Back to School
August 21, 2008
By Staff
Back-to-School Q&A
Who should students or parents call if they have any questions?
Issaquah: For district-level questions, call the main number, 837-7000, or try the Web site, www.issaquah.wednet.edu, which has a searchable service directory.
Lake Washington: The schools’ main offices are a great resource for general questions. The district’s Web site and the Web sites for individual schools also have a wealth of information. The district office, at 702-3200, can help with general questions or refer you to the right source for the information you need.
When is the first and last day of school?
Issaquah: School starts Sept. 3 and ends June 15.
Lake Washington: The first day of school is Sept. 2, and the last day is June 16.
Which bus should my student catch?
Issaquah: Families should receive a yellow card in their mailboxes in the first week of September with information about bus stops and schedules. Visit www.issaquah.wednet.edu/operations/Transportation.asp for answers to frequently asked questions and phone contacts for bus schedules.
Lake Washington: The phone number for the district’s transportation office is 882-5120. Officials can provide information on which school a student will attend, where they can catch the bus and if there is a good walking route to use.
Or visit www.lwsd.org/parents and then click on the yellow school bus.
Follow the directions to find out which bus your student will catch, where and when.
What school supplies should students have?
Issaquah: School supply needs are posted at each school and, in most cases, on each school’s Web page at www.issaquah.wednet.edu/schools.
Lake Washington: Check with your child’s school for a grade-specific list of supplies. Most schools post those lists on their Web sites. To find your school’s Web site, go to www.lwsd.org and click on “Schools.”
How do I know my student is attending your school?
Issaquah: Elementary school students are asked to verify enrollment through a process described on a lime-green card mailed to each family in late July.
Secondary school students register for classes before summer break or as they enter the district.
Lake Washington: Parents must register their children with their neighborhood school. Contact the transportation office at 882-5120 to find out which is your neighborhood’s school or use the school and bus finder, on the district’s web site at www.lwsd.org/parents.
All of the elementary schools and Inglewood Junior High will be open starting Aug. 20.
Inglewood Junior High School and Eastlake High School will open their offices for registration earlier in the month on August 6.
When will students find out who their teachers are?
Issaquah: Because of federal privacy law, elementary schools will not post class lists this year. Instead, students should receive a post card with class assignment in the mail the first week of September.
Secondary students receive schedules during back-to-school business days.
Lake Washington: Check your school’s Web site or back-to-school packet for information. Elementary schools hold “meet and greet” days for students to learn their assignment and meet their new teachers.
Junior and senior high schools have specific registration days and/or hand out schedules on specific days.
Where can students or parents find lunch menus?
Issaquah: These are posted on the district’s Web site www.issaquah.wednet.edu/operations/menu.asp.
Lake Washington: Lunch menus are posted on each school’s Web site. You can also reach the lunch menu through the district’s main site, www.lwsd.org.
How can students change schools?
Issaquah: Every February, the district accepts applications from students who want to transfer to another school or to another district. Closed Issaquah schools can only take new students if others leave.
Students can apply to attend a closed school, but entrance isn’t guaranteed.
Students who transfer into the district from other districts must reapply each year, and continuing open enrollment is not guaranteed every year. Call 837-7010.
Lake Washington: Students who live within the district and want to go to a school that is not in their neighborhood school can apply for a variance.
For the transfer to occur, space must first be available at the school receiving a new student. If a student lives outside the district, a different variance form is required and, again, space must be available.
Call 425-702-2283.
How do I pay for school-related items, such as yearbooks, parking passes and Associated Student Body cards?
Issaquah: Secondary school students can pay for those items during back-to-school business days or by contacting the main office during the school year. Cash and checks are accepted.
If elementary schools produce yearbooks or other fee-based items, the schools will alert parents regarding details.
Lake Washington: Cash and checks are accepted in school offices.
School lunches can be paid for by credit card through Parent Access.
How big is the district?
Issaquah: About 110 square miles with 24 schools, which covers Issaquah and parts of Bellevue, Newcastle, Preston, Renton and Sammamish.
This fall, about 16,000 students are expected in classrooms throughout the district.
Nearly 2,000 staff members work in schools, and about half of those are classroom teachers.
Lake Washington: Over 23,000 students in 30 elementary schools, 12 junior high schools, 7 high schools, and three additional programs.
The geographic area is about 75 square miles including Kirkland and Redmond plus parts of Sammamish and Woodinville.
What is the district’s budget?
Issaquah: The district’s operating budget is $155.87 million and the district’s capital budget for the year is set at $160 million.
Lake Washington: The 2008-09 budget is about $217 million Visit www.lwsd.org/About/Budget-Info for detailed information on the district budget.
Where does school funding come from?
Both districts: From three places, the state’s general fund, the federal government and local maintenance and operations tax levies.
State funding is set by the state Legislature and is based on the number of enrolled students.
Federal funding is for students from low-income families.
Local levies are approved by voters in elections, held every one to four years.
Issaquah: Learn more at www.issaquah.wednet.edu. Click on “Finances” and then “Funding.”
ake Washington: Visit www.lwsd.org/For-Community/Tax-Dollars for more information on school funding.
When does the school board meet?
Issaquah: The district’s board meets twice a month at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
The meetings take place at the Administrative Service Center, 565 North West Holly Street in Issaquah.
Lake Washington: The district’s board convenes twice a month at 7 p.m. on Monday evenings. The first meeting of the month is at 7 p.m. while the second meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.
The meetings are held at the L.E. Scarr Resource Center, 16250 N.E. 74th St. in Redmond.
A complete list of the year’s meetings is posted on the district Web site at www.lwsd.org.
Is there a district check policy?
Issaquah: For a check to be an acceptable form of payment it must include your full and accurate name, current address and telephone number.
In the event your check is returned for nonpayment, the face value may be recovered electronically, along with a state allowed recovery fee, which is currently $20.
In the event your check is returned for nonpayment, the district has the right to no longer accept checks from you for the remainder of the school year.
Alternative forms of payment may be used instead, such as cash or a cashier’s check.
Lake Washington: A fee of $10 shall be charged for all dishonored checks returned to the LWSD.
How can parents get more involved?
Issaquah: To volunteer in a classroom, contact the teacher. Many elementary schools have art and science docent programs, in which trained parents present lessons.
Issaquah’s PTSA chapter, www.issaquahptsa.org, is one of the largest and most active in the state.
Parents begin by joining at their child’s school. Another opportunity is the VOICE mentor program, www.issaquahschoolsfoundation.org, which pairs an adult with an at-risk student for a year or more.
District-level task force teams include such groups as the Graduation Requirements Steering Committee, District Advisory Team and Boundary Advisory Committee.
Team positions are advertised as available on the Web site and in school newsletters.
Lake Washington: The PTSA is a great way to be more involved in your child’s school. Check either the school Web site or http://schools.lwsd.org/ptsa to find a link to your school’s PTSA chapter.
Your school’s office may also have specific needs for volunteers.
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