Dear Parents and Guardians,

What a fun morning last week at our first Community Coffee Klatch ☕️ - thank you to the parents/patrons who attended and asked great questions! We have scheduled the next one in May (more details below). Several folks asked about our upcoming budget, staffing cuts, legislative budget cuts, and the timeline. It can definitely be confusing when the media reports an increase in education funding and staffing allocations, but Federal ESSER funds utilized for staffing are depleted, the state is moving from enrollment funding back to ADA (average daily attendance), which is a decrease of almost $1.7million in our district, and we must present a balanced budget to the Board on April 11. If you would like to learn more, read our CFO’s piece below. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out so we can clarify all the steps that have gone into the district’s budget development.

Enjoy Spring Break - I hope your family takes time to unplug, spend time together, and soak up the beauty in our corner of the world 💗! We look forward to 4th quarter, ISATs, and plenty of learning time when we return, bwm

Dr. Becky W Meyer, Superintendent

The SEC (Services for Exceptional Children) Department in LPOSD has a vision for “high quality instruction and learning that addresses the entire student: academic, social, emotional, physical, & vocational.” One key player who helps make this vision a reality, is Erin McClure. McClure - serving LPOSD students for over two decades - is the district’s physical therapist.

McClure's excitement about her work is undeniable, stating “there is no student who is ever unable to join us on a field trip!” For example, when 5th grade classes across the district are headed to SOLE’s Outdoor Leadership Education on Schweitzer, she has utilized sleds or a burley with skis to help students with disabilities access the snow pits. For field trips to Pine Street Woods, kick sleds are utilized so students can join their classmates during cross country skiing outings. Adaptive biking (using a surrey), hiking (utilizing chariot trailers), and even wall climbing...simply require creative adaptations so all students can participate!

Most recently, some major strides toward achieving the vision of LPOSD's SEC Department are happening in Physical Education courses. "Adaptive PE" is making waves and helping students gain valuable skills through auditory cues, extra therapy, and visual supports. The classes provided at Farmin Stidwell, Sandpoint High School, and in collaboration with UCAN gym in Sandpoint, have allowed students with disabilities to gain skills and confidence.

Take a look below at these awesome photographs of LPOSD students experiencing adaptive recreation!

If you missed the last Board Meeting, you can watch it online here! Six 5th graders confidently presented about the positive student culture at Washington Elementary School.

All Kindergarten registration must happen at the child's ZONED SCHOOL. Find your Zoned School using our website!

If you have any questions about your zoned school after reviewing the link above, call Kelly Fisher at the District Office: 208-263-2184 ext. 1019.

Idaho law requires school districts to adopt a balanced budget. Our school district's budget development for fiscal year 2024 has already spanned the last five months. Our processes primarily focus on: program analysis and cost, effectiveness of policy decisions and priorities, staff and student ratios, projected student enrollment, and financial and labor market conditions.

While our district appreciates the state's appropriation increase next year, and our legislature's hard work to support K-12 education, it will necessitate key changes:

• School districts must now set a mandated teacher minimum salary of $47,859.
• The funding formula will change from the current enrollment structure, back to average daily attendance, which results in a significant loss of revenue.
• ESSER Funding (Federal Covid dollars), which allowed for additional staffing, has been exhausted.
• The outcome of these factors is a net shortfall of $1.6 million, requiring reductions to maintain a balanced budget.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by differences in sensory sensitivity, social skills and other behavior. Every person with autism can exhibit unique qualities. In support of April as Autism Acceptance Month, Lake Pend Oreille School District wants to recognize the unique dignity and value of every individual with neurodiversities.

Kootenai Elementary displays a Pinwheel for Prevention on the school gate, which was created by 6th grade students in collaboration with Strengthening Families North Idaho Coalition. Idaho Children's Trust Fund has created this resource full of activities supporting Child Abuse Prevention.

Please take a moment and extend appreciation to all the paraprofessionals who support LPOSD students, and contribute to our schools in many ways!

Photo Credit: Idaho Lottery

Do you know a child who loves to draw? The Idaho School Nutrition Association is hosting a "Battle of the Foods" Art Contest. Fill out an entry form and submit by May 12, 2023 to be considered for the prize!

LPOSD Students & Meals Featured in the Flyer!

Inviting students to enjoy breakfast + lunch at school! Meals include fruits, veggies, and whole grains. View the school nutrition online menu to plan around your favorite meals!

Offered by the Idaho Drone League (iDrone) in partnership with NASA Idaho. Their goal is to inspire future workforce in Idaho.

Parents interested in registering their incoming 6-8 grade students can do so beginning March 29th at this link!

Sponsored by Spacepoint.

From the Panida: "Join Dr Jason Barnes on a Journey with NASA’s Dragonfly Spacecraft. Jason is Dragonfly’s Deputy Principle Investigator from our own University of Idaho. Dragonfly is the first quadcopter spacecraft in the world. Dragonfly will travel to Saturn’s largest moon Titan to search for signs on past life and potential for future human habitation."

Thank you so much to Starbucks for choosing to host us again!

"[...]I had supportive teachers in high school. My choir teacher, Mr. Brownell, was always supportive in telling me that I would go places.

And then my drama teacher, Mrs. Hunter, was supportive, and they helped me get out of my shell because I had stage fright in middle school when I started performing.

The first musical I ever did was in my first year of high school. And it was all still very new to me because I started to sing seriously in middle school. So they helped me get out of my shell and believed in me."

Earlier this month, LPOSD students took part in the Idaho District 1 Large Group Choral Festival at NIC.

Jon Brownell, Choir Teacher at both SMS and SHS, said that his choirs aim to achieve a "Superior Rating" in the adjudication. Superior means that out of the 100-point rubric, the ensemble earns an 88 or more based on the average score of 3 judges. Mr. Brownell reported, "my SHS Mixed Choir got an 88. My middle school ensemble received a 93. Both Superiors!!! Woohoo!"

Additionally, middle school students earned a score of 99 and SHS Mixed Choir received a 100/100 on the Sight Reading category! Congratulations!

Photo Courtesy of: Morgan Mackaben