“Summertime and the living is easy…” the classic Porgy and Bess song exclaims; a slower pace with more time for reflection and conversation is welcomed by all. I hope that the beautiful weather has allowed time for the renewal of your spirit. For our students, summer vacation does not mean an end to learning. The benefits of reading throughout the summer are well-known, and my advocacy for it is unneeded. Help your children by ensuring they have reading materials that interest them, and that you model the joy of reading. Likewise, keep them writing. It has long been my conviction that at least half, and I mean that quite literally, of student learning takes place outside the classroom. Children cannot thrive if they only learn in the schoolhouse. Summer is filled with opportunities for children to learn. Conversations with parents and their extended family, vacation trips, camping and hiking, walks in the park, picking berries, an hour in the library, playing in the yard or park with friends – these are all learning opportunities. Summer jobs also give teenagers a chance to problem solve, communicate and learn new skills.

So while schools may be closed for the summer, the classroom is only part of the story. Learning continues, as does the work of the Marysville School District staff and faculty who are preparing for another year that will be here before the rain returns.

Our custodian crews are deep-cleaning schools as they do every summer. Major maintenance is being done around the district. The biggest and most-visible project will be the refinishing of the Marysville-Pilchuck High School gymnasium floor. Every school entrance is also receiving special attention so that students, staff and the community will be warmly welcomed when school opens. Several schools hold summer lunch programs sponsored by the district as a continuation of our nutrition program for all kids and teens. Last summer, more than 26,000 meals were served to Marysville children. At the District Service Center, preparation for the school year is in full swing. After the longest session of the state legislature, school officials statewide learned about the ramifications of the actions resulting from the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision. The timeline for the 2017-18 district budget has been reduced from months of planning to just six weeks. Olympia is still unable to give administration and boards of directors a clear picture of state funding, or the actions that must be taken to meet new requirements. Besides with hiring due to the normal turnover of staff, our human resource administrators are working with the Marysville Education Association on a new contract for our teachers. Bargaining is always stressful, but even more saw due to the uncertainty of state funding. Our teachers and staff have been active this summer as well. Recently a large team of teachers took training for the Advancement Via Individual Determination program. AVID equips students for education beyond high school by helping them navigate the college-going culture and develop the skills necessary to move on to higher education. I hope living is easier this summer, and learning, engaging and preparing for the new school year productive. Let the last few weeks of the break be a time for renewal for you and your family. Enjoy the incredible beauty of the Northwest and instill in your children a love of learning by showing curiosity and inquisitiveness. Tom Albright is a member of the Marysville School Board