Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11 Tukwila ReporterSCHOOL CONNECTIONS: Tukwila School District update, pages 14-15 [see us online likkwww.tukwilareportercom 2 ( NOVEMBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com When Tukwila's money was kept in a can BY LOUISE JONES - BROWN Lois Thursey Cathey was born in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 17, 1893 as the first child of Althea and Frank- lin Cathey. She was born in the basement of the church where her father was a Free Methodist preacher. Born at home, no record of her birth was recorded and her mother had to verify the birth before Justice Tom Clark of Foster. Frank Cathey was a dis- trict elder for the church Sprkt toy collection event Also accepting cash; and food for the Tukwila Pantry 1OAM -4PM SATURDAY November 23 WESTFIELD SOUTHCENTER SOUTH PARKING LOT Make a donation online at www.tukwilachildrensfoundation.org Westilek! SOUTHCENTER TUKWILA PARKS & RECREATION GOOD 022,1,19 9ury Tukwila's "cash can" sits in front of a photograph of Tukwila former city treasurer Lois Newton at the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center. Tukwila Historical Society and made several moves with the family including Tyler and Roslyn, Wash., and Baker, Ore. In 1899, the family traveled east by Annual Seattle Christian School Christmas Bazaar Sat., Dec 7th 9am to 4pm 1 Over 60 vendors with handcrafted and specialty items. 1 Food and baked goods including a cake walk. Proceeds benefit student trips and service projects. 18301 Military Rd S SeaTac, 98188 922971 train to New York and fi- nally settled in Camden, where Lois graduated from high school. In 1911, the family with nine children moved to Seattle and lived in Green Lake. While in college, Lois married Dana Newton on May 19, 1914. She graduat- ed with Seattle Pacific Col- lege's first graduation class and in 1965 Seattle Pacific University named a Hall in her honor as the only sur- viving graduate from 1915. In 1919, the Newton family moved to Tukwila. By 1925 Lois and Dana's family included five boys and two girls. Foster -Tuk- wila Presbyterian Church was an important part of life in Tukwila and Lois was the first woman to become an elder. She was asked to be town treasurer in 1948. She earned extra wages col- lecting water bill monies deposited in a "coffee can" at her home. Her son, Gor- don recalls being paid $1 a month to deliver water bills to local residents. Lois retired as Tukwila treasurer in 1962 and 1972, moved to Wesley Gardens in Des Moines. In the same year, Tukwila celebrated dedication of the Lois New- ton Bridge over the Green River. Lois summed up her life by saying, "My life has been good - no more inter- esting or harder than any- one else." The historical society's holiday meeting is Dec. 12 at the Nelson House, 15643 West Valley Highway, 7 p.m. -9 p.m. Tukwila's Story is written by Louise Jones -Brown, who is acting director of the Tuk- wila Heritage and Cultural Center and treasurer for the Tukwila Historical Society. For hours and arrangements for a tour, call 206/244 - HIST or email: tukwilaher- itagectr@tukwilahistory.org. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013 3 Extreme sports helping in youth counseling BY TRACEY COMPTON TCOMPTON@RENTONREPORTER.COM Teens Mikayala Cheney of Renton and Gabriel Hamilton of Kent weren't par- ticipants in typical teenage activities and socializing before three years ago. Both came from troubled pasts and had issues they were trying to overcome. Now, after three years participating in extreme sports activities through Sound Mental Health's group -therapy programs, Cheney and Hamilton are socially active and engaged in the world around them. "I've found myself more open to things, more open to being social because I know that if I hold myself back, I'm not going to get anywhere; said Cheney. "If I keep iso- lating myself, I'm not going to be able to do the fun things that I do." The fun Cheney has participated in is snowboarding and indoor skydiving at iFly in Tukwila with Sound Mental Health. Ex- treme sports activities at the agency have also included motocross, long -boarding, mountain bike riding, skateboarding, and standup paddle -boarding. All have been developed under the direction of Brandon Stogsdill, a Sound Mental Health therapist. Cheney grew up without a father, no male role models and lost her brother to suicide, when she was 7 years old. Her fam- ily life affected her and made her shy, not wanting to socialize much. Hamilton was challenged by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. He had problems controlling his anger, he said. Hamilton and Cheney both recounted how snowboarding trips with the agency and Chill, snowboard company Burton's foundation, helped turn their lives around. "When I was up there, I was free;' said Hamilton. "I cleared my mind of all the anger, stuff like that. And then, when I learned these lessons, it helped me pick up Holiday Dinners And this year, we're inviting you for 1/4 holiday dinner too! NSW' Classic Roasted turkey Dinner New! Classic am Dinner IUkWi1a WINNER' Borter EST0F2013 TUKWILA . SEATAC ' DES MOINES WPADS. SEATAC 20402 International Blvd 206-592-5928 TUKWILA 17250 Southcenter Parkway 206-575-0330 Yum. on that and get rid of that anger, using what I've learned:' Life lessons were taught to the group by Stogsdill. He had his own rough road to navigate as a youth. The therapist was once incarcerated at 19 and spent time in prison. Stogsdill turned it around in jail, saying, "God got ahold of my heart and changed it and gave me a crystal clear purpose to work with kids and prevent them from standing in the very same prison cell I stood" He went to college, the first of his fam- ily, got his master's degree and became a child mental-health specialist and chemi- cal dependency professional. Stogsdill has worked with Sound Mental Health for three years, developing this unique ap- proach to therapy. "(There was) no research; he said of ex- treme sports and therapy. "The only thing I found is that kids, who do extreme sports, are pot smokers and bad for the commu- nity, and I scoured for years," Stogsdill said of the relentless research he did to support his group therapy idea. Stogsdill is working to get this exten- sion of his group therapy at Sound Men- tal Health, recognized legitimately in textbooks for its benefits to mental health therapy. Most kids have a predisposition to risk-taking behavior that lets the brain take chances and make mistakes, he said. Some choose to take those chances with drugs, but people can get a natural and or- ganic high with extreme sports activities, Stogsdill said. "This is a novel idea; it's very cutting- edge;' he said. "It's very extreme and it gets people into therapy, who normally wouldn't do it. "Counseling's not what it used to be" For more information on the type of voluntary group therapy options at Sound Mental Health, visit the organization's web- site, http://www.smh.org/. TUKWILA • SEATAC • DES MOINES s WARDS �2:J,111; _NI J 1 Tukwila, WA 98188 206-575-1130 * fax: 206-575-1133 www.doctorbuda.com • .EVERYTHIWARD IS GEARS CHOW YOUR AND. .GOMFORI. ENIOYMENr •• * 6 month preventative exams * Free Orthodontic exams * Brushing for toddlers * Teething tips *White Fillings * Sports Guards * Space Maintainers *Thumb Guards * Anxiety Medication * General Anaesthesia available ur office is fun and kid friendly. We have great games and giveaways during the year. Your child gets a prize and sticker at every visit. Dr. Buda is currently accepting many different insurance plans. Over the last four years we have become a preferred provider for 7 major insurance companies including: *Aetna •Assurant *Cigna *Delta •DSHS *Great West •Guardian -Humana •Metlife •Premera •Regence •WDS •United Concordia 911733 index tukwila thecan It's not a practice that would work today, but not too long ago you might have found some of the city's cash in a can - that's part ofTukwila's Story 4 theroles In the Tukwila School District, the school board and superintendent work together to shape the district's future. 6 notontrack The Tukwila School District has tightened up access to the field at Werner Neudorf Stadium and other facilities. 7 abig hit Seahawks star Richard Sherman brought supplies and cleats and a healthy dose of inspiration to Foster's homecoming assembly. 12 topdogs Foster athletes Alem Belete and Sierra Parsons were named Athletes of the Year in their sports by Seamount League coaches. reporter SOUND PUBLISHING INC. >19426 68th Avenue South > Kent, WA 98032 ,253.872.6600 > www.tukwilareporter.com 4 NOVEMBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com > write regional publisher polly shepherd publisher ellen morrison publisher@tukwilareporter.com editor dean radford editor@tukwilareporter.com 425.255.3484, ext. 5150 circulation james kostoroski 253.872.6610 The Tukwila Reporter encourages reader participation in your community newspaper. Share your thoughts in a letter to the editor (200 words or less) including your full name, address and phone number. HERE'S HOW To submit a letter to the editor, E-MAIL: editor@ tukwilareporter.com FAX: 253.437.6016 MAIL: 19426 68th Ave. 5., Ste. A, Kent, WA 98032 STORY IDEAS: dradford@ tukwilareporter.com ONLINE CALENDAR: tukwilareporter.com tukwilacommentary Open conversation will empower schools Race is not being ignored in the Tukwila School District. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will ensure that. Nor is student achievement. Dedicated teachers and staff — and a success coordinator at Foster High School — will help ensure that all students ignite their passion. Nor is the district itself shying away from meeting its responsibility to cre- ate an environment in the workplace and classroom where everyone is valued and respected. A community conversation will help ensure that. It's beginning this week. Of course, all that is easier to write than actually put into place. Racial ten- sion has been a central theme of our American history from the beginning. Frankly, we're not very good at understanding each other; we're culturally in- competent, no matter which census box you check. For Tukwila, race is a key defining demographic. For the Tukwila School District, that multitude of colorful faces is magical but also its greatest challenge. Tukwila's schools have been shaken for two years and not just because African-American employees have filed law- suits — that's a symptom of a larger issue and it's their right. Tukwila's school community is finding its racial footing, one that everyone shares or at least understands and from which everyone can try to move forward. And that's not going to happen without a lot of talking. And understanding. And more talking. And a realization that success isn't achieved by going to court and winning but figuring out how to keep everyone out of court. Let's spend those legal fees to educate kids. And it starts at the top. Talk about school district leadership, including the school board, and the employee's attorney, Joan Mell, asks, "Where's the color?" Voters in the City of Seattle have just opted to elect City Council members by district, rather than in a city-wide vote, an effort to better represent neighborhoods with common needs and demographics. A change like that in Tukwila could add color to the dialogue on the Tukwila school board, Mell says. Anyone who grew up in Tukwila in the middle decades of the 20th century (boy that sounds like a long time ago), found little color in Tukwila's schools (actually, South Central School District 406). But that doesn't mean those kids weren't exposed to the social upheaval of those decades. Tukwila is small, but it's not isolated. Still, Tukwila has had a steep learning curve, I think, in learning how to provide a home and an education for all the new arrivals from around the world who have made the city and the school district among the most diverse in the nation. Right now is a critical point in that evolution and it should continue with not one but many conversations. Those conversations started this week. Superintendent Nancy Coogan has organized a Socratic Seminar that will allow students, community members [ more EDITOR'S NOTE page 5] Team effort to lead schools If you have visited the administration building or a school - board meeting recently, you know that things certainly look and feel a lot different! Over the past several years, turnover and chal- lenges with administrative leadership often caused relationships, trust, and communication to wear thin. It may not be perfect now, but we are getting much closer. As the school board presi- dent and the superintendent, we think it's important for the en- tire community to know that we are working closely together. We are a team of six. Plain and simple. We are a five -member school board working hand -in --hand with our new superinten- dent. We support and hold each other accountable for the same shared vision, we respect each other's roles, and we are humbled by the joy and challenge in overseeing one of the most unique school districts in the nation. A school board's most critical work is representing the com- munity to ensure public schools fulfill local values and expecta- tions for educating children. The board also makes certain that the district acts legally and exercises fiscal responsibility with its public tax dollars. Board members do this by establishing learning goals for students and policies for operations, and then continuously dialoguing with the superintendent to ascertain progress and compliance. A superintendent's most critical role is implementing a stra- tegic plan to achieve the school board's mission and goals. In essence, the superintendent is the chief educator, someone so skilled at teaching and learning she can lead the organization to higher and higher levels of student success. Our roles are separate, but deeply entwined, and to move for- ward without complete transparency would be like playing bas- ketball blindfolded. It's a new era in the Tukwila School District, and we hope you not only feel the difference but experience it as well. Your district leaders are modeling an open-door, collabora- tive, congenial model, and we welcome your participation at all levels. After all, we are all on the same team, in service to children. Sincerely, Mark Wahlstrom, School Board president Dr. Nancy Coogan, superintendent E _Ic 0 0 R 0 ch oL vvi>,3 Vy. ea 0z5 Tukwila School District Superintendent Nancy Coogan can be reached via email at coogann@tukwila.wednet.edu. Job satisfaction critical in schools On Nov. 1, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is- sued determinations on charges by 10 employees against the Tukwila School District (TSD). The EEOC found suffi- cient evidence to indicate that the com- plainants were subjected to an illegal, hostile work environment consisting of race and color harassment. This violates title 7 of the Civil Rights Act. The TSD is expected to work with the charging parties and the commission to achieve conciliation and settlement. If it does not, the commission has court enforcement alternatives. For the moment, it makes sense that the TSD deny the determinations of the EEOC because there is a separate concur- rent Superior Court case brought by the same employees. TSD expects vindica- tion through the court case next year. The school board should consider what it needs to do differently to avoid or be aware of such problems before they get out of hand. Simplistic "what's best for kids" thinking is neither sufficient nor holistic. While leaving the day-to-day op- erations to the superintendent, the board should ensure that the metrics reflect policy and that employee job satisfaction is high. Contact Tukwila Reporter columnist Chuck Parrish at chuckparrish2002@ yahoo.com www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013 5 Two incumbents Council raises utility rates win re-election BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Two incumbents on the Tukwila School Board have won re-election in the Nov. 5 general election. They took a commanding lead follow- ing the initial count election night. In the Director District 1 School Board race, incumbent Mary E. Fertakis beat Jennifer L. Johnson, 59 percent to 41 percent. In Director District 3 School Board i a race, incumbent Alicia Waterton beat Bobby Cruz by 63 percent to 37 percent. The next results will be posted to the King County Elections Division website at about 4:30 p.m. The Elections Division will finalist the election results this week. City Council members Verna Seal, Allan Ekberg, Joe Duffle and De'Sean Quinn ran unopposed. There were A I i c Waterton Mary Fertakis write-in votes in each of their races. Foster drama students present'Popularity' Foster High School's advanced theater students will present their fall play, "Popularity;' a remake of Jane Aus- ten's "Pride and Prejudice" but set in 1958, on Nov 21 and 22. The play is a light-hearted look at the high-school scene of that era, which was on the brink of major changes with gender roles being redefined. It is a fun -filled flash from the past with poodle skirts and ducktails. Performances are 7 p.m. Nov 21 and 22 in Foster's Per- forming Arts Center, 4242 S. 144th St. Tickets at the door are $4 with an ASB card and $5 with- out. [EDITOR'S NOTE from page 4] and political leaders to inquire deeply into a single issue and come up with an action plan. That issue is race and racism in education. And it should continue with community partnerships like the one that brought Jesse McCall to Foster as the school's success coordinator. Reaching or teaching kids is all about making connections on many levels, includ- ing skin color, or in McCall's case, a cultural one. (See our cover story in this issue). And I'll end by circling back to the courtroom. A judge or a jury should not impose a set of values on the Tukwila school system. Choosing its own values is a right and re- sponsibility that belongs to the community. Dean A. Radford can be reached at dradford@tukwilare- porter.com or by phone at 425-255-3484, ext. 5150 -11 I DIrecto TO ADVERTISEPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP Please call Ellen 425-255-3484 Ext. 1050 14401 56th Ave 5 THANKSGIVING Wed., November27,COMMUNION SERVICE pm p' Fall Sunday Schedule: a CE 9:00 am; Worship 10:30 am 206-243-4455 • www.ftpc.org BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM The Tukwila City Council has ap- proved increases in the city's 2014 water, sewer and surface water rates. Increases in the rates are necessary to meet operational and capital ex- penditures. Among the rate increases: • The minimum water meter charge for single and multi -family housing units will increase from $14 to $15. • The sewer fund's monthly flat rate will increase from $23.10 to $26.50. • The surface water fees will in- crease from $107 to $118 for residen- tial parcels and commercial rates also will increase. Bob Giberson, the city's public works director, submitted a memo to city officials, explaining the need for the rate increases. The Cascade Water Alliance, the water wholesaler to Tukwila, is pro- jecting to increase its rates by 5.1 per- cent in 2014. The increase in the water rate is necessary "to maintain the cur- rent level of service and lessen the im- pact of future increases for purchased water" The city is proposed increasing wa- ter -consumption charges for multi- family and commercial/industrial rates. King County, which is responsible for sewage treatment, will not in- crease its disposal fees in 2014. How- ever, the City of Tukwila will increase its sewer base rate next year because of operational and capital needs. Food, gift drive at the mall The Westfield Southcenter Mall, Tukwila Police Department and the Tukwila Parks and Recreation De- partment will be in partnership to hold the annual 2013 Holiday Gift and Food Drive. This year the event will be held on Nov 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the south side of the mall . The sponsors say there are many struggling families in Tukwila and need a little bit of help during this tough economic time and are hoping that shoppers and others will drop off food and toy donations from shop- pers. All food items will go to the Tuk- wila Pantry Community Food Bank. The money will be used to buy toys for the children for the Holiday Giv- ing Program. This year there was a head start with a donation of soft and cuddly stuffed animals from Jared Jewelers located on Southcenter Parkway in Tukwila. Look for the Tukwila Police Mo- bile Command Center in the south parking lot of the mall or the Tukwila Police Officers, Police Explorers and Parks and Recreation employees at various locations at the mall. Boeing union rejects offer Boeing Machinists over- whelmingly rejected last week an eight-year contract extension in a vote they say will preserve their pensions and other benefits. The contract, which Boe- ing and union leadership negotiated in a short time, was rejected by 67 percent of the 31,000 members of the International Asso- ciation of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Dis- trict 751. In a statement Wednes- day night Boeing indicated it would start immediately to open a competitive pro- cess to decide where to build the next version of the 777, the 777X, now built in Everett. The company had of- fered to forego the com- petitive process if Machin- ists agreed to the contract extension. "Today, the democratic process worked and our members made the deci- sion to not accept the com- pany's proposal; said IAM District President Tom Wroblewski in a statement issued Wednesday night. y belief that we represent the best aerospace work- force in the world and hope that as a result of this vote Boeing will not discard our skills when looking to place the 777X:' In rejecting the contract SMT. OLIVET CEMETERY Serving All South King County For Over 100 Years CREMATION & FUNERAL SERVICES CREMATION ONLY FUNERAL SERVICE FROM INCLUDES CASKET $495 $985 CALL 1-800-248-1745 24 HRS In Association With American Memorial proposal, he said Machin- ists "preserved something sacred" "We've held on to our pensions and that's big. At a time when financial plan- ners are talking about a 're- tirement crisis' in America, we have preserved a tool that will help our members retire with more comfort and dignity" In his statement, Ray Conner, Boeing Commer- cial Airplanes president and CEO, said the compa- ny is "very disappointed" in the outcome of the union vote. "Our goal was two -fold: to enable the 777X and its new composite wing to be produced in Puget Sound and to create a competitive structure to ensure that we continue market -leading pay, health care and retire- ment benefits while pre- serving jobs and our indus- trial base here in the region. "But without the terms of this contract extension, we're left with no choice but to open the process competitively and pursue all options for the 777X," he said. He thanked Gov. Jay In- slee and the Washington state Legislature for their efforts to keep 777X pro- duction in Washington state. fla11oWeefl. Zlofl " CcAteA WINNERS 1st Place Dahlia beyarmon 9 years 2nd Place Paige Vandenbosch 10 years 3rd Place Jayden Tyler 5 years tukwila . reporter PrizesCourtesyof 6 NOVEMBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com District tightens access to Foster field BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM The Tukwila School District is tighten- ing up public access to Werner Neudorf Stadium at Foster High School, in the in- terest of student and staff safety during the school day. The Tukwila School Board adopted in October a new facility -use policy that ap- plies to all district schools and outdoor fa- cilities. A second key policy change is estab- lishing formally who is first in line to use school district facilities to ensure everyone has equal access to them. Top priority goes to the school district, followed by the City of Tukwila and then community groups, such as youth sports organizations. Supt. Nancy Coogan stressed that the in- tent of the policy is not to exclude anyone from Tukwila's schools. "We want them in our schools. We want them to participate with us. We want them to be partners in raising all children. This is just part of how we do business," she said. "I just need to be mindful of during school hours and during the school day that I have some type of security measures for all those students and staff," she said, pointing to breaches in school security across the nation. In essence Tukwila's schools have had an open campus, meaning, for example, that anyone could walk onto the track at Neu- dorf Stadium for some exercise any time, even when students were present during the school day. The facility -use policy is separate from the long-standing policy that anyone who wants to enter a school building must first go to the office, sign in and get a pass. [ more FIELD page 7 ] tukwila **** BESToFZO�3 TUKWILA • SEATAC • DES MOINES AWARDS SPOTLIGHT Shift into savings. Brenda K Kulju, Agent 525 Strander Blvd Tukwila, WA 98188 Bus: 206-575-1300 brenda©brendakulju.net www.brendakulju.net Se habia espanol Lukwila WINNER porter BEST°F2013 TUKW LA•SEATAC•DESMOINEE AWARDS THANKYOU FOR VOTING ME #1 INTUKWILA! State Farm *Discounts vary by state. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Bloomington, IL 911712 12pm — 8pm Thursday November 28th 2013 hree course menu featuring slow roasted turkey, prime rib, smoked ham and much, much more, including our endless dessert buffet. $26-$30 adults, $13.95 children (5-12yr) Seniors 62 yr and up 10% off call 425-227-9406 or visit us at www.basilskitchenseattle. com for reservations and full menu details $10 OFF FOOD PURCHASE Please present this voucher to your server. Cannot be used is conjunction with any other discount or promotion. Valid one coupon per table. Expires 12/31/13 1 911726 WICKERT LAW OFFICE Thank you for voting my firm for Best Attorney in Tukwila! MAUREEN A. WICKERT Attorney at Law Elder Law • Estate Planning • Probate Medicaid Planning for Long Term Care Straightforward Discussions for Informed Decisions Complimentary Initial Consultation 206.931.6307 • wickertlaw@comcast.net www.wickertlawoffice.com 14900 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 271, PMB 66 • Tukwila, WA 98168 I�Ihh NAELA Lukwila WINNER BESToF2O13 reporter TUKWILA •SEATAC • DES MOINES AWS ARDS/ Wim•, M 911719 THANKS FOR YOUR VOTES TUKWILA! Are we the "Best Community Volunteers"? Well, we pride ourselves on being involved in the community. Through our Volunteer Tukwila program, participants have logged in hundreds of hours of volunteer time to keep Tukwila clean, help those in need, and provide fun, family -friendly events. Serving our Seniors in Tukwila, Burien & Des Moines! • Home health & hospice care • 24/7 skilled caregivers with awake night shift • Extensive activities program tailored to residents needs VOTED BEST SENIOR LIVING FACILITY nikssila WINNER BEST0F2O13 r�Kw�a.=Ea,At. p�Mo�.rr it Call us today & schedule a tour! 206-992-1271 13534 Macadam Rd, Tukwila 98168 Thanksgiving, (Buffet 11:OOnM - 4:OOPM Scan to view menu Featuring Lemon and Sage Brined Turkey, Prime Rib & Seafood, Potatoes, Assorted salads & desserts Adult beverages available Adults $28.95 Seniors $26.95 Children 5 -11 $14.50 under 5 free own Northwest Landing Restaurant DOUBI,FT REl SUITES 16500 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila, WA 98188 Call for reservations 206-575-4736 BY MILTON' SIATTLE AII1OIT - EOUTRCINTII www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013 7 Seahawk inspires team, brings supplies BY BRIAN BECKLEY BBECKLEY@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM It must have been the shoes. The Foster Bulldogs football team picked up their second win of the season at this year's home- coming game Oct. 18 against Evergreen after an exciting rally that featured a surprise visit from a Seattle Seahawk who brought gifts and inspiration for the team. Halfway through the school's homecoming assembly that after- noon, All -Pro cornerback Rich- ard Sherman was introduced, sending the students, especially the football team, into a frenzy. But the visit wasn't just a cheer- ing session; Sherman brought gifts. After taking a look at the shoes owned by a few members of the team, Sherman wheeled out a cart filled with brand new Nike cleats, a pair for each member of the team. The gift was from Sherman and the Blanket Coverage Founda- Seahawks player Richard Sherman is surrounded by players and dents at Foster's homecoming assembly. Brian Beckley/Tukwila Reporter tion, Sherman's charitable group dedicated to making sure as many kids as possible have adequate school supplies and clothes. "You never want to see kids with inadequate gear;" Sherman stu- said, adding that it was an "honor and a blessing" to be able to in- spire the Bulldogs. According to Shaun Guerrero, the foundation's vice president, Foster was identified as a school with "immense potential" but having a high percentage of low- income students. Sherman said when he was in high school, his only hope of making it out of his inner-city neighborhood in Oakland was to get a scholarship and now he wants to give back and make sure others have the same chances. The Blanket Coverage Founda- tion also provided 120 students with backpacks filled with more than $100 in school supplies, but Sherman made it clear that he does not believe in charity and each student who received a bag signed a contract promising to keep up their grades. "Everybody knows I'm mak- ing an investment in your future," Sherman told them, adding that he wanted each of them to go to college someday. "So I'd like to see a return on my investment." Students who received back- packs and live up to the terms of the contract will receive supplies and school clothes from the foun- dation again next year. tukwila **** BESTaF2O13 TUKWILA • SEATAC • DES MOINES AWARDS Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-575- 1130 * fax: 206-575-1133. www.doctorbuda.com TNk ybU • FORANVOTIPIG • SOUTHCENTER • • KID'S DENTISTRY. BEST DENTAL. • OFFICE • tukwfla WWF BESTOF2013 S Celebrate your INDEPENDENCE! Discover a new world of Independent Living! Family owned, affordable, retirement living. *Tours 7 days a week * titBOULEVARD PARK PLACE III la WINNER BEST0F2013 AWarm Family Community FREEDOM to live on your own. PEACE OF MIND knowing your home is safe. COMPANIONSHIP with people who live an active lifestyle. ACTIVE RETIREMENT LIVING 2805 S. 125th St. • Burien, WA 98168 206.243.0300 www.bouldvardparkplace.com Football Coach Matt Leonard called the visit "amazing" and said the team had been using a "rag -tag" bunch of cleats before his arrival. "It means so much," he said. "I've never seen the team like this." "It means a lot," echoed quar- terback Randy Tippins. "A lot of people didn't have nice cleats." Receiver Thomas Joseph thanked his coaches for bringing Sherman to the school. "It shows we've got the best coaching staff" he said, adding "and it shows what kind of guy Richard Sherman is to give back to the community" Sherman also fired up the team with a locker room speech before the game, which the Bulldogs won 25-19, and said he would keep checking in on the squad and the school could count on him to keep his end of the con- tract next year. "I would give y'all my cell phone number," he joked, "but I feel like y'all would give it out:' New rules affect all district facilities [ FIELD from page 6] The public will still have access to outdoor facilities, just outside the normal school day. At Neudorf Stadium, under the new policy unsched- uled use of the track is now allowed 5 a.m.-8 a.m., be- fore students arrive, and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., when students aren't present. The community can use the Foster track on weekends. For now, Foster staff will educate the public about the changes and ask non -school users to leave the stadium during the school day; the district will post signs. But starting Jan. 1, the access gate will be locked and only those users with an access card can enter the stadium. Tukwila citizens who want to use the track during the open public hours can get a free gate -access card at the school district office next to Showalter Middle School. Unscheduled use of the turf field is prohibited. The facility -use policy also spells out what facilities are available for rent at district schools. Those facilities include gyms, classrooms, kitchens, commons, libraries and weight/conditioning rooms. Rental of all district facilities to the community are on a first-come, first-served basis, using an established process. Rental arrangements for facilities at Foster High School are made through J.D. Hill, the the athletics and activities director. What may complicate the community's use of the sta- dium is replacement of the turf field, likely next summer, Coogan said. A new field turf would mean an increase in fees to use the field, Coogan said. The district is also looking at the fees charged to rent indoor facilities but changes in any fees won't occur until next September. 1 1 1 1 J 7 NOVEMBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com City of Tukwila • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Online: TukwilaWA.gov MAYOR: Jim Haggerton COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Kathy Hougardy COUNCIL MEMBERS: www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013 9 Joe Duffle • Dennis Robertson • Allan Ekberg Verna Seal • De'Sean Quinn • Kate Kruller TUKWILA CITY PAGES Attention, businesses: Your current licenses expire on December 31. Watch your mailbox for the annual renewal notice, coming soon! The city of opportunity ed,„ Help change a child's life for the better One of the nation's oldest and largest youth mentoring programs has a shortage of men. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Puget Sound — like the organization's many other chapters nationally — has a backlog of boys waiting for Big Brothers. The organization's recruiters believe the shortage of volunteers can be attributed to longer work hours, other volunteer options, and even increased entertainment options such as video games. Contrary to the perception that younger adult men are targeted to fill the Big Brother role, the organization is increasingly look- ing for older men who bring time, patience and life wisdom to the role. Trevor — a former Little Brother — remembers "I met Steve when I was in 7th grade. When I first met him I wasn't too sure. He seemed so much older than me. As time went on I began to realize he was just another big kid. We had a lot of great adventures together, doing everything from going to his lab to snow- boarding to river rafting. Steve was the first person to show me what a real man is and I will be forever indebted." Make a difference and donate 3-4 hours a month to a child. Interested in learning more? Contact Kara Sanders at Kara.Sanders@BBBSPS.org. Pregnancy Aid provides needed things For over 40 years, Pregnancy Aid in Des Moines has been serving low-income pregnant women and families with babies in South King County. Pregnancy Aid provides maternity clothes, baby and children's clothes, diapers, books, toys, and baby furniture — including car seats — to anyone in need. Families return the borrowed items once their child has outgrown them. The office is located at 730 South 225th in Des Moines, and open from 10:00AM to 1:00PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. No appointment is necessary; bring picture ID. Get into the spirit Each holiday season Tukwila's Parks and Recreation Department organizes a holiday giving program in partner- ship with the Tukwila Police Depart- ment and Tukwila School District for local children in need. 5(yirict, °f toy collection event November 23 Westfield Southcenter South Parking Lot ��esfl%tc�� SOUTHCENTER This program relies on citizens who generously purchase new gift items for the recipients in this program, typically children and families who are homeless, low-income or in troubled situations. Last year this program alone helped serve over 250 children. This year's goal is about 300 children. Please help bring holi- day cheer to many Tukwila area families this holiday season. By participating in this program, you can truly make a differ- ence in a local life. if you or your business would like to share in the spirit of giving, please contact Shannon Fisher at 206-768-2822 or Shannon.Fisher@TukwilaWA.gov. Spirit of Giving Toy & Food Collection Event Saturday, November 23 10:OOAM to 4:00PM Westfield Shopping Center south parking lot Please come down, shop & donate toys, food or cash This collection event is jointly sponsored by Tukwila's Police Department and Parks & Recreation Department r Enjoy Swimming I with a Friend! 1 1 1 L TUKWILA Metropolitan Park1614 POOL We're Ali In! Clip this coupon and bring it to Tukwila Pool to receive ONE FREE ADMISSION with one paid admission during any Tukwila Pool Family Swim, Lap Swim or Open Swim! Coupon valid through December 31, 2013 4414 S. 144th St. Tukwila, WA 981681206-267-23501 www.TukwilaPool.org 1 poolinfo@TukwilaWAgov Shopping season is upon us... outsmart the crooks! glint 1.1111Mer. Never leave your laptop, GPS, purse, etc., in the vehicle. Visible power cords tell a potential thief there's something orth stealing in the car. sun Make a plan with children in case you get separated. Establish a central meeting place. r awl law: Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep a secure hold on your purse and parcels. Ensure that all children with you know your cell phone number. Give cards with your contact information to any who don't. Have your keys in your hand as you are walking to your car. Do not put items down or on your car to open the door. a 1:111 :MIA IMILIMIC: r Review with your children who they can turn to for help if approached by someone they don't know or if they find themselves alone. Take oversized purchases (like TVs) straight home, rather than risk having them stolen while you continue to shop. Ma miner: r Each time you make a purchase, make sure you leave with your checkbook, credit cards, cell phone and wallet. As the holiday season approaches, retailers, malls and gro- cery stores are more crowded than usual with busy shop- pers. Keep these tips in mind whenever you go out to shop (the rest of the year, too!) Common-sense measures are the key to thwarting thieves. And for everyone's safety, there's advice for those shopping with children over the next several weeks. By following this advice, you can reduce the stress of shop- ping during this particularly busy season. As always, keep your personal safety in mind and be on the lookout for t fraud and identity theft. Always lock your car doors and take the keys. Suspicious people in the area? Call 911. 11111111. If you go back inside to shop after stashing packages (out of sight) in your vehicle, move it to another parking location on the other side of the lot or building, where a watching & waiting thief cannot see you re -park. Stormwater survey results In 2010, as part of the City of Tukwila's Surface Water Management Program, the City began to survey its citizens to measure the public's knowledge and perception of stormwater and, at the same time, con- duct an education and outreach program as is required by our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) Phase 11 permit. The City of Tukwila recently completed the 2013 survey that you might have participated in. The objective is to compare results of this year's survey to previous years' results, allowing the City to analyze the ef- fectiveness of its communications on — and the public's awareness of — surface water issues, and to identify areas for improvement in edu- cational outreach. Some important stormwater issues to understand: • In Tukwila, water drains into the stormwater system, completely sepa- rate from the sanitary sewer system. Typically stormwater is not treat- ed to remove pollutants before being released into the environment. • The primary cause of pollution in stormwater runoff is individual human activity, not industrial dumping. Success in reducing environ- mental pollution depends upon everyone's participation in helping to make a difference. • Biodegradable soap is not a safe addition to stormwater drains, and should be kept from entering the stormwater drainage system. • To protect the environment, soapy water from washing a vehicle is best handled by allowing it to be absorbed by a lawn or the ground. It should not be allowed to flow into the street or drainage ditch. • The gaps between bricks or pavers help reduce the volume of storm - water runoff and pollution in the environment. The entire survey results of this year and previous years can be viewed on the City's NPDES web page at www.TukwilaWA.gov/PubWks/NPDES. Street sweeping and stormwater A main component of the City's Surface Water Management Program (SWMP) is cleaning the City's catch basins. When it rains, sediments and contaminates such as motor oil and car brake residual that have collected on City streets are washed into catch basins. The contaminates then attach to the sediments and are carried away by stormwater downstream to the Green/Duwamish River. The City's street sweeping operation collects significant amounts of these sediments and contaminates before they can enter the catch basins. The City's street sweeper makes two or three cleaning cycles throughout the City each year. Also, after snow and ice events, sweep- ers direct their efforts to the removal of sand from City streets. Any blockage by fallen leaves or debris on catch basins will back up on City streets and may cause flooding. Citizens making sure that the catch basins are free of blockage helps the entire system work better. For more information about the City's surface water management pro- grams, contact NPDES Coordinator Greg Villanueva at 206-431-2442 or email SWMP@TukwilaWA.gov. Reducing the occurrences of false alarms saves you money A false alarm is an alarm caused by human error or equipment malfunction that results in sum- moning a Police or Fire Department response with no evidence of an existing police or fire emergency situation. False alarms are costly, misdirect valuable Po- lice and Fire resources, and can jeopardize the safety of police officers, firefighters and citizens alike. Frequent false alarms also promote a complacent attitude. In the case of a residence, this can cause neighbors to ignore your alarm, making your system less reliable and credible if a true emergency occurs. The City of Tukwila allows two free Police or Fire false alarm responses per calendar year. A courtesy letter is sent to the home or busi- ness location giving notification of these alarms. False alarm #3 incurs a $25.00 fee charged by both the Police and Fire Departments. All false alarms beyond #3 are $25.00 for Police Department responses; beginning with alarm #4, Fire Department false alarm response fees are $50.00. Notification will be given by invoice which states the fee due, the alarm number for the year, the incident number, and the date, time and location of the occurrence. False alarm fees, in effect since 2007, are being re- viewed for possible increase. Before activating your alarm system, take note of these prevention tips for fewer false alarm occurrences: • Keep pets, helium -filled bal- loons, plants, fans, etc., away from the motion sensor monitor of the alarm. • Make sure all windows and doors are closed and locked to ensure that all alarm contacts are properly aligned. • Make sure that newly placed decor items (such as holi- day decorations) don't interfere with your door or win- dow alarm contacts or motion sensors. • For businesses, make sure all staff has been trained in alarm procedure for entering and exiting alarmed build- ings. For residences, make sure all family members know these procedures as well. Ensure that guests are also aware that an alarm exists, how it is activated, and what to do should they accidently trigger the alarm. • Wait a few minutes before driving away from the home or business, to make sure that the alarm system does not have a false activation. • Make sure the contact list you have with your alarm company is accurate and up -to date. For answers to questions about false alarms, or for advice/ information on fire and crime prevention, contact the Po- lice administrative representative at 206-433-1804 or the Fire administrative representative at 206-575-4407. Tukwila City offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 28 & 29, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Tukwila businesses shine at King County's Diamond Awards event On October 16, three Tukwila businesses were recognized for their excellent efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality at the 20th annual Diamond Awards luncheon at the Hilton Airport Hotel. With Mayor Haggerton in attendance, this King County program honored: BECU, with a coveted Diamond Ring award for their work in managing employee commutes as central to the com- pany's vision of becoming carbon -neutral by 2035; Group Health's Employee Transportation Coordinator Sarah Hollis, with an award for her outstanding work with employees at headquarters located in Tukwila; and The Boeing Company, with an award for their innovative marketing guides. The Diamond Awards program was established to recognize employers and individuals who are redefining the popular notion of commuting in King County. Through their out- standing and innovative programs, these employers im- prove the performance of our transportation system, keep our economy vibrant and protect our precious ecosystems. Monica Patti of BECU, with Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton Sarah Hollis of Group Health, with King County Executive Dow Constantine Meeting agendas, City programs, recreation activities, publications and more... get the most current information at TukwilaWA.gov! 10 NOVEMBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com tukwilasports Top athletes in Seamount! Sierra Parsons led the Foster girls soccer team, playing offense and defense. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM Two outstanding Foster High ath- letes, cross-country runner Alem Belete and soccer forward Sierra Parsons, were voted the Seamount League girl Athletes of the Year in their sports by the league coaches. Alem Belete Belete, 19, a Foster senior, finished her high-school, cross-country career with a 10th -place finish at the state meet in Pasco. She did so with a personal -best time of 19:21.37 for the 5,000 -meter race. She won the SPSL 2A sub -dis- trict meet with a time of 19:25.05. In an interview with the Tukwila Reporter in October, her coach, Bill Napier, said of Belete: "She is a kid who has worked really hard. The thing is, she's still so new. The sky's the limit:' Belete was the top girls finisher from the Seamount League in the state meet. The girls team from Rent- on's Lindbergh High School placed fourth overall and the Lindbergh boys Alem Belete finished 10th at the state cross-country meet in Pasco. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter place sixth overall. Belete was the only Foster runner at the state meet. She placed second Nov 2 in the Westside Classic district cross-coun- try tournament at American Lake and won the Seamount League cross- country championship. She also was named to the Sea - mount girls all -league first team. Sierra Parsons Parsons, a senior and captain of the Foster High School girls soccer team, was also named to the all -league girls first team. This is Parson's fourth year playing soccer for Foster. Parsons is also an outstanding hurdler and runner in track who has competed at state. The Bulldogs ended the soccer sea- son 3-4 in league play and 5-9 overall. Nashir Tura has coached Parsons for three seasons. "Sierra Parsons distinguished her- self by her personal hard work, but Si- erra also earned much respect for her demonstrated ability to foster growth in her younger teammates," Tura said in an interview with the Tukwila Re- porter. Parsons can play both defense and offense; this year she was especially called upon as a defender. "She is fast, strong, skillful with the ball and she is a finisher on the goal;" Tura said. "Most importantly, she will always give you 100 percent." SATURDAY NOVEMBER 23RD FOR TICKETS CALL 253-239-7825 WWW.SEAT1 LETHUHDERBIRDS.COM (KENT Fheerlrreyel.' TURKEY i.SHOOT -POSTGAME REPORTERJ KENT r ■ 81 34 33 12 48 21) 32 3 The Foster Bulldogs received the Seamount League Team Sportsmanship Award from the league's football coaches. Here the team poses for its team photo at the beginning of the season. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter Bulldogs win league's sportsmanship award BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM The Foster Bulldogs received the Team Sportsmanship Award in the Seamount League and placed two of its athletes on the league's first team. The Bulldogs finished fifth in the league, with a 2-4 league record. League coaches vote on the team and player honors. Matt Leonard Named to the first team are se- nior quarterback Randy Tippins and junior receiver Patrick Straight. Tippins also re- ceived honorable mention for his play on defense as a linebacker. "Randy was our everything," said Coach Matt Leonard. "He stood tall in the pocket, ran hard when called upon and gave us a chance to win ev- ery game he played." The "greatest thing" about Tippins, Randy Tippins Patrick Straight he said is "how hard he competed, es- pecially late in games. He never quit" "The future is very bright." Matt Leonard, coach, Foster football team Straight is one of the top receivers in the league. "Patrick is a dynamic receiver who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. When he is locked in, he has the ability dominate," Leon- ard said. The sportsmanship award, he said, "speaks to how well we competed and the class we played with. You have to face adversity with class and embrace greatness with even more:' This is Leonard's first year at the Foster football coach. "While we didn't reach our play- off goal, we certainly played our best football at the end of the year," he said. "We competed hard, got better, and played as a family." Two Foster players were named to the second team, senior defensive end Joe Davison and senior linebacker Justice Muna. Besides Tippins, receiving honor- able mentions were sophomore line- backer Rueben Purganan, sophomore defensive back Zane Jacobson and se- nior offensive tackle Carlos Brambila. "Toward the end of the season we were starting six sophomores and a freshman on defense;" Leonard said. "The future is very bright." Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425-255-3484, ext. 5150. er HOLIDAY SKATING at Sno-King Ice Arenas December 19th thru Jantary ist 1 RENTON Castle Ice Arena 425-254-8750 www.Castlelce.com KIRKLAND Kingsgate Arena 425-821-7133 www.KingsgateArena.co am to Skate 7 week Series starts in January at both arenas op tot - through adult classes for more \-3,111 information go to: www.snokin • icearenas.com www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013 11 Hannah Schenck and Connor Forsyth are the October Rotary Students of the Month at Foster High School. Tukwila School District. Rotary honors Foster students The Southcenter Rotary Club has honored Foster High School seniors Connor Forsyth and Hannah Schenck as its October Students of the Month. The club recognizes a Foster boy and girl in the se- nior class each month, based on: • Academic achievement for students pursuing four-year, two-year or trade/technical schools or ap- prenticeships. • Community involvement or service, including be- ing involved at the school level. • character and strong work ethic. • On track for graduation. Finding the Connection • Since 1989 • Providing Premier Memory Care Day Stay, Short Term & Permanent Residents We Coordinate Long -Term Care insurance Call Today For A Tour WEATHERLY IN\ 253-630-7496 15101 SE 272nd St., Kent, WA 98042 Close to Hwy 18 on Kent-Kangley 1 2 NOVEMBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com Dreamweaver BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@RENTONREPORTER.COM Jesse McCall says he's like a dream - weaver. His official title at Foster High School is success coordinator. But there are two key words there that, if put together, tell the story best - dream and success. Doing the first leads to the second. McCall joined Foster's staff this year, part of the school's team effort to address the needs of Foster's multi -cultural student body. McCall, who holds a masters in social work, tends to Foster's highest -potential, at -risk students. "The success coordinator is going to support our students toward graduation and the ultimate goal of a productive hope- ful future," says Superintendent Nancy Coogan. McCall was hired by the school district with a grant from Renton -based Provi- dence Health and Services, which was look- ing to help students in local impoverished communities. Initially, McCall is building his list of stu- dents to engage and mentor, helping ensure they stay on track to graduation. But he has big plans, to find that "spark" in students that will ignite their passions. "Maybe they haven't found it yet, but it's there. I see it," he says of that passion that all students possess. McCall is 24, not far removed in age from the young students he serves. He meets them at eye level, just talking with them in a slang and lexicon that make up a common language. Dig deeper and you'll find a common culture - hip hop, composed of music, poetry, spoken word, breakdancing and graphic artistry. And finally there's knowl- edge, "what ties it all together," he says. "If I am really being honest, I connect with a lot of these students at a pretty deep level," McCall says. McCall has four academic degrees, but it's arguable that a defining classroom was Kansas City, Mo., where he grew up but didn't attend high school like other mem- bers of his family. The city's schools are not accredited, he says. Instead, he went to high school in sub- urban Blue Springs, a "nice comfortable community" where mostly wealthy white people live, he says. That was his "spring- board,"" but it still didn't sit right with him that a good education was only available in a wealthy community. Success coordinator Jesse McCall to help Foster students find their 'spark' and ignite their futures Jesse McCall checks out some artwork by junior Joey Chambers. ON THE COVER: McCall strikes a hip-hop pose; hip hop, he says, is a big part of his culture, one he shares with students. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter "I understood quite clearly that it was about race and it was about class," he says. McCall says he was "very engaged" in high school, doing "well:' He learned quickly how to "work the system," he says, a skill that kids find appealing in him. "It's clear I know a world other than the system," he says. It's why kids see him as "real," he says. He shares with students that they have different skills than are expected of them in the school district, but the goal is to "learn how to make those skills transferable," which they are, he says. In some cases, it's turning a perceived negative into a positive. "Sometimes they (skills) have been deemed criminal, sometimes they've been deemed bad, something to be ashamed of," he says. "But there is a skill set and there Jesse McCaII connects with students at eye -level, speaking their language. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter is a way to make positive contributions to the world and to your own life, and to your family using those skills that have previ- ously have been seen as negative:' Students have come into his office, asking whether they're in trouble. His response: "People don't come to me to be in trouble, man. This is the opposite of that. People come to me to stay out of trouble. Or to create a positive type of trouble' McCall has moved quickly to engage students creatively and academically. He's holding a writers circle, the result of the ini- tiative of "natural leaders" among students. That has resulted in a partnership with student -led Poets with a Purpose, based in the Burien area. The wall next to his desk will fill with student artwork and he'd like to see their artistry displayed throughout the com- munity. On an "adult level," he's working with Foster's counselors, who also have a social worker's role, community liaisons, special- ists in public health and mental health and administrators. "It's a giant team effort," he says. How he fits into that team is still evolv- ing. "I am like a dreamweaver, I guess," he says. Referrals come from counselors and teachers and others and he's looking for students who are on everyone's radar screens to add to his caseload. He sees a "ton of potential" in his stu- dents and "clearly potential" from the other adults in their lives. There are dots, he said, that aren't being connected. "So I see myself as one of those people, one of those tools, one of the instruments that can come in and connect those dots," he says. He's meeting with students who may have one high school credit and are 19 years old, or they're close to graduating but haven't come to school in a month. How he helps each students is tailored to their individual situation, because there is so much going on in their lives. "Their life is non-stop, more so than most kids in the rest of this country," he says. "This is a very unique place. And these students got a lot going on. I've got to respond to their situation." Some students in the toughest situa- tions may become disillusioned and feel they don't have options. Maybe they had "a spark back in the day but it's just been slowly and slowly dimmed:' Let's find something they would like to do, if nothing stood in their way, he says. "My goal is to reignite that flame," he says. Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425- 255-3484, ext. 5150. Position funded with grant from Providence Health A $60,000 grant from the Renton -based Providence Health & Services is funding the success coordinator position at Foster High School. To support its mission of "service to people most in need," Providence Health & Services did a needs assessment of local impoverished communities, led by Sister Susanne Hartung. That effort led to the Tukwila School District. "Sister burst into my office this summer like a ball of energy asking what she could do to help," said Superintendent Nancy Coogan. "It was like a miracle. Here was an organization — with a checkbook and an army of potential volunteers — asking me what it could do to invest in our students." In addition to funding the Success Coordinator, Providence Health & Services committed to paid work hours for administra- tive employees to volunteer in Tukwila schools. The two organi- zations are using that manpower to build a long-term mentorship program at Foster High School. The grant is written on a year- to-year basis, according to district spokeswoman Sara Niegowski. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013) 13 Racial complaint moves to Superior Court BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@ TUKWILAREPORTER.COM The Tukwila School Dis- trict created a hostile work environment for 10 of its employees based on their race, sex or color, the U.S. Equal Employment Op- portunity Commission has determined. The 10 employees filed the racial -discrimination complaint with the EEOC in March 2012 and called for the suspension of then - Superintendent Ethelda Burke. Burke was placed on paid administrative leave and re- signed in July 2012. Burke was named in the EEOC complaint and in a lawsuit filed in King County Supe- rior Court by the employees earlier this year. "It's a nice, refreshing rul- ing that says they're right," Joan Mell, the employees' attorney, said of their com- plaint against the district. Nine district employees also filed a lawsuit against the Tukwila School Dis- trict in King County Supe- rior Court in February. That lawsuit is still pending; the school district in October issued its response in which it denied the allegations. The school district issued a formal statement on Nov 1, following the EEOC's de- termination. In it the dis- trict writes that it has and continues to "adamantly deny the allegations made by this small group of em- ployees:' The next step in the fed- eral process is a concilia- tion to resolve the federal complaints. One option is a financial settlement for the 10 employees. Another option, according to Mell, is an open dialogue in the school district about ra- cial issues that would lead to systemic changes in the school district's hiring prac- tices and policies. As of last week, no meet- ings had been scheduled between the employees and the school district to discuss the conciliation process, al- though Mell provided ad- ditional information to the EEOC. In a letter to the com- munity this month, Super- intendent Nancy Coogan wrote the district is already preparing a strategic plan that will include all voices of the community and staff and "will be a commitment and roadmap of our collec- tive responsibility of know- ing every child by name and need:' "Through my actions, I intend to demonstrate that my underlying sense of fairness and opportunity extends unequivocally to staff as well as students," she wrote. With the EEOC determi- nation in hand, the district employees will next press their claims of racial dis- crimination in King Coun- ty Superior Court, where a trial is set for next June, although that timing could change. "We are on track for the June court date with the trial, which further compli- cates any conciliation meet- ings because much of that information is going into the discovery process," said Sara Niegowski, the dis- trict's spokeswoman In their lawsuit, the em- ployees, who are all Afri- can-American, maintain "the Tukwila School Dis- trict and its officials endorse a white agenda, and system- atically repress equality in education and teaching:' The lawsuit asks for mon- etary damages for the nine employees named as plain - Serenity Funeral Home and Cremation Locally Owned and Operated Cremation starting at $550 Burial starting at $950 425-988-2598 SerenityRenton.com Daryl Wright J.D. Hill tiffs. It also asks that the district bar em- ployee use of terms "dar- kie" and "slave girl" or to use the term "ape" to re- fer to an African- Ameri- can staff member. And it asks for a conver- sation about racism in the Tukwila School District, facilitated by a national ex- pert. In the planning stages for a time, a Socratic Seminar hosted by Coogan is Nov 19 at Foster High School that will bring together stu- dents, elected leaders and community members. The inquiry is centered on a research paper on race and racism in education. The Tukwila Reporter interviewed two of the em- ployees after the EEOC de- termination was released. Daryl Wright, who was transferred from his job as a Foster High School vice principal to a teaching po- CASCADE MEMORIAL low cost cremation & funerals $495 Simple Cremation $895 Direct Burial 425.641.6100 CaseadeMemorial.com Affordable Wills Simple Will $300.00 Trust Will for minor children $350.00 Community Prop. Agreement $200.00 Durable Power of Attorney $150.00 Directive to Physician $75.00 Mention this ad for package discount. MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S. Attorneys at Law 15 So. Grady Way, 100 Evergreen Building, Renton, WA 98057 (425) 255-4542 • www.mgrlaw.com sition at Cascade View El- ementary School, and J.D. Hill, Foster's athletic direc- tor, want to see permanent changes in the district's hir- ing practices that reflect the school district's diversity. Wright is taking a medi- cal leave of absence, rather than take the teaching posi- tion, which he called a de- motion. If systemic changes aren't made, Hill said, "we know that things can revert back to the old ways. "We want something in place, to say that these things are going to be the practice of Tukwila for the future, because the demo- graphics are not going to change and we are in this for our kids. "That's the main reason that we are here. Our kids are not being served appro- priately; he said. What's sad, Wright said, is that's he's asking for a job back that he never should have lost. He wants those responsi- ble for the fears that minor- ity employees in the district feel to be held accountable. "I want people who want what's best for our kids, who want what's best for our staff, who want what's best for this community to recognize that they don't have the skills, they don't have the ability and their lens at looking at this world is unhealthy and please al- low people who are willing to be more healthy be in those positions:' Many of the issues Wright and Hill raised are also the basis for their lawsuit. In its answer or response to the lawsuit, the school district denied the allega- tions against it and asks the court to dismiss the lawsuit. "The district has taken reasonable care to prevent, promptly investigate and remedy all alleged incidents of discrimination and/or retaliation brought to its attention; the district's 26 - page answer reads. Since the federal com- plaint was filed in early 2012, the district has re- placed the principal and two vice principals at Foster High School, hired a new superintendent and hired a new personnel director and other directors at the dis- trict officer. Mell addressed the ques- tion whether such hires were part of the solution. "Where's the color? This is about color. That's the is- sue. Where's the color?; she asked about the new leader- ship. She's not saying that white people can't lead people of color, but "the absence of color does not welcome a diverse dialogue:' The EEOC determina- tion was issued by Michael Baldonado, the director of the agency's San Francisco District Office, based on the Civil Rights Act of 1967. One of the options open to the Tukwila School Dis- trict is to appeal the federal determination, according to Niegowski, the district's spokeswoman. FREE Bingo Imperial Bingo Connection 3100 East Valley Rd. Renton 425-656-5257 Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday FREE Bingo All Saturdays in November Buy Morning = Pay $150 Play Afternoon FREE = Pay $125 Buy 11 AM Session Regular Games Play Same FREE For 2:30 Session Includes Machines and Paper Includes Power Ball + Cash Cow www.ibcbingo.com 14 NOVEMBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com Tukwila School District #406 November 201 3 Important corrections to printed calendar Some bad news and some good news if you're a stu- dent: The printed calendar sent to every family incor- rectly lists Dec. 20 and Feb. 14 as early -release days. Please note that these are actually full school days. But do not despair! Spring break was accidentally left off the printed calendar, and students do get those days off from April 7-1 1 . For the most accurate and up-to-date calendar, go to www.tukwila. wednet.edu. Inclement weather: Snow in -the -know It's a four-letter word: SNOW! Let's be prepared for the white stuff this winter and hope we don't have to use the plan often. Each family should have prearranged childcare if school is delayed, cancelled, or end- ed early due to emergency weather conditions. We will make every effort to call a delay or cancellation early in the morning or even the evening before. A two-hour delay means there is no preschool, Puget Sound Skills Center, out -of -district transpor- tation, special -needs transportation, or taxi services. If you hear no announcement before school begins, that means all opera- tions are normal. In the event of a cancellation or delay, you will be notified through: ■ An automated call to the primary household number in our student record system. ■ An announcement posted on the district homepage. ■ Information on all major radio and television channels. ■ Flashalert.net (go to this website now to subscribe for Tukwila School District alerts). When certain roads are impacted more than others, we put buses on SNOW ROUTES. If your route is listed below, be prepared to change pick- up locations when snow routes are announced: Bus Regular stop Limited Transportation stop 11 MS/HS Stop on 65th Ave. S. and S. 153rd St. 65th Ave. S. and Southcenter Blvd. 3 MS/HS All stops will be picked up at 42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St. 11 Elem 4320 S. 150th St. 42nd Ave. S. and S. 150th St. 10 Elem 53rd Ave. S. and S. 142nd St. 53rd Ave. S. and S. 144th St. 10 Elem 53rd Ave. S. and S. 139th St. 53rd Ave. S. and S. 144th St. 8 Elem 37th Ave. S. and S. 130th St. 37th Ave. S. and S. 128th St. 3 Elem 46th Ave. S. and S. 160th St. 42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St. 3 Elem 43rd Ave. S. and S. 160th St. 42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St. 3 Elem 4421 S. 1 58th St. 42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St. 3 Elem 44th Ave. S. and S. 1 56th St. 42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St. Getting Social: Connect with the district on Facebook, Twitter, and more Want to hear Foster High's new Success Coordinator beatbox? Have you ever seen a library stampede? Or the joy on a kinder- gartener's face when she gets to "drive" a fire engine? If not, connect with the Tuk- wila School District on a new social level— you will get critical information/alerts plus access to the day-to-day happenings in schools. Here's where to find us: ■ www.facebook.com/tukwilaschools ■ www.twitter.com/tukwilaschools ■ www.youtube.com/tukwilaschools ■ www.flickr.com/photos/tukwilaschools Please drive carefully near schools Especially with dark winter commutes, we are focusing on traffic safety near our campuses. In the months ahead, individual schools will be reevaluat- ing their drop-off/pick-up routes, and parents may be Acker] (with plenty of arl- vance warning and friendly reminders from police) to adhere to new procedures. In the meantime, please fol- low these safety tips every time you are on the road: ■ Always adhere to school - zone speed limits. . Always vielrl to cturlentc and pedestrians in cross- walks. ■ Always come to complete stops at crosswalks and stop signs. ■ Be extra vigilant (no fid- dling with the radio or phone) when driving near A School_ Volunteers sorted literal walls of donated clothing during C.A.R.E. (Clothes Are Really Expensive) Night Oct. 23 at Cascade View El- ementary. When the doors opened, more than 550 children and community members were able to "shop" for much-needed free cloth- ing. Many students were so excited that they attempted to wear every piece of their new wardrobe—from pajamas to jeans to mit- tens!—the next day. Thank you to everyone who donated clothing and time to the C.A.R.E. Nights throughout the district. These events are a significant service to our students who would otherwise not be able to afford such clothing. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013> 15 Tukwila School District #406 NOVEMBER 2013 District opens first Head Start classroom: Early learning is critical to school success The Tukwila School District expanded its early -learning program this month by open- ing its first Head Start class- room at Thorndyke Elemen- tary. This complements the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) classrooms there and at Cas- cade View Elementary. Head Start (federally fund- ed) and ECEAP (state funded) are both comprehensive in- come -based preschool pro- grams. Head Start has the ability to serve 3- and 4 -year- old children whereas ECEAP serves only 4 -year-olds. By partnering with our local ed- ucational service district to host a Head Start program in Tukwila, more children will enter school ready to suc- ceed. "It's much more impactful to support children at the front-end of the continuum where it prepares them to en- ter kindergarten rather than playing catch up later when they're falling behind," said Gwen Estes -Zuehlke, Director of Special Services. The ultimate goal in Tuk- wila schools, Estes -Zuehlke added, is to continue working with the educational service district and state and local partners to offer Head Start for all qualified 3 -year-olds and ECEAP for all qualified 4 -year-olds prior to entering the district's full-day kinder- garten classes at age 5. Tukwila Elementary kinder- gartner Myra Lee was elated to take a turn behind the wheel during a recent visit to a local fire station to learn about fire safety and procedures. Cultivating Community for One Tukwila Strategic planning underway: Your input needed A unified vision of success for children and everyone working together to get there—it's as simple and challenging as that! Superintendent Nancy Coogan has started the process to create a strategic plan for the Tukwila School District that will drive focus, resources, and accountability in our schools for years to come. A group of diverse stakeholders—including students, staff, parents, and business and civic leaders—met in November and will meet again in December to form a foundation for the plan. In the new year, the process will go community -wide, and you will have the opportunity to weigh in with your thoughts and priorities. The final strategic plan should represent all of the diverse voices in our school district. Keep up with the process online at www.tukwila.wednet.edu. Jonathan Moreno carefully pressed pine nee- dles into a clay ornament in Ms. Ordonez' art class at Showalter Middle School in early No- vember. At Gov. Jay Inslee's request, Ms. Or- donez selected and sent 17 of the ornaments to Olympia to decorate the holiday tree in the Governor's Mansion, where they will be viewed by thousands of visitors. Danny Yost proudly kicked off the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program at Thorndyke Elementary on Nov. 6. He did it all— graded papers, patrolled the hallways, set up parking cones, and even appeared on the daily student newscast. The program provides posi- tive male role models and an extra set of eyes and ears to reduce bullying on campus each day. All students' dads, grandpas, uncles, older brothers, and male family friends have been in- vited to participate. school connection is presented by the Tukwila School District Tukwila School District #406 www.tukwila.wednet.edu 206.901.8000 4640 South 144th Street Tukwila, Washington 98168 Board of Directors: Mark Wahlstrom, President 206.243.9855 Steve Mullet, Vice -President 206.244.7553 Mary Fertakis 206.767.6053 Dave Larson 206.244.2313 Alicia Waterton 206.248.4302 Superintendent: Dr. Nancy Coogan 206 901-8006 16 NOVEMBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com CASCADE WATER ALLIANCE City of Bellevue City of Issaquah City of Kirkland City of Redmond City of Tukwila Sammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District Skyway Water & Sewer District Have a water efficient H2OIiday! When preparing for meals and parties this holiday season, you can use much more water than your normal, everyday use. Running your tap continuously while preparing food or washing dishes wastes water. You can use more than two gallons of water every minute your tap is running. That's a lot when you're cooking a big meal for extended family members and friends! Here are two ways to reduce your water and energy use over the holidays: Scrape dirty dishes instead of using water to rinse them before you put them in the dishwasher. If you don't use a dishwasher, fill the sink with a few gallons of soapy wash water, clean your dishes, and put them aside. Then rinse them all together afterward. Either of these simple practices could save 10 gallons of water each time you wash dishes. If every American household reduced their water use by 10 gallons on just one meal this holiday season, we could save more than 1 billion gallons of water, as well as the energy and materials used to pump and treat tap water. For more water saving tips, visit the Cascade Water Alliance website at cascadewater.org. co N m And don't forget these winter water tips: Winterize your pipes Make sure that all outdoor spigots are winterized; this could avoid pipes from freezing, bursting and losing water. Insulate Insulate hot water pipes to reduce the amount of water that must be run in order to get hot water to the faucet. Locate your master water shut off valve Also, remember to locate your master water shut off valve in your house — mark it for quick identification. If a water pipe were to break, it could cause flooding and tremendous water loss. 1111 Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, hose connections, and faucets Even a tiny leak can translate into thousands of gallons of wasted water over a short period of time. Repair or replace any equipment leaking water immediately. Use shut-off nozzles on hoses Use nozzles which completely turn off the water when you are not using it; they also help to more effectively direct water than using your finger to create a stream.