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Having committed to a new K-12 math curricula that has already paid dividends in terms of improved student achievement, La Conner school board members Monday also reaped the benefits of that investment.

The five-member panel was saluted as a School Board of Distinction among Washington state’s small enrollment districts for its embrace of the ambitious new math initiative and implementation of Professional Learning Communities, Universal Design for Learning and other innovative programs.

The announcement was made via Zoom by Tricia Lubach, director of the Washington State School Directors’ Association Board of Distinction program during the board’s nearly two-hour Oct. 23 meeting.

“Hopefully,” Lubach said, “this is a wonderful surprise for you.”

Lubach noted that the school district was one of just 34 Washington school boards (out of 295) across all enrollment classifications selected this year.

Board President Susie Deyo shared credit for the honor with present and past board and community members, teachers, administrators and parents.

“It took a lot of work,” she said. “It took four years to lay the groundwork.”

Deyo singled out board member John Agen for stressing the need for the district to launch a renewed emphasis on math education.

Agen and board colleague J.J. Wilbur, in turn, praised the efforts of the teachers and administrators.

“The work was done in the classroom,” said Agen.

“The vision was at the board level,” Wilbur said, “but it was (Superintendent) Will (Nelson), his team and the teachers who implemented it.”

The board will be recognized during the annual WSSDA Conference Nov. 16-18 in Bellevue.

“We are honored,” Deyo told Lubach. “We believe this is the first time we’ve been named a board of distinction.”

The celebratory mood extended to a valued staff member. Theresa James, who serves various advisory and leadership roles with La Conner Schools, was saluted upon her retirement after 30 years as the district’s cheer sponsor. She will continue in her other capacities.

James was praised for her long and impactful run as the cheerleading coach.

“The amount of time you have committed to this district is amazing,” Deyo told James, who was joined by family members. “You spent a lot of time away from your family on school buses and at camps.”

James was praised for building self-esteem in the students in her charge.

“You’ve reached out to so many students and asked them to try,” said Deyo.

“Your contributions parallel someone else who recently retired and that’s Suzanne Marble,” Agen said of James. “Your mentoring has helped students succeed beyond school.”

Resident Dan O’Donnell, in a letter to the board, addressed school finances, urging district officials to seek an additional $235,000 in support from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. He said the request is justified based on the number of tribal students attending the schools, a figure he said exceeds 30% of the student population.

Swinomish has contributed $500,000 this year, all but $85,000 left to spending decisions by district officials.

The additional funding sought by O’Donnell “would go a long way toward getting us out of the hole and not put a big dent in tribal resources,” he said.

Finance Director David Cram reported that enrollment this year has stabilized at 497 students, seven above the projected full-time attendance estimate. He added that the district fund balance could soon shift from red to black with anticipated receipt of property tax and federal impact aid revenue.

The board approved several personnel actions, including the hiring of Lance Lopez as the high school boys’ varsity basketball coach. Lopez, has been an assistant coach with larger programs in Skagit County. He succeeds C.J. Woods, who left last summer for a high school in Arizona.

Sheila Johnson of the La Conner Arts Foundation, which helped spearhead a fundraising drive to purchase 11 ukeleles for the elementary school music program, addressed the board.

“There was support for this,” said Johnson, “from the Town of La Conner and beyond the bridge and roundabout.”

Elementary Principal Heather Fakkema-Hovde said the ukeleles have been ordered and delivery is expected any day.

The board, somewhat reluctantly, approved new athletics event ticket prices to comply with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and Northwest District fee schedule. Members immediately suggested exploring potential sponsor options to lighten the burden for low-income families.

“This is concerning to me,” said Deyo, “but we don’t want to be out of compliance with the WIAA and Northwest District.”