By Bill Reynolds
La Conner Community News
La Conner Schools officials on Monday heard good fiscal news on two fronts ahead of seeking voter approval Nov. 3 of a four-year, $1.5 million technology levy.
The local school district earlier this month received the first of two Federal Impact Aid payments for the 2026-27 academic year, and for the second straight month remains above its budgeted full-time student enrollment projection, superintendent David Cram told school board members at their Monday meeting.
Cram said the first installment of impact aid money totals just over $1 million. Those funds usually arrive in November, he said.
“That was good news,” Cram said of the district’s early receipt of the impact aid support.
Federal Impact Aid money is provided to school districts to replace lost property tax revenue caused by tax-exempt federal or tribal property. For instance, districts with military bases or Native American reservations are impact aid recipients.
Cram also reported that La Conner’s full-time enrollment continues to hover around 450 students, eight more than he had budgeted. State financial support of school districts is driven by full-time enrollment figures, with La Conner Schools receiving about $12,000 per student.
“We’ve seen growth at a couple grade levels that is higher than what we had anticipated for our budget,” Cram said.
Cram noted that this year’s enrollment is still lower by a half-dozen students than was the case last year. He attributed that to a fairly large 2026 graduating class.
Prospects for reversing the trend in declining student enrollment that dates to the COVID-19 pandemic appear promising, said Cram.
“We might start seeing slight enrollment growth,” he said. “I feel that it could start to turn around next year.”
As for the tech levy, the district is proposing a 30 cents per $1,000 assessed property value ballot measure to bring classroom technology up to date. If approved, the levy would cost an estimated $150-$155 annually for a property owner with a $500,000 home.
The levy would collect $350,000 in 2027, $365,000 in 2028, $380,000 in 2029, and $395,000 in 2030.
In addition to Cram’s finance report, board members heard brief presentations from Beth Clothier, La Conner Schools director of teaching and learning. Clothier outlined progress being made by district staff to build math fluency — embedding mastery of math facts — among students. She also introduced JumpRope, the district’s new secondary level grading system aligned with Mastery-Based Learning.
Clothier said JumpRope is designed to more accurately determine what students know, understand, and can implement.
She pointed out that with traditional grading programs there is often little indication of what students must do to improve.
“If the student scores 70%, they really don’t know what has to be done differently for them to show mastery” she said.
JumpRope provides opportunities for students to better explain how they arrive at their conclusions.
“Twenty percent of JumpRope addresses habits of work.
“Our hope is to see conversations between students and teachers like, ‘how can I demonstrate that I’m learning the material?’” Clothier said.
The meeting opened with La Conner Elementary students Cash Landworth, Greyson Delage, Roman Harper and Kyler Kelly leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
The board meets next on Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. in the district administration building.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
