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Learning Through a Sense of Place
 
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2019-2020 Superintendent's Message
Superintendent Polm PictureGreetings students, parents, staff and community members!

What an amazing year we have in store for 2019-20!  I would like to share a few highlights from last year as we look forward:

- Working closely with our Port Townsend Education Association and SEIU partners, we negotiated significant pay increases for all members.  I am proud of this commitment to fair, living wage and keeping Port Townsend competitive with neighboring districts.
- We opened a new school after 18 months of construction - Salish Coast Elementary.
- We began the elevator project at PTHS, which will be completed in the fall of 2019
- We passed operations and capital levies in February 2019
- We have begun projects as part of a 3-4 year work plan with projects on all three campuses
- We began the transition to a new school funding model.
- We finished a multi-year mathematics curriculum adoption Bridges at K-5 and Carnegie Math in secondary
- We implemented new Human Growth and Development curriculum
- We grew our community partnerships (over 80)                PTHS Knowledge Bowl State Champions
- Our HS students were State Champions in Knowledge Bowl (pictured at right with PT school board directors)    
- Our own Odin Smith became the youngest R2AK finisher at 16 years and a few months  (Pictured below)
Odin Smith Race 2 Alaska
Our Strategic plan captures the heart of our work with various goals and objectives under the broad areas of Teaching & Learning, Technology, Community Engagement, Wellness, Operational Stewardship and Learning Spaces.  Please see the Strategic Plan for more detail at https://ptschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_154927/File/About%20Us/Strategic%20Plan%202017-2021%202-1-19%20update.pdf.  Embedded in the highlights and our Strategic Plan is our commitment to Place-Based Education (PBE).  The goals are three-fold.  First, there is a focus on academic standards and processes resulting in higher levels of student achievement.  Second, PBE also enhances students' engagement, academic achievement, and sense of personal efficacy as conservators of their local environment and community.  And third, there is a connection in PBE that is designed to build strong ties between local social and environmental organizations within the schools and community.  These goals, which may not be part of the goals of many schools, help to energize and develop the economy and social connections within the community.  Finally, the idea of place-based, along with our maritime initiative, builds tangible connections to the land, culture, and history of Port Townsend.  These goals are designed to strengthen the educational programs in the schools and help the schools be a vital partner in enhancing our quality community.

Our district is also working to meet the needs of all students through increased emphasis on social emotional learning with Second Step Curriculum in our elementary school.  We will also be studying grading practices - especially at the secondary level.  Finally, we will be pulling together a long-range facility committee to take a deeper look at the high school campus and the long-term needs for that campus.

School security and student safety is also an important district priority.  As you may be aware, we have implemented the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) system for responding to the unlikely event of a school intruder.  We have worked with our local police to assist in training our staff and will continue communicating with parents as training continues in the schools with our students.

Enrollment in our schools maintained levels just above budget, which means we have developed a reserve that helped us avoid cuts for the 2019-2020 school year.  Like many other school districts, we are experiencing a decrease in local funding due to legislated limits on local levy collection.  We are eager to continue to provide quality programming that meets the needs of our students and community while keeping a keen eye on our revenues and expenditures in the years ahead.

I am pleased to be a partner with the staff, students, and community as we strive to deliver a world class education to our students.  The work students are engaged in through the maritime and place-based learning is designed to develop effective thinking, effective action, and effective relationships to help prepare students for our changing world.  May your winds be fair, your adventures rich.   I look forward to more adventures throughout the 2019-2020 school year and beyond.

Sincerely,

John A. Polm, Jr.
Upcoming Events
The Port Townsend School District Board of Directors will hold a Regular Business Meeting Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 1610 Blaine St., Room S-11 at 5:30 p.m.  View agenda.

2019-20 One-Page School Calendar

2020-21 One-Page School Calendar

In case of school closure due to weather, information will be posted here, and is available on Seattle television and radio stations, KIRO 7, KOMO 4, KING 5 and FOX 13.  Also, if you dial 360-379-4500 and enter extension 4587, closure information will also be there.
 
SafeSchools Live Tip Program is now SafeSchools Alert.  Look under Families for link.

Employment Openings & Application

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About Us
The Port Townsend School District is dedicated to providing a place-based education to every student. Port Townsend is a great place to live, work, raise a family and enjoy numerous recreational activities.  The community is very supportive of the Port Townsend School District and partners to provide engaging learning experiences for all students through Centrum, the Northwest Maritime Center, North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Jefferson Land Trust, the YMCA, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation, PTA, the Port Townsend Education Foundation, and various other youth oriented activities and clubs.    
The District had an annual average enrollment of 1,141 for the 2017-18 school year. 

 Superintendent:  Dr. John A. Polm, Jr.

                                                 SCHOOL BOARD                 
Nathanael O'Hara    Connie Welch    Keith White  Laura Tucker  Jennifer James-Wilson   
Nathanael O'Hara        Connie Welch         Keith White          Laura Tucker         Jennifer James-Wilson 

      

Port Townsend School District Campuses

    1637 Grant Street
    Port Townsend WA 98368
    360 379-4535
    FAX: 360 379-4261