The Superintendent Series Returns

Lynden Schools superintendent David VanderYacht welcomes the community to the 23/24 Superintendent Series, an ongoing town-hall-style discussion on Monday evenings designed so the community can learn how the district operates while giving VanderYacht an opportunity to listen to questions and receive feedback from community stakeholders.

Each of the meetings will run from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the district’s board room located at 516 Main St. The hour-long sessions begin with a presentation of information for the first 20 minutes, followed by a facilitated question and answer time open to the community members in attendance. Visitors are not required to sign up prior to attendance and may attend any of the meetings. The five sessions are:

Sept. 18, 2023: Strategic Priorities

Lynden Schools continues the mission of ensuring all students graduate college, career and citizenship ready. With a vision for high-quality instruction and learning for every student, every day, our strategic priorities serve as guiding principles within a continuous improvement model. Learn about how the district is creating safe and supportive learning environments, exceptional learning experiences and family and community partnerships in service of its mission and vision. 

Nov. 13, 2023: Academic Programs & Curriculum

Learn the process the district goes through to select curriculum and align its learning programs across grade levels from before kindergarten right through graduation and beyond. 

Dec. 11, 2023: Levies & Bonds 

State funding simply doesn’t cover the needs of a district, especially to the level expected within such an involved community as Lynden. Understand how levies and bonds differ, why they are needed to keep Lynden Schools operating at desired levels and why they are so important for positive student outcomes. 

Jan. 29, 2024: School Governance 

Schools are governed by a board of elected citizens expected to reflect community values while governing the schools on their behalf. We’ll cover board member responsibilities, superintendent/board relationship, the role of state and federal statutes and the Open Public Meetings Act. 

March 18, 2024: Budgeting 101

School finances offer complicated components. Superintendent VanderYacht will provide a high-level summary of revenue sources and annual costs of operating the district. Learn how the school creates budgets and understand how tax dollars are used within the district. 

VanderYacht also encourages interested citizens to meet with him throughout the year. Appointments can be set up by contacting his office at 360-354-4443 ext. 3414 or emailing LPS-Superintendent@lynden.wednet.edu.