BISD Newsletter - June 16, 2026

As we celebrate the last day of school today, I find myself looking back on the past ten months with immense appreciation. Witnessing our students' growth and energy on this final day reminds me of just how vibrant, connected, and deeply committed our BISD community truly is.

This incredibly successful year would not have been possible without you. I want to thank you for your authentic engagement, collaboration, and unwavering support from day one. Whether you were volunteering in our classrooms, partnering with our teachers, or celebrating our students' achievements every step of the way, your active dedication is what makes our district so uniquely special.

As the school year ends, I wish you and your family a wonderful and deeply restorative summer. While I know that a pause in the school calendar doesn't always mean a pause in your work and daily responsibilities, I hope the shift away from homework and early morning school routines brings a welcome change of pace. Whether it is during the long Pacific Northwest evenings, over the weekends, or in quiet, small moments of connection, I hope you are able to find time to slow down, recharge, and enjoy the beautiful, sunny days together.

I look forward to seeing you all next school year, refreshed and ready for the new adventures ahead. Until then, have a safe, happy, and relaxing summer!

Take good care,

Amii Thompson

BISD Superintendent

After six years of dedicated leadership at Sonoji Sakai Intermediate School, Principal Drew Crandall will join the district leadership team as the new K–6 Director of Teaching & Learning.

Since joining BISD in 2020, Drew has led Sakai through periods of growth, innovation, and student-centered learning. His leadership experience includes serving as principal of Poulsbo Elementary School, assistant principal at Kingston High School, and an academic and behavior coach at North Kitsap High School. Prior to becoming an administrator, Drew was an elementary classroom teacher.

In his new role, Drew will support elementary schools across the district, focusing on curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning. His deep understanding of student development, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to student success make him an excellent fit for this districtwide role.

Drew will partner with Amanda Ward, who will serve as the district's 7–12 Director of Teaching & Learning, creating a strong K–12 instructional leadership team focused on supporting students and staff.

We are also pleased to announce that Whitney Skarbek will transition from her current role as K–12 Director of Teaching & Learning to become BISD's Director of Instructional Technology.

Whitney has served the Bainbridge Island School District for eight years in a variety of leadership roles including principal at x̌alilc Elementary School. She has been a passionate advocate for student learning, instructional excellence, and innovative practices that support student success.

As Director of Instructional Technology, Whitney will lead the district's efforts to support the intentional use of technology in teaching and learning, advance digital literacy, oversee instructional technology systems, and help ensure students and staff have the tools, resources, and support needed to enhance learning while maintaining a healthy balance between digital and non-digital experiences.

Whitney will assume the role following the retirement of Kiyomasa Toma, who has provided outstanding leadership as BISD's Director of Technology and whose contributions have helped shape and support technology systems across the district for many years.

Please join us in congratulating Drew and Whitney on their new roles. We are excited to see the impact their leadership will have on students, staff, and schools across BISD.

As we head into summer break, we want to share information about district-issued student Chromebooks.

To support student safety, protect district resources, and reduce the need for device monitoring during the summer months, student Chromebooks will be temporarily disabled after the last day of school and reactivated when students return in the fall.

Who: Students in grades 6–12 and Odyssey students in grades 5–12 who take their district-issued Chromebook home for the summer.

What: District-issued Chromebooks will be remotely locked for the summer.

Why: Student devices are provided to support learning during the school year. Because students are not under district supervision during summer break, devices will be temporarily disabled until classes resume.

Exceptions: Students who need a district device for educational programming over the summer, including some students with IEPs and those participating in Extended School Year (ESY) programs and/or credit recovery may be eligible for an exception.

Timeline: Devices will be locked immediately following the last day of school and will remain locked until the first day of classes for the 2026–27 school year.

Storage & Return: Students should keep their Chromebook in a safe place at home over the summer and bring it back to school, fully charged, on the first day of classes.

Thank you for helping us care for these important learning tools. We hope all BISD students and families have a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer!

The Bainbridge Island School Board has approved the 2026–27 school year calendar, and we encourage families to review it as they begin planning for next year.

As part of the updated calendar, Mondays will return to being full school days. The calendar includes eight built-in professional learning release days throughout the year, consisting of both full-day and half-day releases that provide staff with dedicated time for collaboration, planning, and professional development.

Families will also notice adjustments to conference schedules designed to better support student learning and family engagement.

We encourage all families to save a copy of the calendar and refer to it throughout the year when planning vacations, appointments, and other activities.

👉 View the 2026–27 School Year Calendar

We are at 45% registration for the 2026-27 school year! This annual process lets us know that your student(s) are returning to our schools for 2026-27 and allows parents/guardians to review annual information. 

The ABCs must be completed* for all students attending BISD schools in 2026-27, including both new and returning students. Access the ABCs by logging into your Family Access account. It should take about 15 minutes (or less!) to complete. 

If you need assistance with the ABC process (such as translation, accessing technology, or other questions), please get in touch with the office manager at your student's school. 

NOT RETURNING? If your current K-11th grade student is not returning to BISD schools next fall, please inform your school's office manager or email studentrecords@bisd303.org.

As we near Summer Break, we want to ensure every student in our community stays fueled and ready for fun! Helpline House, in partnership with Bainbridge Island Rotary, is proud to offer the Kids’ Pantry program to provide supplemental groceries for local families. These bags are for any youth (ages infancy-18) in need of additional food during the summer break. Bags contain enough food for 1 youth for a week.

Pick-Up Information

If your family could benefit from extra groceries over the summer, you can stop by for a pick-up:

Delivery Options:

We know that work schedules and transportation can sometimes make it difficult to get to Helpline House. If you are unable to make it during pick-up hours, Rotary volunteers are available to deliver groceries directly to your home.

To Register for Delivery:

Please contact Sarah Frost, sfrost@bisd303.org, to coordinate a drop-off time that works for your family.