This is a message that Principal Tim Fox shared with his HHS families at at 1 pm today:
Dear HHS Families:
I’m writing to share information about an incident at our high school today. School administrators, in consultation with law enforcement, investigated a report involving a possible weapon at school. A replica BB gun was located, and law enforcement quickly confirmed there was no threat to students or staff.
Background:
Earlier this week, administrators became aware of an interpersonal conflict involving two students and the possibility of an associated threat. As part of our standard process, administrators conducted an investigation into the possible threat and determined it was not credible. However, today, administrators gathered additional information suggesting that another student may be in possession of a weapon.
School leaders responded immediately and, in consultation with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, searched a student’s vehicle. A realistic-looking replica BB gun was found. The student was briefly detained while law enforcement confirmed the item was not a firearm.
Schools are legally required to protect all students' privacy. For this reason, we are unable to share any additional information about this situation other than the student is not at school.
In response to this issue, Hockinson School District has also initiated our Threat Assessment Protocol. Threat assessments are a best-practice approach to evaluating and responding to threats in a comprehensive manner, helping to guide interventions that support students and ensure campus safety moving forward.
We know situations like this can feel alarming. I want to reassure you that staff responded quickly and followed our safety protocols. School safety is a shared responsibility. We appreciate the partnership we have with students and families in reporting potential threats. As a reminder, individuals can anonymously report safety concerns online 24/7/365 through the SafeSchools website.
Sincerely,
Tim Fox
Principal
Dear HSD Parents:
There was a situation on the HHS campus today that involved the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
All students and staff are safe and there was no imminent threat to campus safety.
Mr. Fox and I are working on a message to the HHS community that will be sent out very soon.
Steve Marshall
Superintendent
February 12, 2026
Dear Hockinson Community:
As of the latest ballot count, HSD's School Programs & Operations Renewal Levy continues to pass with 56% voter approval.
On behalf of our students, staff, and School Board, I want to thank you for your continued support and trust.
I believe Hockinson's schools really are the heart of this community. Our schools bring neighbors together at community events, from Fun Days and Blueberry Festival to performances like music concerts, plays, and musicals, to athletic games and tournaments. School and club service activities beautify our community and support our families. Most importantly, our schools educate the next generation of leaders, problem solvers, and citizens.
Your support will help to sustain the school programs, services, and opportunities that make a difference in the lives of young people in our community every day.
Official election results will be certified on February 20.
With gratitude and optimism,
Steve Marshall
Superintendent
Dear HSD Families:
I am pleased to share that the Hockinson School Programs & Operations Renewal Levy is currently passing in tonight’s election. Levies require 50% plus one voter approval to pass and we are currently at 56%.
While we await the next ballot count, I want to thank the Hockinson community for its support of our students, staff, and schools. I am very grateful that, in spite of the financial pressures facing households today, our residents see the value of high-quality public schools.
I want our families and residents to know that since our last SP&O Levy in 2022, our building leaders and staff have worked very, very hard to make sure that Hockinson’s schools are stable, student-centered, and successful. The stability has come from planning and teamwork and the focus on our students is something shared by our educators and families. As a result, Hockinson’s students have contributed to the creation of safe, positive school cultures and, with the expertise and support of our teachers, advisors, coaches, and all classified staff, they’ve reached new heights in academic achievement and extracurricular activities. You can check out the HSD Data Dashboard here: https://www.hocksd.org/page/data-dashboard
Financial concerns were raised by some community members throughout this election. I want our voters to understand that frugality and accountability are extremely important to both me and the School Board. The HSD ran this levy well below the state’s maximum, reflecting our commitment to careful stewardship of local taxpayer dollars. We will continue to stretch every dollar by actively pursuing grant funding and managing costs responsibly. That focus on efficiency is reflected in the most recent OSPI data (2024-25), which shows HSD has the second-lowest per-pupil spending of any K-12 school district in Clark County. You can view a summary of comparative data for the past three school years here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NRPy74-l1BtnYANuozjfO6bGAzhv_lDOwRsOwyUDff4/edit?usp=sharing
If approved, the levy renewal will continue funding for school support staff and student programs including art, music, Advanced Placement and elective classes, sports, after school clubs, textbook replacements, technology replacements, building maintenance, security staff, school nurses, and classroom positions that keep class sizes small. I assure you that our staff and students will make the most of these services, resources, and opportunities.
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “an investment in knowledge pays the highest interest.” On behalf of our students and staff, I want to again thank you for investing in the education of Hockinson’s students and making it possible to continue the 155-year tradition of Hockinson’s schools through 2030.
Sincerely,
Steve Marshall
HSD Superintendent
You can read it all here: https://app.smore.com/n/m0cgd5-hsd-news-round-up
The January 29 edition of the HSD News Round-Up features HHS students excelling in regional trades competitions, updates on the Feb. 10 SP&O Levy and HSD facilities planning, and news from around the district! Also, in case you missed it, this newsletter also includes the electronic version of the Levy mailer that was sent out last week.
You can read it all here: https://app.smore.com/n/vedsf-hsd-news-round-up
January 23, 2026
Dear HSD Families:
I am writing to inform you that this past week our schools saw an increased number of student absences due to influenza-like symptoms as well as cases of confirmed Influenza A. Also, I wanted families to be aware that Clark County Public Health has reported a measles case across the river in Clackamas County in addition to other cases in Washington State.
The winter months are synonymous with the cold and flu season, so a spike in illnesses is not entirely unexpected. Currently, our district’s level of illness-related absences does not require a serious response such as school/student program cancellations or student exclusions. However, because the flu and measles are highly contagious and potentially serious illnesses, we are reaching out to our families as a preventive measure.
Influenza
It’s our top priority to keep Hockinson students and staff safe and healthy. We ask our families to follow these guidelines to help us control the spread of flu.
Please keep your children home if they are ill with the following symptoms:
- Fever (usually high, at or above 100° F)
- Head, muscle, or body aches
- Extreme fatigue or tiredness
- Dry cough
- Vomiting/Diarrhea
Your children may return to school when they have been without a fever for at least 24 hours. This means a temperature less than 100 degrees without taking anti-fever medications.
Please remind your children to cover their coughs and sneezes using “germcatchers” like a tissue or their elbow to help avoid the spread of flu germs. Explain that if they cough or sneeze into their hands, they risk spreading the disease when they touch surfaces that others come into contact with. When this happens, encourage your children to immediately wash their hands and to also wash their hands frequently throughout the day, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Washing with soap and warm, running water for 20 to 30 seconds is one of the best ways of preventing respiratory illnesses. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-
based hand sanitizer.
Vaccinations are another way to avoid the flu. Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. More information about the flu and flu vaccination is available on the CDC Flu page.
More information about the flu and flu vaccination is available on the following Web sites:
Clark Co Health Dept Flu page
WA Dept of Health Flu page
Measles
Due to the increased measles activity in the region, Clark County Public Health (CCPH) has issued an informational measles health advisory.
Again, we are committed to the good health and safety of our schools, families, and community. To that end, we will continue to provide updates and health trends that could impact our families or school operations.
Steve Marshall
Superintendent
Good news! As of 3:45 pm today, phone service has been restored to all HSD campuses.
Our Tech Dept. will continue to test service today and tomorrow morning, but we are optimistic that our phones will be up and running tomorrow Thursday, Jan. 22.
While we're at it, we want to make sure families are aware that THIS Friday, Jan. 23 (1st Semester Grading Day) is a student non-attendance day. Next Monday is the first day of 2nd Semester!
HSD Parents:
Phone service in/out of the HSD is currently down.
Schools are able to communicate by phone internally with other schools/district office. Schools can also communicate externally via email so please contact schools through email if you have an urgent need.
HHES: angela.landon@hocksd.org; april.neffhovis.org; shelley.tochtrop@hocksd.org
HMS: janell.morley@hocksd.org; karen.johnson@hocksd.org; sabrina,brown@hocksd.org
HHS: kirsten.heder@hocksd.org; darci.robinson@hocksd.org
All other staff emails: first name.last name@hocksd.org
We apologize for the inconvenience and will notify you when phone service is restored.
Dear HSD Families:
Welcome back to school! I hope you had a relaxing winter break and that your family had a smooth transition back into the school routine.
I want to share a quick update on funding that supports student programs and services in Hockinson School District. Our district will have a renewal of our School Programs & Operations (SP&O) levy on the February 10, 2026 ballot. You may have seen this article by The Columbian and levy information on our SP&O Levy webpage.
Levy dollars support staff and student programs the state doesn’t fully fund
This is not a new tax. The HSD's current 4-year levy, approved in 2022, expires at the end of 2026. Without levy funding, HSD would face difficult decisions including potential reduction or elimination of:
- Art & Music Programs
- AP & Elective Classes
- Sports & Extracurricular Activities
- Staffing to maintain small class sizes
- School Nurses
- Extracurricular Transportation
- Learning Technology & Replacement Cycles
- Textbooks & Curriculum Replacement Cycles
- Security Staff & School/Family Communication Tools
- Building Maintenance
About 1 in 7 staff members in Hockinson School District are supported by local levy dollars.
Lower than Average Local Total School Tax Rate Compared to K-12 Districts in Clark County
Hockinson School District’s total school tax rate is lower than the average of all nine K-12 school districts in Clark County. The average 2025 total school tax rate in Clark County is $3.15/$1,000 assessed value. The proposed 2027 total rate in Hockinson would be $2.53/$1,000.
Additional State $ Available Only if Levy is Approved
If the levy is approved, Hockinson School District would become eligible for about $2.2 million in state Local Effort Assistance. State LEA funding is provided to “property poor” school districts where collecting the full levy amount allowed by the state is out of reach. LEA funding comes at no additional cost to local taxpayers, and is only available when a levy is in place.
How are levy costs distributed across the community?
When voters approve a levy, they are approving the collection of a fixed annual amount. When new homes are built, school property tax amounts are shared among more taxpayers, and taxes go down for everyone.
Remember to vote by February 10.
To learn more, visit: hocksd.org/levy or attend an upcoming levy information night:
- Wed, Jan. 7 - Hockinson Community Center at 6:30 pm
- Thur, Jan 15 - Hockinson High School Library at 6:30 pm
- Tues, Jan 20 - Hockinson High School Library at 6:30 pm
Thank you for taking the time to stay informed about local school funding -
Steve Marshall
Superintendent
We are getting some questions about whether the HSD is on a normal schedule and we want to confirm that all Hockinson schools are on a normal schedule today, 12/18.
Dear HSD Community:
Following last night’s wind storm, we continue to assess conditions across the district.
As of this afternoon:
- HHES has no power
- HMS has power
- HHS has no power
- District Office and Tech Building has power
After school activities at all Hockinson schools, including high school athletic practices, have been canceled. HHS Boys Basketball and Swimming are competing tonight at Woodland HS and Mark Morris HS, respectively.
A decision about school for tomorrow has not been made yet. We will evaluate conditions early tomorrow morning and communicate with families as soon as a decision is finalized. We will need each school site to have power and network access in order to operate safely.
Thank you to Clark Public Utilities crews for their continuing efforts to restore power to all Hockinson homes and HSD campuses. Thanks, too, for your patience and understanding that student and staff safety is our top priority in evaluating when to re-open our schools.
Steve Marshall
Superintendent
2 Hr. Late Start
Today, Wednesday, Dec 17, the Hockinson School District is on a 2 hr. Late Start due to lack of power and road debris.
All bus routes will operate on a 2 hr late pick up schedule with no AM service for Cascadia Tech and AM Preschool.
We will update you should power not get restored in a timely manner.
Happy Holidays, HSD Families! The December 12 holiday edition of the HSD News Round-Up highlights seasonal news and upcoming events from across the district, including HHS's production of Elf the Musical Jr., PWT's annual Donuts with Santa celebration, holiday concerts, and more!
Read it here.
All HHES buses will be running approximately 20 minutes late today Thursday, Dec. 11. We regret that transportation for a field trip fell behind schedule. This delay will likely impact all HSD bus riders K-12.
We will send out additional updates should these delays change or if there is any other news relating to this issue.
We apologize for this inconvenience.
Read it here: https://secure.smore.com/n/njcwp
Hockinson's 7th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is TONIGHT and everyone is invited. HMS Band students, led by band director Jennifer Ritenburgh, will perform holiday songs beginning from 6-6:30 pm. The community tree will then be illuminated by - who else? - Santa Claus at 6:30 pm. Special thanks to Hockinson Community Church, the Hockinson Main St. Team, Fire District 3, and Chartwells for partnering with the HSD to continue this holiday tradition.
The tree lighting will take place in between Hockinson Community Church and the Hockinson Community Center, 15916 NE 182nd Ave.
