Mere minutes after greeting students back from spring break, La Conner School District officials on Monday turned their attention to next year.

In a rare morning study session, school board members heard plans for a preschool and kindergarten rally in the La Conner Elementary School building on April 23, in the afternoon.

“The idea is for parents to come in and learn about the school district’s early childhood learning opportunities,” explained La Conner Elementary Principal Marcus Knowles. “Our kindergarten teachers will be able to meet the kids while parents learn about the programs.”

The two-hour rally is 3:30-5:30 p.m.

“It will be a drop-in event,” Knowles said. “We’ll have several tables set up there.”

Knowles said a wide range of campus and off-campus early childhood education advocates will be represented.

He cited the La Conner Preschool Co-Op, Susan Wilbur Early Education Center, La Conner Parent Teacher Student Association, and the new La Conner Schools Pre-Kindergarten program as examples.

The district pre-K classroom, which launched last October, primarily serves 4-year-old children and is designed to prepare them for their transition to kindergarten.

It differs somewhat from the Transition to Kindergarten (T-K) programs provided by other school districts in that the La Conner classroom is supported by federal funding.

Washington’s T-K programs are funded through state early learning monies.

La Conner Schools Superintendent David Cram said that pre-K enrollment here for 2026-27 will open soon.

“Our funding is a set amount, so we can’t expand the program,” he said at one point. “But I’m feeling pretty confident we can operate our pre-K another year.”

The school district’s pre-K program can seat about 16 pupils. Priority is given to children residing within the district, though interested non-district families are also encouraged to apply, Cram said.

T-K initiatives are facing funding limitations linked in part to state budget woes, he added.

During the half-hour study session, La Conner Schools Director of Teaching & Learning Beth Clothier announced that the district’s three-week Summer Adventure Camp will start on July 14. The summer format focuses on enrichment and creativity.

Clothier noted, however, that the district won’t offer summer school credit recovery this year. She said, though, that the Swinomish Education Department may make credit recovery options available for students.

As for the current school year, the board on Monday accepted a $600 cash donation from La Conner Rotary toward the La Conner High School senior class trip to Disneyland.

Starting at 7:45 a.m., prior to addressing the April 13 agenda, Cram, Clothier, board members, and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Senator and Cultural Events Director Aurelia Bailey welcomed La Conner students upon their return from spring break.

Spring break at La Conner Schools ran from April 6-10. The last day of school this year is June 16, just nine weeks away.

Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.