Questions and Answers...

Questions can be emailed to questions@misd.wednet.edu

In the district budget, the line item "Other Instruction Programs" in section A-70 has jumped from $478,819 to $1,380,172 in the last two years. What is included in this "Other Instruction Programs" line item and why has it jumped?

You are not comparing two like figures. The $478,819 is an “actual” expenditures figure and the $1,380,172 represents “budgeted” expenditures. The $1,380,172 “budgeted” expenditures include unanticipated money the district may receive in the form of “grants” from the federal government, state government, Mercer Island Schools Foundation and/or PTA. This is called “budget capacity” and the district planned for expanded capacity as a requirement of state law. This additional capacity would only be used if funds were received by MISD.

Can you give more information on the $1.3 Federal Stimulus Money? It appears that it went to IDEA and State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. Under IDEA, there are large items labeled "Health,” "Teaching," and "Teaching/Purchased Services"? Also, what is the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund?

The state used Federal Stimulus money to replace state funding during this economic crisis. The majority of the money funded psychologists, occupational therapists, classroom paraprofessionals, teacher training, and BRIDGES (high school advisory program).

Do we really need to replace busses every 4-5 years? My understanding is the diesel engines in those busses are designed to run reliably and efficiently for hundreds of thousands of miles (some districts run them for 20 years!). If we extended the replacement cycle to 6-7 years per bus that may help reduce transportation expense which, in turn, may help the overall budget shortfall.

We don't replace busses every 4-5 years although we anticipate running a levy every 5 years or so, if necessary. We replace busses based on the state depreciation schedule which is 13 years for large busses and 8 for small busses. If we keep busses beyond this time frame, we get nothing more from the state to add to the Transportation Vehicle Fund (TVF) and cost of maintenance goes way up. The long-range replacement plan in place is based on the 13/8 year replacement schedule. The district sells busses that are beyond the 13/8 replacement cycle thus providing income to the TVF towards the purchase of new busses. The district believes this is the most cost-effective way to transport our students. For those districts that use busses for 20 years, they are using general fund money to service them, and the general fund is what is used to “buy” teachers. MISD prefers to use general fund money to reduce class size.

How are our teachers paid relative to other districts? Are we above the market in pay, at market or below market?

The majority of a teacher’s salary is paid according to a state legislative adopted salary schedule. Locally, we do some enhancement to reflect the additional cost of living in the Puget Sound market place. We pay Mercer Island teachers “above the mean” for Puget Sound districts. One of our budget priorities was to “attract and retain” highly qualified staff, so we have negotiated teacher contracts to reflect that value.

Before we reach into our pockets to donate additional money, it would be helpful to see an analysis of this year's budget and the budget over the last 10-12 years. It would be good to review overall expenditures, cost per student, cost per teacher, overall employee levels, and a breakdown of fixed vs. variable cost each year. Can you make this available?

In a small district such as Mercer Island, we have a small staff and are unable to provide analysis over the last 10-12 year period. However, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has data for Mercer Island over the past five years.

How much does the 7-period day cost MISD?

The cost of the 7th period is the equivalent of 4.75 FTE teachers or $404,000. We have an average of 641 students per semester taking a 7th period.

How many students elect to have an "open" period (no classes)?

There are approximately 759 (out of 1382 students) who have at least one open period.

How many students take band?

There are currently about 275 students enrolled in the four major bands (Concert, Symphonic, Wind Symphony, and Wind Ensemble).

How many students take seven periods, but don't take band?

Of the 641 students who take seven periods, it would be a significant investment of time to determine which of those students are enrolled in band.

While higher class size is a heightened concern, Mercer Island test scores and college placements have been really high. We currently have class sizes less than the peak in 1997 and those kids that graduated in 2007 attended some of the best colleges in the country with over 98 percent going to college. Where can we truly impact the education of our children?

Over the past eight years, the parent community has come to appreciate and expect the lowest class sizes that the district can provide. The community norm of low class sizes, especially in the elementary grades, may be a result of the voter-approved I-728 that provided over $1 million dollars per year to lower class size. Our community values lower class sizes, and the district is committed to providing the “lowest class sizes feasible” when we build class schedules. The 2020 Vision can truly impact the education of our children. Please click on the link which will describe how education can be delivered to our children on Mercer Island, as we prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century.

What is inefficient in our district that needs to improve?

The district has cut over $3 million dollars from its operating budget since 2007. These reductions have included reduced administrative overhead in the form of fewer administrative and support staff, reductions in benefits and the elimination of associate superintendent positions. Please see the Budget Newsletter for more information about reductions.

I hear rumors about members from the school district going to China. If this is true, why are we paying for trips to China in a year where we really need to cut back on expenditures?

While five Mercer Island school leaders did attend a trip to China in December, 2009, the person(s) posing the question inaccurately assumes that the district paid for the trip. A full report of the trip was printed in the Mercer Island Reporter in December. All three board members paid for incidental expenses out-of-pocket. The superintendent and high school principal’s incidental expenses were paid from a grant from the Mercer Island Schools Foundation from an anonymous donor. All international air travel, hotels, all meals and all inter-China travel was paid for by the Chinese government.

Some of our teachers have attended conferences over the last year such as the Creative Writing one in New York City. This seems like an outrageously expensive program.

All expenses associated with this trip were paid by each school’s PTA in cooperation with each building principal. No basic education funds that would have been used to reduce class size were used for this professional development opportunity.

Are there local or online versions of conferences or training that staff could attend and thus save money and perhaps put the saved money towards an aide in the classrooms for those in K-2 with 26+ students per class?

There are no online versions of the Columbia Writer’s Workshop. PTA’s get to decide how to support teachers from the requests they receive. This year, the district is using professional development money (not funds that could be used to reduce class size) to bring the Columbia Writer’s Workshop to Mercer Island in June, 2010. Presently, we have over 57 teachers registered—a huge savings in lieu of sending teachers to NYC.

Everywhere you research (even on the MISD website), you can find a study on the importance of class size and teacher effectiveness to building a learning foundation in the early elementary school grades. We are nowhere near those class sizes and in most cases, we are almost double the recommendation in several of the classrooms. It seems that we could really impact teacher effectiveness and student learning by having a dedicated teacher aide in each K-3 classroom.

We have 46 K-3 classrooms. One full-time para-educator, costing approximately $35,000, would yield a total district cost of $1.6 million dollars. In a budget-reducing environment, the district would not be able to fund this suggestion.

If we cannot afford an aide for each class, what about utilizing student teachers or teacher interns that have to be in the classroom to fulfill graduation requirements?

State law prohibits student teachers or interns from assuming classroom responsibilities without a certificated teacher being in the classroom for a majority of the time.

Why is the General Fund Levy collection in 2011 and beyond substantially higher than in previous years?

There is one major reason for this increase. On a home valued at $1,000,000, the increase is approximately 15-16%. In setting the levy amounts last fall, the School Board considered that the 2010 legislative session might yield bills that would allow local voters to increase taxes to make up for the State's shortfall in school funding. That prediction came true. The legislative bills, if approved, would allow local districts to make up for the shortall that the State isn't funding for K-12 education as evidenced by recent years of budget reductions. If those bills do not pass, the amount that will be collected will be lower; an increase of 3% over 2010 levels.

Why is the Mercer Island High School Stadium going to be more secure?

The School Board recently approved an inter-local agreement with the City of Mercer Island that largely addresses a joint scheduling agreement to allow community-based organizations to use both city and school district fields and facilities.

As part of that partnership, a provision regarding the use of a “key card” for access into the MIHS Stadium exists. To clear up misinformation regarding school district fields, I offer the following:

• All grass fields throughout the district remain unlocked during the year for scheduled use by community groups and incidental use by the community. Use by scheduled users and community members occurs after the school day.
• The JV grass field at MIHS may be restricted for use at times during the year in order to allow the field to be restored after heavy use.
• The district installed new field turf at the stadium this summer when the previous field turf was deemed unsafe. Though the field turf did not last through its warranty life, the manufacturer provided deep discounts to the district for its replacement.
• Beginning sometime mid-winter or spring, the use of a “key card” will be needed to only access the MIHS stadium and track. The district wishes to identify those users who are not part of an organized group but wish to have access to the stadium and track. Because the district allows incidental use by the community during the school day, the system is intended to identify who is on the school campus, just as we presently do with school volunteers. Parents expect that we maintain safety standards and know who is on our school campuses when students are present.

Key cards will be distributed to the community beginning in mid-winter at the administration building and will cost $5.00. Seniors over 65 will have the fee waived upon request. Our facilities are planned, built and maintained for the use of our students. We appreciate the Mercer Island community's long-standing support of our schools and hope that users of district fields and facilities will understand our paramount need to provide and maintain a safe environment for our students, to protect the district from liability and to prolong the life of our facilities for student and community use.

More Information Contact: Dean Mack , Executive Director, Business Services and Human Resources, 206 236 4522

What happens if the Mercer Island Schools Foundation does not raise the $537,000 that was pledged in a gift letter to the School Board last June?

The District budgeted $537,000 as revenue from the Mercer Island Schools Foundation to be used for a given set of priorities. Those priorities have been budgeted with allocations made to various schools and departments. Should the October Phon-a-thon not raise the anticipated revenue, the District's Leadership Team will reduce school and department budgets to equal the lower level of funds pledged during the October Phone-a-thon.

Is the District going to "co-sign" on a loan that the Boys and Girls Club is in the process of obtaining with US Bank?

No. State law prohibits the district from lending credit like co-signing on such a loan. The Boys and Girls Club representatives have stated to the Board their need for a construction loan to allow them to have the building constructed while donors are making payments on their pledges.

Why did the school district just replace the Field Turf at Mercer Island High School if the budget is so tight?

During the district's summer of 2009 inspection of the stadium turf, we found that field impact absorption tests (G-Max Test) indicated it would be difficult to maintain satisfactory standards during the coming year. The "old" field turf warranty was set to expire on October 1, 2010. This is approximately 13% short of its guaranteed life.

In discussions with FieldTurf, they offered to maintain the field for the coming year or to replace the field at a reduced cost in order to satisfy the warranty. We determined that it was in the best interest of the district, for both financial consideration and student safety, to replace the field turf as soon as possible.

The Board approved the purchase of the new stadium turf out of CAPITAL FUNDS which, as required by law, may not be used to address our funding shortfall. The funding shortfall pays for teacher's salaries, instructional materials or reducing class size among other expenses in the General Fund.

Why is the district giving $1 million to P.E.A.K. if the budget is so tight?

The P.E.A.K. Project is a partnership between the Mercer Island School District and King County Boys and Girls Club to provide services to teens on Mercer Island whose needs are presently not being adequately met. The $1 million contribution came out CAPITAL FUNDS which, as required by law, may not be used to address the funding shortfall.

FAQ for Washington Education

Please view the attached link for questions and answers on Washington Education Fact Sheet 3-30-09

What is the “net cost” to the district for having an Academically Gifted Program for students selected to participate
Entry into the Academically Gifted Program requires scores on a Cognitive Ability Test to be in the 98th or 99th percentile as well as reaching the 90th percentile or above on an achievement test (ITBS). The elementary program (Grades 3-5) is housed at West Mercer Elementary, and students come from all three elementary schools. The middle school program (Grades 6-8) is housed at Islander Middle School. After a review of direct and indirect expenditures and revenue is considered, the district uses additional levy funds to run the program at a cost  (net cost) of $60,500.

How are budget sections categorized and what stipulations are attached to each category?
The 2008-2009 General Fund Budget is divided into Revenue and Expenditures. On the Revenue side there are a number of categories:

• Local Taxes
• Local Non-tax (fees, school lunch sales, etc.)
• State Funds (state formulae that generates per pupil funding)
• State Special Purpose funds (special education, transportation, etc.)
• Federal Funds
• Other Agencies and Associations (revenue from other local governments)

Expenditures are divided into Program areas such as:

• Regular Education
• Special Education
• Vocational Education
• Transitional Bilingual Programs
• (and others)

There are a number of stipulations that are attached to each program area and too numerous to list here.

Is it possible to expand what the Mercer Island Schools Foundation can pay for?
In a simple short answer: Yes.

I love the idea of the 2020 Vision. What will it look like? How will the classrooms look different/be different?
Mercer Island students lead the state on standardized test scores but we've realized that's not enough. Our schools should be preparing students for the future, so we're evolving to teach our students how to think, collaborate and be creative and effective in the interconnected world. We're keeping our standards high while connecting with students through a more personalized style of learning.

Our commitment to continuous improvement will show others how education must evolve. We will model a 21st century education – a personalized, responsive learning environment focused on students’ interests and ambitions. Student-centered learning will fuel innovation, critical thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Our students will demonstrate the highest code of ethics and compassion. MISD students will incorporate responsible decision-making into all aspects of their lives, including their personal choices. Our students will develop empathy and cultural sensitivity that will enrich their own lives and that of their families and the community.

We will expand access to quality education. We will retain and return to our schools students and families who seek an education focused on understanding real-world issues and global interdependence.

Can you outline a menu of cuts that will allow us to understand the stakes and motivate us to donate to the Mercer Island Schools Foundation?
Program reductions have not been made at this time. Information about possible reductions should be made public in mid to late March, 2009.

How can the PTA and MISF help fund the 2020 Vision?
We want the community to support improvements to our schools. We need the community’s support to encourage creativity, flexibility and innovation in our classrooms. We need you help to close the budget gap and raise additional funds that will be required to implement this initiative.

Will the district postpone the recommendations from the facilities evaluation?
At this time, there are no recommendations from the Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee.

The projected $1- $3 million deficit translates to $200. -  $750 per student. This is too much to ask of parents in the current economy. How can we motivate all parents to contribute? How do we reach the entire community?
The Mercer Island School District is not asking parents to help pay for their children’s education. However, the Mercer Island Schools Foundation and each school’s PTA is collaborating on this very message. The Schools Foundation is hosting a fund-raising event called Breakfast of Champions on April 28, 2009. Please contact your local PTA or the Schools Foundation for more information.

You have said that the deficit could result in teacher lay-offs. Is it possible to cut hours rather than positions?
The management team and school board have not determined how to approach the program reductions as of this writing. Clearly it will be possible to reduce hours and not eliminate positions, but those decisions have not been made. In addition, one needs to consider the size of the budge reduction before suggestions like this can be analyzed.

How is maintaining the ESL (English as a Second Language) program affecting the overall budget situation. Does MISD receive extra state funding for this program?
Our ESL program does receive state funding. ESL programming is part of basic education.

More Q&A's...

How does the district make a decision on whether or not to close school or start late?

The safety of our students and staff is the paramount consideration in making a decision to close or start late.  Current and forecasted weather and road conditions are obviously of primary importance.  Most of our teachers and staff live off Island, so we also take into consideration the condition of roads in many of the surrounding areas, such as Seattle and the Eastside, before making a decision.

Is it true that MIHS students will no longer be transported to and from school by Metro buses for the 2009-2010 school year?

(Information Updated 1/7/09) The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) decided in November 2008 that it needed more time to fully consider the impact of the recent decision that would make some of our MIHS Metro routes non-compliant with the new law.  As a result, the FTA is asking for a second round of public comments prior to their finalizing and releasing the specific set of rules that will ultimately define "compliance."  The FTA realizes that this will take time so they have decided we may continue to use Metro for MIHS student transportation at least through the 2009-2010 school year, if we chose to do so.  We are in the process of investigating all options, including those that do not include Metro, so no final decision has yet been made for the 2009-2010 school year.

Are the PTA's charged a fee to use district facilities?

No, under Administrative Policy & Procedure #4260 - Community Use of School Facilities, PTA is not listed under the fee structure categories and have never been charged for the use of a school in the past.  If the PTA chooses to use any district facility the district will not charge them for the use of the facility; however, they are charged a fee for custodial services (if the custodian is scheduled to work outside of their normal schedule).

Is Mercer Island School District going to have open enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year?

Per Administrative Policy #3141, the Superintendent will determine no later than April 15th, annually, if the Mercer Island School District will be open to non-resident student enrollment.  We anticipate an announcement for the 2009-2010 school year will be posted in late February or early March 2009 and will include specific information regarding the open enrollment process.

Please check the district's website at www.misd.k12.wa.us after the first of the year, for more information. 

Last year, an announcement for 2008-2009 open enrollment was posted on the district's website on Friday, March 7th and notification of acceptance or denial decisions were completed by June 1st.

Is there a tutoring program at Mercer Island High School?

Yes, here is their tutoring schedule.  More information will be posted on the MIHS website.

• English - Mondays 3:15 - 4:15 pm

• Math - Tuesdays 3:15 - 4:15 pm

• Spanish - Tuesdays 3:15 - 4:15 pm

• Science - Thursdays 3:15 - 4:15 pm

Questions & answers regarding the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee:

Why is the school district conducting a review of its schools and buildings?

As part of a comprehensive master planning effort, the Superintendent has directed his staff to complete an assessment of the district's facilities in order to ensure that teaching and learning spaces support the district's educational plan and vision for 21st Century learners.

What buildings will be included in the comprehensive facility master plan?

A comprehensive master planning effort will include the North Mercer campus, the Administration, Transportation and Maintenance offices, the campuses of Mercer Island High School , Islander Middle School , Island Park , Lakeridge Elementary and West Mercer Elementary Schools . In addition, the adjacent parks and recreation facilities will be taken into consideration for any partnership opportunities.

Who makes up the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee?

The Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee includes both district and city staff, as well as tenants, parents and community representatives.

What is the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee role?

The CFAC role is to provide a recommendation the Superintendent on a comprehensive facility masterplan including scope, schedule of the masterplan and a bond timeline.

How will the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee make decisions?

The District Committee Norms will be used as a guideline and decisions will be made by consensus.

How does the 2008 Maintenance and Operations levy relate to the Facility Advisory Committee?

CFAC will incorporate the commitments of the 2008 levy into the comprehensive master planning efforts.

Will the Maintenance and Replacement Plan be replaced with the Long Range Facility Masterplan?

The Maintenance and Replacement Plan was created in 1999 to identify the need for ongoing funding to keep the facilities in good condition. Since 1999, the Maintenance and Replacement Plan has been continually updated. In order to provide a more accurate summary of the facility needs, the Maintenance and Replacement Plan will be significantly updated with the findings of the facility evaluation findings.

What if the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee feels that we need additional time to provide a thoughtful recommendation to the Superintendent?

Recommendations by the CFAC to address the findings of this comprehensive study are expected by June 30, 2009. However, it is possible to extend this process if the CFAC provides this recommendation.

Why is the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee reviewing all of the District facilities?

To be able to provide an informed decision on how any portion of the District campus should be utilized, it is important to complete an assessment of all of the District facilities. The process will take into consideration the current condition of the facilities, a capacity analysis, utilization efficiency and the education program analysis.

Is the district planning on presenting a bond to Mercer Island residents?

There is no current bond scheduled at this time.

More Q&A's...

What are current class sizes in the Mercer Island School District?

We have added a new page on the district's website that will provide a breakdown of average class sizes in the Mercer Island School District.  Click here for more info...

Is the D.A.R.E. program going to continue in Mercer Island schools? I heard that the City wasn't going to continue funding this program.

The City of Mercer Island has funded the D.A.R.E. program since 1985. Police Chief Ed Holmes reported that funding for the D.A.R.E. program will not continue in 2009 fiscal year. At a recent Youth Concerns Meeting that he chaired, Chief Holmes shared that he is committed to a school-police partnership. He also shared that the best elements of the D.A.R.E. program will be moved to Islander Middle School program.  This partnership is supported by Superintendent Plano and Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIY&FS) Director Cindy Godwin.

IMS Associate Principal Aaron Miller indicated at that meeting that the new 6th grade health class would be an excellent place for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Art Munoz to partner with MIY&FS counselor Marla Mitchell and deliver high-quality intervention techniques derived from the best elements of elementary D.A.R.E. program. Next year the 8th grade program will also have a health component where further intervention strategies will be incorporated. Moving this intervention program from elementary to middle school is in line with what research indicates works the best in stemming the tide of unhealthy behaviors by adolescents.

Why does the school district have budget problems?

The Mercer Island School Board adopted a general operating budget of $39.4 million dollars for the 2008-2009 school year. The budget shortfall from last year's budget to this year's budget is due to several factors, including:

• a decline in our resident enrollment of 100 students or approximately $400,000;

• projected increases in fuel and other utility costs;

• pension cost increases passed from the state to local school districts of approximately $600,000; and

• cost-of-living salary and benefit increases for additional teachers, support staff and specialists the district hires who are not covered fully by state funds. Providing a competitive salary package helps the district attract and retain high quality teachers and other support staff.

Did the district use open enrollment to solve challenges it faced with producing a balanced budget for 2008-2009?

In order to help balance the budget this year, the district opened enrollment last spring to off-island residents. Applications were accepted equal to the number of students in selected grades and where potential openings were projected to decline in the 2008-2009 school year. This move helped prevent even deeper budget cuts. On average, class sizes do not show an increase over 2007-2008 class-size levels. For example, the average elementary class in K-5 last year was 23.2; this year, that same average is 23.3. The district does not view open enrollment as a long-term solution to the challenges of a declining enrollment. We have also reduced administrative staff throughout the district and custodial hours to two of the district's buildings.

Why is the school district conducting a review of its schools and buildings?

As part of a comprehensive master planning effort, the Superintendent has directed his staff to complete an assessment of the district's facilities in order to ensure that teaching and learning spaces support the district's educational plan and vision for 21st Century learners. A comprehensive master planning effort will include the North Mercer campus, the Administration, Transportation and Maintenance offices, the campuses of Mercer Island High School , Islander Middle School, Island Park, Lakeridge and West Mercer Elementary Schools . A Capital Facilities Advisory Committee has been formed, which includes both district and city staff, as well as parents and community representatives. Recommendations to address the findings of this comprehensive study are expected by June 30, 2009.  

Does the school district ensure that athletic opportunities are equal for boys and girls?
On March 13, 2008, the Education Equity Group presented an athletic equity evaluation report to the board of directors pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Washington State gender laws. These laws require school districts to provide girls and boys with equal athletic opportunities. The report stated that the population of students participating in the athletic program is 55% boys and 45% girls. This disparity translates into 118 fewer athletic opportunities for girls. The report recommends improvements in the eight program areas that guide federal evaluations of secondary school athletic programs: students' interest and abilities; provision and maintenance of equipment and supplies; scheduling of games and practice times; practice and competitive training facilities; coaching; publicity; medical and training support services; and travel and per diem. Superintendent Gary Plano appointed Kathy Morrison, Associate Superintendent, to take on the responsibility of the new Title IX officer charged with overseeing the implementation of recommendations found in the report.

Does the district receive money to buy technology? If so, how is the money used?

Thanks to community support of our public schools, the district will be receiving over $6.4 million from the capital levy over the next four years. Money will provide:

• Interactive white boards in nearly 50% of the classrooms by 2012.

• All of the classrooms will get document cameras and LCD projectors.

• Network infrastructure upgrades include increased bandwidth in order to utilize resources such as streaming video currently unavailable with the current network.

• Two teachers on special assignment have been hired this school year to coach teachers on the integration of technology and to develop core lessons to be used throughout a content area and/or grade level. This major investment of infrastructure aligns with the district's new 2020 Vision: Successfully preparing students for the cognitive, digital and global world.

 I heard that Mercer Island property owners will be receiving a slight tax benefit because the district refinanced some old bonds. Is that true?

Yes.   After consultation with the district's bond underwriter, the school board approved the refunding (refinancing) of a portion of the district's outstanding voted debt. Bond market conditions in late August and early September placed refunding $3,205,000 of the 1997 bonds and $5,370,000 of the 1998 bonds in a favorable economic position to obtain significant savings. The savings produced by refunding the 1997 and 1998 bonds will directly benefit the district's taxpayers in the form of a lower property tax burden. The savings cannot be used for district purposes. The bond refinancing produced a total of approximately $550,000 over the next six years.  

Does the Mercer Island School District have an opinion on the proposed tolling of I-90?

As a major employer on Mercer Island, we provided the Mercer Island City Council with information about potential impacts tolling might have if t he I-90 bridge is tolled. Approximately 53% of our employees commute eastbound and 47% use the westbound lanes of I-90. Many school programs travel both directions for athletic and activities and school budgets would be negatively impacted due to the additional costs that tolling would require. As we stated to City Council members, tolling I-90 will certainly impact our ability to attract the best and brightest teachers and support staff to continue to deliver the high quality educational programs many on the Island expect and deserve.