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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10 Tukwila ReporterSCHOOL CONNECTIONS: Tukwila School District update, pages 10-11 [see us online hin w w w.t u kw i la re porter. co m main transfer building and is at the center of new landscaped lanes that direct users to different parts of the facility. "Bow Lake is enormous," said county Ex- ecutive Dow Constantine in his remarks at the dedication last week. More than one-third of all waste col- lected by King County passes through Bow Lake on its way to the Cedar Hills Landfill near Maple Valley. He said the new facility will meet the needs of the county's growing population, now about 2 million, for years go come. The transfer station, which is visible from Interstate 5, is now fully set up to ac- cept yard waste, clean wood, appliances, scrap metal, bicycles and bicycle parts, glass and cardboard. Medical sharps, such as syringes, are col- lected for safe disposal. There is a charge to recycle some items (appliances, clean wood and yard waste); the minimum fee to dispose of garbage is $22. tukwila's A society history BY LOUISE JONES - BROWN The Tukwila Historical Society was founded June 25, 1975, to preserve his- tory of Tukwila and areas that included the Renton Junction, Foster, Riverton and Duwamish-Allentown. Founding officers were Rudolph Regel (former City Council member), presi- dent; Joanne Davis, vice president; Louise Strander (wife of former Mayor John Strander), secretary; Ma- rie Gardner, treasurer, and Helen Nelsen (former City Council Council member) financial secretary. In 1990 the society obtained non- profit status and deed to the Mess Family Cemetery. The "Tukwila, Com- munity at the Crossroads" book project was under- taken by the Tukwila His- torical Society with support of Mayor Gary VanDusen, Tukwila City Council members and Tukwila Arts Commission. It was pub- lished in 1991 and was di- rected by Dr. Kay Reinartz. Copies are still available for purchase at Tukwila Heri- tage and Cultural Center and Tukwila City Hall. In September 2010, the Tukwila City Council ap- proved a five-year lease with the Tukwila His- torical Society at the Old Tukwila School/City Hall building. The Tukwila Historical Society agreed to assist with application for grants and proceed with fundraising to make needed improvements at the building renamed the Tukwila Heritage and Cul- tural Center. The Tukwila Historical Society has suc- cessfully obtained grant KENNEDY CATHOLIC 2 ( OCTOBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com Full recycling now offered at Bow Lake BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Users of the county's Bow Lake Transfer Station in Tukwila now have a whole new array of recycling opportunities. The new services begin after last week's dedication of the new $88 million transfer station on Orillia Road in Tukwila. That's $4 million under budget. The City of Tukwila worked closely with the county in developing the new trans- fer station. Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton spoke at the dedication. The county's Solid Waste Division opened the transfer station in July 2012 for garbage collection only; the grand open- ing awaited the new facilities for recycling, new scale house, artwork and other envi- ronmental improvements. Rainwater is collected to wash down floors and equipment. The scale house has moved closer to the sz TUKWI LA PARKS & RECREATION G0019 FIEPLI111, 1,1,1 Come in costume and join the fun with a costume contest, Halloween crafts, & games! Dinner will be available for a nominal fee! Tukwila Community Center - 12424 42nd Ave South 1 206 -768 -2822 IPA TUKWILA tat4omlu,li�an l'aA U i rwi Paoz 4Yr'rc AR fn! .01° appy QO��irthday Tukwi1d Pool Check out our 40th birthday specials! Our 3 -month pass is only $40 on our 40th! • Special open swim from 1-5 p.m. for just 40 cents] Sign up for swim lessons and get a free 5 -visit card to bring a friend! Swim or sponsor a swimmer for the swim-a-thon from 10-11 a.m. *AII proceeds benefit the Tukwila Pool Scholarship Fund 206-267-2350 1 www.tukwilapool.org 1 poolinfo@tukwilawa.gov 1 Find us on Facebookl 4414 S.144th St. Tukwila, WA 98168 HIGH SCHOOL 'W OPEN HOUSE Tuesday, November 5 6:30 to 8:30 pm www.kennedyhs.org for more information funds for an updated fire/ alarm system that was in- stalled earlier this year. The most recent fundraising event held at the center on Sept. 15 raised more than $4,000. This money along with funds from previous fundraisers will be used to make renovations to the large washroom to have our building open to people of all abilities, making the building ADA accessible. The Tukwila Histori- cal Society has established a local history museum, which was the vision of our founding members almost 40 years ago. Membership is non-restrictive and open to everyone with applica- tion forms available at the center. Renewals or new memberships received by Dec. 31, will be entered into a drawing for a special prize. If you would like to obtain a membership form, call the center at the num- ber listed below. 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. Calendar • Oct. 17 - Regular mem- bership meeting at 7 p.m. with fall treats and cider • Nov 2 - Tukwila Heri- tage and Cultural Center "Open House" from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit our histori- cal and Tukwila Sister City exhibits. Newly realigned South 178th Street to open South 178th Street, the steep road leading up from Southcenter at South - center Parkway, is closed in anticipation of its replacement route opening in early November. Contractors are doing the final paving and road markings on the new South 178th Street, which is weather dependent, and tying in utili- ties from the old to the new roadway. The new alignment will still connect to Southcenter Parkway. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter Finding the Connection Since 1989 Providing Premier Memory Care Day Stay & Short Tera Also Available Call Today For A Tour WEATHEIV IN\ 253-630-7496 15101 SE 272nd St., Kent, WA 98042 Close to Hwy 18 on Kent-Kangley www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » OCTOBER 2013 3 Crime drops on TIB BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Tukwila International Boulevard saw a sig- nificant drop in police calls the month after three motels were closed in August for crimi- nal activity in a massive multi -agency raid, according to Tukwila's police chief "The pedestrian traffic has changed signifi- cantly," Chief Mike Villa told the Tukwila City Council last week. "It's a different environ- ment in the Tukwila International Boulevard corridor." Villa compared the crime statistics from Aug. 28 -Sept. 27 to the same period last year: • 25 percent decrease in calls for service on Tukwila International Boulevard, or 885 calls in 2012 to 665 this year. • 4 percent decrease in calls for service city- wide • 33 percent decrease in calls for service in the areas immediately around the motels — the Great Bear Motor Inn, the Boulevard Motel and the Travelers Choice Motel. In 2011 and in 2012 the three motels ac- counted for 17 percent of all police calls in Tukwila, including rape, robbery assault, drug transactions, gun crimes and prostitu- tion. Villa offered the new statistics at the City Council meeting, but told council members they don't mean the job is done; his officers told him they're "having a hard time" finding the criminal activity in the activity" But, he cautioned, "it's still up there. We still have to work it." It's also possible that the criminals have moved elsewhere, he said. One of the City of Tukwila's priorities for 2013 is to reduce crime on International Bou- levard. The future of the three properties is in the hands of U.S. District Court. The properties were seized under federal forfeiture statutes. Ti SEGA- • • EVERYTHING GEARED TOWARD . YOUR CH" AND. ;COMFORT . ENI oYMENT •• J � 1J -J IS 41 Stran . e v.. ui e 03 Tukwila, WA 98188 206-575-1 130 * fax: 206-575-1 133 www.doctorbuda.com takwila WINNER BtEST0F2O13 orter AWARDS/ TUKWILA • SEATAC • DES MOINES * 6 month preventative exams * Free Orthodontic exams * Brushing for toddlers * Teething tips *White Fillings * Sports Guards * Space Maintainers *Thumb Guards * Anxiety Medication Our 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. * General Anaesthesia available 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 900091 index 2 recycling King County's new $88 million Bow Lake Transfer Station in Tukwila is now complete and is offering array of recycling options, along with garbage service 3 TIBsafer Statistics show that the closure of three motels on Tukwila International Boulevard has significantly reduced the number of police calls in the area 4 takethetest Foster High School students are having the chance to take all- important college tests that will help them plan for their future 5 fallarts Tukwila's venues and others offer opportunities for cultural activities this fall and winter. Rainier Symphony calls the Foster PAC home. 7 gobulldogs It's homecoming week at Foster, as the Bulldogs prepare for the big game. And, on page 5, read about the Foster girls swimming team making history tukwila reporter SOUND PUBLISHING INC. >19426 68th Avenue South > Kent, WA 98032 >253.872.6600 > www.tukwilareporter.com 4 OCTOBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com • > write staff regional publisher polly shepherd publisher ellen morrison publisher@tukwilareporter.com editor dean radford editor@tukwilareporter.com 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 School sports deserve support High school sports, played right, mirror what we expect in our broader community - fair play, team spirit and the attitude, "I've got your back" I am not an athlete and my skills as a sports writer are, well, somewhat untested. But what I do know is a good story when I see one and Foster's sports teams are filled with stories of triumph, perseverance and an awareness that Tukwila is a diverse community. And this is just from the fall sports! And we have some pioneers in our midst. Four years ago, Foster had a swimming pool next door but no swim team. Now, for the third year Foster's girls are in the water, building a team and new traditions and learning a sport they will en- joy all their lives. It's appropriate to give a shout out to the girls at Kennedy Catholic, who call the Tukwila Pool their home pool and have been instrumental in helping Foster's girls with their encourage- ment and comradeship. And coaches are so critical in setting the tone for their team. And, if we're lucky, they'll recognize opportunities that honor what makes Foster so special. Take soccer coach Nasir Tura, himself a Foster graduate. What a gentleman he is. He talked to me about the importance of getting all girls in sports, even those who for cultural reasons, may not feel comfortable playing in sports. It has worked and Tura is developing a competitive soccer program for both boys and girls. If there's a sport at the top of the pyramid, it's foot- ball. It's the game played at homecoming and the stuff of movies and TV shows. Coach Matt Leonard, a star athlete in high school and college, is a great fit for Fos- ter. He praises the team's spirit and that tone is set by the coach and coaching staff. And he's gone beyond just to field to help Foster football thrive. That's just three sports in just one season. Student achievement in many endeavors help build a sense of pride in Foster, including sports and drama and music and academics, of course. School Board candidates talked about their budget priorities at a recent candidates' forum. Sports should have a place on their lists. 0 ,2 z•� 0 �c G d W D College tests help turn dreams to reality Foster High School Principal Pat Lar- son told me about a recent conversation she had with a student on an extended route to graduation. She asked him where he wanted to be five years from now. His response: Nobody had ever had a conver- sation like that with him before. Conse- quently, he never took the opportunity to imagine — to hope — beyond the struggle of today. They talked about his interests and skills and corresponding opportuni- ties, and the wheels were visibly turning in his head. It was such a powerful expe- rience that afterward the student asked Principal Larson if he could just sit in si- lence to process for a good 10 minutes. For the first time, every single student at Foster High School will take either the SAT college admis- sion exam or the PSAT (practice SAT) on Oct. 16. This is a huge deal. For start- ers, there are the obvious tangible ben- efits. Completing the SAT — preferably with a high score! — is one of the most significant steps in the college enrollment gauntlet. The PSAT prepares students for the SAT, makes them instantly eligible for national scholarships and enters their contact information in a university data- base for outreach. But there's something bigger that hap- pens. The very process of taking the SAT or PSAT inherently asks each high school student to imagine their future — and not only that, to imagine a future in which college is within their reach. It's no longer good enough to make this testing oppor- tunity available to students who choose to take it; it's our obligation to ensure every student has the exposure. Our children have an incredible ability to live up to their own self -beliefs ... whether for good or for bad. I sincerely hope that Principal Larson will never hear from another stu- dent that he has never thought of his fu- ture because, at the very least, we are now dedicating time to dreaming big through annual SAT/PSAT testing. OK, OK — enough of the why. What most students want to know is the how. I wish I had the magic key to a perfect SAT score, but there's no substitution for hard work and study. There are, however, many ways to help mentally and physically pre- pare for this particular test: • This is a long test! It's important to be well rested so get a good night's sleep and don't let the option of late-night studying outweigh your wellbeing. • Eat a balanced, high -protein meal be- forehand to help you focus. • Do continually practice in an environ- ment with the same questions and time restrictions. There is a stamina and physi- cal memory component that becomes easier each time. • When in doubt, leave it blank! There is a penalty for wrong answers on the SAT, so guess only if you can eliminate at least two of the five choices. • Use every second. Skip questions that have you stumped and come back to them. If you have time, rework questions that gave you some trouble. Foster staff members are the real experts here, and they are doing a masterful job leading up to the SAT/PSAT day to prep students. Ultimately, no matter what their final scores, every student has succeeded just by participating. It's a door opening to endless possibilities for the future. In service, —Dr. Nancy Coogan Tukwila School District Superintendent Nancy Coogan can be reached via email at coogann @tukwila. wednet. edu. Election ememy? Look in the mirror When it comes to politics, we are our own worst enemies. Many of us are will- fully ignorant of what goes on around us and choose not to vote. In the August primary, 82 percent of Tukwila voters did not vote. About 35 residents attended the School Board candidate forum. This problem is nationwide and, worse, children observe and repeat the pattern as adults. Professionally run campaigns are prag- matic, not ideological. They understand voting patterns and try to work it to their benefit. Primaries, off-year general elections, presidential elections. Each is handled differently. Nothing wrong with that. The job is to do what it takes to win. It is not to fight the good fight. The evidence is clear that, most of the time, we will not fulfill our responsibili- ties as voters. Extreme policies will occa- sionally get passed with negative conse- quences. At times, extremist ideological candidates will be elected. Small numbers of motivated or uninformed voters deter- mine the outcomes. We deserve what we get when we do not pay attention, do not volunteer, do not run for office and do not vote. It is not the government's fault or the campaign's fault. The fault, dear friends, is ours. We are our own worst enemies. Contact Tukwila Reporter columnist Chuck Parrish at dradford@tukwilare- porter.com. Here is the Rainier Symphony's fall/winter concert schedule Classical Concert One Oct. 20 - 3 p.m., Foster High School Performing Arts Center, 4242 S. 144th St., Tukwila Prokofiev - "Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2" Rachmaninoff - "Symphony No. 2" Holiday Concert Friday, Dec. 13 - 7:30 p.m., Foster Performing Arts Center Classical Concert Two Feb. 8 - 7:30 p.m., Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center Feb. 9 - 3 p.m., Renton IKEA Performing Arts Featuring Strauss - "Don Quixote" Where to buy tickets Single tickets are available online at www.brownpaper- tickets.com. Season tickets are available dat 206-781-5618. More information is available at www.rai- niersymphony.org www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » OCTOBER 2013 5 The cultural side of Tukwila There are plays, the Rainier Symphony, high school productions, and multi-ethnic events this fall, winter in and near Tukwila for all tastes BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM For more than 30 years, the Rainier Symphony has offered the region some of the best music from a community orchestra in the na- tion. And for the past few years, the symphony has called Tukwila home, performing at the Foster High School Performing Arts Cen- ter. The symphony's season kicks off in Tukwila on Oct. 20 with Proko- fiev's "Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2" and Rachmaninoff's "Symphony No. 2:' The symphony also performs its concerts at the Renton IKEA Per- forming Arts Center. Both those pieces take "a very large and very capable orchestra;' said music director David Walt- man, and are not often heard, so the opportunity for South King County audiences to hear that level of music at home "is pretty extraor- dinary." They embody the "large orches- tra pieces" the symphony performs, Waltman says. The Rainier Symphony is just one of many cultural opportunities available to Tukwila residents this fall and winter. And music is just a part of those offerings, which may take a little bit of travel to enjoy. The Burien Ac- tors Theater and the Renton Civic Theater aren't far away at all. The Burien theater (formerly the Music Director David Waltman has conducted the Rainier Symphony for 12 seasons.The symphony's home venue is the Foster High School Performing Arts Center. Rainier Symphony ON THE COVER: Juliet Stratton is a professional harp- ist who will perform with the symphony this season. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter Burien Little Theatre) is presenting "Young Frankenstein, the Musical" and "Coney Island Christmas;' a holiday comedy by Donald Mar- gulies, in November. Upcoming at the Renton theater are Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" and the romantic comedy, "She Loves Me," (think "You've Got Mail). After a long run in Burien, Breeders Theater is now in Des Moines. Its upcoming performance is "Blood Pudding;' an original comedy that comes with a bite. Drama with a twist is close to home at Foster High School this November with an updated version of Jane Austen's "Pride and Preju- dice" presented by Foster's drama students. That updated movie version is called "Popularity" and it's set in the 1950s. The students are ana- lyzing how that movie translated Austen's plot and characters (think Lizzie and Mr. Darcy), says their teacher, Cynthia Chesak. "They are doing research on 1958, the setting of the play, to get a further understanding of the time period in order to represent it more accurately, she says. A website to bookmark for a comprehensive calendar of cul- tural events in South King County, including Tukwila, is sococulture. org. That's the site of South King County Cultural Coalition, which represents more than 70 arts and heritage organizations. Of course, there's always Seattle and Tacoma for your cultural fix. And that brings us back to the Rainier Symphony. For audiences, going to a Raini- er Symphony concerts means they don't have to go to Seattle to hear major musical works, said Walt- man, the symphony's music direc- tor. Waltman, who has directed the symphony for 12 years, calls the Rainier Symphony one of the best community orchestras in the country. Its concertmaster, Ilkka Talvi, held the same position with the Seattle Symphony for 20 years. Many musicians are career professionals and many hold ad- vanced degrees in their instru- ments. There are teachers, both public and private, and community members who perform with the symphony, all as volunteers. They come from all over the region. "It's a body of musical experience and expertise and passion that is unlike anything else really in this area: Waltman said. "The quality here is extremely good;' Waltman said. Come play with Foster pep band BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Ever had the yen to play for - or again - in Foster's pep band? Foster band teacher Filipp Shaba- lov is extending an invitation to Tuk- wila musicians, Foster alumni and parents to join the Foster High School pep band as it plays at varsity football and basketball games. If you want to play, show up at 6:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 18) at Foster Sta- dium, which is a half-hour before the start of the homecoming game. Shabalov is looking for those with a brass or woodwind instrument to play with the Foster students. Contact Shabalov at the game and he can pro- vide sheet music. The musicians who play will get in free to the games. Woodwinds and brass instruments are most helpful, he said, but if you play "other" instruments but read music or currently don't own a horn, "things can be worked out; he said. Shabalov, who teaches at Foster High and Showalter Middle School, is asking that the community donate instruments, even those in less -than - perfect condition, to the music pro- grams at the elementary or secondary levels. He's looking for flutes, saxophones, clarinets, euphoniums/baritone horns, trumpets, bass clarinets, or others. Shabalov can be contacted at sha- balovF@tukwila.wednet.edu or 206- 331-6845. CASCADE MEMORIAL low cost cremation & funerals $495 Simple Cremation $895 Direct Burial 425.641.6100 CascadeMemorial.com Affordable Wills Simple Will $200.00 Trust Will for minor children $250.00 Community Prop. Agreement $150.00 Durable Power of Attorney $100.00 Directive to Physician $100.00 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 r Wstflefrf Southcenter 0ATUKWILA 9'ARKM1.l RIC RE AlION J 6 OCTOBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com tu kwilasports Foster girls make history in the water BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Four years ago, Foster High School didn't have a swim team, even though it had a swimming pool right next door. Now, the Foster girl's swim team is in its third year, building a tradition and a team that the seniors on the team will miss with tears. ,(yirkt, .00wk toy collection event Also accepting cash; and food for the Tukwila Pantry 1OAM -4PM SATURDAY November 23 WESTFIELD SOUTHCENTER SOUTH PARKING LOT The Foster High School girls swimming team includes, front row, left to right, Emily Chan- thaphone, Salina Thai, Michelle Tran and Euerusalem Mesele, and back row, left to right, Laila McKinley, Paige Johnson, Regan Timm and Yaneth Garcia. Dean A. Rad- ford/Tukwila Reporter For the first year, the girls swam as part of the Kennedy Catholic girls team; for two years, they've been an independent but still remains close to the Kennedy girls, who also practice at Tukwila Pool. The Bulldogs' coach is Amy Kindell, who is also the City of Tukwila's aquatics spe- cialist at the pool. "They have worked very hard to build a great sense of team cohesion and they have also really buckled down to achieve their personal goals," Kindell said. Thirteen girls swim for Foster; this year they're near the bottom of the Seamount pack. Returning swimmer and senior Regan Timm took a leadership role this year, says her coach. "Everyone has improved so much," she says. But she's also "really upset" about gradu- ating, because she's leaving the swim team. "In my book these girls shine in every event they compete in," Kindell said. "None of the swimmers on the team ever partici- pated in competitive swimming before they joined the team." She's expecting to see personal bests and team records this year. Tukwila Pool marks 40th The Tukwila Pool, built as part of King County's Forward Thrust program in the 1970s, will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 21. Here's the schedule of events. • 10-11 a.m. Swim-A-Thon to benefit the Tukwila Pool Scholarship Fund • 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., family swim and lap swim • 1 - 5 p.m., open swim for 40 cents to honor the pool's 40th birthday. A three-month pass for $40 is available at the Birthday Bash or sign up for swim- ming lessons at the party and get a five - punch card to bring a friend to an open swim or family swim. ...who's who Open Daily 6am - 3pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch 15215 Military Road South • SeaTac 206-431-9411 • www.thepancakechef.net J Our slogan started in 1959 and is still the same three loves: We have a love of good food tastefully prepared, A love for people, and a wish to please them, A love for quality, cleanliness, and service. We'II do our best to prove these are genuine. For 53 years The Pancake Chef has been serving the South Seattle area with the finest quality of a variety of breakfast and lunch meals. The friendly staff and good food are why the customers keep returning, knowing they can always find a very good meal for a fair price. Dr. Michael Korn, DDS Choices to Personalize Your Smile 6720 Fort Dent Way Suite 210, Tukwila WA 98188 206-433-5595 • www.michaelkorndds.com Dr. Korn was drawn to the Great Northwest following graduation from USC School of Dentistry. He also received a Master's degree in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Northern Arizona University, it was there he fell in love with dentistry. While in dental school, Dr. Korn fell in love again and married his beautiful wife, Jen. They now have a new little bundle of joy, their daughter, Elliana! Here in the great Northwest Dr. Korn enjoys camping, snowboarding, white water rafting, and taking in Seattle Sounders games! Dr. Korn takes the fight with dental decay very seriously. He attends study groups and professional lectures regularly to stay sharp and up to date. Have a question on dental health? Dr. Korn is here to explain everything from the process of decay to why a crown is needed for a tooth. Dr. Korn and his Team would love to have you be part of our dental family! Call or stop by to meet us. We are here for you! www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » OCTOBER 2013 7 Hail, all hail to Foster! The Bulldogs and Foster's cheerleaders lead the crowd in singing the Alma Mater Oct. 4 after a close loss to Lindbergh High. BELOW LEFT: Quarterback Randy Tippins tosses a pass. BELOW RIGHT: Foster's Aries Fernandez fends off a Lindbergh defender. DEAN A RADFORD/TUKWILA REPORTER THUJ%IDERBIRDS HOCKEY It's homecoming and the Bulldogs are finding their footing on playing field BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM It's homecoming at Foster, a weekend for dancing, celebrating school spirit across all ages and watching Bulldog football Friday night. The Bulldogs take on Evergreen at 7 p.m. at Wer- ner Neudorf Field under first-year coach Matt Leon- ard, who's coaching a team now at full strength. As of late last week the Bulldogs were 1-4 overall and 1-2 in Seamount League play. (The game against Kennedy Catholic Saturday was played after the Tukwila Reporter's print deadline.) The game Oct. 4 against Lindbergh, which sat atop the Seamount League last week, showcased the talents of quarterback Randy Tippins and wide receiver Patrick Straight. For the first time, the team was at full strength, earlier hit hard by grades and injuries. "Randy Tippins had been our ev- erything and has played extremely well on defense when I let him in;' said Leonard. Tippins was leading the Seamount in passing, he said. Straight was leading the league in receiving, Leon- ard said, and "we are always looking for ways to get him the ball in space." Defensively, sophomore Zane Jacobson has an- chored the secondary and is "blossoming into a leader," Leonard said. He calls sophomore lineback- er Alvin Noa "a great star in years to come' "We are making tremendous progress on both sides of the ball and learning to play together and with an attitude and swagger," Leonard said. "We are a tight -knit family and have great chemistry, but we are finally learning to push each other and compete hard." Patrick Straight FRIDAY 0,101,,MTH' vrikAFF4' .1 PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS SATURDAY' _� THS J W FT rpRrr NT eg 253-239-7825 THUNDERBIRDS SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS YOUTH L � GROUP NIGHT KENT ShoWare CENTER .... KEPORTERe 8 OCTOBER 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 » OCTOBER 2013 9 Joe Duffle • Dennis Robertson • Allan Ekberg Verna Seal • De'Sean Quinn • Kate Kruller TUKWILA CITY PAGES Watch your City Council meetings live on Monday nights - streaming video on our website at TukwilaWA.gov, or on Comcast Channel 21 Is your business a "Home Occupation"? When your home address is identifed as a business address, that business is considered a "Home Occupation" in the City of Tukwila. House cleaners, landscapers, taxi cab operators, consultants, and many other types of professions - includ- ing internet sales - are commonly referred to as "Home Occupation" businesses. Their customer bases can be anyone or anywhere but, with the home address used as a physical business address, these are classified as Home Occupation businesses. A Tukwila business license is required if the residence is located within the Tukwila city limits. Independent contractors must ac- quire their own business license from the City as well as from the State. The State of Washington and the City of Tukwila require a physical address at the time you apply for a business li- cense. A post office box may not be used as the physical address. If your business qualifies as a Home Occupation and you have not applied for a City of Tukwila business license, please contact the City's business license specialist by calling at 206- 431-3680 or by emailing Licensing TukwilaWA.gov for more information. Contact the Washington State De- partment of Revenue at 1-800-647- 7706 for State licensing information. Comma Cha; Come join the talk from 10:OOAM to 12:OOPM at FOSTER GOLF CLUBHOUSE 13500 Interurban Ave S The city of opportunity ediv,:ce Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 3. (Good idea: That extra hour you gained from setting your clocks back? Use it to replace the batteries in your home smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors) DON'T MISS TUKWILA'S IFIPL CttFIN-UP wen In partnership with Waste Management, the City of Tukwila's Fall Cleanup Event allows residents to drop off hard -to -dispose -of items, including electronic waste, scrap metal, large appliances, furniture and cardboard boxes. WHEN? Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 9:00AM to 3:00PM WHERE? Tukwila Village Site, corner of S 144th Street & 41st Ave S (One block west of Foster High School) WHO? Tukwila residents who subscribe to Waste Management garbage collection services (Identification and proof of residency required) Hems that W111 BE accepted ELECTRONICS (Limit three items) • PC • Laptop • Desktop copier • Television • VCR • Cellular phone • Monitor • Printer • Scanner • Stereo • Radio SCRAP METAL Size less than 24" in any direction and less than 35 pounds per item LARGE APPLIANCES (Limit three items) • Washing machine • Dryer • Dishwasher • Stove • Water heater • Refrigerator • Air conditioner • Freezer In the interest of safety, remove doors from all appliances. hEA Ckat: haw. 9 Council Chat is a monthly chance to stop by and informally speak with one of your Tukwila City Councilmembers about anything on your mind regarding our community. FURNITURE • Mattress and box spring (all sizes) • Chair (lounge, rocking, dining, lawn) • Loveseat & sofa (NO sofa beds) • Dressers, patio furniture, and other large furniture MISCELLANEOUS • Flattened cardboard (NO plastic or wax coating) • Lawn mowers (must be free of fuel and oil) • Small appliances ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Drivers reserve the right to refuse items that are not listed, too contaminated, or too large to handle. For recycling and disposal information for these items and more, visit KingCounty.gov/WhatDolDoWith or call 206-296-4466 items that WM NOT be accepted AUTOMOTIVE WITE Includes all fluids, batteries, running gears, tires, automotive body parts. CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION MATERIAL Includes concrete, asphalt dry wall, masonry, roofing, siding, insulation, structural metal, brush, sand, rocks, dirt, windows, doors and door frames, vinyl flooring, fencing HOUSEHOLD RECYCLABLE MATERIALS Includes mixed paper, glass, aluminum cans GARBAGE No household trash will be collected at this event HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE Products on which labels read: caustic, flammable, warning, danger, poison, and pesticides. PRODUCTS CONTAINING MERCURY Including thermometers, thermostats, fluo- rescent bulbs, mercury -added batteries and switches. HOT TUBI FURNACE" WOOD (treated or untreated) This event is sponsored by the City of Tukwila and Waste Management W WASTE MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS? Call 1-855-TUKWILA WMNorth west. com/Tuk wil a AUTUMN HARVEST FESTIVAL Wet114esday, October 30 — 4:00 to 8:00pM AT Takwilk Cowtwtkstity Cotter, 12424 — 42nd AveNke $ arab yoar f riewds, dress ap Iw yoar best costawte 41&d cowte joi t ilk sowte festival f al~ witk Halloweew crafts, gages, a costawte cowtest, awd wrack wtore (Pizza & kat dogs will be available for aw extra cost). FEE: 2,00 per child 1� 2013 National Night Out Against Crime was biggest year yet On August 6 the City of Tukwila set a new record for National Night Out Against Crime (NNO) parties. Twenty-six different neighborhoods and businesses held events. The parties ranged from Ryan Hill to the McMicken Heights neighborhoods. Local businesses sponsored two of the events; churches hosted another two events, with the rest of the events held at local apart- ment communities, condominiums or in single-family neighborhoods. Four of these parties were at locations where a Night Out Against Crime event had never been held previously. Throughout the evening, City of Tukwila staff members visited these events, getting a chance to speak with the at- tendees and listen to comments and concerns about the specific neighborhood or the City of Tukwila in general. NNO is a great way for City employees and elected officials to get to know some Tukwila residents on a personal level. City of Tukwila staff members look forward to participating each year. This year's volunteer staff included Mayor Hagger- ton and City Council Members Hougardy and Duffie. Also visiting were 25 City employees - representing Police, Fire, Parks, Community Development, Human Services, the Mayor's Office, Finance, Public Works, Code Enforcement and IT - and three Police Explor- ers. As a national sponsor of National Night Out Against Crime, Target Stores offers staff members the opportunity to attend local Night Out events and participate in the community; eight Target employees joined the teams of visiting volunteers. Local access to Washington Healthplanfinder At the start of this month, King County and partner organizations began hosting community events for residents to provide enrollment assis- tance in Washington HealthPlanFinder for health insurance coverage beginning on January 1, 2014. Certified customer -service experts are available at each event to provide individual help for comparing and enrolling in health insurance coverage coverage. Depending on household earnings, residents may qualify for free or low-cost coverage, or for tax credits or financial help to pay for co -pays and premiums. No one will be denied coverage because they are sick or because they have a pre-existing condition. More information can be found at www.KingCounty.gov/coverage. You are welcome to attend a nearby event in Tukwila, Burien, SeaTac, Renton or other cities in King County. These are some scheduled up- coming enrollment events in Tukwila: TUKWILA LOCATION DATE — TIME — INFORMATION Healthpoint Tukwila 12844 Military Road S Saturday, October 19, 2013 - 10:OOAM to 2:30PM Languages: English, Spanish, Nepali, Amharic Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 5:00PM to 8:00PM Languages: English, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Somali Cascade View Elementary School 4640 S 144th Street Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 5:00PM to 7:30PM Foster Library 4060 S 144th Street Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - 10:OOAM to 2:OOPM Thursday, November 21, 2013 - 4:00PM to 8:00PM Saturday, December 7, 2013 - 12:00PM to 4:00PM TUKWILA 101: Property Tax Basics Property tax time is just around the corner and here are some things you should know. King County property taxes are composed of two parts: the assessment of the land value and its im- provements°, and taxes arisin from special levies pertinent to your taxing district. All properties in King County are inspected once in every 6 -year cycle. Assessed value for residential properties is deter- mined by first valuing the land which, by state law, is to be valued as if it were vacant. This is done by ana- lyzing sales of comparable bare land. A dollar value is then assigned to the land only. Next, sales and mar- ket trends of improved properties in the taxing area are studied, taking into account such things as size of property, year built, and quality of construction. From this value, the amount attributed to land is subtracted in order to give the value of the improvements. Both Land and Improvement values are listed as separate items on your property tax statement. To determine your tax rate pertaining to levies, such as for Schools or Fire Protection, the total amount of money needed for your district is divided by the total value of property in your district. Next, all levy rates of the taxing districts in your property area are added together. The assessed value of your property is multi- plied by the combined levy rates which then becomes your share of the total property tax levy in your area. All properties in King County pay taxes for the County, the Port of Seattle, the State, EMS, Flood Control and the Ferry System. In Tukwila, there are 29 different levy codes for services such as schools, parks and Fire/Rescue among others. Some parcels in Tukwila also pay for the Tukwila Pool Metropolitan Park Dis- trict, and H-1 which is Valley Medical Hospital District. Property taxes are expressed as per mil (amount of tax per one -thousandth of a dollar)©. For example, a property with an assessed value of $50,000.00 lo- cated in a municipality with a rate of 20, would have a property tax bill of $1,000.00 per year. ($50,000.00 x 20 =$1,000.000.00/1,000 = $1,000.00) Property tax bills are paid in two halves, the first half due by April 30 and the second half due by October 31. For more in-depth information about this subject including rate reductions, payment deferrals, mobile home taxes and additional valuation questions, con- tact the King County Assessor's Office at 206-296- 7300 or online at www.KingCounty.gov/Assessor. KEEP THIS PORTION / SEE REVERSE SIDE PROPERTY TAX ACCOUNT -NUMBER 810860-0000-09 SM31 BRING THIS STATEMENT WHEN PAYING IN PERSON 2013 KING COUNTY, WA, REAL ESTATE TAX • RM 600 -500 FOURTH AVE SEATTLE WA 98144-2340 RP10 mmitum sun 438.98 Land Wive. 117,000 L sww•-®974.42 loved/mans O 54,000 County 510.91 uea EtMgl vpu. TAXABLE VALUE 171,000 39.89 ® Lwry Flat. ONN011 Toe 2,424.84 'MN Churl 7.28 TOTAOURRENT4.UM4 2,432.12 97.03 OmN.dTom 25.65 TOTAL CURRENT MUNE 51.330 INCLDONISOMITS 2,432.12 22.59 VOTER APPROVED 789999 *OTHER CHARGES: LESS PAID NOK WEED 2.10 KING CD 98188 LOT BLOCK CODE SEC TlVP RG SUNNYDALE GARDENS DIV4031 PROPERTY ADDRESS Fleel bed nares 1peld or p, Souped ay Apt 30, FULL AMOUNT BECOMES DELBN]UENT and EEE $ NNNV1a .i p *Ey .P prosorbod by law. II Hrsl h. paw by Ap,Y wand bee moat bo pald by October 331 4 Incomes d. ,..nt aid Intersse and Needy FULL AMOUNT MAY DE PAID APRIL 90Ih 1,102.44 1,216.06 5.18 Meeting agendas, City programs, recreation activities, publications and more... get the most current information at TukwilaWA.gov! 1 0 OCTOBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com Tukwila School District #406 October 2013 `Whatever it takes' philosophy lands Tukwila on the 2013 Innovative Schools Tour Mari Taylor, Lake Stevens school board member and president-elect of the Washington State School Di- rectors Association (WSSDA), talked with students in Laura Weber's first - grade classroom at Cascade View El- ementary during the tour. The Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) se- lected the Tukwila School District to showcase in this year's Innova- tive Schools Tour on Sept. 20. The event is part of WSSDA's annual legislative assembly, and school board members from across the state got on school buses to spend a morning learning on-site how Tukwila schools are closing the achievement gap. The tour had two stops, Cas- cade View Elementary and Foster High School, at which principals, teachers, and students talked about their unique challenges and how they embrace those as op- portunities. The visiting school directors heard about our inter- vention and language programs, learning specialists, peer -based teaching model, classroom tech- nology, and more. But perhaps Tukwila's biggest "innovation" was best summed up by math coach Katrina Dohn when she said: "We are always working on the individual needs so no kid falls through the cracks. There is no single magic bullet. We have a whatever -it -takes philosophy." Yes, that is certainly something all school districts want to emulate around the state! INTERPRETERS NEEDED Get paid while connecting families and schools! Are you fluent in English and any of these other languages: Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Cambo- dian, Chin, Chinese, Karen, Karenni, Laotian, Nepali, Punjabi, Russian, Samoan, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Turkish, or Vietnamese? Please consider joining our paid interpreter pool. As an initial step, the district is offering a six -hour training session on October 29 covering basic techniques, code of ethics, roles of the interpreter, and interpretation practice. Call Meghan Perez -Navarro at 206-901-8028 for information and to apply. Interpreters must be at least 18 and not a current student in the district. We Scare Hunger: Trick -or -treating for a cause What's more frightening than zom- bies and goblins knocking on your door this Halloween? The very real threat of hunger in our local commu- nity. So be ready on Oct. 31 to hand- out a different kind of treat when your doorbell rings... Last spring, a group of students from Foster High and Showalter Mid- dle School attended We Day Seattle, an invitation -only event—the first of its kind in the United States—that brought together 15,000 young peo- ple to empower them to make posi- tive change in their local and global communities. Continuing that mo- mentum, Foster and Showalter are now teaming with We Act (a full -year, post -We Day engagement program to inspire and support schools' ser- vice projects) in a campaign called We Scare Hunger. This includes a food drive at each school and peer - led education about hunger and its impact on learning. The culmination is on Halloween evening, when stu- dents will be coming to you. Instead of trick -or -treating for candy, they will go door to door throughout the community collecting non-perish- able food items for the Tukwila Pan- try. Please consider making a donation if they come knocking! Shhh—it's a surprise! The $1,200 Day Made Better award goes to... Cascade View Elementary secre- tary Kari Young had a heck of a time keeping her secret! For starters, she wanted to tell everyone the good news. Then there were the logistical aspects: planning an assembly, co- ordinating the visitors—all without anyone knowing why. And when the guest of honor came down with a cold the day before the big reveal, she almost panicked. "I called her husband and told him SHE HAS TO BE HERE TOMORROW," Young said. Ultimately, the event went off exactly as planned: A sea of or- ange -clad Office Max employees announced to an unsuspecting as- sembly crowd that English Lan- guage Learner (ELL) teacher Abby Stark—the most unsuspecting of them all—was the recipient of more than $1,200 in school supplies, in- cluding a new desk chair, a Kindle Fire, a camera, and many, many, many paperclips. The event was part of the Day Made Better campaign on Oct. 1, during which Office Max donated materials to 1,000 deserving teach- ers across the country in recogni- tion that many classroom teachers pay for supplies out of their own pockets. Young originally nominated Stark for the award on behalf of the school, which has an ELL popula- tion that fluctuates as high as 70 percent. Additionally, many come to Cascade View as refugees with no previous schooling and the trauma of an upturned life. Stark's out- reach is two-way, as she also brings speakers from the students' home countries to the school to provide lessons to everyone about their his- tory, culture, political views, and language. "The compassion and understand- ing that Abby gives to our students along with the program she over- sees for teaching ELL is so impres- sive," Young said in her nomination. "She is adored by her students." Day Made Better representatives pre- sented Abby Stark with roses, a new chair, and supplies unveiled in a big orange box. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » OCTOBER 2013 i 11 Tukwila School District #406 OCTOBER 201 3 Move over, Louvre! The Vanderbilt Museum. The Nassau County Museum of Art. The Islip Museum. Tribeca Works Catalogue. The Stricoff Gal- lery. The Amityville Gallery. And now ... the Tukwila School District! Acclaimed New York artist Sch- ery Markee Sullivan has shown her pieces across the nation and globe, but her most recent mixed -media creation—"Stars to Find"—now lives in the district's administration building, the heart of the school com- munity that inspired the work. The long-distance connection came by way of new Tukwila Superinten- dent Nancy Coogan, who met Sulli- van years ago through a family mem- ber on the East Coast. "When Nancy began telling me about her new community, she said it was like speaking to a sea of faces that seemed like a rainbow," Sullivan said. "She was awed by the beauty of the children and this experience. It was very clear to her that this com- munity has hopes and dreams for their children to thrive and learn and flourish in an environment of support and opportunity while maintaining their own culture and individuality." Sullivan was moved. The Tukwila School District, to her, represented the American dream at its essence. She began creating images and phrases to represent Tukwila, using as the foundation a poem she au- thored called "Every Moody Fish." "It was written about finding your place in the world, about trying to harness a collective energy, its posi- tive force, but fiercely holding onto the truth of your own spirit," Sullivan explained. The finished artwork includes words of the poem scattered through- out, alongside many individual vi- brant faces, cut out of paper with dif- ferent textures and hues. Newsprint phrases "Rise one life at a time" and "An abundance of options" standout in the mural. "Stars to Find" is on display in the superintendent's office in the admin- istration building. Drop by or call to schedule an appointment to see it. Website focus group To say that the Tukwila School District website is a little bit dated is like saying that Antarctica is a little bit cold! To kick-off the process to design and launch new sites for the district and each school, we are gathering as many user -experiences as possible to help ensure everybody can find the informa- tion they need intuitively organized in the format that works best. We will soon launch an online survey that all community members will be encour- aged to complete (look for the link to be published here in November). We are also putting together an in-person focus group to guide the work and gather a wide range of viewpoints. If you are interested in being part of the focus group, contact Sara Niegowski, niegowskis@tukwila.wednet.edu or 206-901-8036. Calling all Foster alumni and jazz lovers The Foster High School Alumni Hall of Fame will induct the great jazz pianist and composer Walt Wagner, Class of 1966, at 7 p.m. Wednes- day, Oct. 16, in the school lobby, 4242 S. 144th Street. Please come celebrate this homegrown music legend! During an assembly Sept. 19, performers with Up with People read pledges from Showalter Middle School students to be kind to and seek to understand one another. This followed daylong workshops at the school based on Up with People's mission to decrease bullying and promote glob- al acceptance for all people. Rise and shine and learn with school breakfast! We understand that your busy schedule might make it difficult to provide a healthy breakfast every morning, so let the Tukwila School District help! Every day, our school cafeterias begin serving a complete meal—with milk, fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains -30 minutes before classes start. We not only meet very high nutrition guidelines but the even more exacting kid taste -test standards! You've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that is especially true in schools. After going the entire night with- out food, students' bodies need a source of energy to fuel their brains for a productive day of learning. In fact, research shows that children who start their day with a school - served breakfast have higher test scores, improved grades, reduced hyper activity, less irritability and fatigue, fewer behavioral problems, and decreased absence and tardy rates compared with children who rarely eat breakfast. That's why one of our primary goals is to find creative ways to get more of our students to start their morning with a healthy breakfast. The district's Food Services Depart- ment strives to be a great value and convenience for busy families. With the closing of the Tukwila Trading Company last month, it has become even harder for some of our families to find an appropriate grocer within walking distance to provide a sup- ply of fresh and nutritious food at home. Luckily, we have breakfast covered for you! (Please note: until the SAARS Marketplace opens in the now - empty Tukwila Trading Company space, the closest alternative within walking distance in that neighbor- hood is Sea -Tac Market, 15221 Inter- national Blvd. S. There is a selection of produce, grains, and proteins, and food stamps are welcome.) Here are a few fun facts from the American Cereal Council to perk up your breakfast taste buds: ■ Cereal was invented when colo- nial housewives started serving up popcorn with sugar and cream for breakfast. Yum! . Of the more than 294 million peo- ple in the U.S, 49 percent start their day with a bowl of cereal. • Astronauts from Apollo 11 boosted their brain power while in space with a cereal breakfast. The cereal was mixed with fruit and pressed into cubes since the lack of gravity kept the astronauts from pouring it into a bowl with milk. • There are 2.7 billion packages of cereal sold every year – that's enough boxes to wrap around the Earth thirteen times. Now who's ready for breakfast? Send your kids our way every morn- ing, 30 minutes before class time, for a great start to the academic day! Pay for school meals online: FREE AND SIMPLE TO USE! Did you once again forget to send your hungry student to school with a check for lunch? No worries! You can now directly add money to your student's food -service account online. It's quick, easy, secure, and there is no added fee. Accepted forms of payment include Discov- er, VISA, MasterCard, and debit. To check your student's account bal- ance and add funds: • Go to www.tukwila.wednet. edu and log in to Skyward Parent Access via the Parent Resources menu on the bottom right (con- tact your school's main office if you cannot log in). • Select "Food Service" from the left navigation menu. • View balance and select "Make Online Payment." • Follow the instructions to select your students, enter a payment amount, and be redirected to the secure payment site, which is ran through RevTrak. You will need enter your email address for ac- count purposes the first time you pay. If you have questions or run into logistical trouble, please contact your student's main office. 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 1 2 OCTOBER 2013 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com School board candidates explain views BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Two seats on the Tukwila School District Board of Directors are up for grabs in the Nov 5 general election. In District 1, incumbent Mary Fertakis is running against Jennifer Johnson. In Dis- trict 3, incumbent Alicia Waterton is run- ning against Bobby Cruz. The four candidates appeared at a can- didates forum on Oct. 9, sponsored by the Tukwila Reporter. The candidates were also asked by the Tukwila Reporter to respond to a ques- tionnaire about issues facing the Tukwila School District. Additional info about the candidates is available online at tukwilare- porter.com, which will have links to other election resources. Director District 1 MARY FERTAKIS PERSONAL: Incumbent Mary Fertakis has served on the Tukwila School District Board of Directors for 17 years. She and her husband Jon have lived in Tukwila for 23 years. Their two sons attended Tukwila schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and are currently in their senior and freshman years of college at Western Washington University and the University Director District 1 Mary Fertakis of Rochester, respectively. Jennifer Johnson JENNIFER L. JOHNSON PERSONAL: Jennifer L. Johnson is a single mother, co -parenting two children Bre (12th grade) and Makelle (seventh grade) both of whom attend Tukwila schools. She's employed as a social worker for the Department of Children and Family Ser- vices in Seattle and has lived in Tukwila for 10 years. Here are their answers to the Tukwila Reporter's candidate questionnaire: What do you see as the biggest issue or prob- lem facing the school district? FERTAKIS: The umbrella biggest issue is lack of adequate funding since it impacts everything we want to be able to do for students. Even though the Washington State Supreme Court agrees with us, as evi- denced by the McCleary decision last year FREE Bingo Imperial Bingo Connection 3100 East Valley Rd. Renton 425-656-5257 Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday FREE Bingo All Saturdays in October 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 Director District 3 Alicia Waterton 111111.. - Bobby Bobby Cruz (which said the state Legislature was not meeting their constitutional responsibility to amply fund K-12 education), we have not received the dollars that we should to fully make up for the legislative cuts that have taken place for the last 10 years. JOHNSON: Securing funding and program supports to positively impact graduation rate How would you address that issue or solve the problem? FERTAKIS: The reality of funding is that we have both an inadequate system as well as more limited resources overall as a state. It is not a quick fix to overhaul the education funding system, and the economic recov- ery that we are still waiting for may never fully materialize. Because that is the fund- ing environment for education, there are a couple of things that I support to address this. 1) Equity in funding. The limited re- sources available should be directed to the highest needs students, schools and dis- tricts. The legislature has tended to prefer funding formulas that distribute dollars in an EQUAL manner — which means Tuk- wila receives the same basic allotment as Mercer Island, though our student demo- graphics are vastly different. The approach I think is more appropriate is EQUITY in funding, which means those who need more, receive more. The criteria to deter- mine this should include at least the free and reduced lunch rate (used to determine poverty), ELL (English Language Learner) percentage, and mobility rates. Our board has advocated for equity in funding with our legislators and I'm happy to say that this past session we saw this start to hap- pen, resulting in Tukwila receiving more funding than we have in the past. 2) In- creasing public/private partnerships to support students and schools. We have too many issues to address to be able to do it on our own with the limited capacity we have. Increasing community involvement in schools benefits everyone. JOHNSON: Seek support to employ a com- petitive grant writing and resource out- reach team What should be the top priority of the dis- trict's new superintendent, Dr. Nancy Coogan? FERTAKIS: Dr. Coogan has a number of initiatives that she would like to undertake and she has the full support of the board in doing so. There are a couple of foun- dational pieces that need to be in place for her to be successful: 1) Improved and increased communication. This includes both internal and external communication efforts with our staff, students, families and the broader community. 2) Develop a new strategic plan for the district. This plan will provide a blueprint for resource allocation to support the plan's priorities and provide direction to the district for the next three years. This process is already under way. JOHNSON: To create tangible opportuni- ties for professional development of Tuk- wila educators, conduct culturally relevant needs assessments to accurately depict program and staffing needs and ensure rea- sonable recommendations are adopted in our classrooms and/or among our school staff What is your assessment as to how the school district/school board handled the diversity is- sues, including the court challenges? FERTAKIS: Although as a board member I am not able to go into the details regarding the court case, I can direct you to the dis- trict's answer to the charges filed in court. But, to be clear, the board, in its capacity to set policy has always seen it as a priority to ensure that it is serving its diverse student body. The incredible diversity we have has been a driver for many years for resource allocation and supporting programs that provide the assistance all our students need. Tukwila is not unique in encounter- ing an on-going challenge to address the needs of an ever-changing population while ensuring academic success. This is a challenge confronted by many school districts in the nation. The district, how- ever, has proactively embraced and imple- mented processes and programs expressly designed to ensure that its staff and all its students enjoy a positive environment, free from discrimination, in which to teach and learn. The district also strives to connect to the larger community with student -com- munity liaisons to, for example, the Nepali/ Burmese/Bhutanese, Somali and Latino communities, cultural competency train- ings, and discussions which address the cultural diversity of our community and the district. In the same fashion, we empha- size the importance of providing support for all students through programs such as IGNITE and Link Crew (high school and middle school peer mentoring), the Dream Project (provides assistance through the UW for college applications), and teacher professional development opportunities. JOHNSON: I believe the district and the board adhered to the current procedures for handling such issues. In addition, I be- lieve we learn that diversity within a school district requires the board and the districts' administrators to possess informed/re- sponsive cultural competency skills; within that comes a responsibility for each to en- sure our procedures are also informed and responsive case by case. What would you promote as the best way to improve student test scores? FERTAKIS: The best way to improve stu- dent scores is to remove the federal re- quirement that students must be tested, in English, on the state exams after one year of living in the United States. This require- ment of the No Child Left Behind legisla- [ more SCHOOL page 131 [ SCHOOL from page 12] tion has had the biggest, negative impact on the Tukwila School District - and ev- ery district in the country with high con- centrations of English Language Learn- ers. It is physiologically impossible for someone of any age to take a high-stakes test in another language after one year of learning that language and expect them to get high scores. We have asked since 2002 - one year after this legislation went into effect - for this provision to be changed to three years and the Department of Educa- tion and Congress have refused to consider this. What our students are expected to do in this environment sets them up for fail- ure, and is in no way a reflection of what they are capable of achieving if they were given more time to develop the language skills they need to be able to show what they really know. JOHNSON: Ensure tests are culturally rel- evant, administered if/when applicable in students' first language or via special edu- cation provisions, and mainstreamed to reflect achievement of knowledge that is applicable to promoting further education readiness as well as work/life readiness. What would be your priorities for making renovations/repairs to district buildings or fa- cilities? FERTAKIS: The district is in the unusual position of having successfully undertaken an aggressive plan to re -do all the buildings in the district in a short space of time. This facilities improvement plan was based on input from community and staff who de- veloped a long-range plan about 20 years ago. What this has created is a situation where a lot of maintenance and upkeep projects need to be undertaken at similar times instead of being spread out. The dis- trict has a developed a list of projects that need to be undertaken as maintenance and upgrading and have prioritized them with the help of a construction consultant com- pany. JOHNSON: As a board member, I would welcome proposals for renovations/repairs and would seek to, if supported by the board, ensure such work orders were strag- etically calendared to ensure predictable completion and prioritization. What do you see as the school district's big- gest strength? FERTAKIS: Its diversity. Our children have benefited from the unique experience of going to school with the world. I know this has had a life-long impact on my own children, since this is a majority -minority school district. I have heard my oldest say on multiple occasions that the most impor- tant things he learned attending school in Tukwila he was never tested on - he knows how to get along with everyone and to ap- preciate the many cultures represented here. We will be in a much better place as a society when more students have the op- portunity for the type of school experience that Tukwila students have. JOHNSON: I see the diversity of the stu- dent body as the biggest strength. What is the school board's main responsibil- ity? FERTAKIS: The school board's main re- sponsibility is to govern through policy, which includes establishing school district goals and setting policy on various matters, such as program development and budget priorities. Developing policy is like look- ing at things from a 30,000 -foot level to see the big picture of district finances, student needs, trends, and legal obligations as the context in which policy is developed. Policy does not involve administering the day-to-day operations of the district. That is done by the superintendent, as the chief administrator. This includes person- nel decisions, which are made by the ap- propriate administrator or superintendent - including hiring, nonrenewal and trans- fer decisions. The board's limited involve- ment in personnel involves approval of a new contract, or if a law allows for it, board consideration of a personnel matter. JOHNSON: To govern the direction and goal of the school district . Director District 3 ALICIA WATERTON PERSONAL: Alicia Waterton and her hus- band Nigel have lived in Tukwila for 10 years. Their children attend school in Tuk- wila. BOBBY CRUZ PERSONAL: Bobby Cruz and his wife Ga- bina Perez have lived in Tukwila for 10 years. Daughter Bianca 19 is a graduate of Foster, son Xavier, 14, attends Foster and son Andre, 12, attends Showalter Middle School. Here are their answers to the Tukwila Reporter's candidate questionnaire: What do you see as the biggest issue or prob- lem facing the school district? WATERTON: For me the biggest issue is being underfunded by the government. They expect to provide our students with the best possible education but they do not give us the funds for it. CRUZ: Students academics drop signifi- cantly in the middle school level. Four on council unopposed Four members of the Tukwila City Council Council are running unopposed in the Nov. 5 general election. They are De'Sean Quinn, Joe Duffle, Al- lan Ekberg and Verna Seal. There are countywide races on the ballot, too, including for King County executive. The King County Elections Division is mailing out the election ballots this week and should arrive by Friday or Saturday at the latest. If you don't get a ballot, contact the elec- tions division at 206 -296 -VOTE (8683). Information about the election is avail- able online at http://wwwkingcounty.gov/ elections. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » OCTOBER 2013 ) 13 How would you address that issue or solve the problem? WATERTON: Being underfunded is a big- ger issue than I can solve all by myself. We can keep asking our leaders and Olympia or Washington for more money. It's all about communication and lobbying on be- half of our kids. CRUZ: Mentoring from the high school- ers, smaller classes. I would have to learn more on what's going on in our middle schools. What should be the top priority of the dis- trict's new superintendent, Dr. Nancy Coogan? WATERTON: I believe developing commu- nity relations; communication and provid- ing strong leadership are critical. I believe Dr. Coogan is on her way to accomplish these priorities. CRUZ: Preparing students to reach the next level. What is your assessment as to how the school district/school board handled the diversity is- sues, including the court challenges? WATERTON: Although as a board member I am not able to go into the details regard- ing the court case, I can direct you to the district's answer recently filed in the court. I understand that it provides another per- spective on the lawsuit and some insight into the district's positions regarding the claims made by this small group of district employees. CRUZ: The district needs to hire more staff of color. But I'm not sure if it's because they are not applying or not qualified. Would have to investigate more. What would you promote as the best way to improve student test scores? WATERTON: Provide support to all stu- dents that includes before- and after- school programs. In addition, provide spe- cial tutoring services; online programs and family involvement. CRUZ: Candidate didn't respond. What would be your priorities for making renovations/repairs to district buildings or fa- cilities? WATERTON: District office maintains pri- ority list for all the repairs needed for the facilities. We discuss the items on the list and take care of them as needed. CRUZ: Not sure. What do you see as the school district's big- gest strength? WATERTON: Our district's biggest strength is our diverse student body and commu- nity. I'm very proud to have my children be educated here. CRUZ: Student diversity. Many cultures and languages, we as a community need to take advantage of that. What is the school board's main responsibil- ity? WATERTON: The board's responsibility is to set all district goals and policies. We are here to ensure all students meet standards and are college ready. CRUZ: Make the correct choices for the students. Wesi Hill 5&esdiingr WHEN October 23, 2013 2:30 pm - 6:30 pm Keynote & Awards Start at 5:30 PM WHERE Skyway VFW Hall, Post 9430 7421 S. 126th St., Seattle, WA 98178 Event Open To All Business And Public Vendor Market Table $15 WHBA Member $25 Non Member Workshops and Reception $20 WHBA Member $40 Non Member Featuring • Support Local Shop Local Campaigns • Social Media Marketing • West Hill Business Excellence Awards • Starting & Financing Your Business • Panel Discussion - West Hill Businesses Sponsors U.S. Bank Margarita Prentice, Former llth LDD Senator Cascade Water Alliance Grocery Outlet www.WestHillBusiness.com P.O. 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