At our January 6, 2025 Rotary Meeting, President Audrey Gravley called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Audrey led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-Way test. January is Vocational Service Month.
The inspiration was provided by Ollie:
Ten Inspirational New Year Quotes 2025
- “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” – Vern McLellan
- “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” – J.P. Morgan
- “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” – Plato
- “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
- “And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
- “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” – T.S. Eliot
- “The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.” – Melody Beattie
- “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” – Brad Paisley
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – Les Brown
Lyanne introduced our guests this evening:
- Molly McNulty from Skagit River Poetry Foundation
- Tate Ohl, applicant to join our club
- Dave Cram, Interim Superintendent La Conner School District
La Conner School District Levy
Karen introduced our guest speaker for the evening, David Cram. He has 28 years in school finance and is co-owner of Balance Point Physical Therapy.
David began by thanking our Rotary for our donations of time and talent. His kids have also been recipients.
His presentation provided school district info only, not how to vote on the Educational Programs and Operations (EPO) Replacement Levy which has previously been called the
Maintenance and Operations Levy.
The school district reserves dropped down to only $25,000, but not negative. This has caused restructuring and right-sizing the district to fit funding. For example, 6 Admins are now down to 2.5 FTE (Full Time Equivalents).
The La Conner School District was released from financial oversight by the State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in November. The district has been under what are known as binding conditions since August 2023 when it was unable to provide a balanced budget for the 2023-2024 school year, and had little in financial reserves. The district went from $25,000 in financial reserves at the start of the 2023-2024 school year to about $1.1 million by the end of the year.
School Update
School Update
- Released from binding conditions
- Enrollment: 463.17 FTE
- Total staff: 42.53 FTE Certificated and 30.82 FTE Classified
- Budget $12,928,993.00
- Current Projects: HVAC Grant - $1.5 million and Solar Grant - $1.9 million
5 years ago, the district had nearly 600 students, but now has 463. Previously there were 100 FTE Classified employees, those with no teaching certificate and others such as treasurer and school bus drivers.
Previously there was a $15M budget; they cut $2M out. The 1974 HS (was the round building) got $1.5M grant from state for new HVAC. Solar was installed on middle school which has the newest roof, and has battery backup for disasters. 7 companies bid, and 1 was approved.
Levy vs Bonds:
- EPO Levy: EPO funds enable the district to support educational programs and operations, including teaching, school supplies, technology, athletics, building maintenance, transportation, and other educational needs.
- Bonds: Bonds are used for new construction and large renovations of existing buildings.
The levy expires in 2025.
Due to McLeary decision, the district must use the lesser of 2 methods to calculate.
Levy Guidelines:
School district enrichment levies are limited to the lessor of $2,500 per pupil ($3,149.69 current), as increased by inflation, or $2.50 per $1,000 assessed property valuation.
The board's goal was to keep our Levy in line with current levies. The board approved asking in 2025 for $1,054K - about a 3% increase for COLA.
EPO Levy Caps
Projected for 2026
The Law requires the district to use the lessor
Max Levy Per Tax Rate ($2.50) $ 2,420,000.00
Max Levy Per Pupil ($3,315.52) $ 1,657,760.00
Voter-approved Collection for La Conner Schools
2024 $ 1,023,519.00
2025 $ 1,054,215.00
Extracurricular expenses - coaches, officials, transportation - are not covered by the state. Security is not covered. The district has 40 cameras across the district, and must keep them up-to-date - rotating every 4-5 years. These were recently used first day back from holiday break after someone broke into bus barn.
You need badges to get in via badge fobs. Special Ed is not fully funded by state; $1.25M is needed but the state paid $1M. Need Technology - wireless, new computer every 4-5 yrs.
District also incurs costs for curriculum adoption.

Anacortes has Refinery tax base giving low rate, otherwise La Conner has one of the lowest rates.

Skagit County 2024 Collection | |||
Educational, Programs and Operations Levy | Technology/ Capital Projects Levy | TOTAL | |
La Conner | $1.11 | - | $1.11 |
School | Per Thousand EPO | Per Thousand Tech/Capital | Total |
Mount Vernon | 2.36 | 0.74 | 3.1 |
Sedro-Woolley | 2.1 | 0.42 | 2.51 |
Burlington Edison | 1.61 | 0.57 | 2.17 |
Conway | 1.39 | 0.09 | 1.48 |
Concrete | 1.41 | - | 1.41 |
Anacortes | 0.79 | 0.3 | 1.08 |
Avg | 1.46 | 0.27 | 1.73 |
Audience questions:
How would you compare what you can offer to students vs other districts?
All districts are making difficult decisions. For example, at secondary level, the 7-period day with more electives is down to a 6-period day – a cheaper model to run. Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley use a block schedule -- 8 classes, 4/day, each 90 minutes long. They are finding they can't afford them; they are going to 6 periods. Anacortes has a 7-period day.
Lori said the teaching staff are well taken care of and La Conner has a low turnover rate. There are additional opportunities with Tech Academy and Running Start.
Less preps are needed for 6 periods instead of 7, saving a teacher FTE for not paying out planning time.
David’s eldest daughter got an AA via Running Start.
NCTA - NW Career and Tech Academy. A bus goes to Mount Vernon with 10 kids, and to Anacortes with 4-5 kids for Marine teach. Skills Center is only in the afternoon, with morning classes in La Conner.
Alternative Learning Program (ALP) is for students who struggle with conventional setup. It runs 9-12 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, with assignments outside of the classroom.
There are more requirements now than 50 years ago. State has Core24 -- 24 credits to Graduate. With a 6-period day, max is 24 credits. If you fail one, you may not graduate. The district provides credit retrieval, summer school, ALP programming to help. A world Language is now required. 3 years of math is the minimum, with 4 years encouraged. Fine Arts are required and some Music. Electives such as Band and Art exist. There is J-Term Tutoring for struggling students who possibly have an F – an after-school program with grant funding to help them pass their courses.
Students are choosing into other districts. This year’s Choice transfers -- 35 went out and 30 came in. 2 years ago, 50 chose out. The challenge is much smaller incoming classes. 2024 may be the last of the smallest students’ sizes: 21 kids in kindergarten 2024, now first grade; 31 kids in 2025. With 35 seniors going out and only 21 first graders incoming, the funding continues to shrink.
Are there anticipated state-level changes with the new Governor?
School districts are pushing MSOC – Material, Support Operating Costs. For example,
5 yrs ago it cost $94K for insurance; now there is $235K insurance costs for liability, buses, property, etc., but the school gets only $70K funding from state. Most of heating is natural gas boilers.

Very enlightening and educational program! Everyone was very engaged and had some great questions.
Announcements:
Rotary presented a $2,000 check to Molly for Skagit River Poetry Festival which has their annual auction at mid-day brunch on Saturday, May 4th. Molly distributes copies of student poems from the last 2 years, and the book “On Gifting Black Feathers” by Tony Curtis.

As has been reported, our partnership with Helping Hands Foodbank will allow our dollars for weekend food packs to stretch even further. At last week's board meeting, it was recommended and approved that up to $750 of our weekend food budget be spent restocking the clothing closet at the elementary school.
This is an opportunity for an interested club member (or members) to be our Champion(s) and to work with the school counselor managing this valuable resource for kids.
Audrey’s closing remark:
Oscar Wilde's quote, "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”