McLane Elementary School

We have two kids attend Garfield, five years apart in age, and love the school!

I have mixed feelings with this school. I have two older kids, whom went through the HAP program. That was the biggest waste of time there was. I was a divorced dad at the time (now I know they most likely have new teachers in HAP) but the teachers were absolutely horrible. I had to beg to get spelling lists to help my boys get ready for spelling quizzes. I had to go to the previous superintendent multiple times just to be included on the class parents emails. They would purposely keep me off. I volunteered for field trips, lended my cooler, I even spent two years doing the Hansen Herald. My ex wife would go into parent teachers and tell the teachers I let my son watch adult movies, which was the reason he became cynical. I would go into parent teachers and be lectured. Truth was I never watched those movies. We had a vast collection of Disney movies they would watch at my home. The watching took place at my ex inlaws home and my ex would just project it on to me. HAP was and may still be a mess. However my younger two kids went through the regular program at the school and I loved it. I loved the teachers. I was given so much respect. The only complaint I had was my youngest was getting bullied, and it seemed to be an issue there. He attends another local school and has had zero issues with bullying. I have been saying for years, HAP needs to go. Ive talked to the new superintendent and let him know the same thing. Anytime a parent is treated and the treatment continues for 10 years by teachers, there is a problem.

This school has been a tremendous blessing for our family. Our daughter is challenged in all the right ways, with rigorous academics and more enrichment opportunities than we ever expected. She works hard and plays even harder here, and it’s been wonderful to watch her thrive. I deeply appreciate the school’s commitment to strong education and its ability to keep politics out of the classroom. The staff are genuinely joyful to work with, and on the rare occasion I’ve had a concern, it’s been addressed promptly and thoughtfully. Their rapid growth speaks volumes about the quality of education they’re providing in the South Sound.