While election results are not official until April 27th, our school district is enjoying strong voter support in the Special Election held on April 17th; presently, the Maintenance and Operations levy is passing with 58% of voters supporting the levy renewal. The decision to re-run the levy was not taken lightly and was carefully considered. We are committed to spending tax dollars wisely and want you to know that the programs, services, and people your tax dollars support are truly vital to funding the schools you've come to expect.

On behalf of the entire district, I would like to express gratitude for this strong show of support for our schools. Despite a very tough economy, your commitment to supporting education means a great deal to the school district, but more importantly, to the kids we serve. Your ongoing support is truly critical to our ability to prepare students for the future. It is this support that makes Deer Park a great place to live, work, learn, and play.

Becky Cooke, Superintendent

Conferences begin on Wednesday, March 28th and the schedule is as follows:

• On Wednesday, Mar. 28th students at all buildings will attend school for a half-day. Teachers district-wide will be involved in conferences that afternoon and evening.
• Thursday, Mar. 29th and Friday, Mar. 30th will both be half-days for students at DPHS. Students at DPE, Arcadia, and DPMS will NOT attend school on these two days; teachers will be engaged in parent/teacher conferences or in student led conferences throughout the day.
  
• Spring break begins April 2nd. School will resume on April 9th.
  
• Please be reminded that on half-days, schools will begin releasing students for pick-up between 11:50 and 12:15 (please contact your child's school for specific information). 
  

If you would like more information about parent/teacher conferences as well as some strategies to maximize the value of your conference, please click on the "Read More" link in the lower right corner of this announcement.

The present three-year Maintenance and Operations levy, which makes up close to 20% of the Deer Park School District's total revenues, will expire at the end of this school year. This means that voters will have an opportunity to cast their vote for another three year levy (to cover 2013-2015) in a special election on April 17th - ballots will be mailed to voters on March 30th.

The proposed rate is the same as the current 2012 rate:  $2.46 per $1000 of assessed property value.

For the three year period of this levy, the total amount it will raise are:

2013:    $1,962,665

2014:    $2,001,915

2015:    $2,041,953

Voters are reminded that the April 17th special election represents the last chance for the school district to pass the levy in 2012.  Remember, THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX, it simply replaces the expiring levy!!

• It is not an increase. It replaces an expiring levy dollar-for-dollar.

• The replacement levy pays for school programs and daily upkeep of our buildings. It is NOT for new buildings.

• By passing the local levy, Deer Park Schools qualify for an additional $1.8 million in state funding to help level the field with wealthier districts.

• It represents 30% of the portion of the budget we can use to operate schools. (Federal and grant funds have legally restricted use.)

• It is the last opportunity to vote prior to the cuts taking effect. Next year’s budget will reflect the results of the April 17 vote.

What does the levy pay for?

• Athletics and activities

• Band, Choir and Drama all rely on levy support

• Positions (district-wide)
  

o   Certificated staff:  12 teachers, librarians, counselors

o   Para-educators:  25 positions

o   Custodians:  6 positions

o   Administrators:  1 position

o   Other (maintenance, nursing, technology, etc.):  8 positions

• All-day kindergarten

• Many high school courses, including electives and college-in-the-classroom offerings
  

• Technology, textbooks and materials

• Building maintenance and upkeep

Due to over $2.8 million in state cuts over the past 3 years, many school programs and positions have already been cut deeply so as to minimize the impact to students.

• Staffing has been reduced; and is below state basic levels for administrators, district office, clerical.

• All employees have received pay cuts.

• Programs have been reduced.

The levy does not restore past losses, but helps to maintain buildings and programs we have today.

For information regarding the upcoming levy election or if you would like to speak with someone regarding the upcoming levy election, please feel free to contact either Superintendent Becky Cooke (e-mail) at 464-5507 or Business Manager Shauna Ferguson (e-mail) at 464-5506.

Congratulations to the Deer Park High School wrestling team; this year's win is not only the team's fifth 2A State Championship - it is their FIFTH CHAMPIONSHIP IN A ROW! The Stags won the 2011-12 State 2A Wrestling championship with 154 points, 20 ahead of Centralia. It was another gritty effort by the Stags; 9 wrestlers traveled to the State Championships and all 9 brought home hardware!

State Champions:
120 - Jake Konzal (Jr.)
126 - Cole Harris (Jr.)

2nd Place:
138 - Joe Grable (So.)
220 - CJ Rodriguez (Jr.)

3rd Place:
160 - Dylan Miller (Sr.)

4th Place:
170 - Jason Jorgensen (Sr.)

5th Place:
120 - Michael Leonard (Fr.)
126 - Cody Dehn (Sr.)

6th Place:
145 - Matt Miller (So.)

Over 15,000 Jewish children passed through Terezin Concentration Camp during the Holocaust - only about 100 were still alive when the Concentration Camp was liberated at the end of the war. The play, I Never Saw Another Butterfly tells the true story of Raja, who taught the children when there was nothing to teach with, helping to give them hope when there was little enough reason for hope, creating a little world of laughter, flowers and butterflies behind the barbed wire.

This story is based on artwork and poetry from the actual children who went to Terezin. As much as it is a story of loss and sorrow, it is one of hope and courage.

Deer Park High School Drama proudly presents this moving play on Feb. 22, 23 and 24. Curtain time is 7 pm in the DPHS theatre. Tickets are $4 for students, $5 for adults.

Sudden cardiac death results in about 275,000 deaths annually in the United States and often occurs in people who have never been diagnosed with a heart condition.  It is one of the leading causes of underage death and disability.  Many of these deaths could be prevented by implementing immediate resuscitation and defibrillation. Chances of survival for victims of sudden cardiac arrest fall 7% - 10% each minute that defibrillation is delayed.

Deer Park School District is committed to help improve outcomes of sudden cardiac death in Spokane County. We have partnered with Fire District 4 to ensure that all 9th grade students be trained in Hands Only CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use. By providing this education every year we hope that in 15 years, all publicly educated individuals from age 15 – 30 will be equipped to respond to a cardiac emergency.

Additionally, Deer Park School District is committed to making AED’s available in each school in order to be prepared for a cardiac event that may take place on school grounds. Through a grant from Project ADAM, Deer Park High School received an AED which is currently in place. Another AED has been purchased for Deer Park Middle School. It is our goal to have an AED placed in each school by the end of the 2011/2012 school year.

If you have any questions or would like more information about this program, please contact the District Nurse, Dawn Epler, at 468-3512

Congratulations to Deer Park's Home Link program, which has received a Washington Achievement Award in Overall Improvement for 2011. Washington's State Board of Education and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction are using the Washington Achievement Awards to recognize schools that profoundly affect student learning, celebrating the state's high performing schools in multiple categories.

The Achievement Awards consider student performance on reading, writing, math and science tests along with the achievement of low-income students, the achievement of students who are not from low-income families, how well the school performs compared with statistically similar schools, and the amount of change in student performance from the previous year.

Home Link's award is in the Improvement category, recognizing the overall improvements in the achievement of all students from the previous year. State Board Executive Director Edie Harding said, “The index will be instrumental in helping schools and districts craft data-driven school improvement plans. It gives us a better way to track schools in the future and to pinpoint exactly where they are doing well and where they need additional help.”

Home Link is Deer Park's Parent Partnership Program, where parents of home schooled children work with Deer Park teachers to provide varying degrees of traditional "on-site" instruction as well as plans for meeting educational goals at home. The first session of Home Link started in September 2000 with 38 students. Today, Home Link serves close to 500 students, offering classes at both the Deer Park and Clayton campuses.

Deer Park Schools are open and on time Friday, January 20th.

Given the recent cold temperatures and snow - and forecasts for more of the same - we would like to share a few quick reminders with everyone:  In icy and/or snowy conditions motorists should use extra precaution when following or approaching a school bus. As we know, school buses make frequent stops as they load and unload students. Remember that laws require motorists to stop when the school bus stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing.  Also, please be extra careful when driving near schools or when dropping off or picking up your child. We want everyone to be safe in the slick road conditions.

Students who walk to school or wait at school bus stops should be dressed appropriately for the cold, wet, and often icy weather. Proper outerwear should include boots, hats, gloves or mittens, a warm coat and possibly even snow pants; this outerwear will also keep kids warm as they enjoy outside recess breaks during the winter months.