SJI School Board May28, 2025

The children and teacher Ms. Alexandria Finch of the one-room schoolhouse on Stuart Island that reopened this year gave a presentation to the board.  Charlotte in second grade and her sister Hazele in third grade, talked about attending school on their home island instead of FHES last year.

Several staff presented San Juan Island Early Learning Center activities for the school year.  The seventeen Transition to Kindergarten (TTK) children and twelve Development Pre-School students made noticeable improvements in language, social and emotional progress toward kindergarten.  All three staff were happy the district now offers this program.  In general children who participate in TTK perform better at the third-grade level vs. children who do not.

Superintendent Woods presented the for the San Juan Institute program for teacher and staff training in late August which will include a focus on using AI.

Griffin Bay School Annual Report (GBS). Griffin Bay had twenty-two or more students during the year. Over the past three years the graduation rate for GBS students has gone up to over 80%.  GBS mailed postcards to counselors in school districts with no alternative education option, encouraging them to have students consider the GBS remote option.  They are offering a coordinated educational effort to home-school families who have expressed interest.

Brock Hauck reviewed capital projects for this and the next three years.  This summer they will complete re-siding and painting the high school.  The elementary school gutter replacement will also be completed by August of 2025. They rescheduled re-siding and painting the middle school to next summer due to higher than expected costs. 

The board reviewed the athletic program budget for 2025-26. Jose Domenech reported total school enrollment is up slightly for the year versus budget.  Spending is on-plan for the year with some improvement in special education funding.  The 2025-2026 budget will be submitted to the board in July. The board approved a resolution on business account authorization and approved the 2024-2025 board calendar.

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