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Longview School District

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Longview, WA, USA

Our Superintendent

Superintendent Dan Zorn, October 2021

Superintendent Dan Zorn, October 2021

A Message from Superintendent Dan Zorn

The 2022-23 school year has begun and we are off to a strong start. Welcome back!  What a difference a year makes! As I visit schools this year, I have noticed a renewed spirit and energy among our students and staff.  We are moving full steam ahead and have high expectations for the year to come. I want to highlight the many things happening in our district that benefit our students and community.

I will begin with our graduation rates. Last year, 93 percent of our high school seniors graduated, and the last five years, our district graduation rate has exceeded the state average. The continued improvements in graduation rates can be directly attributed to the hard work of our staff and students and the resources we are directing towards improving student academic achievement at all grades. This very intentional and mindful work is paying off and our graduation rates are reflecting those efforts.

Our focus on safety and security of our school campuses has been a top priority as well. With the help of our voter approved levy, we have invested in security fencing around schools, access control systems, secure vestibules at front entrances, and the installation of extensive video surveillance systems throughout all buildings. Along with these improvements, we have also increased emergency preparedness training for staff and students. I encourage you to view this video to learn more about the many ways we are working to provide a safer environment for our students.

Another project approved by voters that will benefit our community for decades to come is the Memorial Stadium project. Work has begun to upgrade to a multi-use, artificial turf field and a new track that will serve boys and girls sports year-round. Upgrades to the complex will become a focal point for our entire athletic program and a source of pride for our community. We hope to celebrate the grand opening of the new and improved complex in the fall of 2023.

You may have also heard that Longview Public Schools has been approved by USDA to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students for the next four years.  This comes as welcome news for our families and kids.

And finally, we will begin a new pre-kindergarten program this November called Kinder Bridge that will prepare 4-year-old students for kindergarten. Research proves that early learning is critical to student success, so we have expanded our early learning program for families who cannot access other pre-kindergarten programs in the community. The program is meant to prepare 4-year old children to be kindergarten ready.

These are a few examples of the work being done to lift the Longview community as we continue making our schools a source of pride.  We strive to be responsive to our community, work responsibly to be good stewards of tax payer dollars, and align our services with the needs of our students and families.  We are grateful for the continued support of our families and community as we work together to make Longview Public Schools the district of choice for families in Southwest Washington.

 

Have a great year!

Dan Zorn, Superintendent

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