By Kyle Freeman and Bob Connell

Special to the Islands’ Sounder

In an effort to improve the Orcas Island public schools, the Site Council, representing the Orcas Island Elementary, Middle, and High schools, gathered data from parents, guardians, and community members. The Site Council wishes to thank all those who took part in these online surveys. The information is being used to focus our efforts in the coming years.

Areas of school strength identified in the parent/guardian and community surveys include:

• Parents/guardians/community members feel welcome at the school

• Students feel safe at school

• Students enjoy school

• Strong community connection and support

Areas of focus for our school improvement plan include:

• Improved communication between school staff and parents

• Effective teaching of all students

• Parent vision represented in the schools

• Increased parent involvement and participation

• Consistent standards and curriculum

Where do we go from here? There is much work to be done in the coming years as we continue to push the Orcas Island School District to achieve our goals and succeed in our mission to enable all children to be lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and contributing members of society. We hope to implement a school improvement plan in the coming year that will take advantage of all that is great about our school system and that will also push our schools into the future and provide our students with the best education possible. I hope that everyone including staff, students, parents, and community members will play an active role in the process of reshaping our schools.

You can contact the school if you wish to find out more about this process or join with the Site Council in its school improvement work.

Kyle Freeman is the elementary and middle school principal and Bob Connell is a parent.