It didn’t take new La Conner Elementary Principal Marcus Knowles long to be impressed with his staff’s work ethic.
Days prior to the start of the 2025-26 school year, as Knowles settled into his office, he took note of the crew toiling on campus grounds in the summer heat.
“There’s a good feeling here right now.”
Dave Cram, superintendent
“I went out to see the lady who was doing the pressure washing and found out she was our librarian,” Knowles said. “That showed me everybody here is willing to do everything. They have a ‘can-do, will-do’ spirit that’s just amazing.”
Library aide and district paraeducator Laraine Drye was part of a grounds crew that garnered much praise for transforming the La Conner campus ahead of the first day of school on Sept. 3.
“There’s been a lot of (summer) work in the buildings and on the grounds,” said La Conner Middle & High School Principal Christine Tripp. “With the grounds work, I think it’s been an alignment of needs, having the available funds and the staff in place to do the work. The timing was right, and it’s been a well-placed priority.”
La Conner School Board President Susie Deyo made it a point during the panel’s Aug. 25 meeting to praise the extensive campus landscape and beautification work. Superintendent David Cram said that nearby residents have noticed, too, voicing their approval of the school grounds’ appearance.
The district’s most visible indoor summer project is the ongoing makeover of high school teacher Peter Voorhees’ classroom — which for years has been a combo Home Ec kitchen and social studies lecture space — into a full-fledged culinary arts center.
Funded by a Career and Technology Education grant secured by district technology director Ryan Hiller, the culinary arts project is scheduled for completion at the end of first semester in January. By expanding the room’s culinary workspace and installing new equipment, students will be able to train in a virtual café and bistro setting as part of Voorhees’ International Foods class.
Tripp said the major facelift to Voorhees’ classroom is being done in phases.
“It has involved a lot of electrical and plumbing upgrades,” she said, noting that the revamped classroom is an original section of a school building constructed more than 50 years ago.
Cram highlighted a host of other factors creating what he called “good vibes” on campus.
“We’re very excited about the start of school,” he said. “We’ve had great teacher in-service days, our new pre-K will start in October, the middle school solarization project starts soon, and we’ve got good numbers in all our athletics programs.
“There’s a good feeling here right now,” Cram said.
Tripp and Knowles echoed Cram.
“So far,” said Tripp, “it’s been great. Our trainings have been great. The grounds look really good. Everybody’s jazzed.”
Knowles, who has two decades of experience in education at various Skagit County schools, said he has been greeted warmly as the new instructional leader at La Conner Elementary.
“It’s been a very welcoming staff,” he stressed. “Everybody has been very kind.”
Knowles said he is looking forward to the elementary school hosting the pre-K classroom and piloting a new literacy program this fall.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
