Coupeville Strong!
Dear Coupeville School District Community,
I want to address recent reports regarding our district's budget planning process and potential staffing adjustments for the upcoming school year.
As we navigate the annual budget planning cycle, we are facing some unique challenges this year.
The Washington State Legislature has not yet finalized education funding, and we're experiencing significant uncertainty around federal funding that could impact our budget by up to $1.1 million. In this climate of fiscal uncertainty, state law (RCW 28A.405.210) requires us to notify certificated staff of any potential reductions by May 15th, with our Collective Bargaining Agreement requiring preliminary notification by May 1st.
These timing requirements unfortunately force us to plan for potential reductions before we have complete information about our funding. The resolution before the school board this Thursday is a responsible contingency plan that allows us to meet these legal obligations while preparing for various funding scenarios.
I want to emphasize several important points:
- This is preliminary planning - final decisions will be informed by the actual funding we receive once the legislature completes its work
- While our fund balance is improving, we haven't yet reached our target of 6% of expenditures as outlined in District Policy 6200
- The proposed administrative restructuring represents our efforts to maximize efficiency while maintaining educational excellence
- We remain committed to maintaining educational excellence for all students
The Coupeville community has consistently demonstrated extraordinary support for our schools, and that partnership is more important than ever. Our educators and staff continue to do amazing work with our students every day, and we are committed to preserving as many of these positions as possible.
We will continue to closely monitor legislative decisions and funding allocations, and will provide updates to our community as more information becomes available. I am confident that together, we will navigate these challenges while continuing to provide the high-quality education our students deserve.
We have posted openings for a Middle School Principal/Athletic Director and a High School Principal/CTE Director. Please take time to fill out the surveys below to tell us what you would like to see in the next principals.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Sincerely,
Shannon Leatherwood, Superintendent
Budget Committee Recognition
We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the 30 dedicated staff, students, and community members who served on our Budget Committee from January through April of this year. This diverse team worked tirelessly to analyze our district's financial situation, including potential state apportionment, federal funding uncertainties, and other budgetary factors.
Their collaborative efforts resulted in thoughtful recommendations for potential reallocations and reductions that balance fiscal responsibility with our educational mission. Their insights have been invaluable as we navigate these challenging financial circumstances.
The committee will reconvene in June to review our draft budget for the upcoming school year before we make the recommendation to the board for approval. We invite all community members to learn more about their important work by visiting our district website below, where you can access detailed financial information, review committee meeting minutes, and read through the questions and answers that guided their process.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and expertise to this essential work!
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
This week, we’re thrilled to shine a much-deserved spotlight on Coupeville Schools Custodian, Pete Gebhard—a kind, committed, and endlessly dependable member of our school community.
Pete has been a part of the Coupeville School District for an incredible 27 years, and in that time, he’s worked in every building and made an impact in every hallway. These days, you’ll find Pete covering all three schools and the Open Den program each and every day—yes, really! His tireless work ethic, deep sense of responsibility, and ever-present smile haven’t gone unnoticed.
Pete is the kind of person who leads by example. He never asks anything of his team that he wouldn’t do himself, and he approaches every task—no matter how big or small—with care, grace, and integrity. Whether he’s prepping classrooms for the first day of school, supporting events like the Saratoga Orchestra, or simply keeping our spaces clean, safe, and welcoming, Pete gets it done—and he does it right.
Colleagues describe him as kind, capable, thorough, and trustworthy. He’s the kind of person who shows up, steps up, and puts others first. One of the district staff members even said, “He’s like a shark—always moving!” And honestly? We can’t argue with that.
Pete, thank you for your decades of hard work, your dedication to students and staff, and the pride you take in doing every job with heart. You’re a gem, and Coupeville is better because of you.
We wanted to take a moment to share our upcoming state assessment schedule. Thank you for your ongoing support for our students and staff.
Tuesday/Thursday, April 22/24: ELA testing for 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th graders (and any 11th and 12th who have not yet achieved a passing score)
Tuesday, April 29: Science testing for 8th graders
Thursday, May 1: Science testing for 11th graders
Tuesday/Thursday, May 6/8: Math testing for 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th graders (and any 11th and 12th who have not yet achieved a passing score)
Upcoming AP Exams are on:
- May 06: Chemistry / Government
- May 07: Literature and Composition
- May 09: US History
- May 12: Calculus BC
- May 16: Physics
