News and Opinion on Neighborhoods, Schools and Local Governments of Redmond, WA.
Sunday, November 27, 2022
Monday, November 7, 2022
L.W School District Board of Directors named "Board of Distinction"
Redmond, Wash. – For the second consecutive year, the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) Board of Directors has been named a “Board of Distinction” by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). Only 30 of that state’s 295 school boards received recognition as Boards of Distinction. LWSD is one of 13 recognized in the “Large School Districts (9,001+ students FTE)” category.
The annual Boards of Distinction program honors school boards that demonstrate effective use of the Washington School Board Standards. These standards promote research-based governance practices that lead to high levels of student and district achievement and help close gaps that impact student success.
“Governance of a large school system is complex,” stated Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent. “I am proud of the LWSD Board of Directors for their continued focus on students and issues of equity as they seek to create a more just educational system that aims at all students achieving excellence.”
“The LWSD Board of Directors is honored to once again be recognized as a Board of Distinction,” stated Siri Bliesner, President, LWSD Board of Directors. “The Board is committed to supporting all of our students and to ensuring our students are at the center of our decisions and actions.”
-- Press release, 11/7/2022
Two Student Representatives (center in photo) were added to the Board in 2022 in order to provide student voices to Board conversations. High school students are encouraged to apply. Board members interview students and select one representative from the east side and another from the west side to serve on the Board. Most students will serve two-year terms. For the 2022-23 school year, the west side representative will only serve one year. A new west side representative will be selected in 2023., -website.
Monday, October 24, 2022
Redmond Middle School Proposes 2-Story Addition
Internet |
The proposed project includes an approx. 17,500 SF two-story addition to the existing Redmond Middle School building The addition will include eight classrooms, two shared instruction rooms and various support spaces. Site work includes an exterior courtyard, landscaping, and underground utilities.
Watch a video of the design HERE.
-- Posted by Bob Yoder, 10/24/2022
Saturday, October 22, 2022
UPDATED: The Painful Facts
Friday, October 14, 2022
"Start Times" Under Review at Schools, LWSD Asks for Input
Research and recent history has proven Middle and High Schoolers learn better when start times are no earlier than 8 a.m. Mental health improves, as well. Universal time would really help?
The LWSD ThoughtExchange is an opportunity to share your ideas and feedback with the "Start Times" Committee. Click here to join the exchange: https://tejoin.com/scroll/
The Start Times Committee will make a proposal to the superintendent for all high schools to start no earlier than 8:00 a.m. The committee will also recommend an earlier start and end time for preschool. No changes would happen before the start of the 2022-23 school year. The committee meets seven times between September and January. The committee includes parents and staff from across different high school feeder areas.
In November and December, the committee will ask for input from parents, staff and students on specific options.
What potential impacts of a change in school start times do you want to share with the committee to consider in this process? The webpage is very well presented.
-- LWSD article and opinion by Bob Yoder, 10/14/2022
Monday, October 10, 2022
Eastside Native American Education Pow Wow
Click picture to enlarge Fancy indigenous dancer and others A tribute to veterans "Eastside Native American Education" program is composed of LWSD, Northshore and Bellevue students. They meet every Monday, 7 p.m. at Lake Washington High. Mary L. Wilber, Osoyoos Indian Band, has been teaching for 22 years. Mary is 4th from the last in the Grand entry video. mwilber@lwsd.org According to Ms. Wilber, 91 tribes are represented on the Eastside -- Bob Yoder, Juanita High School, 10/1/2022 (photos and video) |
Sunday, September 18, 2022
Eastside Native American Drum Making Project
Thursday, September 15, 2022
2022 Superintendent Dr. Holmen's Reflection on the First Day of School
Dr. Jon Holmen serves as Chief Executive Officer. He provides strategic vision, leadership and direction to Lake Washington School District. Dr. Holmen is a skilled education leader with 22 years of experience in public education. On July 1, 2020, he became Lake Washington School District’s 13th superintendent.
Student Representatives Selected for Lake Washington School Board
Two students to share student voice in Board conversations
Redmond, Wash. - Starting this year, the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors will include two student representatives. Student representatives were selected through an application and interview process.
Evan Kurtz (Juanita High School, Class of 2023) will serve as the student representative for the west side of the school district for this school year. A new student representative from the west side of the district will be selected for a two-year term starting in 2023-24. Evan was first introduced at the August 22 School Board meeting.
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Shivani Sama (Tesla STEM High School, Class of 2024) will serve as a student representative for the east side of the school district. She will serve in this role for the next two school years. Shivani was first introduced at the September 12 School Board meeting.
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The goal of adding student representatives to the board is to add the perspective and experiences of students as the Board considers various topics.
Evan was selected to serve for the 2022-23 school year while Shivani will serve through the 2023-24 school year. Annually, the Board will select an incoming junior for a two-year term.
9/15/2022
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About Lake Washington: Lake Washington School District is a high-performing public school district serving Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington. It is the second largest district in the state of Washington, with over 30,000 students in 57 schools.
Friday, September 9, 2022
The Education Hill Earthquake Event
In 2001, a *6.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Education Hill.
It seems like only yesterday this earthquake shook the homes and schools on Education Hill. My wife, Pam was in the clothes closet when it happened. I was out of town on business. Pam was on the "Earthquake Emergency Committee" at Horace Mann where my daughter attended. By the time she got to Mann the Principal had already moved the children out of the building; the Principal panicked so the gym teacher took over. The school's "emergency metal container" was opened but unused. Tents, triage materials, food etc. Pam and two other mom's phoned as many parents as they could. Pam guesses "the ground shook maybe 30 seconds." She said only a couple of students were panicky.
Our tri-level is next to the Bike Park. Apparently, the chandelier swung mildly. A weight-bearing beam in our 2-story rental on Ed. Hill cracked, shifted and had to be replaced.
Stephan A. Siebert, P.E. with Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. in Kirkland is an Associate Geotechnical Engineer. Mr. Siebert wrote in "Rosehill Cottages" Redmond project report:
Earthquakes occur in Puget Lowland with great regularity. Large, deep earthquakes occur as evidenced by the 1949, 7.2-magnitude event; the 1966, 6.5-magnitude event; and the 2001, *6.8-magnitude event. The deep 1949 earthquake appears to have been the largest in this area (Redmond) during recorded history. Evaluation of return rates indicates that an earthquake of a magnitude between 6.0 and 7.0 is likely every 25 to 40 years in the Puget Sound area.
Is it time the school district updates their earthquake preparedness safety manual?
Is it time the City of Redmond updates their earthquake preparedness safety manual?
-- Bob Yoder, 9/9/2022, opinion
Downtown Redmond sits on a three-six foot deep aquifer in places! video
San Francisco earthquake liquefication event video. Redmond's downtown aquifer has similar characteristics.
Seattle fault zone / 3 earthquake types in the Pacific Northwest. video
File: LWSD, COR
Friday, September 2, 2022
Lake Washington School District Hires Additional Mental Health Counselors
Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen |
Thank you for your information and advocacy. We are in agreement that there needs to be an expansion of services and available beds for acute care. We are pleased to have been able to expand the implementation of mental health counselors at our secondary schools. Through district resources and some grant funding, all secondary schools in LWSD will have a full time mental health counselor this school year. We will continue to work to maintain and expand services through direct district support services but also through partnerships with community agencies, municipalities and other entities with a mission of supporting the mental health and well being of the youth in our community.
I hope you are doing well.
Thank you,
Jon
Dr. Jon Holmen
Superintendent
Lake Washington School District
jholmen@lwsd.org | 425-936-1257
Thursday, June 23, 2022
LW School District Board Names New Officers and Legislative Representative
l-r Mark Stuart, Siri Bliesner, Eric Lalibert, Chris Carlson, Leah Choi |
Redmond, Wash. – The Lake Washington School District Board of Directors named a new President, Vice President and Legislative Representative during their regular board meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2023.
- Siri Bliesner (Director, District Five) will now serve as the Board President, replacing Eric Laliberte, who had been president for the past two years.
- Leah Choi (Director, District Three) will now serve as the Board Vice President, a role that was previously filled by Mark Stuart.
- Mark Stuart (Director, District Four) will begin serving as the Legislative Representative, a role that was previously filled by Siri Bliesner.
Board reorganization takes place once per year, at the second School Board Meeting in June.
Comments (BY):
Siri Bliesner has been been very involved in City of Redmond governmental activities. She is on the Redmond Vision 2050 Committee and the Council compensation committee, to name two.
Leah Choi was elected in 2021, has young family and appears to be rising fast within the Board. She was supported by Redmond Councilmember Jeralee Anderson during her campaign.
Mark Stuart is a people person with a great sense of humor. He is extremely popular in the community with endless endorsements. The Board listen's to him.
IMO, Eric Laliberte is the "most improved leader" and one of the best Presidents
I've seen. He did a fantastic job leading the Board through the pandemic. A true asset to the District.
--Bob Yoder, opinion, 6/21/2022
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Rosemarie Ives Funds Two Scholarships For Redmond High Graduates
Rosemary Ives / soundaction.org |
Four years ago, former Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives (1992-2007) funded a new scholarship to support a Redmond High School graduate furthering her/his education.
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
King County Property Taxes Rise At 'Unprecedented' Rates; 2023Tax Hikes Likely
Property Value Data Released 5/13/2022 |
"King county hasn’t yet determined next year’s 2023 property tax bills, but the hottest local housing markets are likely to see “a double-digit increase,” said King County Assessor John Wilson."
"The local market has taken off since early in the pandemic, spurred by a combination of few houses for sale, a flood of buyers taking advantage of low mortgage-interest rates, and a continuing influx of highly paid workers with stock options. That has driven up home prices across the region and worsened housing affordability. The median sale price for a single-family house in King County hit nearly $1 million last month."
-- By Heidi Grover, Seattle Times business reporter, 5/13/2022 (excerpted, edited)
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Tesla STEM High School Top School in Washington
Wikipedia |
Tesla STEM High School in Redmond is the top school in Washington, according to a new national ranking by U.S. News and World Report. This year's list of best high schools evaluated more than 17,800 schools nationwide, including hundreds in the Evergreen State.
The 2022 ranking of best high schools is intended to show how well the nation's public schools serve all students, regardless of achievement level, by teaching them basic skills and preparing them for college-level work, according to a news release from U.S. News.
-- Lucas Combos, PATCH, 4/26 (Abridged)
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Rockwell Elementary Salmon Release
Eastlake Student Wins $250,000 Award
Top of the science world – Eastlake student wins $250,000 award for project on space research
Christine Ye, senior at Eastlake High School, was recently awarded a major prize for her research on space. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Society for Science announced on March 15 the top ten winners headed by Ye, who won the top award in the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search. According to the organization, this is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
"Vertical School" At Urbanized Redmond Town Center?
Urban Developer.com |
City Council is just beginning to study an applicant's request to redevelop suburban Redmond Town Center into a "walkable" urban center that could include 12-story buildings. A detailed Vision Statement hasn't been delivered, but it's fun taking a stab. Over and again, I see the possibility of a "Vertical School" public-private partnership. The school might take 3-4 stories of the 12-story building? Light rail would be a God-send. Teachers and staff could commute by rail from more affordable homes to school.
-- Bob Yoder, 4/13/2022
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A good article on Australian vertical schools (click link)
"High land prices and a scarcity of suitable sites make vertical schools an economic alternative to our longstanding cultural preference for low-rise schools.
A vertical school is designed to accommodate the full range of teaching, administration and recreational activities within one or two buildings, often with outdoor recreation spaces constructed on upper levels. New vertical schools, ranging in height from four to seventeen stories, are now starting to be commissioned across all Australian mainland states."
-- Archticturea.com excerpt, 5/2019
Thursday, February 24, 2022
OPINION: LWSD MUST OVERSEE THE LEVY COMMITTEE DURING ELECTIONS
Hello Communications and PR Director,
Apparently, my wife didn't vote for any of the levies. The District needs to transmit ACCURATE levy information to the LW Citizens Levy Committee! And once transmitted OVERSEE the Committee to be sure they don't warp the facts! In this case, the District dropped the ball!
I could have reported this malfeasance to King County Elections prior to certification but didn't want to risk the chance of a failed election.
The District needs to get with the program or it will bite you later. Director, please oversee the Committee from beginning to end. Thank you.
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
King County Property Tax Bills Arriving Soon
King County property taxes will soon be delivered, according to a Seattle Times article of 2/23/2022. Rates will hike 1.5% - 15% for King County homeowners depending where they live.