School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Only one Regular board meeting is scheduled in December, on the 8th at 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. The public is welcome to attend in person and via Zoom. Public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

NEW CIVILITY POLICY

Since I have been on the board almost two years, I have observed that many public comments are completely unrelated to the board's business, and the public comment period seems to have taken on a life of its own, where one member of the public makes comments in reference to another public commenter's comments. I have noted contemptuous comments from multiple individuals on many occasions including derogatory remarks, insults, accusations, finger pointing, heated remarks, and disruptions from individuals in the audience. While I place an extremely high value on freedom of speech, I believe comments with a contemptuous tone are very detrimental to the division we've been experiencing in our meetings. President Johnson and myself commented in more detail on this matter during the meeting, and these remarks can be reviewed by accessing recordings from the SWSD Board page found on the Sedro-Woolley School District website. The board approved a new Civility Policy (4201) outlining expectations for communication on district property that allows for differing and/or controversial views to be presented in a respectful manner. The board president moderates meetings and is tasked with responding to any uncivil remarks. The details of such responses will be discussed further by the board in upcoming meetings, to be included in a Civility Procedure (4201P). 

LEVIES ON FEBRUARY BALLOT

The Citizen's Advisory Levy Committee developed proposals for two replacement levies that the board approved to be included on the February 2026 special election ballot. The four-year Educational Programs and Operations (EPO) Levy funds staffing not covered by state funding, and the six-year Educational Facility Maintenance, Technology, and Safety Levy funds Capital Projects. Both are renewal levies, not new taxes. If approved, voters can expect a continuation of current property taxes funding the district. The specific staffing and capital projects being funded can be reviewed via links below. During the board's discussion of the Levy proposals, I advocated for regular art instruction at our rural schools that currently do not have even a part-time art teacher. Interim Superintendent Isakson indicated that the district has equitable art instruction in mind with levy funding.

I also raised my concern with public perception and support for the levy when we have so many poor condition components on our existing buildings that are not being addressed by the plan. I clarified that I would like the levy to address as many of the building needs as possible to protect our assets. I referenced the findings of an architectural survey completed by Hawthorn & Hagen that identified rotting, corroding, leaking structures, electrical overload and excess heat loss in multiple buildings across the district. I asked the board to consider moving the Evergreen remodel planning to 2027 rather than 2030 to ensure that other planned upgrades at Evergreen (plumbing repair, roof replacement, HVAC controls, and restroom ADA improvements) persist with additional remodeling. I was the only board member that raised these concerns, so no such changes were made. A link to the architectural survey findings is also available below.

EPO Levy Details 

Capital Projects Levy Details 

Capital Projects Projected Costs

Architectural Survey Results

CONTINUED SCIENCE LESSONS

After the Lyman History Committee cider pressing field trip in October, I joined the 4th grade class at Lyman to teach weekly science lessons related to the fermentation of apple cider. By mid November, the cider that students pressed had turned to vinegar, and they made conclusions about the observations, predictions and measurements they took each week. During our last meeting, students viewed the microorganisms responsible for fermentation under the microscope, and learned about pressure and propulsion by making vinegar and baking soda rockets blast off in the playground. There was a lot of learning and fun had by all. 

UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

With new members joining the board after the election in November, I expect to see the following on upcoming agendas: discussions begin regarding the hiring process for Superintendent, the updated Cell Phone/Telecommunications devices policy (3245), and voting on officers and legislative/WIAA representatives.

I appreciate your continued interest in the school board. Please reach out with questions and/or feedback via email, phone call, or text. 

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: November Regular board meetings are scheduled for November 10 at 6pm at Clear Lake Elementary School, and November 24 at 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. The public is welcome to attend in person and via Zoom. Public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

WSSDA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Each year school districts across Washington state have an opportunity to submit proposals to change bylaws of WSSDA (Washington State School Directors Association) and/or the legislative positions of the organization. Then at the WSSDA General Assembly, representatives for school boards across the state vote on those proposals. As legislative representative for the Sedro-Woolley School board, I participated in the annual WSSDA General Assembly Conference held on September 20, along with Director Becky Taft who filled in for me while I coached my kids’ soccer game. Participation of school districts across the state was fairly low at the General Assembly, as only 124 voting delegates were present, representing 42% of school districts in Washington. This is my second year attending the General Assembly, and it always proves to be an interesting opportunity to learn about the priorities of other boards in WA. The following are a couple of notable results from the General Assembly statewide vote.

One of the bylaw proposals would have established checks and balances and an opportunity for boards to provide input in the development of WSSDA Model Policies that are recommended for school districts across the state to implement. Currently, there is no defined process for how the model policies are developed and no opportunity for boards to weigh in. This proposal failed with only 31% of districts in favor.

One of the position proposals attempted to align one of WSSDA’s legislative positions with the current Parents Bill of Rights in WA statutes to identify parents as the primary stakeholder in their children’s education. This proposal failed with only 42% of voting districts in favor. Districts that voted against the proposal argued that it was exclusionary.

BOARD COMMUNICATION

The board has received many requests to improve communication with district residents. I have called for the district to prepare a newsletter in an accessible format for dissemination to all residents. Thus far, the suggestion has not been implemented, but if it happens in the future, I will provide more details on accessibility. I did initiate an improvement of the website to include a new menu item on the main website called, SWSD Board. From the SWSD Board page, all of the board’s agendas, meeting minutes, and recordings are accessible. I hope that the newly reorganized website encourages more engagement from the community, and ease of access to the board’s future and current business.   

LEVY COMMITTEE AND LONG-TERM FACILITIES PLANNING COMMITTEES

Two citizen advisory committees started meeting in September, The Levy Committee and the Long-Term Facilities Planning Committee. The Levy Committee began the process of developing Levy proposals for a 2026 ballot, and the Long-Term Facilities Planning Committee is working to prioritize facilities projects that maintain and improve School District buildings and facilities. The Levy proposals will be introduced to the board for discussion during November. I will provide more information in the December and future newsletters.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS

Each school in the district develops goals every year that align with the district level board goals. Every school has included at least one goal to improve student learning in either reading and/or math, with their own approaches. Some schools prioritize attendance with plans to reduce absences, others have plans to improve behavior. The board is still in the process of reviewing and approving these goals, and when schools give presentations to the board, they typically address their progress towards goals. The discussion continues throughout the school year, and it is exciting to see the team effort going towards improving education.

LYMAN HISTORY COMMITTEE CIDER PRESSING FIELD TRIP

I helped the Lyman History Committee to organize a field trip for 4th grade Lyman Elementary students to learn about the significance of apple pressing to pioneer families in the area. Students took turns making apple cider with a press outside Lyman Town Hall, and sampled pasteurized juice the committee provided from another source. The apple cider that students produced was brought back to the classroom to study the scientific method and observe and measure the fermentation process of the juice to vinegar. I have had the pleasure of joining my son’s 4th grade class over the last few weeks to teach science lessons on microorganisms, metabolic pathways, pH and more.

UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

The discussion related to an updated Cell Phone/Telecommunications devices policy (3245) will be continuing in the coming months. I asked for input from each school on the proposal for the board’s review prior to voting to ensure the policy update benefits our students and schools. I also suggested and received support for a future board goal related to reduce screen time during school hours when we review goals in the coming months.

During public comments in September, a parent in the district, Brad Worley suggested that the seek out donations from community individuals, organizations, and businesses to help maintain and upgrade facilities. I followed up with Assistant Superintendent Greenwood after the meeting and learned that the district has had opportunities to form such community partnerships in the past, but previous boards could not come to an agreement on terms. At the October 13 meeting, I mentioned my interest in pursuing supplemental community support for district facilities upgrades due to limited funding and nearly unlimited facilities needs. Furthermore, I shared information about a potential source of grant funding from the City of Sedro-Woolley to support facilities upgrades. The other board members unanimously agreed to consider any future partnerships that would benefit our community and our district. I hope the board will have opportunities in the coming months to review these opportunities.  

I appreciate your continued interest in the school board. Please reach out with questions and/or feedback via email, phone call, or text. 

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: The next Regular board meetings are scheduled for October 13 at 6pm at Samish Elementary School, and October 27 at 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. The public is welcome to attend in person and via Zoom. Public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR

The school year is off to a good start, early enrollment numbers are 83 students higher than budget, which brings additional funding from the state to cover added staff costs. The High School and two of our Elementary Schools classes were on the overfull side during the first few days of school. Administration gave approval to hire additional staff and add sections to reduce class sizes. As those changes are made, Administration will continue to monitor class sizes.

PUGET SOUND ENERGY EASEMENT 

The proposed easement through Samish Elementary was brought back under consideration in August and will be voted on in October. It was voted down in May 2/3 because PSE did not address the board's concerns with the Lithium Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) project that the district formally opposed due to unnecessary, substantial safety risks posed to in town schools, students, and educators. Because the BESS facility is under consideration due to a PSE RFP (Request for Proposal,) the board requested a protective radius around schools district property to avoid these risks. PSE did not respond to that request. 

When the Easement was revisited in August, Assistant Superintendent Greenwood mentioned that a new $100k generator could be an option to address power outages at Samish. There was also a Facilities representative for the district attended the meeting, who explained their current generator and and the wiring of buildings to two separate grids, whereby power is often off in one building but not another. There are approximately five power outages a year at the school and the outages last from 2-3 hours at a time. The current generator enables toilets flushing during outages.

I was left with more questions than answers after the August discussion. There was one clear need in my mind, which is that we should have ensured the appropriate stakeholders were part of the discussion since January when we originally discussed the proposal. The board reviewed the proposal in my absence on Sept. 9. Director Taft moved to approve the easement, but her motion was not seconded so it failed. I will be seeking further clarification on the new items of discussion prior to voting when it comes up again in October.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

The district held a Learning Launch for Educators (including certificated and classified staff) in early August that received excellent reviews. The Admin staff developed content for the sessions based on a research based UW Framework that has identified the greatest positive impacts on student achievement. Interim Superintendent Isakson is also working with Principals across the district on weekly Teaching and Learning topics that educators focus on. Other subsets of Educators are focusing on writing and math instruction. The admin team is also evaluating screen time for students and considering our instruction of handwriting and cursive. I am very pleased to see such a dedicated focus on student learning.

CELL PHONE POLICY

I received feedback from a building level Administrative staff member that a District wide policy restricting cell phone and smart device use in classrooms would be beneficial. I proposed in August that the board review and consider model policy that reinforces school rules already in place. The board agreed, and I expect the board to discuss the Policy regarding cellphone and smart watch use further in October.

I appreciate your continued interest in the school board. Please reach out with questions and/or feedback via email, phone call, or text. 

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: board meetings take place just monthly during the summer. The Regular board meetings in September are scheduled for September 8th and 22nd at 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. The public is welcome to attend in person and via Zoom. Public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. 

The proposed Puget Sound Energy easement at Samish Elementary is back under consideration and I will share more next month. School starts this month, I hope you enjoyed the summer!

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Summer board meetings take place just monthly during the summer. The next Regular board meeting is scheduled for August 25 at 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. The public is welcome to attend in person and via Zoom. Public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

2025-2026 BUDGET 

The '25-'26 Budget is approximately $95M based on an estimate of 4237 students enrolled, which is just slightly lower than this year's average FTE (full time equivalent). This year, the state legislature increased Special Education Funding by removing the cap on state funding. In years past, the district was underfunded by approximately $3M for SPED and used local levy funds to cover the costs. In addition, the state increased funding for Materials Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOCs). Further the Foundations K program is being funded based on this year's enrollment, and we will continue to have a Foundations K class at Lyman Elementary next year. 

A public hearing was held during the July 14 board meeting in regards to the proposed budget. Only one community member spoke, pointing out concerns with record tax increases from the state, a $6M increase in the district budget, and below grade level standardized test scores. I asked administration what benefits our students will experience from the additional $6M state funding, asking specifically about the potential for additional paras, art instruction at the rural Elementaries and Middle School, and summer school opportunities for more students. Interim Superintendent Brian Isakson explained that the plan for the '25-'26 school year is to select new math curriculum and undertake two pilot programs that will lead to a full roll out to the district the following year. 

The district will be deficit spending in '25-'26, meaning that expenditures exceed revenue by approximately $600K, but the ending fund balance will be in the target  range of 4-6% of expenditures.

UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

The board is wrapping up until August,  we will resume right before the next school year. 

I appreciate your continued interest in the school board. Please reach out with questions and/or feedback via email, phone call, or text. 

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: It's hard to believe the 2024-'25 school year has already wrapped up and the graduating class of '25 is on to their next adventures!

Just one Regular board meeting is scheduled on July 14th at 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. The public is welcome to attend in person and via Zoom. Public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION NEWS

In a recent Regular meeting, Interim Superintendent Isakson shared a presentation on the plan for the on-going district level restructuring. I have included the changes over the past year in this newsletter, including the resignation of the Executive Director of Business and Operations, Brett Greenwood, a year ago, and the Superintendent, Dr. Mickelson this winter. Our Interim Finance Director, Amy Weppler will resume her previous position in the Finance Office this summer when Brett Greenwood will return to the district as the Executive Director of Business and Operations. 

While the resignation agreement of Dr. Mickelson resulted in payments totalling 18 months of salary for the remaining 2+ years on her contract, there have been quite a few cost-savings decisions made to minimize the effect on the district. The estimated cost savings of the following decisions totals approximately $580k.

Interim Superintendent Brian Isakson will continue in his role through the 2025-'26 school year. Mr. Isakson will continue to perform his Teaching and Learning role as well as acting as lead Superintendent during his time as Interim. The cost savings estimated above come from the following decisions. We are not filling Mr. Isakson's Assistant Superintendent position while he is in his current role. There were multiple reductions in administrative staff at the District Office in 2024, and the Executive administrative roles have been spread amongst existing staff. We also ended the financial contract with Puget Sound ESD. 

There are four board seats up for election this November '25. After those seats are filled, the full board will begin the Superintendent search. The board will select a permanent Superintendent to begin in July 2026. 

TEACHING AND LEARNING PLAN

The board is very focused on achieving the district Vision, "Every student graduates with the knowledge and skills for future learning and success." In a June Worksession, Mr. Isakson shared the district's 3-year plan to improve learning with a focus on intentional Professional Development for our educators. I am very happy to see the focus on student learning and am eager to follow the progress.

UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

Upcoming discussions and decisions by the board will include next year's budget. Please join us!

I appreciate your continued interest in the school board. Please reach out with questions and/or feedback via email, phone call, or text. 

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Two Regular board meetings are scheduled in June: June 9 at 6pm and June 23rd, 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. There is also a Work Session scheduled for June 9, 4pm at the District Office. The public is welcome to attend both Work Sessions and Regular meetings and public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below.

ELECTION 2025

Four of the five school board positions (Districts 1,3,4 and 5) are up for election this November and multiple candidates filed for each position in May. For Director District 1, incumbent Brent Schiefelbein is running along with Cindy Wiedmann and Jim Kallio. For Director District 3, Appointed Incumbent Michelle Moser is running along with Tom Taylor. For Director District 4, Brad Worley and Ashlee Johnson are running. For Director District 5, two incumbents are running,  including Eric Johnson and Becky Taft.

SUPERINTENDENT NEWS

The board will be discussing the superintendent search and hiring timeline in an upcoming Worksession. I will be encouraging transparency with respect to the milestones we establish in that process as well as other details. Stay tuned for more information.

PSE EASEMENT AT SAMISH ELEMENTARY 

The PSE Easement request through Samish Elementary property was voted on at the May 12th Regular Meeting and it did not pass (3/2). Arguments against the proposal were related to the risk of Lithium Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) facilities that will be operated by PSE being pursued in close range of our in-town schools.  PSE did not address the board's concerns with the BESS project and the need for a protective radius around schools. The board encourages PSE to resume negotiations when the BESS concerns can be addressed. I know the board would be agreeable to an agreement that reduces disruptions to the learning environment at Samish Elementary by reducing power outages AND that protects our schools, students and staff from unnecessary health risks.

UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

The end of the school year is approaching quickly. Upcoming discussions and decisions by the board will include the superintendent search, next year's budget, and plans for improving student learning. I am very excited to discuss the plan to improve student learning as I believe that should be our utmost priority and I have been advocating for this since day one on the board. Please join us for these discussions if they are of interest!

I appreciate your continued interest in school board business and the opportunity to communicate every month on this platform. Please reach out with questions and/or feedback via email, phone call, or text. 

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Two Regular board meetings are scheduled in May: May 12, 6pm and May 27 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. There is also a Work Session scheduled for May 12, 4pm at the District Office. The public is welcome to attend both Work Sessions and Regular meetings and public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below.

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 5 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

Northwest ESD held interviews for the six candidates they fielded on March 24. Four of the candidates came from the SWSD board process and two applied after the ESD reopened applications. The ESD board selected Becky Taft for appointment and she was sworn in for the Director District 5 position at the March 27 Special Meeting.  

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 3 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

After deliberation in Executive Session, the board voted on the top two candidates selected from a previous meeting, Bryon Mengle and Michelle Moser. Three votes of approval are required by law for a successful appointment and newly sworn in Director Taft abstained from the vote. I motioned to appoint Bryon Mengle, a current 5/6th grade teacher. Bryon received two affirmative votes from myself and Director Schiefelbein. Director Johnson voted against his appointment. In the interest of moving forward with board's priorities and avoiding another potential stalemate and long appointment process, I then motioned to appoint Michelle Moser and all three voting Directors approved.  Michelle was sworn in April 15.

ELECTION 2025

Four of the five school board positions (Districts 1,3,4 and 5) are up for election this November and filing week occurs in May. I will share the candidates' names that filed in the June newsletter. If you know someone in any of those districts that is interested in running for office, please reach out. I am happy to share information about how to get started. 

SUPERINTENDENT NEWS

With appointments behind us, the full board will pick up on discussions about hiring a Superintendent. I will be encouraging transparency with respect to the milestones we establish in that process as well as other details. Stay tuned for more information.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

One message received loud and clear from the community in the last several months is that more communication is desired from the board. Our meetings are open to the public (with a few exceptions by law), and we have made it possible to listen on zoom to the live meeting via the link on the agenda. I am advocating for the district to also share a newsletter similar to this, that would reach the full district. If you have preferences or suggestions about how to communicate effectively with the community, please contact me or the full board. 

One of the statements I expect from the district regarding the financial outlook following the Superintendent separation, has not yet been released. My apologies. I will continue to advocate for full transparency as permitted by law. I continue to be optimistic that the board and executive team decisions will minimize the financial impact of the Superintendent separation agreement to the district over the next year. I will share a statement regarding these details when it becomes available. 

FINANCE DIRECTOR 

We have filled the Finance Director opening at the district office by appointing Amy Weppler as Interim Finance Director. Amy has served as a valued member of the finance team since 2007 and is a Sedro-Woolley alumna. We appreciate her leadership!

PSE EASEMENT AT SAMISH ELEMENTARY 

The PSE Easement request through Samish Elementary property will be reviewed and voted on at an upcoming meeting. If approved, the easement would enable PSE to bury a line along Prairie Road to connect two power grids in that area. The hope is that power outages at Samish Elementary would be reduced. I am in favor of that benefit to the learning environment. I am however, concerned about the risk of Lithium Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) facilities operated by PSE that are being pursued in close range of our in-town schools. 

Fires at L-BESS facilities in other locations have required evacuations of homes and schools nearby and are known to introduce unnecessary health hazards among other concerns. The board has approved and submitted two letters opposing the proposed L-BESS plant on Minkler Rd that is in close proximity to our schools along with the Skagit County Commissioners, our Legislators, the City of Sedro-Woolley, the Upper Skagit Tribe and many community members. The developers hired by PSE continue to pursue development of that site despite near universal opposition. 

I proposed to PSE that along with granting the easement at Samish, the parties would establish a protective radius around school district property to avoid the unnecessary risks on students and staff at schools. PSE argues that the two projects are unrelated and have not been willing to consider a protective radius around district property or Samish Elementary. I will continue to advocate for a partnership with PSE that reduces disruptions to the learning environment at Samish Elementary by reducing power outages AND that protects our schools, students and staff from unnecessary health risks.

I appreciate your continued interest in school board business and the opportunity to communicate every month on this platform. Please reach out with questions and/or feedback via email, phone call, or text. 

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Two Regular board meetings are scheduled in April: April 14, 6pm at Sedro-Woolley High School and April 28, 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. There is also a Work Session scheduled for April 28, 4pm at the District Office. The public is welcome to attend both Work Sessions and Regular meetings and public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below.

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 5 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

Since the Director District 5 open position on the school board was not filled by unanimous vote after 90 days, in December, Northwest ESD took over the process. The ESD originally expected to appoint a candidate by the end of February. However, the most recent update is that they have extended an invitation for interviews to the four applicants that the board forwarded plus two additional applicants at their March 24 meeting. 

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 3 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

We currently have a second open position on the board that we are working to fill, due to Director Dani Russell's resignation in January. There were seven applicants for that opening and interviews were scheduled for all seven on March 17. After interviews, we will work to appoint a candidate, and we need unanimous support of all three board members. I will report back on progress next month.

SUPERINTENDENT NEWS

On February 20, 2025 the district mutually parted ways with former Superintendent, Dr. Miriam Mickelson, who was hired in 2021. The board unanimously accepted her resignation at the February 24, regular board meeting, voting 3/0. Due to the separation agreement, the board is legally bound not to release information surrounding the resignation. The agreement included 18 months of salary for the remaining 2+ years of Dr. Mickelson's three-year contract that was approved in January 2024. In light of the monetary portion of the separation agreement, the board and executive leadership team have made decisions on filling open admin positions and external contracts that I am confident will minimize the financial impact to the district over the next year. The district is preparing a formal statement to share regarding financial outlook, and I will share that as soon as it is released. 

The board appointed Mr. Brian Isakson as Interim Superintendent on February 24, and he brings a wealth of experience to this role from within Sedro-Woolley School District. He was my biology teacher at Sedro-Woolley High School in 2001, and later transitioned to administration, serving as Assistant Principal and Principal at schools in the district from '03 to '23 and as Assistant Superintendent from '23-'25. I am looking forward to his leadership with the board as we welcome two new board members and move forward.

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

The PSE Easement request through Samish Elementary property will be reviewed and voted on at an upcoming meeting, with clarification on some questions and a response to previous requests by the board, including a protective radius from Lithium BESS facilities for school district property. The district is finalizing a decision on the Finance Director position, stay tuned for an update in the May newsletter. After the District 3 and 5 openings are filled, the board will return to discussions surrounding Strategic Planning for the district.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

In preparation for the strategic planning discussions we will undertake as a board, I wanted to reiterate my priorities that remain consistent with what I shared during my campaign for election. As a member of the board, I have just one vote when the board takes action in open public meetings. My priorities include: 

• Collaborating with stakeholders in our children's education to improve student learning in support of our district vision.

• Representing and including parents and community members in local decisions.

• Responsibly investing our education tax dollars to benefit our children's education.

I appreciate your continued interest in school board business and the opportunity to communicate every month on this platform. Please reach out with questions and/or feedback via email, phone call, or text. 

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Two Regular board meetings are scheduled in March: March 10, 6pm at State Street High School and March 24, 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. There is also a Work Session scheduled for March 24, 4pm at the District Office. The public is welcome to attend both Work Sessions and Regular meetings and public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 5 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

Since the Director District 5 open position on the school board was not filled by unanimous vote after 90 days, in December, Northwest ESD has taken over the process. The ESD reported an expected timeline of appointment to be complete by the end of February. However, the most recent update is that they will review applicants at their February 24 meeting and will determine next steps then.

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 3 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

We currently have a second open position on the Board, due to Director Dani Russell's resignation in January, that we are working to fill. There was a short application period opened that generated 6 applicants. With just three active board members currently, we will begin working to narrow down applicants and will need unanimous support of all three board members to appoint a candidate within 90 days of Director Russell's resignation. I will report back on progress next month.

With just three active board members currently, the board has the added challenge of maintaining quorum at our meetings, meaning all three must be present to hold the meeting. Our February 10 meeting was canceled due to lack of quorum as my family welcomed a new member. Going forward, I will be attending via Zoom or phone until my family settles into a routine with our new baby.

PSE EASEMENT AT SAMISH ELEMENTARY 

Puget Sound Energy requested an Easement through Samish Elementary property that was reviewed by the board in January. A number of questions and requests were forwarded to PSE in regards to the requested agreement that we are awaiting a response to. Chief among those requests is a protective radius around school district property from Lithium Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) installments.

The board also agreed to send an additional letter to our new Governor Ferguson in opposition of the Lithium BESS project proposed for farmland property just outside Sedro-Woolley city limits on Minkler Road. This proposed facility resulted from a PSE Request for Proposal (RFP), and if approved, the BESS facility would be integrated into the PSE electrical grid.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE OPENING 

A job posting for Director of Finance was opened in December '24 and closed at the end of January '25. We have a number of qualified applicants that will be reviewed for the position in the near future. This position has been open since July 2024 and the job posting in '24 did not fill the vacancy as it is a very specialized role. The district has contracted with Puget Sound ESD in the meantime time while the position remains open.

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

Some of our upcoming discussions have been postponed due to board member flux, and I am unsure when they will be addressed. This includes a discussion regarding Strategic Planning for the district, and the Superintendent Evaluation. I will provide an update next month.

Thanks for your continued interest and feel free to reach out with questions and/or feedback!

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

360 399 6219

School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Two Regular board meetings are scheduled in February: Feb 10, 6pm at Evergreen Elementary and Feb 24, 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. There is also a Work Session scheduled for Feb 24, 4pm at the District Office. The public is welcome to attend both Work Sessions and Regular meetings and public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 5 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

Since the the open position on the school board was not filled by unanimous vote after 90 days, Northwest ESD is now taking over the process. The ESD expects their board will make an appointment by the end of February and they were provided a list of the top four candidates from our selection process. I look forward to having a full board once again soon and will report back next month with an update.

WSSDA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE 

I attended the annual WSSDA (Washington State School Director's Association) Legislative Conference on January 11-12 in SeaTac, along with Board President Johnson, Our Superintendent, Dr. Mickelson, and our Director of Student Support, Mike Schweigert. The WA State Chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees spoke to attendees to share their priorities for the long Legislative Session that began January 13 and continues until the end of April. We also attended sessions to improve our understanding of a variety of topics. I attended a session on School District Funding, Advocacy during the Legislative Session, and a tool known as the Dignity Index.

The Dignity Index session was particularly thought provoking as it addresses how our communication can either be rooted in dignity or contempt, at opposite ends of a spectrum. The creators of the Dignity Index argue that division in society comes not from disagreement on issues, but rather from communication based on contempt. The Index provides framework to help navigate disagreement with dignity, in a way that brings us together. If you're interested in learning more, visit dignity.us.

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

Still on the docket for January is the beginning of a discussion regarding Strategic Planning for the district. I have a lot of feedback on our board goals and I look forward to continually improving for our students, staff, and community. In addition, we have the Superintendent Evaluation and contract review are scheduled for the end of January. If you are passionate about education, students and our school district, I encourage you to attend meetings to learn more.

Thanks for your continued interest and feel free to reach out with questions and/or feedback!

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Two Regular board meetings are scheduled in January: Jan 13, 6pm at Big Lake Elementary and Jan 27, 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. There is also a Work Session scheduled for January 27, 4pm at the District Office. The public is welcome to attend both Work Sessions and Regular meetings and public comment is welcomed at Regular Meetings. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

HIGH SCHOOL BELL SCHEDULE

Voting on Sedro-Woolley High School bell schedule options occurred at the December 9th meeting. The board unanimously approved maintaining the current 8 period bell schedule. The vast majority of survey feedback from staff, students and families preferred the 8 period schedule, especially considering the availability of elective options it provides. 

In the discussion regarding community feedback I brought up a priority of mine, which is to extend one of those electives, art, to the Middle School and rural Elementary schools where we currently do not have art teachers. I will continue to advocate for art at all of our schools during the budget process next year.

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 5 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

The open position on the school board has not yet been filled. The three voting members of the sitting board were unable to unanimously appoint a candidate in the 90 day period following Director Brandon Bond's resignation. Now the Northwest Educational Service District (ESD) will take over the process of appointment. I look forward to having a full board once again soon and will report back next month on how that process worked.

WSSDA LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY 

I attended a Skagit School Districts Legislative Advocacy Meeting in December during which, all of the K-12 districts in Skagit County met by webinar with our legislators to discuss priorities for the legislative session that begins January 13, 2025. These shared priorities came from the statewide process that began with participating districts voting on proposed legislative positions at the WSSDA (Washington State School Directors Association) General Assembly that I attended in September. After districts ranked positions that passed at the General Assembly, WSSDA adopted "The Big 3" priorities which included 1. Special Education Funding, 2. Materials, Supplies and Operating Cost (MSOC) Funding, 3. Transportation Funding, and one more, updating the state's Prototypical School Model for district funding. 

Each district at this meeting shared their insights and stories regarding the Big 3. Superintendent, Dr. Mickelson discussed Transportation Funding in our district. We heard from Senator Wagoner, and House Reps Eslick and Low regarding these priorities as well. Senator Wagoner shared that the state budget deficit will make an impact in decisions. I will be attending the WSSDA Legislative Conference on January 11-12 and will continue discussions with our legislators with more local feedback as well.

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS

One major topic coming up is Strategic Planning for the district. I have lots of feedback on our goals and I look forward to having these detailed discussions. If you are passionate about education, students and our school district, I encourage you to attend meetings to learn more. I always post agendas in advance of the meetings on my school board Facebook page (Lindy Mullen Doyle), and if you review the agenda, you have access to the presentations and documents we discuss in the meeting. The school district website posts agendas as well as recordings of the meetings afterwards. 

Thanks for your continued interest and feel free to reach out with questions and/or feedback!

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: One December Regular board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 9, 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. The public is welcome to attend and/or provide comment. Highlights of a few of the upcoming and/or recent topics of discussion by the board are summarized below. 

HIGH SCHOOL BELL SCHEDULE

The board has been tasked with making a decision on the bell schedule at the high school. A committee of staff developed four options over the last two years that are now under consideration. The district held three information sessions, one in person and one on zoom in October, and distributed a survey to staff, students, and families on preferences related to the options. We received a large number of responses from those stakeholders, and the board will vote on the options during the December 9 meeting. One of the factors under consideration is cost of the current 8 period bell schedule, and opportunities that could be available for elementary and middle school students if a change were made at the high school. The district website includes more details about the options and pros/cons of each, but does not include information about the financial side of the decision. If you have not had a chance to provide your feedback on the decision, please reach out to the whole board ASAP to let us know your thoughts. 

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 5 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

We currently have an open position on the board in Director District 5 that we are working to fill from a candidate pool narrowed down to four. Director Johnson recused himself from voting on the opening due to a personal conflict of interest, leaving just three board members to vote on the appointment. By law, appointments require three votes of approval, meaning that we must be unanimous to be successful. The remaining three board members, including myself, Director Schiefelbein, and Director Russell have met and discussed the appointment twice in Executive Sessions and have not yet been successful with a unanimous vote for any of the candidates. At the November 12 meeting in open session, we voted on candidates. Director Schiefelbein and myself voted in support of appointing three of the candidates but did not receive approval from Director Russell on any. Director Russell moved to appoint one candidate, but the motion failed with no second. If we are not able to unanimously appoint a candidate to fill the position by December 11, 2024, Northwest ESD (Educational Service District) will take over the appointment by law. 

We have had a lot of discussions over the last month about School Improvement Plans, Board Goals, the use of Heart Rate Monitors for grading PE students at the high school, student learning metrics, legislative priorities, new policies related to Staff Expression, etc. If you are passionate about education, students and our school district, I encourage you to attend meetings to learn more. I always post agendas in advance of the meetings on my school board Facebook account (Lindy Mullen Doyle), and if you review the agenda, you have access to the presentations and documents we discuss in the meeting. The school district website posts agendas as well as recordings of the meetings afterwards. 

Thanks for your continued interest and feel free to reach out with questions and/or feedback!

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: November Regular board meetings are scheduled for Nov. 12, 6pm at Central Elementary, and Nov. 25, 6pm at the District Office on Trail Rd. A Work Session is also scheduled Nov. 25 at 4pm at the District Office. All meetings are open to the public to attend. Regular Meetings include an opportunity for public comment.

BUDGET

Enrollment in the '24-'25 school year to date is significantly above budgeted projections, which provides more flexibility this year as our revenue from the states is directly tied to enrollment. We currently have 4314 students enrolled full time, including 120 in Transitions K. There was a change in how the legislature funded the Transitions K program from past years, however, that wasn't communicated to districts by the state (OSPI) until after the school year started. This change may leave a gap in covering the cost of that program, but we are unsure of the magnitude of the shortfall at this time.

LONG RANGE FACILITIES PLANNING 

The Core Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee started meeting in September and are working to generate scenarios for funding, maintenance, and upkeep and expansion of our facilities. The larger group of volunteers from the facility will be invited to participate in the discussions in early 2025. If you volunteered last spring to participate, keep an eye out for communications. If you would like to be involved, please let me know.

WSSDA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

I represented Sedro-Woolley School District as the voting delegate at the WSSDA (Washington State School Directors Association) General Assembly on Sept. 20-21 in Des Moines, WA. Leading up to the Assembly, districts across the state submitted proposed changes to the organization's bylaws, permanent positions and legislative positions, and I voted on behalf of our board on those proposals. Our collective Board's votes aligned with the outcome of the General Assembly for funding proposals. Unfortunately, our votes in favor of local control and parental rights failed to receive enough support to pass.

WIAA FAIRNESS AND INCLUSION OPPORTUNITY 

The Resolution and proposed Amendment to the WIAA handbook that I prepared this summer for Board review did receive a final vote from the Board on October 8 in a Special Meeting. Two members of the Board voted in favor (Lindy MD & Brent S.), two voted against (Eric J., Dani R.). Without a majority in favor, the Resolution and Amendment failed to pass. 

The current WIAA handbook allows students to participate in athletics according to their gender identity. This rule has been in place for 18 years, and has resulted in female athletes losing opportunities to biological males in sports competitions. While SWSD will not be participating in the WIAA Rulebook Amendment process this year, 17 other districts in WA did submit Amendments that seek to be INCLUSIVE of all students that wish to participate in athletics and extracurriculars, AND to honor the progress we've made with FAIRNESS in girls' sports. Those proposals will be voted on by 53 voting members of the WIAA Representative Assembly next year. I will provide more information when it becomes available on this effort.

DIRECTOR DISTRICT 5 BOARD OPENING & APPOINTMENT 

We currently have an open position on the Board due to Director Brandon Bond's resignation in September, that we are working to fill. There was a short application period opened that generated 10 applicants. Five of those applicants were invited to interview in an open meeting on October 24. The Board will be working to select one of those applicants to fill the opening ASAP. 

Thanks for your contact interest and feel free to reach out with feedback!

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: The new school year is back in full swing and the Board has resumed meeting twice monthly for Regular Meetings (2nd and 4th Mon @ 6pm) and once monthly for Work Sessions (3rd Mon @ 4pm). Regular Meetings and Work Sessions are open to the public to listen and public comments are welcomed during Regular Meetings. The October 14, 2024 meeting is scheduled to take place at Lyman Elementary School, starting at 6pm. Please join us!

BUDGET

Early '24-'25 district student enrollment measures at 4166 students, exceeding the budgeted projection of 4047 students. The additional WA State funding for the district associated with enrollment will help ease the budget corrections that are needed to bring our projected End Fund Balance to the Board approved range of 4-6% of expenditures. 

In our 8/26 Regular Meeting, the Board approved budget extensions for the General and Capital Project Funds, which were needed because '23-'24 actual expenditures exceeded the amount budgeted by approximately $1.4M. The extensions are required by law as a formality, and the district does have the funds available. This unplanned excess of expenditures from the last school year was included in the budget cuts for this school year that were approved in July.

LONG TERM FACILITIES PLANNING 

The Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee started meeting again in September. Last spring, a group of community members completed applications to volunteer for the committee. I will be working with administration to ensure our community volunteers are included in future meetings. If you were one of the volunteers, stay tuned! If you would like to be involved, please let me know.

WSSDA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

All School Board Members in WA are required to be members of WSSDA (Washington State School Directors Association), and I am representing Sedro-Woolley School District at the annual WSSDA General Assembly on Sept. 20-21 in Des Moines, WA. The General Assembly provides an opportunity for local Boards to contribute to positions at the state level for WSSDA including legislative lobbying and advocacy. I am collaborating with the other four SWSD Board Members so I can represent our collective decisions to influence WSSDA.

WIAA FAIRNESS AND INCLUSION OPPORTUNITY 

I prepared a Resolution and Amendment this summer that seeks to be INCLUSIVE of all students that wish to participate in athletics and extracurriculars, AND to honor the progress we've made with FAIRNESS in girls' sports, recognizing the performance advantages that males have over females and the importance of equal opportunities. 

The situation prompting my efforts occurred last spring, following the girls 400m race at the high school WIAA Washington State Track and Field Championship. The winning athlete had competed as a boy in previous seasons, and was permitted to compete in the girls race in accordance to the current WIAA rulebook. The WIAA policy resulted in diminished achievements for girls in the race, girls that failed to qualify, and the teams competing for the championship at the meet. 

I have asked to include the Resolution and Amendment I prepared on an agenda for discussion by the board, and as of the writing of this update, it has not been included. If Sedro-Woolley School District is to submit an amendment to the WIAA handbook for fairness, the deadline is October 11, 2024. Please contact the Board with your comments. More details about the Resolution and Amendment are included on my School Board Facebook and Instagram Pages.

Thanks for your contact interest and feel free to reach out with feedback!

Lmullendoyle@swsd101.org 

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: It's hard to believe we're already approaching the new school year! Check the school district website for details and reach out to your school contacts with any questions/concerns. The recommended process for addressing concerns in school is always to start with staff nearest the issue (teacher/coach), then if not addressed at that level,  to bring it to the Principal, then Superintendent, and finally the School Board if the issue persists. 

The school board has been mostly dormant in the late summer other than approving the proposed 2024-'25 district budget on July 29. There is more work to do in the coming year on the budget as we transition our budgeting process and continue to account for errors found in the last few months. I will keep you updated in the coming newsletters.

Check the SWSD website and/or my social media pages (Facebook & Instagram) for updates, and please feel free to reach me with comments. I do appreciate hearing from you!

lmullendoyle@swsd101.org

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: Its hard to believe that August is already upon us, and that we finally escaped Junevember! The School Board met June 26, as well as July 18 and 29th, and some of what we expected to accomplish has been pushed to a later date.

In our late June work session followed by regular meeting, we finalized a plan to evaluate the superintendent based on achievement of our board goals. I am looking forward to this change because it supports WA State law, (RCW 28A.320.150), which states that each school board  of directors is "to be held accountable for the proper operation of their district to the local community and its electorate," while acknowledging that the board acts through administrative staff. In the past, there was no direct connection between the board goals, which reflects what the board, as elected officials and representatives of our community, deem to be the proper operation of our district, and the performance of our administration that acts on our behalf to achieve those goals. I expect to see more refinement and alignment of our goals and communication to families in the next few years to reflect these improvements. This is a big win for our community!

The board had a preliminary question and answer session with our attorney regarding new legislation, including The Parents Bill of Rights, and two bills requiring "inclusive" curriculum, including Senate Bill 5462, and House Bill 2331. 

The Parents Bill of Rights went into effect in June '24 and it is already being challenged in the courts, with a temporary injunction blocking implementation of the two following sections until further decisions are made in that litigation. 

1. Subsection (2)(b)(i)’s requirement that parents “receive a copy of their child’s records within 10 business days of submitting a written request, either electronically or on paper.”

2. Those portions of I-2081 that require the disclosure of medical, health, and mental health records and/or information protected by RCW 70.02.020

Senate Bill 5462 and House Bill 2331 don't go into effect until 2025 and without a model policy yet from The Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA), there are a lot of unknowns even by our attorneys. These bills are worth reading about and following implementation because they are state unfunded mandates that erode the local control of our school boards to make decisions that reflect our community values. Some important positions are up for election this fall with respect to these and other important school issues, please make sure to research your candidates and get your ballots in for the August 6th Primary and the November 5th General Elections! 

In the last newsletter, I mentioned that the 2024-25 school district budget would be completed in June, however that process was delayed due to an additional $2.5M-$3M worth of cuts that needed to be accounted for. These significant errors were identified as our current Finance Director was handing off his duties to an Interim Director that then became unavailable to fulfill the role. We have now contracted Puget Sound ESD to fill the role of Finance Director while we find a permanent candidate. I am glad we caught the errors before the budget process was complete, but this means that the budget will not be presented until July 18 and it will be finalized with a public hearing on July 29. In all, my understanding is that the district had to cut $6M of expenditures to balance the '24-'25 budget with significant enrollment declines contributing to that.

Lastly, the district's plan to improve student learning was scheduled for presentation and discussion on June 26 but we were unable to get to that item on the agenda. I find that extremely untimely because that is one of my top priorities as a school board director, and it was identified as a board priority back in January '24. Based on what i have heard from the community,  this is a big action item that will require a lot of planning and cooperation to make some momentum. I do not know when this item will be included on an upcoming agenda, and I will make my thoughts on the urgency of this matter known at the next Board meeting.

Check the SWSD website and/or my social media pages (Facebook & Instagram) for updates, and please feel free to reach me with comments.

lmullendoyle@swsd101.org

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: The end of the school year has been very busy for all of us. Congratulations to all our districts' graduates and their families! I was pleased to attend graduation for both Sedro-Woolley High School and State Street High School and to meet each of our graduates. 

The board meets just monthly during the summer, and I have little to report since the June update. Next month, I will share outcomes of the 2024-25 budget, incorporating board goals in the superintendent evaluation process, the district's plan to improve student learning, and more. Thank you for your continued interest and I hope your summer is going well!

Check the SWSD website and/or my social media pages (Facebook & Instagram) for updates in the interim. Please feel free to reach me with comments.

lmullendoyle@swsd101.org

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: The following are some of the highlights of the board's recent and ongoing work; thank you for your continued interest in our district's governance!

Congratulations to the new Assistant Principal for Evergreen Elementary, Danielle Atkins! She lives just outside of Sedro-Woolley with her family and is originally from Whidbey Island. She will begin her new role for the 2024-'25 school year. The district is also beginning the hiring process to replace our Finance Director, as he has accepted the Executive Director position with the Port of Anacortes. There will be a community forum for top candidates on June 12. 

The board receives monthly enrollment reports from administration at our Regular meetings and we were recently informed that enrollment in our district has declined by 300 students in the last 2 years, including a recent drop by 50 students over a 2 month period. These trends are unusual and they correspond with reduced state funding for the district. Regular Board Meetings in June will include a community hearing and voting on a district budget for next year that will include "right-sizing" by $3 million according to shifts in enrollment based funding. The current plan includes non-renewal of a few provisional teachers and a reduction of administrative support staff, a 50% reduction in building budgets and a reduction of materials, supplies and operating costs. In the future, the bell schedule at Sedro-Woolley High School is being reviewed as a potential opportunity to reduce costs.

The board approved the School Resource Officer (SRO) for Sedro-Woolley High School on May 13. Our next steps will include goal setting for the role and helping to select the officer to fill the position.

The district called for community applicants to serve on the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee. The committee will begin meeting in late May to early June to review district building condition assessments collected by a recent grant-funded survey of building condition conducted by an architectural firm we contracted. Stay tuned for updates over the next few months.

The Board will be voting soon in a Regular Meeting on a land-swap with the City of Sedro-Woolley and Bucko Estates that is proposed to add a roundabout at the intersection of Trail Rd and Cook Rd. In addition, a new entry to the bus garage is included in plans along with a new road connecting Cook Rd and Bucko Estates. The School District will also gain a new building that is already being used for storage.

I am looking forward to the next work sessions of the board, as we will begin to work on two critical aspects relating to student success. According to  RCW 28A.150.230, the School Board is to "be held accountable for the proper operation of their district to the local community and its electorate." In our district, the School Board of Directors sets district-wide goals that Superintendent is responsible to carry out with district staff. In the next Board Work Session, we will be discussing the Superintendent evaluation process and how to incorporate board goals in future evaluations.

In addition, we will be discussing new actions with to improve student learning in response to learning losses that have been observed since 2019. Work Sessions that are open to the public, and I welcome your attendance and feedback. 

Check the SWSD website and/or my social media pages (Facebook & Instagram) for meeting details, and opportunities to contribute. Please feel free to reach me with comments.

lmullendoyle@swsd101.org

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director, Lindy Mullen Doyle: The following are some of the highlights of the board's recent and ongoing work; thank you for your continued interest in our district's governance!

Congratulations to the new State Street High School Principal, Carly Boyd, as well as the new Cascade Middle School Assistant Principal, Scott Conlan! Both have been science teachers in SWSD, and were recently approved to begin their new roles for the school year, 2024-'25. The district is also in the hiring process for an Assistant Principal at Evergreen Elementary, and the board will take action on the recommended candidate following a community forum at an upcoming Regular Board Meeting.

Discussions related to the proposed School Resource Officer (SRO) are continuing after review of community feedback. Based on the SRO community survey, 70% of the 71 respondents were in favor of the role that was approved by voters in the 2020 Capital Projects Levy. The board will vote on the implementation of the SRO role in May following a review and discussion of a draft agreement with the Sedro-Woolley Police Department. Key considerations for my vote will be the definition of roles & responsibilities of the SRO, goal setting, and prioritization of capital projects, given that implementing the SRO will leave some projects unfunded.

I am very pleased that the district has begun to review data related to enrollment trends. At our April 8 Regular Board Meeting, the Superintendent reviewed recent statistics for SWSD students that transferred out of our district. I hope this practice will provide meaningful data that allows the board to continually improve in response to the needs of the families in our community. 

Progress towards board goals has been a focus of Regular Board Meetings over the last month, including goals related to student achievement and success for all. In response to the learning deficits that have incurred for our students, we will begin a collaborative process to develop a plan to improve student outcomes. These discussions will occur during our monthly Work Sessions that are open to the public, and I welcome your attendance and feedback. 

Check the SWSD website and/or my social media pages (Facebook & Instagram) for meeting details, and opportunities to contribute. Please feel free to reach me with comments.

lmullendoyle@swsd101.org

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director Lindy Mullen Doyle: I appreciate the opportunity to serve our community, schools, and students! This last month has been busy and I've highlighted a few of the board's decisions below.

     The School District has held a number of community forums this last month to gain input from families on recommendations for hiring Principals, and Assistant Principal and the proposed School Resource Officer.  The board approved the recommendation for Evergreen Elementary's new Principal, James Campbell, and I am excited to see his leadership in action starting July1. The Principal recommendation for State Street High School and Assistant Principal for Cascade Middle School is expected to be voted on in the March 25 regular board meeting.

     A survey was distributed to families and community members regarding the proposed SRO position in early March and I expect that the board will be reviewing that feedback soon with an additional board work session to discuss the role. If you missed the survey, it is not too late to provide your thoughts to the board, I would recommend emailing all board members and the superintendent with your input. Work Sessions are also open to the public and I encourage your participation.

     The board has been reviewing a proposed easement from Gateway Village on the south side of Janicki Fields (near McDonald's). A clause has been introduced to the contract that would allow the district to terminate the easement at any time in the future, and I requested an attorney review to ensure that SWSD taxpayers will not be responsible for damages to the proposed easement area from pedestrian use.

     I keep my Facebook and Instagram pages up to date with meetings and opportunities to participate and I encourage your involvement! Please feel free to reach out with any input.

lmullendoyle@swsd101.org

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School Board Updates from District 2 School Director Lindy Mullen Doyle: I appreciate the opportunity to serve our community, schools, and students! This last month has been very busy and the following are a few highlights of the board's activities. 

     The board approved the contract extension for Superintendent, Dr. Miriam Mickelson, and the recommended Principal candidate for Cascade Middle School, Stephanie Bachmeier. We have a vision for continuous improvement and cooperation in our hiring process and evaluation of district leaders that the board will begin establishing over the next few months. 

     We are working to improve community involvement in school district decisions, by including community members in committees, and providing opportunities for feedback with community forums and surveys. These opportunities are published in the district newsletter and I also share them on my board Facebook and Instagram pages. Upcoming opportunities to contribute your thoughts include the school calendar 2025-'26 and the hiring of a School Resource Officer (SRO) in cooperation with Sedro-Woolley Police Department.

     The SRO position was approved by voters in the 2020 Capital Projects Levy and I am interested in hearing from you about your expectations for an SRO in our district, as well as your thoughts on how the current plan being considered aligns with those expectations. One SRO would be posted at SWHS primarily, with occasional trips to other schools in the district. The intention of the SRO will be to form positive relationships with students, prevent crime, vaping and drug abuse at school, respond to criminal activity in schools, and facilitate education of staff and students. I shared a thorough summary of the SRO discussion from a recent work session on my school board FB and IG accounts.

     I also had the opportunity to attend the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) Legislative Conference and Day on the Hill at the end of January, which was held in Olympia. I joined my fellow Legislative Representative, Director Brandon Bond, and the district Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent in advocacy for our students, families and community. I shared more about my advocacy on social media.

Upcoming school board meetings are advertised on the Sedro-Woolley School District website. You are welcome to attend all open meetings and I encourage your involvement.  Please continue to provide me with feedback and keep me informed! 

lmullendoyle@swsd101.org

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