Family newsletter - First days of school, Back-to-School Fair volunteers, federal funding update and new Communications Director

Posted Date: 7/19/25 (:00 AM)

Three photos of students in various classrooms, elementary, middle and high school

In this issue:

First days of school
Back-to-School Fair volunteers
Federal funding update
New Communications Director

First days of school

Elementary age students sitting around a table. Teacher in the middle. Everyone is smiling. Monitor in back of room reads, "Tuesday/Thursday".

The first days of school are right around the corner. We are looking forward to the bustling sounds of students in our schools and the excitement of a new school year!

Save the date for your student's school start date:

September 2-3 - Family/teacher conferences for preschool through grade 5
Tuesday, September 2 - First day of school for students in grades 6 and 9
Wednesday, September 3 - First day of school for students in grades 7, 8 and 10-12 (all middle and high school students attend)
Thursday, September 4 - First day of school for students in grades 1-5 (preschool and kindergarten conferences continue)
Friday, September 5: First day for kindergarteners (Learning Improvement Friday)
Monday, September 8: First day for preschoolers

This 2025-26 one-page calendar is your go-to resource for the full year ahead. It includes key school and break dates, along with start and dismissal times—making it easier to plan your family’s routine with confidence.

Back-to-School Fair volunteers

Young student wearing a panda headband receiving a prize from a booth

The annual Back-to-School Fair will be Friday, Aug. 22, 4-6:30 p.m. at Mariner High School. It's open to all grades and families in Mukilteo School District.

In addition to the free school supplies, student activities and community partner tables, we're adding three school bus shuttles to help families travel to and from the fair.

This is a huge event and its success depends on help from staff and families. If you have an hour or two to share during the event or in the days leading up to the event, please consider volunteering. You can indicate your availability and preferences for tasks on this Google form. Thank you!

Federal funding update

At Tuesday night's Board meeting, Business Services and Safety Director Jon Poolman shared that our district may lose up to $1.3 million in federal funding in the upcoming school year due to possible changes at the national level. If that happens, vital programs—like 2026 multilingual summer school, staff training, and services for multilingual learners—could be affected.

Nothing official has confirmed that these funds will be permanently cut, but they have been withheld with no information about if or when they will be distributed. Washington state has joined more than two dozen other states and jurisdictions in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the decision to withhold these resources. As federal decisions continue to evolve, we will be closely tracking changes that could further impact our ability to serve students and will share these with you.

Despite these challenges, our commitment to students remains unchanged. Our strategic plan remains a guiding light during these challenging times.

Take a look at our proposed 2025–26 school budget and see what’s planned for the year ahead.

New Communications Director

This is my last newsletter to you before resigning on July 31. I am transitioning to a new chapter as I follow my dream of becoming a public speaker and trainer for communication strategies. It's truly been an honor to serve Mukilteo School District families, students and staff the past six years and I am grateful for the relationships we've developed during that time.

You'll receive future newsletters, posts and alerts from the new Communications and Public Relations Director Julianne Repman. She has about 20 years of school communication experience so you will be in excellent care.

Best wishes for a wonderful summer and a successful school year!

With gratitude,

Diane Bradford

Mukilteo School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of trained dog guide or service animal. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as patriotic society. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator Robert Gallagher (425-356-1300), gallagherrm@mukilteo.wednet.edu, Section 504 Coordinator Becca Anderson (425-356-1277), andersonra@mukilteo.wednet.edu, and the ADA/Access Coordinator Karen Mooseker (425-356-1330), moosekerkw@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9401 Sharon Drive in Everett, WA. Inquiries regarding ADA/Access issues at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center should be directed to Wes Allen, Director (425-348-2220) allenwr@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9001 Airport Road in Everett, WA 98204.