“Octopus whisperer” Dr. Laurynn Evans, also known as North Kitsap Schools Superintendent, provided the Sept 23 program for Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians. Evans has been a diver for twenty years, and is known to have enticed an octopus or two out of their dens. On one occasion she discovered a den off West Seattle, carefully marked it and told only one person about it. Later they returned to the den to find a mother on eggs, the mother never to leave the den again, as she essentially passes after the gestation period of nine to twelve months. Octopuses give birth once, stop eating, and die.
About the schools thing. Evans makes if a practice to update local clubs like Rotary annually. This year the updates are drawing increased interest, resulting from coronavirus shutdowns.
A year ago, the district completed a strategic plan, which is being used extensively to inform current decision making, after Governor Inslee closed schools March 13. Evans reports “everything at a distance is complicated.” The district is leaning on “design thinking,” which is “moving fast, don’t be afraid to fail, getting things done is better than doing them perfectly.”
Fortuitously, district voters approved a capital projects levy in 2018. In addition to projects on the physical buildings, which are being accomplished while students are learning from home, the district used levy proceeds to purchase 2400 new devices and hot spots for kids in need. Every student who needs one, has a device. Elementary students are connecting through Seesaw software, while secondary students are relying on One Drive. Both are participating in individual and group Zoom sessions. Teachers are engaged in professional learning in a two hour session each Wednesday morning, with a concentration on best practices in delivering distance learning.
The district has concentrated on social emotional learning - providing tools to students to process emotions while learning at a distance. The district has “beefed up” communication, too, with website upgrades and weekly email updates to inform parents and others.
Of special concern is enrollment declines, especially at the kindergarten level, where parents appear to be holding their kids back during this time of Covid. Kindergarten enrollment is sixty-percent of normal; overall district enrollment is down six percent. Declines lead to lack of state dollars as a result.
When will schools reopen? Evans can’t say. She is in weekly meetings with the state’s Office of Public Instruction, Kitsap Health authorities, and regional school superintendents. Social distancing, when reopening, places huge physical space constraints, which will likely lead to a hybrid approach. There will be a gradual phase-in with higher need, younger learners in first.
Rotarians learned the district’s biggest need at this time is money for added hotspots and subscription plans for those lacking broadband access.