District rebounds, aims for honors
The La Conner School Board will apply this fall for recognition as one of Washington’s top school boards, two years after earning distinction as the state’s best small school district board.
Board President Susie Deyo on Monday urged the five-member panel to highlight recent achievements in its 2025 application to the Washington State School Directors Association. The submission is due in September.
Deyo pointed to several accomplishments: notable student gains in math, higher graduation rates linked to the new Alternative Learning Environment classroom, a 21st Century Grant-funded tutorial program pairing teachers with students for extra instruction, and the district’s release from binding financial conditions. She credited staff and administrators for making those improvements possible.
The board also praised Superintendent David Cram, who restored the district’s finances a year ahead of schedule. Deyo said that turnaround allows the district to again pursue state honors.
The La Conner board previously earned state distinction in 2023 for adopting innovative programs such as Mastery-Based Learning, Professional Learning Communities, and a new K-12 math curriculum. The district did not apply in 2024 because of its financial status. Board member John Agen said the conditions stemmed from incomplete financial information that prevented timely budget adjustments.
Cuts were made to personnel and classes, but in the process Cram rebuilt the district’s cash reserves, swapping red ink for a cash balance in six figures, approaching $300,000 at the start of this month.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
