In less than a month, our students will be returning to school… Each bringing with them, their hopes and dreams for the future. Unfortunately, for many of our students and families, the enthusiasm and excitement for learning is often overshadowed by the stress and financial hardship of purchasing school supplies, paying for course fees, and other school-related fees.
In an effort to promote “A System Equity and Excellence for All” where every student can shine and benefits from access to a free and appropriate public education, the Methow Valley School District has taken another step forward to achieving this goal by eliminating all school supply and course fees in grades K-12.
We believe doing so will:
- Reduce the financial burden often placed upon families.
- Promote district-wide efficiencies in the use of our limited resources.
- Increase time available for parents and children to discuss learning goals in advance of the new school year.
We recognize that school supply and course fees are not the only school-related expenses incurred by our families… AP, PSAT exams, Pay-to-Play, and enrichment fees just to name a few. While we can’t do it all at once, we remain committed to eliminating the burden placed upon our families in the form of school-related fees, as outlined in our district’s Strategic Vision, over time.
If you are a family that looks forward to the tradition associated with back-to-school shopping and/or a community member that is looking for ways to assist with some of the many other school-related expenses, we encourage you to consider establishing a new tradition by making a donation to one or more of our many educational partners focused on eliminating barriers and promoting student success. They include:
- Public School Funding Alliance
- Methow Arts
- Classroom in Bloom
- The Cove
- Room One
- TwispWorks
- Liberty Bell Boosters
Each of these organizations is prepared to accept your donation and put it to good use in support of our youth in the Valley.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, September 1st!
Sincerely,
Tom Venable
Superintendent, Methow Valley Schools