Our students experience a sense of belonging and will graduate fully equipped to meet life’s challenges - confident and independent life-long learners and passionate in pursuing their dreams and in bettering the lives of others.

Dear Students, Families, Staff, and Community,

The cooler morning temperatures this week have given us a small preview of fall - and a reminder that a new school year is just around the corner!

Throughout the summer, our OISD team has been hard at work preparing our schools, programs, and campus for the return of students. From campus improvements to strengthening instructional programs and student supports, a great deal has been happening behind the scenes.

As we prepare to welcome students back in just a few short days, we are excited to share some of the highlights, updates, and opportunities ahead for the 2026–27 school year. We look forward to another year of learning, connection, and growth together.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

We are excited to welcome our students and families back for the start of the 2026–27 school year on Wednesday, August 26!

Our first day will be a half day for students, with dismissal at noon. District transportation will operate on the normal morning schedule, with buses running again at noon for student dismissal.

Following dismissal, we invite families, staff, and community members to stay or return to campus for an afternoon of celebration and connection:

12:45 p.m. – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the completion of our summer campus improvements
1:00–4:00 p.m. – Family & Community Resource Fair
1:00–4:00 p.m. – Back-to-School Celebration

This will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, celebrate the start of a new school year, learn about available school and community resources, and recognize the improvements made to our campus over the summer.

Students will return on Thursday, August 27, for their first full day of school, with transportation operating on its regular schedule.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back and beginning another great year together.

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

Families and community members are invited to join us for a special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 12:45 p.m. in front of the OISD Cafeteria as we celebrate the completion of our summer campus improvements.

Together, we will recognize the many individuals, partners, and community members whose support and hard work helped make these exciting improvements possible. We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate this important milestone for our schools and community!

RESOURCE FAIR & SCHOOL CELEBRATION

OISD and The Funhouse are excited to continue our partnership for a third year, bringing families and community members together for our Parent Resource Fair and Back-to-School Celebration.

Following our first half-day of school on Wednesday, August 26, families are invited to join us for an afternoon of connection, celebration, and fun. The Parent Resource Fair will take place from 1:00–4:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria where local and county organizations will be available to share information, highlight services, and connect families with valuable resources and support.

At the same time, students and families can enjoy our Back-to-School Celebration, featuring activities, treats, music, and opportunities to reconnect with friends, staff, and our school community.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate the start of the 2026–27 school year and the many wonderful resources, partnerships, and people who support our students and families.

TRANSPORTATION

DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

How to Contact OISD Transportation Department with Questions

Dave Mowrey, Head Bus Driver, dmowrey@oisd.org, 360.378.7441
Tracy Todd, Operations Director, ttodd@oisd.org, 360.376.1506

LOOKING FORWARD

Strategic Goals Update

This fall, Orcas Island School District will begin an important Strategic Planning process to help guide the direction of our schools for the years ahead.

A strategic plan serves as a shared roadmap for our district. Through input from students, families, staff, and community members, the plan will identify our priorities, goals, and areas of focus and help ensure that our decisions, resources, and efforts remain centered on what matters most for our students.

An essential part of this process is hearing from you. Beginning in late September, we will host a series of Listening Sessions designed to gather perspectives, ideas, hopes, and priorities from across our school community. These conversations will help shape the development of a plan that reflects the voices and values of those we serve.

In mid-September, we will share additional information, including the dates and times of the Listening Sessions as well as ways in which you can participate. We will invite our students, families, staff, and community to join the conversation and share their feedback.

Please find our current Strategic Plan below:

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Strategic Plan 2024-27 pg. 1.pdf

Strategic Plan 2024-27 Pg. 2.pdf

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NEW FACES OR PLACES

For the 2026-27 school year, we have added a few new individuals to our team (due to retirement and relocation of staff) as well as a few familiar faces returning in new roles within the district. Please help us welcome these individuals to our community!

Certificated Instructional Staff

Sarah Dorian – Music Teacher
Patrick Howard – Waldron Teacher
Kristy McGuire – Waldron Teacher
Lindsey Skaanes – Elementary Teacher
Julia Slater – Farm to Classroom Teacher
Jennifer Johnston - Elementary, Montessori Public, and OASIS K-8 Principal
Bridget Broderick - Instructional Coach
Natasha Meskew - Middle School Teacher
Phil Comito - Health and Fitness Teacher & Athletic Director

Classified Staff

Cassie Buscher – MS/HS Office Clerk
Stephanie Nouvel – SAFE Advocate
Joy Lanier – SAFE Advocate
Taylor Hill - Paraeducator (pending approval by the School Board)
Carlie Rankin - Paraeducator (pending approval by the School Board)
Natalie Blain - Paraeducator (pending approval by the School Board)

Employment Opportunities

Please note, we are always on the lookout for those who would be willing to support our students as Guest Teachers and Staff in the roles of certificated instructor, classified paraeducator, and bus driver. More information on all of our employment opportunities can be found on our website here, Employment Opportunities.

School Board Student Representatives

We are excited to welcome Neave as a new Student Representative to the School Board. Neave will serve alongside Tori, who returns for his second year in this important role.

As part of our continued commitment to elevating student voice throughout the district, Neave and Tori will bring valuable perspectives, ideas, and experiences to Board conversations and help ensure that student voices remain an important part of district decision-making.

We look forward to celebrating Neave’s official appointment and swearing-in at the September Regular School Board Meeting, and we are grateful to both Neave and Tori for their willingness to represent their fellow students and serve our school community.

COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS GROWTH

At OISD, our commitment to excellence continues throughout the summer. Our teams have been hard at work preparing our schools, strengthening programs, and making improvements to support a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment for all students.

Below are a few of the enhancements now in place or underway as we prepare to welcome students and staff back for the 2026–27 school year.

Employee Compensation

This spring, Orcas Island School District and Orcas Education Association (OEA) negotiated a new three-year bargaining agreement that was fair and sustainable for both parties. We are excited that we can offer a 4.6% increase to Certificated Staff, advancing the starting salary of BA/0 to $70,963 and MA/90 to $140,526 for the 2026-27 school year.

The district is in its second year of the contract with Public School Employees (PSE) , which provides a 4.1% increase to all Classified Staff.

The district will also continue its Legislative Advocacy this year in an attempt to receive a fair and appropriate Regionalization Funding Factor that accurately reflects the cost of living on the island.

Professional Learning

We are excited to share our professional learning focus for the 2026–27 school year. Our commitment to continuous growth ensures that our staff have the skills, strategies, and support needed to create engaging, welcoming, and successful learning environments for every student.

We will begin the year with CharacterStrong’s Brain and Behavior Training, focused on increasing academic engagement and supporting positive classroom environments. Staff will explore the S.E.R.V.E. Model and practical, research-backed strategies designed to strengthen relationships, belonging, student engagement, and time spent learning.

Strengthening Teaching & Learning

This year, we are continuing our work to strengthen core instruction, the high-quality teaching and learning that provides the foundation for every student’s success.

Our new Instructional Coach plays an important role in this work by partnering with teachers to strengthen instructional practices, support professional learning, and help evaluate and select high-quality, evidence-based curriculum. The coach also supports collaboration across grade levels and subject areas to promote greater consistency and alignment in teaching and learning throughout the district.

Our focus includes using effective instructional strategies, strengthening literacy and math across subjects, monitoring student progress and engagement, and continually reflecting on what is working best for students.

Through this collaborative approach, we are working to ensure that every student experiences engaging, relevant, and effective instruction that supports academic growth and future success.

System of Supports

Orcas Island School District continues to strengthen our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure every student has access to the support they need to thrive. Over the past year, we have been developing a more comprehensive continuum of supports focused on three key areas: academics, behavior, and social-emotional development.

During the 2026–27 school year, our focus will be on strengthening collaboration through effective teams, using data to guide decision-making, and further refining our continuum of preventative supports and targeted interventions. We will also introduce fidelity checks to help ensure consistent implementation across our schools and develop an MTSS handbook that clearly outlines our practices, procedures, and available supports.

To guide this work, the district will partner with an experienced facilitator who will provide ongoing support and professional learning for building administrators and leadership teams throughout the year. This will help us build a sustainable, districtwide system that responds effectively to the needs of all students.

Facilities Long Range Plan

The district has completed its Long-Range Facilities Planning process, providing an updated assessment of our buildings, facilities, and future needs. This work will help establish priorities and guide thoughtful, long-term decisions about the care and improvement of our school facilities.

The completed plan, developed with support from Mahlum Architecture and Construction Services Group, will be presented to the School Board at its Tuesday, September 22 meeting. The Study and Survey portion of this planning process was fully funded through grant funding, thus allowing the district to complete this important assessment at no cost to the district.

Summer Facilities Improvements

Our campus has been busy this summer, and we are excited to share the progress made through two significant facilities projects.

The Site Work Project continues to move forward, with asphalt paving now complete. Nearly 1,400 tons of asphalt were delivered and placed, with temperatures maintained well above required levels throughout the paving process. All compaction tests were successfully passed. Work will continue into late October as we turn our attention to improvements to the covered play area, additional electric vehicle charging stations, garden enhancements, lighting upgrades, and the many finishing details included in the project.

The Milton Building Brick Repair Project is also nearing completion. Remaining work includes additional support and weatherization around the final window, painting trim, and completing final punch-list items. These important improvements will help preserve our beloved Milton Building and ensure it continues to serve students, staff, and our community for years to come.

We are especially pleased that these improvements were made possible through two separate grants, allowing us to make significant investments in our facilities and campus while leveraging outside funding.

WE CAN DO THIS !

As we look ahead to the new school year, we do so with tremendous excitement and gratitude. The trust, encouragement, and partnership of our families and community strengthen our schools and inspire our work each day.

Together, we will continue building a district where every student feels known, valued, and connected, where well-being and belonging are supported, and where meaningful learning and academic growth thrive. With the dedication of our incredible staff and the continued partnership of our families and community, we are excited about all that lies ahead.

Thank you for being such an important part of the OISD community. We look forward to welcoming our students back and beginning another wonderful year together!

Respectfully,

Eric Webb

Superintendent | Orcas Island School District #137

Orcas Island School District #137

Email: ewebb@o isd.org
Website: https://www.orcasislandschools.org
Location: 557 School Road, Eastsound, WA, USA
Phone: 360-376-2284

LOOKING AHEAD WITH PURPOSE

August 20, 2026

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

RESOURCE FAIR & SCHOOL CELEBRATION

TRANSPORTATION

LOOKING FORWARD

Strategic Goals Update

NEW FACES OR PLACES

School Board Student Representatives

COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS GROWTH

Employee Compensation

Professional Learning

Strengthening Teaching & Learning

System of Supports

Facilities Long Range Plan

Summer Facilities Improvements

WE CAN DO THIS !

Orcas Island School District #137

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

RESOURCE FAIR & SCHOOL CELEBRATION RESOURCE FAIR & SCHOOL CELEBRATION

TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION

LOOKING FORWARD LOOKING FORWARD

Strategic Goals Update

NEW FACES OR PLACES NEW FACES OR PLACES

School Board Student Representatives

COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS GROWTH COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS GROWTH

Employee Compensation

Professional Learning

Strengthening Teaching & Learning

System of Supports

Facilities Long Range Plan

Summer Facilities Improvements

WE CAN DO THIS ! WE CAN DO THIS !

Orcas Island School District #137

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

RESOURCE FAIR & SCHOOL CELEBRATION

TRANSPORTATION

LOOKING FORWARD

NEW FACES OR PLACES

COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS GROWTH

WE CAN DO THIS !