HOCKINSON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Preparing all students for lifelong success
Dear HSD Families:
I’m reaching out today with a budget update as our schools and district plan for the 2026-27 school year.
First, I want to recap how recent state reductions have impacted the HSD. During the 2026 legislative session, the state significantly reduced Local Effort Assistance (LEA) and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) funding for schools across Washington. Hockinson School District’s LEA funding, which helps to support student programs and district operations, was reduced by about 38%, while TK funding, which provides kindergarten readiness classes for 4-year-olds, was reduced by about 60%.
These unexpected reductions loom large as we prepare for next school year. As a result, the HSD is taking a very cautious approach to budgeting as student enrollment for 2026-27 continues to take shape. To adjust to our lowered funding levels, our district has made difficult reductions affecting some certificated and classified employees. All staff members impacted by funding changes have been notified.
Our people are our district’s greatest resource and these reductions have been especially difficult in a tight-knit school community like ours.
The HSD School Board will hold an initial 2026-27 budget hearing at its June 8 regular meeting, with formal budget adoption expected July 27. Among its planned budget adjustments for the 2026-27 school year are the following updates:
Transitional Kindergarten will be scaled back and move to a tuition-based model beginning this fall. Instead of four sections, HHES will offer two full-day TK sections and one half-day section.
School leaders, classified employees, and district office staff will have furlough days again next year. District office staffing has also been reduced.
Certificated staff positions will unfortunately be reduced due to TK reductions and 2026-27 enrollment projections.
The HSD and Hockinson Education Association (HEA) also agreed to a one-year staffing contract, rather than the typical multi-year agreement, to provide additional flexibility as we continue to adjust to state funding changes and enrollment impacts.
While we work through these challenges, we are also grateful for the support of our families and community. Thank you for the trust you place in Hockinson schools and for the many ways you support our students and staff throughout the year. Voter support of the replacement EP&O levy this past February continues to help sustain important student programs and services as we, like most districts across Washington, respond to the daunting combination of inflation and decreased state funding.
I am well aware that conversations about school funding can create concern for families, staff, and students. However, amidst all of this uncertainty around school funding, I assure you that we remain focused on maintaining high levels of student learning and enrichment opportunities at all three of our schools. I appreciate the partnership of the HSD's certificated and classified unions, our staff teams, and families in making that possible.
Thank you, too, for taking the time to stay current with HSD and I will continue to keep you posted as we move forward in our budgeting and staffing process -
Sincerely,
Steve Marshall, Superintendent
P.S. I have a closing request for all HSD families: If you are planning on registering a Kindergartener next year, please register now as registrations are lagging. We would also appreciate your early notification if your family is moving or planning to withdraw your student. Our 2026-27 staffing levels depend on student enrollment and this information helps us plan and staff appropriately.
I’m reaching out today with a budget update as our schools and district plan for the 2026-27 school year.
First, I want to recap how recent state reductions have impacted the HSD. During the 2026 legislative session, the state significantly reduced Local Effort Assistance (LEA) and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) funding for schools across Washington. Hockinson School District’s LEA funding, which helps to support student programs and district operations, was reduced by about 38%, while TK funding, which provides kindergarten readiness classes for 4-year-olds, was reduced by about 60%.
These unexpected reductions loom large as we prepare for next school year. As a result, the HSD is taking a very cautious approach to budgeting as student enrollment for 2026-27 continues to take shape. To adjust to our lowered funding levels, our district has made difficult reductions affecting some certificated and classified employees. All staff members impacted by funding changes have been notified.
Our people are our district’s greatest resource and these reductions have been especially difficult in a tight-knit school community like ours.
The HSD School Board will hold an initial 2026-27 budget hearing at its June 8 regular meeting, with formal budget adoption expected July 27. Among its planned budget adjustments for the 2026-27 school year are the following updates:
Transitional Kindergarten will be scaled back and move to a tuition-based model beginning this fall. Instead of four sections, HHES will offer two full-day TK sections and one half-day section.
School leaders, classified employees, and district office staff will have furlough days again next year. District office staffing has also been reduced.
Certificated staff positions will unfortunately be reduced due to TK reductions and 2026-27 enrollment projections.
The HSD and Hockinson Education Association (HEA) also agreed to a one-year staffing contract, rather than the typical multi-year agreement, to provide additional flexibility as we continue to adjust to state funding changes and enrollment impacts.
While we work through these challenges, we are also grateful for the support of our families and community. Thank you for the trust you place in Hockinson schools and for the many ways you support our students and staff throughout the year. Voter support of the replacement EP&O levy this past February continues to help sustain important student programs and services as we, like most districts across Washington, respond to the daunting combination of inflation and decreased state funding.
I am well aware that conversations about school funding can create concern for families, staff, and students. However, amidst all of this uncertainty around school funding, I assure you that we remain focused on maintaining high levels of student learning and enrichment opportunities at all three of our schools. I appreciate the partnership of the HSD's certificated and classified unions, our staff teams, and families in making that possible.
Thank you, too, for taking the time to stay current with HSD and I will continue to keep you posted as we move forward in our budgeting and staffing process -
Sincerely,
Steve Marshall, Superintendent
P.S. I have a closing request for all HSD families: If you are planning on registering a Kindergartener next year, please register now as registrations are lagging. We would also appreciate your early notification if your family is moving or planning to withdraw your student. Our 2026-27 staffing levels depend on student enrollment and this information helps us plan and staff appropriately.
Graduations and end-of-year events are on our calendar: https://www.hocksd.org/events
The May 21 HSD News Round-Up is packed - and we mean, packed - with news stories and updates from across the district (and, in the cases of the HHS Boys Soccer Team and Band, across the state and country respectively.) You can view the Round-Up here.
We hope your student enjoys the 4-day Memorial Day weekend.
Take care, everyone. See you back at school on Tuesday, May 26.
The May 8 edition of the HSD News Round-Up includes Kindergarten enrollment information, survey results relating to grade reconfiguration and cell phones, student success stories, and updates from across the HSD!
You can view it here.
Parents:
We have been made aware that a number of HSD families have received erroneous attendance notifications this evening. In many - possibly all - instances, parents of students who attended school today are getting messages indicating that their student "has been recorded absent today."
We believe that this problem is due to an interface issue between Qmlativ, our new student system, and Apptegy, our mass notification system.
I anticipate this issue will get resolved tomorrow - Wednesday, 4/22. In the meantime, please disregard these notifications. I apologize for the confusion and inconvenience.
Sincerely,
Steve Marshall
HSD Superintendent
Hockinson School District spring events are on our calendar: https://www.hocksd.org/events
Dear Hockinson School District Families,
We are excited to announce that our new student information system, Qmlativ, is officially active and ready for family use!
As part of our commitment to keeping you connected with your student’s educational journey, this modern platform replaces our previous system and offers a more intuitive, mobile-friendly experience. Whether you are checking grades (available fall 2026) or reviewing attendance, Qmlativ is designed to provide the real-time information you need at your fingertips.
What You Can Do in Qmlativ
Through the Family Access portal, you will be able to:
Track Attendance: See daily attendance records and report absences.
Manage Schedules: View your student's current class schedule and teacher information.
Update Information: Ensure your contact details and emergency connections are current.
In the fall of 2026, you will be able to:
Monitor Academic Progress: View real-time grades and assignment details.
How to Get Started
Visit the Portal: You can access the login page directly via the "Qmlativ" link on our District Website. If you do not know your login details, use the "Forgot your Username or Password?" on the login page to receive an email that will include your username and the ability to set a new password (it’s is recommended that you create it on a web browser).
Go Mobile: If you have not already, download the Skyward Mobile Access app (available on the App Store and Google Play). When prompted, search for Wsipc-Hockinson School District, Brush Prairie, WA to link your account. If you already have the app, you will need to delete your previous Skyward account and add the new account: Wsipc-Hockinson School District, Brush Prairie, WA.
We understand that transitioning to a new system can take a moment of adjustment. If you have any trouble logging in or navigating the new interface, please reach out to your school’s front office or the district office for assistance.
Thank you for your patience during this transition and for your ongoing partnership in your student's success. We look forward to a great remainder of the school year!
Note: This message went out to family's emails on Friday, April 17.
The April 2 Spring Break Send-Off is a shorter, special edition of our usual HSD Round-Up. Inside, you'll find a link to the 2026-27 calendar, school highlights, family-friendly events and activities happening over break, as well as a couple timely reminders to keep you in the loop! You can view it here.
HSD Families:
In just a couple of days, Hockinson Schools will be transitioning from Skyward to Qmlativ, the new version of Skyward. We want to make sure you are all aware that Skyward will be unavailable from noon on April 2 through April 13 as we initiate this conversion. We will send a follow-up message to families when Qmaltive goes live for families on Monday, April 13. If you need to access student records, grades, attendance and payments via Skyward, we recommend that you do so before April 2.
Qmlativ is the next version of the Skyward system, and all parent login information will remain the same. You can find more information about the transition here.
Hello HSD Families.
The March 24 edition of the HSD News Round-Up is now available! It includes a link to the district's annual report, Parent & Community Perception Survey results, a glimpse into after-school programs across our TK-12 schools, important calendar reminders, and news from around the HSD!
Click on this link to view: https://app.smore.com/n/b8atr-hsd-news-round-up
Don't miss a school event! Check out our calendar here: https://www.hocksd.org/events
We apologize that some PM bus routes will be impacted by today's traffic issues on 182nd Ave. Expect delays, especially on HMS/HHS routes. HSD families can check the First View app to track bus locations.
We are aware of a technical glitch causing portions of the Hockinson School Distrct homepage to appear in Spanish, and we are working to resolve it. Thank you for your patience!
The March 4 edition of the HSD News Round-Up features an opportunity for families to share feedback through the annual Parent & Community Perception Survey, exciting news about a new skilled trades building at HHS, updates on state funding, news from around the HSD, and much more!
Click on this link to view: https://app.smore.com/n/x10vb-hsd-news-round-up
Click on this link to view: https://app.smore.com/n/x10vb-hsd-news-round-up
Update: Internet and phone service has been restored district wide.
The HSD is currently experiencing a district-wide interruption to its internet and phone service. We do not have a timeline for when service will be restored, but we will notify families when our internet and phones are up and working. Thank you for your patience!
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
