School board adopts goals for 2024-25

La Conner School District Superintendent David Cram and board members approved key goals for the 2024-25 academic year at their study session Monday night.

Before the meeting started, the district hired a special education director, a role former superintendent Will Nelson juggled with other administrative duties after special programs coordinator Andy Wheeler retired in 2023.

Cram announced that Beth Mills, who has worked in the special education field for two decades, will run special education in La Conner. She comes from the Granite Falls School District.

“I’m excited about that,” Cram said of the Mills hiring. “She brings a lot of experience and good ideas in special ­education.”

La Conner district staff had prioritized the hiring of a special education director during meetings held earlier this year to determine the district’s direction after Nelson’s unexpected resignation.

“This is huge,” board president Susie Deyo said.

Faced with budget constraints, staff preferred to hire a special education director over a costly search to replace Nelson. They felt confident that Cram, then the district’s deputy superintendent and finance chief, could team with director of teaching and learning Beth Clothier to lead the district’s administrative team through 2024-25.

Board members expressed similar confidence on Monday when they agreed to pay Cram an additional $1,000 per month for the 12 months they expect him to fill the role.

“I appreciate Dave taking on these additional duties, and $12,000 is only a ceremonial amount based on what his added duties will be,” said board member John Agen. “It’s not indicative of his true value.”

The board on Monday approved a list of seven goals for Cram going forward. Those include:

Improving student academic scores by 10 points in math and reading;

Actively engaging with the community and school partners with frequent communication;

Providing organizational leadership with good management oversight;

Presenting a three-year facilities plan to be reviewed regularly;

Supporting the adopted goals of the school board;

Facilitating the process for identifying and selecting a new superintendent; and

Campaigning for a successful levy election in February 2025.

Cram said he’ll speak to La Conner’s service organizations in the months ahead. He wants to implement board member Alana Quintasket’s plan to schedule community dinners.

Deyo divided the board’s goals into financial stewardship, community connections and student achievement.

“These line up with our strategic plan,” she said.

Topping the board’s list is developing a timeline to achieve a 10% budget fund balance, passing the February 2025 levy election, accelerating academic performance with a continued focus on math, planning regular opportunities for school-community engagement, and hiring a permanent superintendent by June 2025.

Deyo said that in the short-term the board is looking to further cement relations with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, including a luncheon with senate chairman Steve Edwards and attending a meeting of the 11-member tribal governing panel.

The board’s next meeting is 7 p.m. July 29 in the district’s administration building.