Communication
May 2024
Initiative 2081 “The Parents’ Bill of Rights”
Dear Families,
Some of you are heavily involved in state politics, while others rarely follow the daily activity of the Washington State Legislature during their annual sessions. Regardless of where you might find yourself on that spectrum of engagement, most of you have heard of Initiative 2081, which was passed by the State Legislature this session. This initiative, known as “The Parents’ Bill of Rights,” seems like a significant piece of legislation at first glance, but the reality is that most of these rights have already been codified in dozens of state and federal laws. Here are just a few examples:
- Your right as a parent to examine textbooks, curriculum, and other materials used in your child’s classroom. Those rights are already protected in state law RCW 28A.320.230 and Federal Law 20 USC § 1232h.
- Your right as a parent to inspect your child’s public-school records. Those rights are already protected in RCW 28A.605.030 and Federal Law 20 USC § 1232g, just to name a few.
- Your right to receive prior notification when medical services are being offered to your child is already protected in no fewer than eight different state statutes.
These are just a few examples, but the list goes on. You already have, and will continue to have, the right to view student handbooks, see a list of all fees, be notified when your child is removed from school, see the student calendar, opt out of surveys, and be informed of your child’s academic progress.
Like most pieces of legislation that are passed each year, there are a lot of unanswered questions and conflicting legislation, including copyright laws and student’s rights, that need to be worked out, but I think it is important to remember that you, as a parent, have rights and I encourage you to exercise those. Review the work that your student is doing in school. Review the weekly progress reports that come home and talk with your child’s teacher if you have questions or concerns. Follow up on those attendance notices. And, by all means, please consider joining our Instructional Materials Committee as a parent representative and support the heavy lifting that this team does each year to review instructional materials and analyze the impact on student learning through field tests and other research.
Perhaps it takes a reminder of your rights at times to serve as a driving force for action. If that’s the case, then I hope that Initiative 2081 will accomplish just that. We have some of the highest-performing schools in Pierce County, and our parent involvement is already very strong, but we can do even better together. While others around the state bicker over the details and exaggerate the possible impacts of this legislation, we will be using this legislation as an opportunity to remind you of your rights as parents and encourage you to engage with your child’s school as we work together to ensure they are learning at high levels and are prepared for success after high school.
In Partnership,
Scott Harrison
Mountain Meadow Elementary
Janel Ross has been hired to fill the position of Principal at Mountain Meadow Elementary School. Janel has been a part of White River School District as a paraeducator, teacher and an Assistant Principal of Mountain Meadow Elementary. Since 2020, she has been the Principal of the White River Early Learning Center and was an integral part of the opening and success of the school. Janel brings years of experience and is a dedicated educator who cares deeply about her staff, students and families.
White River Early Learning Center
Lina Randall has been hired to fill the position of Principal at the White River Early Learning Center. Lina joined the White River team in 2013 and has served as a teacher, head volleyball coach, team leader, emergency coordinator, National Honor Society Advisor, District Wide Dean of Students, Dean of Students at GMS and Assistant Principal at GMS. Lina has experience at all levels and has a passion for kids and is committed to their growth and success.
Foothills Elementary
Ben Cruz will be joining White River School District as Assistant Principal at Foothills Elementary. Ben has been a Dean of Students at Highland Elementary school in Lake Stevens for the past two years and has served as Kindergarten, 5th & 6th grade teacher. His leadership improved systems, changed professional practice, and significantly improved student success. His dedication to supporting staff, students, and the community is evident.
Glacier Middle School
Michael Joshua will be joining White River School District as Dean of Students at Glacier Middle School. Michael has almost twenty years of middle school experience as a math teacher, STEM teacher, Math Professional Development Facilitator and Program lead. He has demonstrated a consistent commitment that aligns with White River School Districts mission of ensuring high levels of learning for each student as we prepare them for success after high school.
Menus
Breakfast and lunch menus will now be accessed using a new platform, nutrislice. This new method of communication allows for transparency as it relates to specific nutritional information & in particular, allergens. It also enables the district to comply with new regulations and rules.
Please click on this White River nutrislice link and select your school to view menus. Menus are created in real-time, depending on the supply chain, and menus will be available about a week in advance. Of course, the menus will still be "subject to change" at any time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the Child Nutrition Department at 360-829-3979.
Last year, we announced an exciting new school supply program that benefited all elementary school students in our district. We are happy to say that we will be continuing with this program for our elementary schools and have now extended it to include our middle school. Beginning this fall, we will also provide middle school students with essential items such as pencils, pens, notebooks, crayons, markers, and glue sticks. Middle school students will also continue to be provided with 1:1 devices.
We are excited about the opportunities this program will provide for our elementary and middle school students and its positive impact on their educational experience. To ensure easy access and transparency, we have made information about the program available on each school's website and in the elementary and middle school student handbooks. If you would like to request a backpack and/or water bottle for your child, please contact the main office of your child’s school.
For families with high school students, please be on the lookout for additional information regarding high school students. With 1:1 devices for each student and many different course offerings, applying a universal supply list is difficult. That said, you will be hearing about resources available in our community and updates on course fees.
Camp Rapid Summer Day Camp
The Camp Rapid Summer Day Camp program runs from June 17 through August 16, 2024, from 6:00 am- 6:00 pm with weekly enrollment. Children will experience a wide variety of creative play and structured activities, along with weekly field trips. The program serves children ages Full Day Kindergarten-5th grade, based on the 2023-2024 school year.
The Instructional Materials Committee is responsible for selecting and approving instructional materials. Typically, this involves listening to new courses/materials presentations based on their learning benefits and costs.
The committee consists of elementary & secondary school teachers, principals, administration and parents.We are always looking for parent representation, so please contact the Learning Department at 360-829-3866 if you are interested in being on the committee. The committee meets about 3-4 times a year.
Community members have been and are always welcome to review any instructional materials in current or proposed use. Please get in touch with the Learning Department at 360-829-3866 to arrange a time to review materials.