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inside
VANCOUVER public schools
january 2021
CONSTRUCTION
UPDATES
NEW SUPPORT
FOR FAMILIES
SUPERINTENDENT
SEARCH UNDERWAY
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Student and staff accomplishments
See more accomplishments at vansd.org
▼ Real Heroes National Merit Semifinalists
Dual language teacher Tai Baint- Seven Vancouver Public
er (right) and volunteer Leilani Schools students are among
Casanova-Brunell (left) were approximately 16,000 semi-
honored for their commitment to finalists in the 2021 National
students and education. Bainter Merit Scholarship Program.
teaches first grade at Anderson The nationwide pool of semi-
Elementary. Casanova-Brunell finalists represents less than
is PTA president at Marshall 1% of U.S. high school seniors.
Elementary. The awards, part of Selection is based on scores
the Learn Here Project spon- from the Preliminary SAT/
▲ Science honor society sored by Identity Clark County, National Merit Scholarship ▲ Regional History
delegate recognizes exemplary staff and Qualifying Test. Bee winner
Columbia River High School volunteers of the area's educa-
Columbia River High School: Last January, then-Sacajawea
senior Bridgette Bromell tion system.
• Jenna Chinn Elementary fifth grader James
conducted a meta-analysis of
• Dominick D’emilio Ekeya won the Vancouver
research on certain risk fac-
• Joshua Like Elementary History Bee. He
tors for dementia as part of an
followed up that competition
advanced biology class project Skyview High School:
with a victory in the regional
in teacher Kelly Cameron’s • Liyu Huang
History Bee. Now a sixth-
class. Bridgette’s work led to • Annika Meunier
grader at Thomas Jefferson
her selection as one of six 2020 • Benjamin Richter
Middle School, Ekeya went on
Washington state delegates to • Ryan Welch
to compete in the National His-
the upcoming convention of
tory Bee in December.
the American Junior Academy
of Sciences, an invitation-only
Accomplishments, continued on page 6
research honor society for high
school scientists. The con-
vention will be held in 2021 in Graduation rate increases
conjunction with a meeting of
the American Association for the The on-time graduation rate for the class of 2020 is nearly
Advancement of Science. 90%, a significant increase from the 2019 rate of 85.4%
and the 2014 rate of 74%. Among VPS high schools, Fort
Vancouver High School Center for International Studies
saw the greatest year-over-year gain, from 75% in 2019 to
83% in 2020.
board of directors inside staff
Camara Banfield Tara Cox
Tracie Barrows Sara Neal
Kathy Decker Patricia Nuzzo
Wendy Smith Amanda Richter
Kyle Sproul
PO Box 8937 photos
Vancouver, WA 98668 superintendent Cheryl Boatman
vansd.org Dr. Steven Webb Alisha Jucevic
Paul Quackenbush
copyright 2021
Troy Wayrynen keeping costs down
Communications staff INSIDE VANCOUVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS is produced in-house and sent digitally to a
on the cover: George C. Marshall Elementary School printer. Cost to print is 9 cents apiece. We mail the newsletter by the most economi-
Principal Bobbi Geenty welcomes a kindergartener to cal mail rate–bulk rate at 7 cents each–to all postal customers within the district’s
the new building for in-person class. boundaries.
The Vancouver School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, age, families with children, hon-
orably discharged veteran or military status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America, and other
designated groups. You may also contact any of the following people by writing to them at Vancouver School District, PO Box 8937, Vancouver, WA 98668-8937, or by calling 360-313-1000: 504 – Steve Vance; Civil Rights
and Affirmative Action – Janell Ephraim; ADA and Title IX – Kathy Everidge; Title IX Elementary Schools – Debra Hale; Title IX Secondary Schools – Jim Gray.
Vancouver Public Schools is committed to accountability to the public. Each year, VPS provides an update to the community on its progress on academic and other metrics. For detailed information, go to
vansd.org/performance-data. Printed copies of school and district reports are available by contacting 360-313-1250.
2 | Imagine what you can learn!
Camara Banfield appointed to board of directors
Camara Banfield was appointed to the Vancouver served the community as a deputy prosecutor and
Public Schools board of directors in July 2020. The has worked as a supervisor for the past 12 years.
board interviewed She currently serves as the chief criminal deputy
13 candidates and prosecuting attorney. Banfield grew up in Vancouver
voted unanimously and attended local public schools before graduat-
for Banfield to fill the ing and going on to earn a Bachelor of Arts and Juris
open seat after former Doctor from the University of Oregon. In addition
board director Mark to her professional responsibilities, Banfield has been
Stoker resigned. The involved in the community through volunteer work
appointment will be and coaching youth sports. She has three children
temporary until the who previously attended, or currently attend, schools
November 2021 gen- in the district.
eral election, when
a permanent board “I am honored to be chosen to serve our school dis-
member will be elect- trict and I look forward to adding yet another new
ed to the position. perspective,” said Banfield. “I am passionate about
making a positive impact for our students with the
Banfield has practiced assistance of our ever-growing diverse community
law in Clark County for nearly 20 years. She has and the other directors of the board.” ■
New superintendent coming to Vancouver
In August, VPS Superintendent Steve Webb an- • Candidate vetting
nounced his plan to retire from the district after • Interviews in February 2021
serving for 14 years. The early announcement of
Webb’s retirement was intended to give the VPS With input from the community, the school board
school board ample time to identify and name a will make the decision in late February or early
successor. The board hired search firm McPherson March. The superintendent successor will assume
& Jacobson to help recruit and vet high-quality job duties in July 2021. Dr. Webb will be available
candidates, as well as gather and incorporate stake- in an advisory capacity through June 30, 2022.
holder input into the process. “We appreciate Dr. Webb’s long service to the
The process includes: children and staff of this district, as well as to the
Vancouver community,” said Board President Kyle
• Fifteen virtual forums with staff members, stu- Sproul. “Under his leadership, VPS has achieved
dents, parents and labor and community groups so much. As the board works toward finding the
to gather input next superintendent, we’re grateful for the valu-
• Conversations with community leaders able input from many stakeholders in the district
and community. We look forward to incorporating
• Surveys in English and Spanish collected more
their ideas into the selection of a strong leader who
than 460 responses with perceptions about the
can continue the great work taking place in Van-
strengths of schools and the community; issues
couver schools.”
of which the new superintendent should be
aware; and skills, qualities and characteristics Learn more at vansd.org/new-superintendent. ■
the new superintendent should possess. The in-
formation is used for recruitment and is shared
with the board and incoming superintendent.
I N S I D E VA N C O U V E R P U B L I C S C H O O L S | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 1 | 3
Improvements coming soon
The following upgrades are in process; expected
New locations, names for schools
completion fall 2021: The current Fir Grove/
Vista is moving into a
• Alki Middle School – HVAC new building on Norris
• Chinook Elementary – HVAC; secure entry Road and 18th Street
• Discovery Middle School – Secure entry and will become the
Jim Tangeman Center.
• Fort Vancouver High School Center for Interna- The late Dr. Tange-
tional Studies – Parking lot lighting, auditorium
man was a respected,
• Fruit Valley Community Learning Center – longtime VPS adminis-
Dr. Jim Tangeman
New roof trator and advocate for
• Gaiser Middle School – Family-Community students with special
Resource Center, secure entry and courtyard, needs and their families. Among his many
HVAC, locker rooms, exterior columns, cafete- accomplishments in the district and commu-
ria operable wall replacement nity, Dr. Tangeman drove the opening of what
• GATE House – New roof originally was known as Fir Grove Children’s
Center, filling a gap in services for students
• Harney Elementary – Parking lot expansion
with disabilities. He also served as the school’s
• Hudson’s Bay High School – Family-Communi- first principal. Tina Henry, a retired VPS special
ty Resource Center, HVAC/air conditioning education teacher and community member,
• Lincoln Elementary – Family-Community Re- suggested the name. She noted that Tangeman
source Center “tirelessly solicited support for [Fir Grove] stu-
• Skyview High School – HVAC/air conditioning, dents after his retirement.” Construction on the
baseball field drainage new school is nearly complete. Staff will move
in over the summer, and the new Tangeman
• Washington Elementary – Family-Community Center is projected to open in fall 2021.
Resource Center, secure entry
The current Lieser Campus will move to the
Completed projects former site of Marshall Elementary, on MacAr-
• Replacement schools – Marshall, Martin Lu- thur Boulevard. Moving is expected to begin
ther King Jr., Ogden and Truman elementa- this summer. The former Marshall building is
ries; McLoughlin Middle School being updated and will be renamed Heights
• New school – Vancouver iTech Preparatory Campus. The new name reflects the location
in the Vancouver Heights neighborhood and
• Classroom additions – Eisenhower Elementary, the school’s commitment to helping students
Felida Elementary, Fruit Valley Community reach new heights of personal achievement.
Learning Center, Harney Elementary, Salmon
Creek Elementary Lieser serves students in kindergarten through
• Harney Elementary – Secure entry, Family- 12th grade in a variety of programs.
Community Resource Center
A student and staff member both suggested
• Hough Elementary – HVAC/air conditioning, the Heights name. Angeline Stefanyuk is a
windows, Family-Community Resource Center, ninth grader in Lieser’s Virtual Learning Acad-
secure entry emy. Angela Shaw is a lifelong Vancouver
• Lake Shore Elementary – Accessible play- resident, Columbia River High School alum
ground, fitness path and current teacher at Franklin Elementary. Her
All school construction and upgrade projects are children once attended the Vancouver Early
funded by the bond measure approved in February Childhood Center at the former Lieser School
2017, state assistance funds, a class size reduction and are now alumni of Vancouver School of
grant and school impact fees. Learn more about Arts and Academics.
the construction projects on our website. ■
I N S I D E VA N C O U V E R P U B L I C S C H O O L S | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 1 | 5
See what’s happening around the district,
thanks to voter-approved bond dollars.
Construction and upgrades
are continuing throughout the
district. Now four-and-a-half
years into the active design and
construction work, the bond
program is more than halfway
through. “Although the pan- 25th Avenue Elementary design concepts (name to be determined)
demic has delayed welcoming
the public into new schools, the • McLoughlin Middle School – New school
buildings are being used by some students and completed fall 2020, gym under construction;
staff, who are happy to be back at school,” said completion spring 2021
Superintendent Steve Webb. “We look forward • NE 25th Avenue elementary – Design work for
to the day when we can safely welcome every- new school complete; completion fall 2022
one back.”
• Vancouver Innovation, Technology and Arts
Elementary School – Construction underway;
Remodel and expansion projects completion fall 2022
• Columbia River High School – East and • Walnut Grove Elementary – Construction un-
west additions, stadium structural upgrade; derway; completion spring 2021
completion fall 2021
• Franklin Elementary – Expanded parking lot, Upgrades and improvements
improved drop-off and pick-up areas, class- • Hazel Dell Elementary – Construction under-
room additions; nearing completion way on Family-Community Resource Center
• Lieser School – Programs will move to re- and HVAC upgrades
modeled Marshall; summer 2021 • Jason Lee Middle School – Secure entry, special
• Sacajawea Elementary – Remodel and expan- education classroom remodel and HVAC im-
sion; completion January 2021 provements underway
• Vancouver School of Arts and Academ- • Kiggins Bowl Stadium – Upgrades to stadium,
ics – Remodel and expansion are underway; concessions, restrooms and turf; construction to
completion fall 2021 begin winter 2021
• Lincoln Elementary – Family-Community
New and replacement schools Resource Center, secure entry, exterior lighting
• Fir Grove/Vista – New replacement school; improvements; completion fall 2021
completion March 2021 • Minnehaha Elementary – Addition of secure
entry; construction underway
• Roosevelt Elementary – Family-Community
Resource Center, secure entry; construction
underway
Truman Elementary Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
4 | Imagine what you can learn!
Student and staff accomplishments
continued from page 2
Staff member accolades
From left: Dr. Erin Lark, a teacher at Vancouver iTech Preparatory, was a state-level finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics
and Science Teaching. Dr. Lark also is the 2021 Teacher of the Year for the ESD 112 region.
Ogden Elementary Secretary Traicy Bernal is the Educational Service District 112 Classified School Employee of the Year. She is one of only four
classified VPS staff members to hold this title.
After being named the Washington School Counselor of the Year last April, Megan Bledsoe is now one of five finalists for the 2021 National School
Counselor of the Year. The Discovery Middle School counselor is the only finalist from the West Coast.
The Washington State Association of School Psychologists recognized Ogden Elementary School Psychologist Paulette Selman as the 2020
Outstanding Advocate. Selman was honored for her work on behalf of the district’s school psychologists and her efforts to support and enhance
student learning.
Band Director Tim Heichelheim is a two-time quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award, earning legacy candidate status. Heichelheim
directs the Alki Middle School and Skyview High School bands. ■
2020-21 budget update
Information in this article was budgets. A hiring freeze, attrition fall. Assistance may come from a
current at press time. and temporary furloughs also have federal economic stimulus package
lessened the shortfall. and/or a state provision allowing
The COVID-19 pandemic is districts to receive transportation
leaving its mark on the district’s In addition, district leaders applied dollars.
budget. A shortfall of $5 to $7.5 $3 million from the reserve fund.
million is possible. Unlike a so-called rainy day fund, To date, furloughed paraeducators
a reserve fund cannot be used and secretarial/clerical staff either
Most of the shortfall is due to entirely at the district’s discretion. have been recalled or soon will be
an enrollment decline of nearly More than two-thirds of the fund brought back. Some furloughed
1,000 students and the loss of levy balance is restricted or assigned for bus drivers have returned as in-
equalization funds from the state. special purposes; it cannot be used person learning is being provided
The potential loss of state trans- to balance the budget. Further, the for small groups of students. In a
portation funds and a decrease in fund balance is one-time money report to the board of directors,
revenue generated through school set aside for essential items such Superintendent Steve Webb did
meals add approximately $3 mil- as self-insurance, start-up costs not recommend permanent layoffs
lion to the shortfall. for new schools and unexpected to address the budget shortfall;
events such as major equipment instead, he suggested that an addi-
VPS received $5.4 million in
or roof failures. After the reserve tional $6 million from the reserve
CARES Act federal dollars, which
funds are used, the district can’t fund could be used to bridge the
were applied to the added costs
access them in future years. gap if necessary. This money had
of technology, personal protective
been earmarked for school-wide
equipment and training for teachers. Potential support from federal and support staff at two new elemen-
state sources could help address tary schools scheduled to open in
Remote learning has reduced some
the remaining projected short- fall 2022. ■
expenses in school and district
6 | Imagine what you can learn!
Meeting the needs of our diverse school community
VPS launched an equity initiative • Monitor progress and out- awareness and respect in schools
in fall 2020. As part of that work, comes of recommendations and classrooms.
the district formed an Equity Ad- implemented;
visory Committee. The committee Steve Vance, former principal at
provides experience and insight to • Serve as two-way conduits of Hough Elementary, is now the spe-
help the district address implicit information to many diverse cial services compliance manager.
bias and systemic racism. Com- families and community mem- Vance provides oversight and ensures
mittee members include represen- bers; and compliance of the Individuals with
tatives from student and parent Disabilities Education Act and Sec-
• Inform the response to a tion 504 reporting requirements.
communities of color, families district-initiated equity audit
whose children have special needs, that will help VPS understand Rachel Cason is the district’s edu-
the National Association for the gaps in student opportunities cation ombuds (see below).
Advancement of Colored People, and achievement. The informa-
the League of United Latin Ameri- tion will identify challenges VPS also continues to work with
can Citizens, the Federated States and best practices and provide UCLA Center for Civil Rights,
of Micronesia, the Cowlitz Indian resources to meet the needs of Washington state attorney general’s
Tribe, the Vancouver Education our diverse community. office and the district’s discipline
Association and two school board equity steering committee to guide
members. In addition, Janell Ephraim, former fair practices in student discipline.
principal of Martin Luther King Jr.
The committee will: Elementary, is now the district’s To learn more, visit
chief equity officer. Ephraim leads vansd.org/equity-initiative. ■
• Recommend changes to the
superintendent on district poli- the initiative and is integral to ad-
cies and procedures related to vancing efforts to enhance cultural
equity practices and systems;
New support for families
Rachel Cason is the district’s education ombuds. An ombuds is a trusted in-
dividual who can assist in navigating conflicts and issues. Cason, who holds a
master’s degree in educational leadership, has more than 14 years of experi-
ence working with students and previously served as the district’s student suc-
cess coordinator. Recently, she answered a few questions about her work.
How do you support families?
Within this role, I will work specifically through the discipline process with
students, families, schools and the community to resolve conflicts, build sup-
portive partnerships and foster collaboration. I will provide confidential and
unbiased guidance, resources, information and support when parents and stu-
dents are navigating the discipline process and dealing with discipline matters
within schools.
photo by Shawnte Sims When should a parent, guardian or student reach out to you?
A parent or student can reach out when they are dealing with a discipline mat-
ter and need assistance navigating systems, understanding policies and/or communicating with school personnel, or simply
need help accessing information. The ombuds is meant to serve as a bridge to facilitate and support communication and
increase access to information.
To learn more about Cason and her role, visit vansd.org/equity-initiative/#ombuds. ■
I N S I D E VA N C O U V E R P U B L I C S C H O O L S | J A N UA RY 2 0 2 1 | 7
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PO Box 8937 Vancouver, WA
Vancouver, Washington 98668-8937 PERMIT NO. 233
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ALL ABOUT Choice
What are your child’s interests?
Students in 6th through 12th grades have options:
• International Baccalaureate • Culinary Arts
• Vancouver School of Arts • Welding and Fabrication Technology
and Academics • Careers in Education
• Vancouver Flex Academy • Vancouver iTech Preparatory
• Science, Math and Technology • Architecture, Construction and
• Center for International Studies Environmental Services (ACES)
• Medical Arts
Learn more at vansd.org/choices
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