Dear Hockinson School District Families,
I’m writing to give you an update on two decisions made at the school board meeting last night. The Hockinson School Board voted to move 5th grade to Hockinson Middle School beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The board also voted to implement a new cell phone policy that will take effect this fall.

Moving fifth grade to Hockinson Middle School beginning in the 2027-28 school year
Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, Hockinson Middle School will move to a grade 5-8 model.
This decision followed months of diligent work by our Citizens Advisory Committee. Parents, staff, and community members studied enrollment data, visited schools, discussed options, and reviewed community survey feedback. I want to thank everyone who took the time to share their perspectives in our two community surveys on this topic.

The school board and I expect that this decision will bring a mix of reactions. We recognize that this is not an ideal solution and does not permanently solve elementary overcrowding. At the same time, we need to address the very real challenges at HHES which, serving over 900 students, is the largest TK-5 elementary school in Washington state. That size affects students in many ways, from impacting instructional time and personalized learning support to traffic, campus safety, lunch schedules, and the reliance on aging portable classrooms.

Moving fifth grade to Hockinson Middle School will provide temporary relief while bringing HMS enrollment closer to the average for middle schools in Clark County. With this change, HHES enrollment will remain about 300 students larger than the county’s average elementary school.
As a parent myself, I know that transitions create uncertainty for everyone involved. Over the next year, our focus will be on planning a thoughtful transition that reflects the priorities we've heard from families, students, and staff.

This school year, the HSD Citizens Advisory Committee will help coordinate a transition process, including family, staff and student engagement opportunities. Families are invited to the following events to help identify student supports needed for a successful transition:

• Family Information Night: Monday, October 19 at 6:30 to 8 pm; Hockinson Middle School

• HSD’s Tour of Schools: Wednesday, October 21 at 8 to 11 am; begin at Hockinson Community Center

We will continue sharing updates on the 5th Grade Move page and creating opportunities for our community to provide input as this work moves forward.

Cell phone policy effective this fall
The HSD School Board also adopted a new cell phone policy to help limit distractions during instructional time and create a standard approach to cell phones across all three schools in our district. The policy is based on input from families, staff and students. In a survey this spring, 85% of respondents supported limiting cell phones at school.

Expectations regarding phone use vary by grade level:

• At HHES, personal electronic devices must be "off and away" at all times throughout the school day.

• At HMS, personal electronic devices must be "off and away" during all instructional times and passing periods throughout the school day. Cell phone use is permitted during lunch.

At HHS, personal electronic devices must be "off and away" during all instructional times throughout the school day. Cell phone use is permitted during passing times and lunch only.

“Instructional time” is defined as the entire class period, from the beginning bell to the release bell. "Off and away" means that personal electronic devices are stored out of sight and not accessed (e.g., stored in a backpack or locker) and placed in a setting that does not disrupt students or the learning environment (e.g., turned off or placed in silent mode).

Some important things for families to know:

• This policy applies to all personal electronic devices.

• During times when phone use is not allowed, students may contact their parents/guardians using phones in school offices.

• Schools will follow all individualized education plans and 504 plans as written.

In the event of an emergency, students would be allowed to access their phones.

This change will help students stay engaged in class and contribute to positive environments in our schools. We appreciate your partnership to promote healthy phone use habits for Hockinson’s students.

Sincerely,
Steve Marshall