Two BG seniors named National Merit Finalists
Patrick Moynihan and Jenna Brown, seniors at Battle Ground School District's CAM Jr.-Sr. High School, have made the second cut in the National Merit Scholarship Program and are among 15,000 "finalists" for scholarships in the country. Last September they were named semifinalists. All finalists receive a Certificate of Merit and some 8,200 of them will win Merit Scholarships later this school year. CAM (Character, Academics, Marketplace) is an academically rigorous school at 715 N.W. Onsdorff Blvd. It serves fifth through 12th grade. Colleen O'Neal is principal.
Court ruling: Washington state is not fulfilling
its duty in financing public schools
KENT, Wash.(AP) -- The state of Washington is not fulfilling its constitutional duty to fully pay for basic public education, a King County judge ruled Feb. 4.
The decision from Superior Court Judge John Erlick came . . . in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of school districts, parents, teachers and community leaders. They said the state was failing its constitutional duty and leaving school districts to rely on local levies, donations and PTA fundraisers to educate students.
The state disagreed, claiming it does meet its constitutional duty. . .
Erlick said he based his decision on a state Supreme Court ruling from 30 years ago which found the state must amply provide for basic education. Relying so heavily on local levies fails that standard, he said.
Erlick noted that despite 30 years of studies and good intentions, the state has failed to meet the requirements of the Supreme Court's ruling. The state does not provide enough money to give every child a chance to meet the state's essential learning requirements, the judge said.
"The court is left with no doubt that under the State's current financing system the State is failing in its constitutional duty to make ample provision for the education of all children," the judge wrote in his decision. "This court is convinced that basic education is not being funded by a stable and dependable source of funds provided by the state."
Bria cheered by court ruling, but warns money not coming soon and ‘triple whammy’ is possible
Statement from Battle Ground Superintendent of Schools Shonny Bria in response to King County Superior Court Judge John P. Erlick’s decision Feb 4, 2010, in the public-schools-funding case:
I applaud and am cheered by the King County judge’s ruling in this case, as our district has been running on a half-tank of gas for many years, and still is.
The Battle Ground School District has never been able to rely on stable and dependable funding for two reasons – a “double whammy” of (1) defeated levies over the years and (2) the state’s failure to fully fund basic education. Now, a judge has decided the state must fully fund basic education and take that responsibility off the backs of local taxpayers.
But the current economic picture has worsened the state's school-financing situation, essentially creating a "triple whammmy" for us.
Until this ruling actually takes effect, with sufficient money for schools from the Legislature, we continue to face that triple whammy: (1) The state’s historic failure to fully fund schools, (2) the ongoing potential for levy failures -- or levies that, in order to win voter approval, are too small to educate our children as well as they deserve, and (3) state support being at least temporarily worse due to the current economy. (State support for Battle Ground schools was cut nearly $6 million in 2009 with more cuts expected this year).
Battle Ground volunteer and teacher honored
at annual Chamber of Commerce banquet
A grandmother who uses a walker and who drives 20 miles round trip to volunteer at least twice a week in a Battle Ground primary school is the Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year, and a Battle Ground Middle School teacher is the winner of the Chamber's Teacher of the Year award. Press release. See Jane Yarbrough photo here and Karl Johnson photo here.
Conservation efforts saving money
An updated summary of the Battle Ground School District's program to cut costs for school bus operations shows a projected savings of more than $100,000 per year, while efforts to cut electricity and heating bills are also yielding results. Press release, posted 1-26-10. Click here for photo.
BGHS, PHS musicians win Clark Jazz Fest honors
Battle Ground jazz musicians represented their schools quite well, thank you, at the Clark College Jazz Festival that drew 60 groups from Washington and Oregon.
ROTC students at BGHS are 'flying high'
From the Battle Ground High School Air Force Junior ROTC program comes good news in two categories. See attached.
Steve Pagel to lead BG School Board
Steve Pagel was elected president of the Battle Ground School District Board of Directors for the coming year. Outgoing President Sam Kim will be vice president and John Idsinga will be the legislative representative. This and more news from the Jan. 23 School Board meeting is on "BG Board, Briefly."
BG Schools' replacement levy on Feb. 9 ballot
School Board approves levy for ballot. Click here
Brochure offers information about levy. Click here
Additional levy information here.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for, what else but some "big brothers' and 'big sisters'
Read about this organization that helps BG-area students, and how you might help by mentoring a youngster.Click here.
Centennial video now for sale
Copies of a 30-minute version of the BGSD Centennial Celebration video are on sale in the Battle Ground High School ASB Office. (The version shown at the Jan. 9 celebration was about 15 minutes.) The price is $20 and proceeds will benefit the video production program at the high school.
100 Heroes of Battle Ground Public Schools
Click here for brief descriptions of the "100 Heroes" of the Battle Ground School District's first 100 years. The Centennial celebration on Saturday, Jan. 9, at Battle Ground High School was attended by apprioximately 1,200 people.
About the Battle Ground School District . . .
Our diverse district is serving more than 13,000 students in seven primary schools (grades K-4), seven middle schools (5-8), two full-service high schools, four alternative and home link schools and the Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education. Governed by a five-member citizen School Board, the district also has a vigorous community education program. Besides the Web site, we can be reached at (360) 885-5300 and info@bgsd.k12.wa.us.
The district covers 271 square miles, stretching from the Cascade Mountains in the east almost to the confluence of Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 in the west. It is a friendly place with a picturesque landscape bisected by the East Fork of the Lewis River and punctuated by small towns and communities, including Battle Ground, Yacolt, Amboy, Chelatchie Prairie, Fargher Lake, Cherry Grove, Dollars Corner, Barberton, Daybreak, Venersborg and Heisson.
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Inclement weather cancellations, postponements, late-starts, etc.: Call 360-885-5343
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Low-cost and free health coverage for kids
Sign-up events Oct. 13, Oct. 21 and Oct. 24. Get the details here.
Free and Reduced-Price meals, 2009-10
Letter to households can be found here.
Application for free and reduced-priced meals is here.
Russian letter
Russian application
Spanish letter
Spanish application
Here's the 2009-2010 BGSD Student Handbook
Battle Ground School District policies governing student dress, conduct, absenteeism, transportation and other matters are laid out in this document.
Russian Spanish
2009-2010 School District Calendars:
The District calendar for the 2009-2010 school year has been updated and can be found here (English) (Russian) (Spanish).
The Kindergarten calendar for the 2009-2010 school year is now available. It can be found here (English) (Russian) (Spanish).
The Curriculum calendar for the 2009-2010 school is now available here (English) (Russian) (Spanish).
Safety and security projects to be pursued
The School Board has authorized the District to seek federally backed, no-interest construction bonds for three health and safety-related projects. Click here.
District Office Contact Information:
Battle Ground Public Schools
P.O. Box 200
Battle Ground, WA 98604-0200
Phone: 360.885.5300
E-mail: info@bgsd.k12.wa.us
(Street address: 11104 NE 149th Street, Brush Prairie (west of state highway 503 on 149th, beyond the sheriff's precinct and the railroad tracks.)
Public Announcements
Blackboard Connect: The district has started using an automated phone system to notify parents of school closures, late starts, absences, as well of school events and upcoming events that our families may need to know. Absence and attendance calling is not available at all sites at this time, please verify availability with your site. If you are not receiving phone calls please make sure your phone contact information is up to date with your schools.
Inclement Weather Update: The letter to parents and guardians about our new methods to notify patrons about changes to the school day for inclement weather is available here
The 2.5 hour late start schedule can be found here
For school closures and updates please visit our Emergency Closure page.
Other Information
District Calendar 2009-2010 (English) (Russian) (Spanish) - New!
2009-2010 School supply lists - New!
Curriculum Calendar
2009-2010 (English) (Russian) (Spanish) - New!
Kindergarten Calendar
- 2009-2010 (English) (Russian) (Spanish) - New!
District Bus Routes - Updated!
Student Internet Waiver Form Russian Spanish
Requires Acrobat Reader. Get it here.
The Battle Ground School District provides equal opportunity in programs and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin/language, creed/religion, sex, sexual orientation-including gender identity, disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status and HIV/Hepatitis C status. Marcia Christian, Pam Judd and Jane Mercier have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination. They can be reached as follows: Marcia Christian, Title IX Sexual Harassment Coordinator, 360.885.5415, christian.marcia@bgsd.k12.wa.us; Pam Judd, Title IX Equity Coordinator 360.885.5395, judd.pam@bgsd.k12.wa.us; Jane Mercier, Section 504/ADA Coordinator 360.885.5318, mercier.jane@bgsd.k12.wa.us; or a letter may be submitted to the designated coordinator at the Battle Ground School District, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604.
For Information about staff email addresses, broken links, or comments about our website, email our webmaster.