HSD News Round-Up
Sept. 10, 2025 HSD Round Up
Get to Know Hockinson Schools: Community Tours, Surveys, and Strategic Planning
This fall, we have several opportunities for our Hockinson families and neighbors to get involved and learn more about our schools:
Tour of Schools: Join us on Wednesday, October 22 for a tour of our schools! Participants will hop on a school bus at the Hockinson Community Ed Center, then stop at each school to visit classrooms, sample cafeteria food, meet our teams and hear from school leaders about the new HSD Strategic Plan. The tour runs from 8 to 11 am. Sign up here!
2025-2030 Strategic Plan: Over 300 parents, staff, students and community members worked side by side to shape a five-year plan for Hockinson School District that reflects our community’s future priorities and values. The Citizens Advisory Committee reviewed strategic plans from neighboring districts and emphasized the importance of measurable academic outcomes and a strong Profile of a Graduate section. Read our Strategic Plan!
Community Perception Survey: Every year, Hockinson School District asks our community for feedback on key areas that shape our schools, from academic programs and communication to school culture and safety. Results from the 2024-25 survey helped inform the development of our new Strategic Plan.
This year’s Community Perception Survey will be available in November. We invite all Hockinson families, staff, students, and community members to share their input to help guide our ongoing improvement efforts.
Levy Spotlight: Former HHES Student Shing Burkhart Returns as School Nurse to Care for over 900 Students
Hockinson Heights Elementary School Nurse Shing Burkhart (pictured) is caring for students in the same community she grew up in. The HHES Health Room sees between 60 to 90 students each day for everything from cuts and bruises to illness to seizure disorders. Even with the fast pace and wide variety of student health conditions, Burkhart says the students make each day rewarding. “Elementary kids have this amazing ability to lift your spirits with just a smile or a hug,” she said. Click here to read more about Nurse Burkhart and the daily nursing operations at HHES.
Budget Bite: HSD Tech and Maintenance Squeezed by '25-26 Budget Cuts, Inflation
HSD Superintendent Steve Marshall knows why the HSD's Technology and Maintenance Budgets were nearly cut in half for the 2025-26 school year. When asked what factors led to these reductions, Marshall responded: "Costs have increased across-the-board over the past few years, state funding came in at a lower level than expected, and the only two remotely 'discretionary' funds in our budget are Technology and Maintenance." It's ironic, Marshall added, that the two funds that are facing the steepest price increases are the same two that have been trimmed the most.
This has left Technology Lead Craig Barnhill and Maintenance Supervisor Dave Wilson with the difficult task of addressing needs with $500,000 less in funds than last year. Both agree that the current funding model is unstainable, but understand its necessity. They are coping through a combination of self-reliance, creativity, and prioritization. "I'd venture to say that nowhere is 'The Hockinson Way' more evident than in the Technology and Maintenance Departments," said Wilson.
While the HSD has had to dip into its reserves to cover some expenses already this year, Marshall, Barnhill and Wilson all acknowledge that the situation would be worse without the district's four-year Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy. Read more here.
Paving the Way to Enroll, Enlist, or Enter the Workforce: CTE Student Spotlight Spotlight wood tech student
Washington’s construction and skilled trade industries are among the fastest-growing in the state with an estimated 6,200 carpenter job openings each year. At HHS, students like junior Lars Sarkinen are turning that demand into opportunity. Through the CTE and Running Start programs, he is already gaining skills and experiences that will grant him a competitive edge in the workforce. Fun Fact: Sarkinen won first place in Plumbing at the 2025 SkillsUSA Washington State Leadership and Skills Conference!
Click here to learn more about Lars, his career preparatory activities at HHS, and his future plans.
HSD salutes its "ultimate team players" * a little after * Custodian Appreciation Day
National Custodian Appreciation Day was officially on October 2, 2025. However, we failed to head the warning sign (left) and missed the opportunity to coordinate a single, timely "Thank You" for these important members of our school communities. HSD Superintendent Steve Marshall felt that it would be better late than never to shout out the critical service our custodians provide to our schools:
"Thank you, HSD Custodians! I feel qualified to deliver this appreciation because I have been a teacher, coach, athletic director, and building administrator. I've also been a student! In every one of those roles I have witnessed how you support learning, student and staff health and safety, and all school-related events. You are the ultimate team players who balance your daily responsibilities with day-to-day building needs and the requests of students, parents, and community members. While your work is often done behind the scenes, it is noticed and it is definitely appreciated."
We encourage parents and staff to join us in thanking our amazing custodians for everything they do for our schools.
Contact Us
Email: justine.hanrahan@esd112.org
Website: https://www.hocksd.org/
Location: 17912 NE 159th St, Brush Prairie, WA 98606, USA
Phone: (360) 448-6400