recognized.
I understand advocacy. I understand the history. The school has changed This evergreen has changed Actually, all of our schools have changed but I'm here at evergreen Everyone has changed and I think you know, we continue to invite As Paula mentions, you know our staff or this community the parents obviously the students to continue to work I know a lot of students who've come through Evergreen really want to come back.
They really want to make this place a success. It does have a really unique familiar Rather than a bonus or a family feeling And it just gives that vibe And I think now the because of the teaming they have common structures routines They have commons ways of instruction and instructional strategies and they're all committed to really getting growth of these students Those things consistently across each classroom each grade level really has created an opportunity and momentum And that's what I I do tell people about this particular school. Is it gonna be tough? Yeah, high needs schools are always gonna be tough They're always gonna be real barriers to the work But when you're organized and committed like this staff are I think that's and you know Obviously the families that are we feel blessed that they are willing to send their kids here.
Thank you Like thank you for sending your kids here. It does mean a lot Cat when you're in the halls and especially at the start of a new year and maybe another what two months in or whatever What do you see and how do the teachers? work to build Like connection camaraderie Because I can imagine maybe if folks coming from differing backgrounds may be apprehensive of You know engaging or playing with everybody, but yeah How's that? We are a quarter of the way through the school year, which is amazing So our teachers greet every student at the at the door every morning We have our integrated supports and our specialist staff in the hallways greeting students by name every morning We even have a few kids who get some extra hellos just to make sure their days are starting off on a really good foot And then every class starts with a morning meeting and those are attended by myself our specialist and our integrated supports team so the adults always have a connection with every student in every classroom throughout the school year and those morning meetings are meant to build community and sort of Build those relationships student to student as well as student to teacher and to you know build that that Community of learning so that later in the day they can Take those risks as learners You know provide that answer do that turn and talk maybe if you're an English speaker in a dual language classroom You're willing to speak in Spanish during the Spanish portion of the day So that morning meeting is really key to the rest of the day and and what we're trying to build around What it means to be a Wildcat What's a recess like I mean is everybody playing together I mean how everyone's having a good time things like that I Spend a lot of time at recess No recess is Is wonderful we made a few changes this year and especially our students who were here last year Really learn that new structure and routine really quickly around the walk-run line, which our parents might have heard about and just to build Those clear expectations so students know what? What is expected at recess and how to make good decisions so show respect and solve problems? Are one of our recess teachers has set up some really great Football, but I feel as a football some great soccer games Then our big toy structures are I I Mean today kids were sliding down even when they were wet and rainy so sure yeah And I taught a couple kids how to throw a football football the day before yesterday, and that was great So one of the One of the strategies we use to increase play amongst all students at recess was we Created opportunities for students to learn together in in The dual language classrooms and the English classrooms to bring them together and learn together one of the pieces that we have noticed is our dual language classrooms have a tremendous number of Multilingual learners in them and less Native English speakers in them so giving them the opportunity to be next to Native English speakers and different opportunities of learning is really important, and so we've created those opportunities within their academic day I just I just have to add I come here about almost weekly sometimes. It's a quick in-and-out, but These the students here are just the most loving Respectful students I am always really impressed.
I've been in hundreds of elementary schools So I just can say like this is it's really nice And I mean even their data shows it is significantly less Behavioral incidents here than the other just the other two elementary not trying to show them up or anything But I know sometimes you know it You know people have those kind of questions And if you come here you can see it for yourself, and you can feel it and the data supports them before We started here tonight over the last weeks or so we had posted this out that this was happening We did get some submitted questions, so we'll go through these because a lot of them deal with dual language and This is something we've been talking about so some of the questions here Are you at capacity for dual language in each grade level and how can dual language families get involved? Paula cat either of those to you Capacity in each grade level and how can families get involved? We are not at capacity in each grade level at this time And we have many opportunities for student for families to get involved we accept volunteers at all times I'm always looking for volunteers We also have many family engagement nights and many Engagement opportunities throughout the school year so this next Friday. We're doing our end of unit literacy sharing so students will be sharing their writing in the classrooms with another classroom and Teachers are the very first one they gave students a chance to get used to the process But teachers are starting to invite parents to this opportunity It's really exciting because it's sharing the student growth as they go through the year. We have a literacy night in November and We also Have several different parent engagement nights throughout the year that we ask parents to come to we have a PTSO meeting every month and We also do our acceleration team where we meet with parents from the students that if our acceleration team is an after-school program for reading and Every six weeks at the end of the acceleration team we invite the parents of those students to come in and celebrate the growth What would capacity be is that what kind of a state? Standard of the amount of kids in a classroom is that what you're looking at there? Yeah, so a kindergarten through third grade It's 20 students per classroom, and there isn't a cap on fourth grade but we are at Capacity in two grade levels and in fourth grade we have a high enough number of students in the classroom to be at capacity and We are within one to two students in all the other grade levels And then you mentioned that it's not a full split between English learners and multi-language learners.
What does this split look like? So one of the things that We've been trying to strengthen In my two hats I wear as the multilingual coordinator for the district as well as the academic assistant principal here working with Miss Kennedy over the last four years is The the model program Would be 50-50 as for you know the target languages which for us is Spanish and English as well as the kids in the program and we had gotten to a point where It was about 5% students who were native English speakers and 95% students who were multilingual learners Our current kindergarten cohort with a little more Formal recruitment effort we did several information sessions during kindergarten roundups last year. We're at a quarter students who speak who are native English speakers in our kindergarten cohort and about three-quarters who are multilingual learners or bilingual because as are the next generation of students who are Shelton grads are coming and bringing their kids to the schools lots of those children are growing up in language bilingual bilingual households already so And you mentioned an opt-in opt-out Opportunity and then two if you're not in the Evergreen district, and you want to do this. How does that work? Yeah, so it's the it's a district-wide program, and we have run a lottery the last four years so You apply and our Lotteried in we don't have transportation so it is a parent transportation If you're not an evergreen boundary student, but we do have busing available if this is your neighborhood school We'd prioritize Shelton school district students first though because this is a program built to support the students that we have in our school district But we often do have outside district neighboring district families apply as well And there's there's an online forum so anytime we have a Family outside of the district that want to attend the Shelton school district.
There is an online application. They fill that out What are they looking to seeking to do and then we have some specific criteria that are underneath that To Take into consideration of whether we grant that or not obviously capacities. I mean the primary thing and so You know here at evergreen we will continue to welcome families from the outside absolutely Here or any of our other schools For sure so I mean it's out there Rarely, do we deny an application, but they it does it does happen So just gonna apply really ask families to try to do that Over the summer or even in the spring if they can When you do things in the middle of school year, that's just I would say it to any parent moving I'm sure of my educator a lot of educators in this room They're like yes trying to keep some levels of stability for students and not make transitions in the middle school years This is developmentally best for students irregardless of age or district or school We also look at the level that the student is coming in at In grade so what they're referring to is kindergarten level and First grade level and when it gets into third grade level and fourth grade level we're really looking at what their past experiences in a dual language program and Looking to meet the needs of the most successful needs of that student and what they're How we can help them to be the most successful so really looking at that independent students story strength and need to determine that and there's classes in each grade level that are English only or no.
Yes, there is and that's Parents it so when you run come here. Are you up? Are you automatically in? English only and you have to switch or you're in a multi and you switch that way or how does that work? that's a great question because that's a question a lot of parents come here with and So the dual language program you apply for okay, so if a parent was just to come in and roll they'd be enrolling for the English program and when they even enroll in kindergarten they enroll for evergreen and then they apply for the dual language program and It's it's a matter of checking a box, but it is an application to the dual language program oftentimes the Misunderstanding that I hear most often is I don't want my student to go to evergreen because they I don't want them in dual language and They they misunderstand the fact that we actually do have an English We are an English speaking school as well. You know we are a public school, and so that is that is The misunderstanding I hear more often, okay Another one of these submitted questions goes along with this.
What are the goals for this program over the next five years? so PoliCat for you here specifically and then Wyeth how does this fit into this district strategic plan? Let's start here locally, and then we'll move to this district five years So I I look at evergreen as a whole school And so the dual language program and our English Program is is a whole school so my goals for this school is for all students to grow and significantly and So I want students to come out with growth not only academically, but social emotionally I Want them to be at standard. I want them to be able to move on to middle school with success And I want them to grow in confidence and so if they're in a dual language classroom that requires growing in Spanish and English and Having all the materials and needs to do that and the social emotional Support to also do that to be confident learners if they're in English program the same as To get there my goal is to make sure that our teachers are always provided With the time of team unit planning the resources with their their unit plans that they need making sure that we have the academic resources that are needed in Spanish and in English and That we're communicating those needs back and forth to create this opportunity for students and That is what we've been growing in and it is showing tremendous student outcomes And anything of that? I'm just continuing to look forward to Each cohort to see how each cohort can support This the collaboration we're trying to model with the the teachers Thinking about that bilingualism by literacy and that global mindset in our dual language program but also, you know, we serve multilingual learners, you know across Shelton School District and They all become Olympia Olympic Middle school Eagles and wanting to make sure that they have the skill set to be successful in those spaces I'm gonna Slight little turn here to answer this question. I think it's I Think this is an opportunity to readjust the reality of what's going on in public education The school was supposed to receive You know over in excess of $500,000 for intervention support from the state it did not It did not They got half that amount Two hundred fifty thousand dollars plus is a big is a big deal that we had a lot of plans for this school We had the staff is extremely dedicated It was gonna do a lot of planning over the summer and over the school year to support the learners and prepare Those are that professional development and material development is really something that continue to excel But if we're not we're just getting funded We're really actually the the decrease in funding of public education by the state and they have no longer a migrant grant That's no longer not funded for homelessness for McKinney-Vento Look it up Research it and so I find that a lot of people can dream big I'm trying to actually provide a The best thing we can do basic ed really focus on the things we are of every kid that does come in here We are a public school district We will serve every single student who comes to the door here and we will do the best we can and that's what they do Do here.
I see it every day the staff that are in this room staff that are not here Obviously Paula and Kat the district office. We're here. I'm here all the time.
I care Deeply about these kids. That's we've gotten growth But there are limitations of what we can do with the limited resources that we do have and Multilingual services itself is like I call it pennies on the dollar. It's been like that for a long time It's not just Shelton or whatever this most recent history you know it's just When you're trying to develop and help students Command English be able to express their culture learn from other kids cultures and To some level of assimilate, you know to navigate this this challenging word a bureaucracy of public education and everything else You know, those are just things that that require, you know, the things the ingredients, you know, we're trying to build here but additional resources are are necessary to run things like a before after-school program a summer program that really is enriching and Supporting the students feeding them providing clothing Emergency supports.
Those are all things that are real and that I think a lot. I wish so many people Out in the public do not understand what it is They like to serve and support and grow the kind of students that they serve here at evergreen Heroically, I think in many ways But it's just you know, sure. I'll be the superintendent that still Give us more to advocate for Enriching those things.
There's a lot of other things. I'd love to do but I why talk about them when I'm trying to just Operate with a way of getting big to the education and getting You know Our goal is to get to at least 50% of our third graders meeting standard in reading and writing And obviously the other things around a whole child But if I can do that then I can start and gather Finances and we can start talking about a lot of other enriching things that it would be really wonderful Well that leads into this next submitted question here OSPI and the state seem to be leaning into expanding dual language programs What supports are available from OSPI to help grow and enrich here? I'll take that question. So There are many different models of serving multilingual dual language is one of them.
I think it's aspiring To put that out there around dual language. I think it's nice I invite those folks to come here to evergreen to see the wonderful services that are going on But also the reality again in on it we are out there We are the first district in the last district at recruiting events. We are we are burning it down.
We're out Outreaching we go to the colleges. I'm out there trying to get some of our students who are from here That's who we're that's some of our best recruits but I know talking to other students who pretends other school districts to have people again that are Credentialed and have the command of English and Spanish is one thing I also again would love to get to mom unconquerable as well within this model to best serve our students so that they can have a command of a language and move themselves forward and just I mean when they look and sound like them and they have some shared culture stuff that the Experiences that some of our students and families have had that's also super enriching. So That's my answer it's one thing I'm not gonna make more most of these questions are about dual language I think we've done it quite an exhaustive answer to those.
I don't like we support it It's never gonna go away love to even expand it as they come We'll do that got to turn around and have qualified staff that are ready to go do it We'll continuously tirelessly seek those people if it was to have more that want for that drop This this question popped in my head. It may be wildly Wrong so help me explain understand this but in my mind if I am at the school here, and I'm in a multi-language classroom where I'm learning 50 50 percent and I go to Olympic Middle School Am I at any sort of academic disadvantage from the other schools that are Full English all the time. Does anybody know any numbers on that? I just had a conversation with our fourth grade team Because math for example, we teach in Spanish Okay so one of the moves that we're that we're trying out this year to see if it can affect the scores and I don't have off the top of my head the Data about whether students from Evergreen perform better or worse than the other elementary schools But we're trying something and I think that's what's beautiful about Evergreen is that we always The staff I mean, I've been here for three months and they're like, yeah, let's try it.
So Fridays are what we consider a translanguaging day So translanguaging for a math time being the day that we're gonna take what we've learned try and process it into the other language Because we're acknowledging that they are gonna become Olympic Eagles. And so I've been working with that teacher on Those Friday days being the day to start to build some of those more English dependent skills To be to to bridge that into the middle school. Yeah Let me just take that question definitely straight on so I I literally Kat and I a couple other folks just did a huge data dive for the fifth and sixth grade students who are multilingual So like love the question didn't even know this one was coming But I literally did that announce I like I sat there and I go through all the data and I'm penciling out about What's the growth level over the course of their? You know the last couple years as far back as you know, we have reliable data I mean Cove it does creates its own limitations, but also just about you know, when did they come to the Shelton School District? Where where have they grown on multiple measures or not? you know specifically about acquisition of obviously English skills that's what multilingual is trying to do and Who are those students and what was their experiences so We're in the middle of it.
I got I got some things. I got some theories. I got some action planning I don't have it all because there's other things that are other variables when you talk about fifth and sixth graders You're like, oh, they really missed some really key instruction right in the beginning of school because of kovat.
That's a big variable I mean if I know I got some kindergarten and first grade teachers here They're like, yeah teaching like that's those years and you had to do it on on mine Maybe it's good, you know what I'm talking about. Like that's like that's a tough. That's a tough order So when you look at the data, there are extraneous variable There are variables that play here that do play with our overall analysis But we are a district dedicated to growth for all students where they're at where our deficiencies we are an imperfect district trying to be the best we can and I know that we have not done some of our work that I wish we could do and that we can do for multilingual That's why we have improvement 9% a lot of those kids again If you're in sixth grade and you're up there, that's part of that 9% And that's not just I mean, we also had really low scores at the other two elementary So it wasn't just about multilingual or or evergreen what I'm trying to say is we're trying to enhance the education for all learners Multilingual are part of that and we do have a specific approach.
We work on 10 strategies. We've had those We just had a multi-day training for all of our elementary staff over the summer in August That's one of our commitments that we've had. We're embedding it We go through our walkthroughs who's doing it.
What's the next steps growing it? I see a lot of the staff who are here in their classrooms have multiple strategies at work at play Oral oral language background knowledge right anchor charts and visuals Right specifically working on vocabulary. I mean, those are all those strategies that we have at play We do have books in English and Spanish for our learners So it's just it's got a lot of those elements that we continue to work on. So I'm just super passionate about it It's it we've got work to do for sure would not be the first to say we don't But I'd say for those they're not disadvantaged by coming to evergreen by any stretch of the imagination Irregardless of multilingual That's that's what I was going to say is they're not disadvantaged by any means Our our staff and I just have to acknowledge this if you're an evergreen staff member Would you please stand up because they're here.
We have evergreen staff members here and they work exceptionally hard and They please give them a round of applause They are working exceptionally hard to put all these. I'm sorry to put you guys in the limelight, but it's true They're working exceptionally hard and when things aren't working we're working together to try and figure out how to make them work and We're uncovering different strategies every day There isn't a day that we're not figuring out something else and it's it's not It's not just Multilingual it's sign language it's there's so many different aspects to learning and different students with different needs and we just keep doing it and so We're not perfect But we're not We're not stopping. We're moving forward and we're making it happen and I can I can show you scores and I We've talked about the growth our growth is happening and we are going to catch up to those other schools.
I guarantee it and That's going to be the proof in the evidence of the fact that it is no different here than it is anyplace else Today's Election Day. It's not on the ballot today, but it will be as we heard from last week's school board meeting There will be a replacement levy for the Shelton School District. So let's move into that portion of this conversation here Why I talked to me a little bit about the levy Funding when it comes to Evergreen specifically here.
What are some of the things that you think of or know that It touches Yeah for the long history here in the Shelton School District. We have had an operations levy. So educational programs and operations levy they now call them these be old old operations levies, but They we run those every three years.
There were a new old levy It's again decades of having this levy here for this community to support the direct What they call basic ed enhancements also around athletics and activities and Utilities and maintenance, so that's kind of your three major buckets Formally used to up to the recent state ledge Special education used to be part of that now the state ledge has said you cannot use levy dollars to support this the education of students with IEPs So instead you'll draw those monies right from your basic ed funds, which is really kind of an accounting shell game But if you want to talk to me after I'd be happy to explain that to you I know some other people can because I've done enough presentations on it, but the This levy coming up in the February ballot is Again, a renewal levy it will be at a similar rate as the current one and again, it will support all the basic ed enhancements and About athletics and activities. I don't think a lot of people don't know Athletics we don't have that's not money that comes straight from love There's no extra basic ed. The only way those athletics and activities happen for students is coming from the levy They would all go away.
So like Yelm, for example is my usual my example. I'm sure they don't love that They didn't they had a double levy failure They pay about thirteen or fourteen hundred dollars per student to participate in the varsity and the plus also find your own ride Those are some of the things that go on but that really touches Also decided to cover utilities And insurance those things we have been Shorted the district has had to fund three additional million dollars to support our bills Just basic bills of keeping the lights on the water running the garbage the sewer Over the last four years three additional million dollars has had to come from the levy To pay that because the state's short the state's short you don't get it your average teacher the state gives us $77,000 for every teacher For our average teacher here, it makes 95,000. That's our market rate.
You can look it up You can look at other districts in the region. We would of course want to be competitive We are How do you make up that shortfall the levy comes from the levy so every staff members touched in many ways because what they call a proportional apportionment and about what they call the basic salary and Funding for items like maintenance and utilities and salaries are all shorter than the actual cost How to make up that difference is your levy without it, so it's 10 million dollars Each year so it's a 10 million out of an 85 million dollar budget this last round because of the Shortage of funding is been our cuts that we had to do this last year was because of about a 2.2 million dollars shortfall You could imagine what a 10 million dollar shortfall would look like for the Shelton school district and specifically evergreen if if this particular Levy was to not go through by the voters any other specifics that you can share about that here from the principal perspective Well, we've had discussions here with staff and talking about what the levy how the levy would affect evergreen because I think that's the piece that's really important to talk about is how does it affect us and Support evergreen how does that levy support evergreen and so We have an after-school sports sports. That is so important to our students several different sports opportunities soccer volleyball basketball track we also do our acceleration team we have our Paraeducators and our paraeducators They assist with our students needs they help out at recess.
They monitor lunch. They assist our teachers Their key aspects of learning in our inner and we have our assistant principal That is another piece that the levy supports is the assistant principal and that's also key to the Functioning of this school and assisting in especially because she is also the multilingual coordinator for the district and so it really helps with our dual language program and Then we have our secretarial support our maintenance support and our custodial support Which are just basic functions of running a school and our med tech and one thing that's amazing about That the way evergreen comes together and collaborates and everyone everyone chips in on everything I mean even our custodial staff are at breakfast and lunch supporting students Making building relationships with students Same with our med tech It really is student centered and that's what's really special about the staff here and losing any any piece of that would be A huge impact on on our student in our learning community We have about ten minutes left and we did get two questions in and these two questions really do Show and shine a spotlight on the uniqueness of this school here first one. Are there any plans to discontinue the Spanish? program at this school No, no No And Why I thought I'll let you answer this one here What measures are in place to protect students from federal immigration and What should children do if they are left home alone or separated from their parents? Well, that's a lot.
Um one I Just want to acknowledge for this community it really does I Am saddened as to say that I Personally drove right up into a raid where you know students were separated from family members right here a month ago At 650 in the morning and You know, it's fairly it's unsettling to our families. That's what You know really comes to mind is How again we're trying to talk like when I get asked about enrichment all these things We're trying to get kids to feel comfortable and families feel comfortable to send their kids to school To trust us to make sure we come through right to to getting to the solution to the questions and like how do you help? Them well, are they willing to tell us or that what's going on? You know, sometimes people they just go dark They'll go they'll just hide they'll go they'll move away They just want to be contacted. They'll shift over and move somewhere else and not notify us So and then we might have an emergency where I don't know the contact information But the kid does show up or it'll be a sibling.
That'll now move to Bring in a student. We have that a lot of that going on right now for us Because the parents or guardians or family members don't the adults don't want to necessarily or feel safe in that instance We do follow the laws of the state. I just want to be really clear.
I'm mandated by that We are mandated to follow the rules of Washington State around this and specifically the Attorney General's office And so it would it does require a warrant Or a court order to come in the building and to just even engage With a student so that is things Also, just even being on the property. So what they do what ice does out in the community? I do not have purview on that. I do I we are not set up for that So I just I know people want to advocate or get involved in that We are not in that position as a school district What we are in charge of is to make sure that we are continuously communicating Helping to give them information and commute, you know, they want to ask us for a human, you know help and assistance There are many community agencies that are standing ready I've talked to them personally to assist families and understanding what the laws are where supports are and the things like that I've spoken directly to the staff about it And answer a lot of questions and they know we have some specific procedures involved so there was a lot It's it is unfortunately a complex situations Because it does start with Relationships and trust that's what they really trying to build here.
Please continue to send your kid to get educated That is really also a really important message. I think out of a lot of things Because continue to provide some of the continuity for them is good Separation and all the things that come with that we have that going on irregardless of immigration here This is a high needs community just evergreen the Shelton's good district So we are actually well versed in understanding some of the impacts on students and families How to bridge some of those things and get some other supports because there are some Right here in the community or the South Puget Sound in particular Paula families get emails I'm sure from their principal or their teachers on a weekly basis about things going on But in the last few minutes, what what are we looking forward to here at evergreen over the next? Wow through the end of the year at least oh my goodness Okay, so through December we have as I said earlier next Friday is going to be our presentation of our writing In the classrooms and then we have our literacy night coming up November 20th at 530 and we have also I Don't have the date in my head December I'm looking at Melissa, but our acceleration team celebration will be I believe it's the first week of December December 11th second week of December December 11th here and we'll be celebrating all of our students that are graduating out of the first six weeks of the acceleration team And we have a few assemblies as well. We have Veterans Day assembly or third graders are performing our Wildcat assembly acknowledging the word of the month for November is self-control so acknowledging students who model Making does it good decision solving problems and showing respect through the lens of self-control and of course the annual will be my first turkey trot the evergreen Turkey trot on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving during the half day Well worth attending.
That's super fun. Very nice Paula cat way. Thank you so much for some time here again We're gonna do this throughout the rest of the schools over the course of the next month or two Next we'll be at Mountain View Elementary on the 18th again at 5 o'clock for another conversation Focusing on that school.
We'll do the high school before too long. We'll be over at choice and Cedar as well So we'll make sure that information is available for folks I really appreciate the thoughtful questions that came in both online and here in the audience and Thank you for your time and thank you for your time Thanks, Jeff Thank you everyone