Kent School District  | September 20, 2019
Dear KSD Community:
Greetings and a warm welcome back to the 2019-2020 school year! With our finances and academic framework in order, we are delighted to begin the new school year with renewed optimism and hope for a great year.

For many of us, this summer was an opportunity to learn and set the course for what we expect to be the best year ever for our students. Our educators took part in a two-day KSD-led conference known as Talk2019 whereby opportunities were extended to participate in various Teaching and Learning sessions including: Technology and Tools, Trauma Informed Practices, Culturally Responsive Strategies, Teaching Strategies, Building Resilience, Highly Capable Supports, and Creating a Culture of Care. This conference was an exceptional collaboration with many in our KSD community and we thank the inspirational speakers, the Kent Education Association, and all of our district leaders for their commitment and passion in making the conference a great success.

Superintendent Watts and board members also met this summer to discuss equitable strategies for our Communities and Teams comprised of: Communications, led by Melissa Laramie; Human Resources, led by Moriah Martin; Organizational Effectiveness, led by Jewelle Harmon; School Operations & Academic Support, led by Israel Vela; and Teaching and Learning, led by DeNelle West. (An organizational chart for the KSD communities and teams can be found here. ) Our board members shared their hopes for our district, and discussed our annual plan for the 2019-20 school year. This past school year, our board addressed many of the goals outlined in October of 2018 and will continue to discuss and append our goals for the 2019-2020 year.

As our financial conditions continue to strengthen, we are looking forward to ensuring educational equity across our district through student and educator supports “when they need it, where they need it.” Please let us know how we are doing by writing to us at kentboard@kent.k12.wa.us . As always, we look forward to hearing from you on any suggestions or feedback and we thank you for your continued support.

Most Sincerely,



Maya Vengadasalam
President, Board of Directors
Kent School District
Messages from Board Members Straus and DeBruler
Message from Director Debbie Straus :
It is hard to believe that we have almost completed the first month of school.  I found a quote from John F. Kennedy that I thought exemplified why education is so important. "Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our Nation." As we are encouraging our children in their studies this year may we also strive to be life long learners.  

Message from Director Karen DeBruler:
This summer I read a truly thought-provoking novel on race and immigration issues in our country, penned by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, called Americanah. Ifelemu, a Nigerian young woman, comes to the United States and is confronted by “race,” something that wasn’t an issue in her home country. She becomes a straight-shooting race blogger. It’s a love (and survival) story, also, but the commentary on race is deep and could spark conversations among us. An excerpt from one of Ifelemu’s blog posts states, “Dear Non-American Black, when you make the choice to come to America, you become black. Stop arguing. Stop saying ‘I’m Jamaican,’ or ‘I’m Ghanian.’ America doesn’t care. So what if you weren’t ‘black’ in your own country? You’re in America now…”
Update from Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts
You are invited! Bring family & friends on October 8 to the Central Office Administration Center, from 6-7:30 p.m. for our second annual Open House!

The purpose of our KSD open houses at our schools  is to allow our families an opportunity to come to the school and become acclimated for this school year. Families can meet their children's teacher(s), learn about the curriculum, meet other students and families, discover ways to support your child and the teacher, and find opportunities to get connected to the school community and resources. 

The purpose of our KSD Administration Center open house is very similar. Staff, students, families and community members can meet central office staff, learn about the many ways our central office staff supports our schools and classrooms, meet other staff, students, families and community members, discover ways to support your children and schools, and find opportunities to get connected to resources and get involved in our districtwide committees, councils and volunteer opportunities.

I hope you are having a wonderful start to the new school year, that you are taking advantage of the opportunities the open house at your child school brings and I look forward to seeing you on October 8 at our Admin Center Open House.

Kind regards,
Dr. Calvin J. Watts
Superintendent
Recent Board Meeting Highlights
Board meeting agendas, minutes, and policies are accessible through the BoardDocs site. Regular meetings of the school board are held in the boardroom of the administration center located at 12033 SE 256th Street, Kent, at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.
  • Students from Mill Creek will share their project on the fiscal outcomes of using Styrofoam trays in schools.
  • Mr. Ben Rarick, Executive Director, Budget and Finance, and Lisa Tylor, Supervisor, Fiscal Services, presented updates on the fiscal state of the District.
  • Two public hearings were held on the 2019-2020 budget prior to adoption.
  • Multiple work sessions were held to discuss the independent audit services contract with representatives from Clark Nuber PS., followed by board approval of the letter of engagement.
  • Dr. Jewelle Harmon provided updates on communication with WSSDA regarding a policy manual review to be completed by WSSDA.
  • Board approved a revised Policy 1210, Organization of the Board, for the reorganization of the Board of Directors and Election of Officers.
  • Board/Superintendent Governance Team met to hear KSD Community/Team updates.
  • Board proclaimed September as Attendance Awareness Month and National Hispanic Heritage Month.
  • Chief Human Resources Officer, Moriah Martin, and Assistant Director for Classified Development, Kim Cushman, presented the new state-required paraeducator certificate program.
  • Multiple operational contracts and renewal of contracts were discussed and approved, and in addition, Board approved contracts with our labor partners.
In the interest of transparency, our board work sessions and regular meetings continue to be livestreamed and recorded. The public is able to find all recordings on our board webpage located here .
Upcoming School Board Events
September 25: Board Work Session at 5:30 p.m.
September 25: Board Meeting at 7 p.m.
October 8: Admin Center Open House at 6-7:30 p.m.
October 9: Board Work Session at 5:30 p.m.
October 9:  Board Meeting at 7 p.m.

Board meeting agendas, minutes, and policies are accessible through the  BoardDocs Site .