Bridgeport School District: A Look Back on 2005

by Gene Schmidt, Superintendent

A look back over 2005 reveals a veritable highlight reel of notable accomplishments. Improved WASL scores, school and district awards, increased enrollment and discussions of new middle school construction are but a few of significant events that occurred. Travel back in time to celebrate the many achievements that took place during the past year.

January: The school year started with a bang when a middle school boiler fire caused extensive damage to the heating system. Students vacated the building for more than a week until repairs were completed. On a positive note, Main Street Learning Center and Aurora High School graduated several students. Leadership Plenty, which identifies and trains emerging community leaders, provided training for adults. All Bridgeport School District Para-educators achieved No Child Left Behind “highly qualified” status. In addition, Bridgeport received grants to fund a middle school facility study and a fresh fruits and vegetables grant that provided snacks for elementary students at the end of their school day.

February: Bridgeport High School received a National Title 1 Distinguished School award for continuous improvement in reading and math. Bridgeport School District received the Civic Star award for innovative partnerships. A pilot preschool program was introduced. Family Leadership Institute continued with a 10-module training for families. Hugo Martinez led a delegation that presented at the National Bilingual Conference in San Antonio.

March: Heating problems plagued the high school, leading to replacement of software that operated the system and installation of a new cooling tower. Jacque Workman filled a vacancy on the School Board. Bridgeport High School’s Small School Finance students traveled to Olympia to share the success story of the city’s sidewalk grant, Street Smart.

April: Elementary principal Scott Sattler was named the WSASCD Regional Principal of the Year. Victor Sanchez was named the Title 1 Student of the Year. Tracy Zahn led a school delegation that presented twice at the National School Board Conference in San Diego. Tracy Zahn and Linda Zaccanti led a presentation team to the Western Bilingual Conference in Boise.

May: Leadership Plenty and the City of Bridgeport co-hosted a Cinco de Mayo dance at the middle school. Profits were used to keep the swimming pool operating during the summer. The Street Smart project was completed. Hugo Martinez was elected President of the Washington Migrant State Advisory Committee.

June: Twenty students graduated from Bridgeport High School and thirteen graduated from Aurora High School/Main Street Learning Center. The elementary school received a $25,000 Reading First grant. Middle school principal Diane Hull was presented the WASA Region 171 Achievement Award. The Association of Washington Cities awarded Bridgeport a silver medal in the Youth Leadership category for city/school partnerships

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July: Bridgeport was featured in a statewide school reform publication called the BERC Report, which identified the elementary’s successful cohort 1 Reading First program for its “dramatic change in school culture, collaboration and building capacity to maintain change.” The League of Education Voters also featured Bridgeport’s success story in a magazine titled, Promises to Practice.

August: Increased enrollment led to the hiring of 9.5 new teachers. WASL scores showed dramatic jumps in reading at the elementary, middle and high school. A five-year GEAR UP grant was funded to provide motivation for middle school students to prepare for college. The University of Washington sponsored professional development in reading.

September: Opening day brought the fourth largest enrollment (707 FTE) in the school district’s history. An exchange teacher from Mexico was hired to instruct Algebra classes in Spanish. WSU Alumni Magazine interviewed staff for a spring 2006 publication on Bridgeport’s educational success story. A No Limit grant funded technology and math integration at the middle school. A LASER grant funded science instruction for elementary teachers.

October: Bridgeport hosted the WSSDA/WASA Region 171 Legislative Dinner. Bridgeport High School was named a State Title 1 Distinguished School. A facilities committee met to discuss the future of the middle school.

November: The building facilities committee submitted a recommendation to build a new middle school and use the present classroom space as a district office and community center. The committee recommended that the middle school gymnasium be remodeled for PE classes and interscholastic sports. Steve Pointer and two members of his staff were selected to present at the National Title 1 Conference in Dallas. Consuelo Kickbusch identified Bridgeport School District during the keynote address at the Fall WSSDA Conference for its efforts to encourage parent participation in the schools.

December: Michael Porter was selected for the National Teacher Certification Program. Tracy Zahn was selected for the WSSDA Leadership Training Program. Victor Villaseñor, a nationally recognized Hispanic author, spoke to Bridgeport students.