Editorial: A Season To Change

Don't blink now!   Vote FOR the LWSD levy by Februay 8!



A Season to Change

Editorial
Photo by Yoder

When your Teen Wants a Tattoo or Piercing, by Patti Skelton-McGougan

Patti Skelton-MacGougan
Executive Director, YES

When Your Teen Wants a Tattoo or Piercing
Talking about this big decision

Like the youth of the 1960’s who expressed themselves with long hair and funky clothes, today’s teens are using body marking to be ‘different’ and express their individuality. A piercing or tattoo is a way your teen says, “I'm growing up and making my own decisions, even if you don’t like it!”

You can say no, but how do you both respect your teen's need for independence and avoid rebellious behavior?  Read more >>

Local Civil Air Patrol Cadets meet with Senator Andy Hill in Olympia

Overlake CAP Cadets at Olympia Rotunda



 

Holliday, Senator Andy Hill, Osborn

  Dear Bob,   On Wednesday February 2nd, fifteen (15) students from east-side school districts travelled to Olympia to meet with their state senators.

They wanted to be present when the senate unanimously passed resolution number 8602 honoring the volunteer work done by the Civil Air Patrol in Washington state over the past 69 years.

Particular emphasis was placed on the volunteer work done by the cadets aged 12-20 who number over 600 in Washington state. Over 100 CAP members were in attendance in the capital yesterday.  Read more >>>>

UPDATED: Much to do about the Mayor's salary

President Richard Cole
ran the salary review session

UPDATED:  The Mayor's salary for the next four calendar years will be $125,000, up from $106K.  Council made the decision 7-0 in their last meeting.  When you count a $6,000 annual car allowance the Mayor's total taxable compensation is $131,000. 

According to HR Director Kerry Sievers, "The Mayor's benefits package is approximately 30% ($39,300) of total compensation."  So, the mayor's  taxable compensation plus *benefits during the next mayoral term is $170,300/year.  He gets the same COLA as non-union staff.  (Do you think the Mayor is paid enough? to much? to little? Take the poll on the right).

As a reference, Councillor Stilin quoted the current highest paid city director salary at ~ $149,888.  Sievers said up to a 15% annual bonus may be awarded, plus benefits  Next year, this city director's compensation & benefits package could be as high as $224,082.

The Redmond Mayor is a "strong mayor" which means he is an elected representative AND the business manager of the city . The Mayor is Redmond's CEO.   In city council's January 11 Study Session, Councillor Hank Margeson said our mayor must be a professional and have special skill sets to be able to run the government.   Mayor Marchione has a Deputy City Administrator who manages city staff.  But, the Mayor stands at the helm, running regional and city affairs. 

Council President Cole, Carson, Stilin and other members agreed the Mayor's salary must be high enough to attract a professional CEO, but not too high owing to the job's subjective elements of public service and altruism.  (Altruism:  "unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others".)   According to Mr. Cole, the filing deadline for candidates wishing to run for mayor is the first week of June, 2011.  Same for council.  READ MORE >>

Urgent vs. Emergency Care

Overlake Hospital Medical Center website quoted:

"When involved in a situation where immediate medical treatment is necessary --whether it's a child ear infection of a spouse's chest pain--what level of care is appropriate?  The following chart is intended to assist you in determining where it's best to receive treatment for particular illnesses and injuries.  In the case of an emergency or life-threatening condition, call 911. 

DID YOU KNOW:  Urgent Care and Emergency Care serve very different types of patients and conditions.  When used appropriately for non-life-threatening conditions, Urgent Care can be a cost-effective treatment option, with a co-pay that is usually less than one for an emergency room visit."   

Comment:  Overlake Medical Center Issaquah - Urgent Care Center is the only Urgent Care clinic in the greater Redmond area offering walk-in service 24/7.  The clinic is ~ 10.7 miles from Redmond.   B.Y.

OPEN HOUSE: "Swedish Redmond Primary Care" - Election Day, February 8, 6-8pm

This is a rendering of a Swedish Redmond Primary Care "pod." on the second floor.

Updated:  OPEN HOUSE:  "Please join us at our new location for our Primary Care Open House on February 8th from 6-8pm.  Tour our new space, meet the doctors and get your general health questions answered for free!" 

Swedish Redmond Primary Care - location and office hours 

18100 N.E. Union Hill Rd.
Redmond, WA 98052
Phone: 425-702-8689
Fax: 206-320-5191
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
(*No Urgent Care)

Read More>>

LETTER: "STEM Education is the primary focus of my job"; will bring ideas home to RHS, By MIke Town

On April, 2010  Mike Town said good-bye to
students and faculty at RHS to work for the NSF.
 Mike and Meg will return home from D.C. August, 2011 to
 the beauty of NW mountains and rivers.  

Special thanks to a reader who asked the meaning of "STEM": Science,Technology, Engineering, and Math education.

From the desk of Mike Town...

For years I have read the Blog and this is the first chance I have had to respond to a request from Bob to update the readers on what is happening to Meg and me on our adventures in Washington DC. If you follow the blog you may know that I have taught science for 25 years at Redmond High School. Meg has taught for almost as long with the last 6 years at Redmond Junior High School. Over the past decade my main teaching responsibilities have included teaching Advanced Placement Environmental Science and a course in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability Design (which we will be offering at RHS again next year).

This year I accepted an Einstein Fellowship in Washington, DC working with the National Science Board which oversees the National Science Foundation. So last August Meg and I left our solar powered house and moved to Arlington.

The NSF, which was founded in 1950, funds a significant portion of science research in the United States. One of the agency’s mandates is STEM Education from kindergarten to the PhD level. These days STEM education reform is a hot issue. It should be. As many of you know... Read more >>

Redmond Rotary Club gives cash donation to Anderson Park improvements

Anderson Park shelter

At the February 1, 2011 Regular Council meeting City Council authorized the mayor to accept a cash donation of $15,000 from the Redmond Rotary Club.  The donation will partially fund the rehabilitation of the Anderson Park Picnic Shelter. 

Anderson Park is listed on the National Register of of Historic Places and the log picnic shelter is one of the primary contributing features.  The Redmond Historical Society's Annual picnic is held at the shelter.   Have you ever used the shelter?   

The rehabilitation work includes replacement of rotten or missing logs, roof replacement and repairs to the outdoor fireplace.  During the Council meeting, Councillor Stilin indicated the Rotarians want to also contribute to the physical aspects of the rehabilitation in some way.

To recognize the Rotarians contribution to the project, the Rotarians have requested a plaque be installed in close proximity to the renovated picnic shelter.   The plaque will be no larger than 8" x 10" and approved by Parks.  It appears Council okayed the plaque.

Source:  2/1 Regular Meeting, Consent Agenda
By Bob Yoder
Internet photo

Woodinville firm fined for hazardous waste violations

Woodinville firm fined for hazardous waste violations

BELLEVUE - A Woodinville painting contractor faces a $10,000 fine from the Department of Ecology (Ecology) for disregarding an order to correct safety and environmental practices involving the handling of
paint waste.

Ecology inspectors documented 38 violations at Laitala Enterprises Corp. in five inspections over the past 11 years. In September 2010, Ecology ordered the company to make six corrections, but the firm did not reply or file an appeal.

Redmond High School PTSA endorses levy measure

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE LWSD LEVY. The Lake Washington School District is facing overcrowding at all levels in our schools, including at RHS. In response, the District has placed a levy measure on the ballot on February 8th. The levy measure will fund additional space at RHS, as well as other needed improvements. The RHS PTSA has endorsed this measure and urges your support. Want to learn more? Please read about levy myths and facts.
 
Redmond High School PTSA
Mustang Weekly, 1/31

Development of the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church

January, 3, 2017 update:   Construction of the Church was completed in 2016.  It's located in Kirkland.  

Background information, 2011:

The recent crisis in Egypt and Seattle rally reminded me of the growing Egyptian resident population in Redmond.  Samiha Korshed is an influential Egyptian resident of Redmond.  She was cited in the Seattle Times:

"An estimated 1,500 - 2,000 Egyptian natives and family members live in the Seattle area, said Samiha Korshed of Redmond, who runs a social-network group for local Egyptians.  Kroshed likened the movement in her homeland  to the American Revolution.  She said the American government should not come to Mubarak's aid.  "I want to ask every American how they would feel if another country told them who their leaders should be."
  -- Josef Federman, AP, Seattle Times, 1-20-11.

###

Below is my November 22, 2009 report of the Christian Egyptians in Redmond.  They were trying to build a church on Rose Hill:  

Over 250 Russian and Egyptian citizens turned-out at the recent City Hall meeting of Nov. 2009

The last City Council meeting (11/17/09) could be labeled "organized chaos," or "history in the making." For Mayor John Marchione it was a home run. Probably, close to 300 citizens showed up. One of Marchione's Budget priorities is to "build a sense of community and connections with others." The Russians had issues with the city about a large office park next to Sears.

Christian Egyptian Church Site awaiting
sewer hook-up to Redmond

More than half of the attendees were from St. George Coptic Orthodox Church - a growing, peaceful community of Christian Egyptians seeking freedom in America from religious prosecution.

The church members came to Council seeking a sewer line extension-exception to service their proposed NE Redmond church. The project site is on county land planned for annexation. The annexation currently has 59% election approval: it needs 60% approval for annexation into Redmond.

Councilmember Richard Cole laid the hammer down referring to Redmond's long-standing urban growth boundary policy denying city sewer extensions into the County.  Mayor Marchione summed up the Council's decision stating:

"We welcome the St. George Coptic Church into the community, but this in not the vehicle in which to do it. The vehicle is through annexation."

Paul bought the lot next door to escape
the intersection traffic and gain better
access to NE 132nd Ave.  He lives
across the street from the church.  

UPDATE:  1/30/2011 -   I talked to Paul Paxhia today. His family lives right across from the church site on NE 100 St.  Church ingress and egress is on NE 100th Street adjacent his home.  Paul said the city annexed the county land  ("by a hair's margin")  about 6-8 months ago and it could take years for a sewer line extension.  In the meantime, without access to sewer, the Coptic church land remains idle.   Paul and three neighbors didn't sign the annexation petition owing to issue with severe traffic congestion on the intersection of 132nd Avenue NE and NE 100 Street. 

Report and photos by Bob Yoder

Reader requests a summary page for all School levy Letters

Drop your ballot off at City Hall
or the post office by 2/8.

http://redmondcity.blogspot.com/search/label/lwsd%20-%20bond

from the desk of Bob Yoder...

Feedback from a reader suggested posting a link to all the LWSD-Bond LETTERS on one page.  Great idea, Murthy! 

All the Letters and Opinions on the Capital Projects Levy are posted here: click this link!

This  link is posted on the LEVY VOTER'S GUIDE, too!

Juanita High School & Redmond High School drama students shine

Juanita High School & Redmond High School drama students shine

On Saturday, January 8, 42 Juanita High School drama students and 24 Redmond High School drama students participated in the Western Washington State Thespians Individual Events Festival held at Bellevue College. Students competed in the categories of Monologue, Solo musical, Duet musical, Duo Scene, and Group Musical.

Six students were in the top 10 percent of their category and are National qualifiers. These students are now eligible to compete at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Neb., at the end of June.  Read more for the list of top performing students...

2011 Year of the Rabbit to bring financial success? By Ukari Sumino

Northwest Asian Weekly Year of the Rabbit to bring financial success? :

"2011 is the year of the rabbit. It is the fourth animal symbol in the Chinese 12-animal system. This animal system is used as a means of numbering days and years, not just in China, but also in other East Asian nations like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

The animal system is also important in astrology and fortune telling.

It has been predicted that in the year of the rabbit, stock prices will jump (because of the tendency for rabbits to hop when they run). Here’s to hoping that this fortune comes true.

Who is the rabbit"? Read More

By Ukari Sumino
Northwest Asian Weekly
1/27/2011

CHINESE NEW YEAR FEAST CELEBRATION at:   Watercress Asian Bistro is celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with a 10-course family-style lunch and dinner banquet, Februrary 3-5.   Call Lily for reservations, 425-284-3188.  Watercress is a minute from RTC at:  16505 Redmond Way, Redmond.

LETTER: Why vote "Yes" for $65M expansion when District has $200M to spend?

LETTER:  In 1997 the district completed the “Study and Survey of School Facilities” and evaluated each of its existing schools for modernization or replacement. Per WAC 125-25-025, each school facility and its major systems and subsystems were to be evaluated based on the condition of deterioration and the cost of restoration vs. the cost of replacement. As a result, each school in the Lake Washington School District was placed in one of 4 phases for modernization/replacement based on an 8-year cycle. Although the list of schools assigned to each of four phases is still available, the original report detailing the condition of the facilities, the cost analysis, and other factors that determining decisions made by the facilities committee has not been found.

In February 1998, voters approved a bond measure for the “modernization” of the first 11 schools in Phase I. At that time, modernization still meant renovation, and the first two schools on the list, Audubon Elementary and Lakeview Elementary, were remodeled and updated. All schools since then have been torn down and rebuilt.

Phase I – 1998 Bond Measure for $160,000,000:
2000 - Audubon Elementary – $7,000,000 (remodel and updated)
2001 - Lakeview Elementary – $5,000,000 (remodel and expansion)
2000 - Twain Elementary –cost: unavailable
2002 - Redmond Junior High – $23,488,811
2003 - Horace Mann Elementary – $11,683,439
2003 - Thoreau Elementary – $11,052, 075
2003 - Redmond High School – $53,000,000
2004 - Kirkland Junior High – $15,489,298
2005 - Juanita Elementary – $9,666,000
2006 - Franklin Elementary –$9,899,672
2006 - Rose Hill Elementary – $10,712,410

Phase II - 2006 Bond Measure for $436,000,000:

2008 - Carson Elementary – $19,100,000 (New)
2009 - Frost Elementary – $19,100,000
2010 - Finn Hill Junior High – $29,679,028
2011 - Lake Washington High School – $58,700,000+ (final cost: tbd)  READ MORE
2011 - Muir Elementary –Bid: 18,300,000
2011 - Ben Rush Elementary – cost: tbd
2012 – Bell Elementary – cost: tbd
2012 – Keller Elementary – cost: tbd
2012 – Sandburg Elementary – cost: tbd
2013 - Rose Hill Junior High – cost: tbd
2013 – Community Elementary – cost: tbd
2013 – International Community School (ICS) – cost: tbd

It’s interesting to note that the cost of rebuilding an elementary school was about $10,000,000 during Phase I, but the three elementary schools that have been built or bid during Phase II cost nearly twice as much. The Phase II school buildings have become more architecturally elaborate and complex with three-story atriums, catwalks, soaring ceilings, walls of glass, and natural stone. These features are to be expected in a hotel or shopping mall, not in our schools and not paid for with our tax dollars!

The school district wants us to believe that money from the bond measures is for “modernization” while money from the upcoming levy is for “expansion” and somehow these two are separate and unrelated.  READ MORE 

LWSD Selected to Participate in Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Schools Program



Superintendent Chip Kimball

 Lake Washington School District Selected to Participate in Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Schools Program

Lake Washington School District joins elite corps of Innovative Schools in more than 46 countries.



Redmond, WA — January 28, 2011 — Yesterday, Microsoft Partners in Learning announced a new class of Pathfinder and Mentor Schools, which will be joining the Innovative Schools Program, part of Microsoft’s 10-year $500M initiative to help teachers and school leaders more effectively use technology as a tool for teaching and learning. Lake Washington School District was chosen after a rigorous global application process and joins a global community of 80 schools in 46 countries. Over the course of the next 12 months, Microsoft will work with educational experts to help the district through a process aimed at creating a community that is focused on innovative teaching and learning practice.

Mood Disorders In Women

NAMI-Eastside, National Alliance on Mental Illness - Forum On "Mood Disorders In Women"

Presents An Educational Forum On “Mood Disorders In Women”
Guest: Ioana Diaconu, MD
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 7 PM - 9 PM

Location: Evergreen Hospital, Suite Tan 100, 12303 NE 130th Lane
Kirkland, WA 98034
Forum is free. 

Dr. Diaconu is an attending psychiatrist at Fairfax Hospital in Kirkland and the Medical Director of the Hospitalization Program. Her outpatient practice has a strong focus on addressing mood disorders, anxiety and trauma in adults, as well as women’s issues. She will talk about the diversity and complexity of problems associated with mood disorders in women.

For more information: info@nami-eastside.org, http://www.nami-eastside.org/ , 425-885-6264

Pamela Schulenburg
NAMI-Eastside Volunteer
NAMI Eastside is located in "The Together Center"
16315 NE 87th Street, Suite B-4, \
Redmond, WA 98052

Evergreen Hospital Medical Center Ranked in Top Five Percent in Nation

CEO Bob Malte

     
 Evergreen Hospital Medical Center Ranked in Top Five Percent in Nation

For the third consecutive year, Evergreen Hospital Medical Center has been ranked among the nation’s top five percent of hospitals and named a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence™. The Clinical Excellence award was based on a study of mortality and complication rates by HealthGrades®, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company. Nearly 5,000 hospitals were included in the study.

Evergreen Hospital is one of only three hospitals in Washington to receive the HealthGrades’ 2011 Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award™. It is the only Washington hospital to achieve the award the past three consecutive years. Nationally, only 268 non-federal hospitals received this distinction.

“We are proud of this continued recognition and the world class outcomes our physicians, nurses, technologists and staff achieve,” said Evergreen CEO Bob Malte. “And we are even prouder because of what this means for the health and well-being of our communities. Every day, we recommit ourselves to working together to enrich the health and well-being of every life we touch”

Lake Washington School District Graded as High Return on Investment

Superintendent Chip Kimball

Lake Washington School District Graded as High Return on Investment

National study compares academic achievement per dollar spent

Redmond, Wash. – A national study of school district efficiency placed Lake Washington School District among those in the state of Washington with high achievement and low cost. Return on Educational Investment: A district-by-district evaluation of U.S. educational productivity gave Lake Washington its highest rating on “Basic ROI,” a measure that compared academic achievement per dollar spent, adjusting for concentrations of low-income, non-English-speaking and special education students.

The Center for American Progress study reviewed standardized test scores and expenditures for school districts with more than 250 students nationwide. Within each state, it placed school districts in three tiers for adjusted cost per student and achievement. Lake Washington was placed in the top tier for high achievement and the top tier for lowest cost.

Updated: Redmond's new (Red Light) Safety Camera Pilot Program begins Tuesday, February 1.

The City of Redmond’s new Safety Camera Pilot Program begins on February 1, 2011 with three red-light cameras and one school-zone camera. Redmond Police will issue warning tickets through February. Citations with fines will begin on March 1. The fine for a safety camera violation is $124.

The program will run for one year after which the City will evaluate its effectiveness and determine whether to make it permanent.

The locations of the three intersection cameras are eastbound at 148th Avenue NE and Redmond Way, eastbound and westbound at 156th Avenue NE and NE 40th Street and westbound and northbound at Union Hill Road and Avondale Road. A study performed in 2009 showed these intersections averaged over 600 vehicles running a red-light per month.

The school zone safety camera is installed eastbound and westbound in front of Einstein Elementary on NE 116th Street in north Redmond. Here the speeding violations (at least 26 mph in a 20 mph school zone) averaged almost 1000 per month.

LETTER: District needs dialogue with voters - leading toward revenue plan

Why are there so many different, independent requests for more revenue for the school district?

LETTER:  In a recent letter from the district president and district director, they described that this is a "unique" request; not like the others. If my memory serves me correctly, there is a steady stream of requests for more revenue, but I have never seen a comprehensive plan or description of the need in any form that makes sense to me.

Why is every request a 'crisis'? Are the demographics in the area so unpredictable that planning is not possible? In the business environment, this would be viewed as the result of poor strategic planning.  

By Howard Fraiser
Redmond, WA.

READ MORE

Microsoft's weirdest idea ever? Altered parasites to fight disease

Microsoft's weirdest idea ever? Altered parasites to fight disease:

"We've seen unusual patent applications from Microsoft before, but this one takes things to a whole new level. Under the title of 'Adapting Parasites to Combat Disease,' it describes 'systems and/or methods that facilitate sensing, detecting, logging, or treatment of a condition or need of a living body using a controlled parasite.'

Microsoft isn't commenting, but it's pretty clearly an example of the broad interests (some might say loose focus) of the company's research unit, not an example of the company's actual product plans.

Filed in July 2009 and made public earlier this month, the patent application reads like something out of science fiction" --

 Read more

Story and graphic By Todd Bishop
Techflash Microsoft Blog

UPDATED: President Pendergrass explains some of the "jobs and duties" of the School Board

"The job of the Board is to represent the citizens and to lead the organization by asking critical questions and by determining and demanding appropriate and excellent organizational performance." (LWSD By-Laws)

January 24, Regular meeting notes: 
In the January 24 School Board Meeting, Jackie Pendergrass was re-elected President and Ravi Shahani was re-elected Vice President by thel Board.

Just prior to the Consent Agenda (passed unanymously), President Pendergrass expressed, "I guess for our pubic", some comments about the jobs and duties of the school board, as follows:

"...none of us really has a power as a Board Director"

"...being President for this organization is really helping to run the agenda, the meetings that we have and then being avaibalble to discuss anything they (the Board members) have that may come up..."

"...we can't make decisions on our own that represent the Board, especially in our business"

"...we certainly represent the community and we listen to the community but we can't make decisions on our own, it takes the majority of the board..."

No one explained how the Board  represents the community as a single entity or as individuals.

Pres. Pendergrass and Dir. Bernard indivdually co-authored a Letter to local media outlets, yesterday advocating the levy.  It wasn't signed by all the Directors.

Watch and listen to President Pendergrass's entire talk (before the Consent Agenda) here

Reported By Bob Yoder
Photo By Yoder
Source:  Regular meeting of the School Board, 1/24 - personal attendence and video archive.

Capital Projects Levy Voter's Pamphlet!



24-hour ballot drop box open now
at Redmond City Hall

 Lake Washington School District paid $17,000 for a Voter's Pamphlet to help educate the voters on the levy for "overcrowding".  When you open your ballot, if you look really hard, you will find the phamplet text on the back side of the purple Fact Sheet. 

For your convenience, the text and audio versions of the Voter's Phamplet are linked below:

Audio: Voter's Pamphlet - "Statement in Favor" of Proposition No. 1, Capital Projects Levy (No Statement in opposition filed.)

Text: Voter's Pamphlet - "Statement in Favor" of Proposition No. 1, Capital Projects Levy (No Statement in opposition filed.)

Please forward this phamplet to your neighbors or tell them where they can find it.

Reported by Yoder

Source:  www.kingcounty.gov//elections
February 8, midnight deadline for voting by post
February 8, 8PM deadline for voting by drop box

Updated: 70-75% of responses from Redmond Fire Stations are for medical emergencies.

Rendering of Fire Station 17 - Courtesy of City of Redmond

The public is invited to join the City of Redmond at the groundbreaking ceremony for Fire Station 17 in North Redmond on Thursday, January 27 at 10 a.m.

Mayor John Marchione, City Councilmembers and Fire Chief Tim Fuller, among others, will be in attendance. Light refreshments will be served.

Fire Station 17 is scheduled to house a Medic One unit when it opens.  In a meeting with Council President Richard Cole today, Mr. Cole indicated response times should improve in the North Redmond/Education Hill area.  Units will avoid the traffic congestion of Avondale, Novelty Hill Rd, and Redmond-Woodinville Road.  He said a Medic unit will be housed in Fire Station 17 in advance of the fire trucks since Medics respond to 75% of all emergency fire calls.

No parking for the general public is available on-site. Guests must park in the north lot of the Church of the Holy Cross, 11526 162nd Ave. N.E. Access to the lot is best from NE 116th Street just east of 162nd Avenue NE. Shuttles are available from 9:30 to 9:55 am to take guests from the parking lot to the site and return them to their cars at the completion of the ceremony.

Reported by Yoder

Source:  Council President Richard Cole
Marta Gronlund, City Communications



LETTER: Increased enrollment is not an anomaly - the levy is needed to create space

LETTER:  My husband and I live in the Juanita community and we strongly urge Lake Washington School District residents to vote YES for the district’s February 8th capital levy.

Maintaining our excellent schools is important to the quality of life in our community and to our children’s futures. If our children choose to live here when they are adults, we hope they’ll find this is a stable community and still a great place to raise a family.

The levy is needed to pay for new classroom space and a new school to accommodate the district’s sudden increase this past year in enrollment after a decade of almost no growth. The increase is no anomaly; the enrollment is expected to continue to climb.

LETTER: "We are facing a very real space crisis. Vote Yes", By School Board Directors, Jackie Pendergrass and Nancy Bernard.

Director Nancy Bernard
Kirkland resident

To the editor:

As members of the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors, we urge you to vote yes for the district’s levy measure. We are facing a very real space crisis. It’s just not possible to fit in hundreds more students into the system each year without some cost. With 600 more students this year and 450 more expected each year for at least the next five, we will run out of space by the fall of 2012.

This measure is not about the planned change in grade configuration to a four-year high school system. That change is being made for academic reasons.

It also helps us handle the space problem by moving sixth grade out of our already crowded elementary schools, schools that would be in a crisis without a change that brings us in line with most other school districts in the state and nation.

Pres. Jackie Pendergrass,
 Kirkland resident

 It is not about the school building modernization program, which was approved twice by voters, first in 1998 and then in 2006. That program ensures that our school district has buildings that are suited to the current educational program through a complete update every 30-40 years.



What this measure is about is adding classroom space at the high school level where we will desperately need it very soon. It is about making sure that Redmond and Eastlake High Schools have enough space for the students who enter their doors. An additional small secondary school will reduce those numbers so that those two schools don’t become too large. Because of the great interest locally and nationally in science, technology, engineering and math education, we will focus the curriculum on those subjects. This new school will be open to students from all over the district.

The Lake Washington School District works hard to provide an excellent education for our students, but we need your support. Please Vote yes for our students and mail your ballot by February 8. (The voter’s pamphlet is included in your ballot on the back of the instruction sheet.)

Sincerely,

Jackie Pendergrass, Director, District 1, Board President
Nancy Bernard, Director, District 3

City Invites Feedback for Redmond Central Connector

City Invites Feedback for Redmond Central Connector

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond invites you to provide feedback on the draft design for the Redmond Central Connector at a community meeting on Thursday, January 27 from 6:30 to 8:30pm at Redmond City Hall, 15670 NE 85th Street.

This draft design is part of the Master Plan process the City is currently undertaking for the Redmond Central Connector. The design that will be presented at this meeting is derived from the comments and suggestions given to the City through the many public meetings, stakeholder interviews and City Commissions.

“The redevelopment of this corridor will both redefine the heart of Redmond and respect Redmond’s history,” stated Carolyn Hope, Senior Park Planner and project manager. “Creative input from Redmond’s residents and business people is important to develop a plan that reflects the community’s values.”

The Redmond Central Connector includes a 3.89 mile long linear corridor extending from the east end of the Bear Creek Trail in Redmond Town Center to NE 124th Street. This area will build community through enhanced pedestrian and transit connections, personal interaction and opportunities to engage businesses with customers.

For more information on the meeting, contact Carolyn Hope at 425-556-2313 or cjhope@redmond.gov .
For more information on the project, visit the City’s website at http://www.redmond.gov/PlansProjects/Parks/RedmondCentralConnector/

Announcement by City
Graphic by City

REPUBLISHED: Dr. Kimball unveils plan to cope with severe overcrowding in LW schools

Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball

 October 11, 2010 Regular Board Meeting (video)

REPUBLISHED from 10/11/2010 -  Jill, a mother of two with a daughter at Rockwell Elementary, testified to the School Board last night about "the horrors of overcrowding".  Jill was shocked when she learned the Rosa Parks Elementary population reached 700 this year and she fears it won't be long for Rockwell.  When she moved to the neighborhood 3.5 years ago Rockwell had 480 students.  Today it's 610, with new portables and few options for full-day Kindergarten.   

Based on Jill's testimony, the overcrowding problem in some elementary schools is real .  Data from the input sessions suggested that the District ask for money to deal with immediate overcrowding issues but "not over ask".  Superintendent Kimball and the Board agreed on the following proposal for the February, 2011 ballot.

• a $65.4 million, 6-year Levy to pay for new 250-student additions at Redmond High and Eastlake High AND to build nearby a 675 student "STEM" school for grades 6-12.   
• the Levy tax is 0.31/$1000 assessed property; or $155/year for a $500,000 house.  No financing or interest is applied. 
• the "STEM" school core curriculum  is "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math" with a goal to incubate best practices for other schools.   STEM will cost $25 million with solid modular construction.
• Juanita High will "not be modernized right now" saving $135 million.
• Kimball's levy measure will cost taxpayers $190 million less than last year's bond which failed by 4%. The Levy only needs and 50% simple majority to pass.  Last year's bond required a 60% majority.
• Levy benefits:  no HS over 2,000.  no meg-high schools.  no double shifts.  no portables.  no excessive busing.  permanent classrooms, core gyms and cafeterias. keep space for computers and music.    

President Jackie Pendergrass said the STEM school should draw some grant money from outside sources. She suggested Microsoft and the Lake Washington School Foundation  as sources.  Board member Shahani was concerned about Juanita High age, but said the STEM school is needed to solve the space problem.  He likes the STEM "Choice" school concept.  Board member Bernard was pleased with the 1000 person survey turnout, no portables, possible federal grants, and no double-shift nightmares. She emphasized the new ventilation system at Juanita and the wonderful staff.  Board member Carlson said he favors "all Choice all the time" and asked to double the size of the STEM school to eliminate the two additions.  Kimball said this wasn't feasible.  READ MORE >>

Results from three community input sessions and a website survey were reviewed by Superintendent Kimball and the Board.   Parent and community participants (58%) recommended the District ask for money to deal with immediate overcrowding issues but "not over ask".   69% of the parents said "no not right now" to spending $135 Million on modernizing Juanita High School.  Juanita High was built in l971.  70% did not want to eliminate classrooms for music and computers.  All-day kindergartens received the most support for solving overcrowding.  70% gave a thumbs down on portables.  68% said yes to two new elementary schools in the next five years.  74% agreed to permanent classroom additions at Redmond and Eastlake High.  The statistical validity or significance of the survey was not discussed.

Reported by Bob Yoder
Republished:  1/23/2011
Source:  10/11/2010, Regular Board Meeting archives
Photo of Dr. Kimball from LWSD website
http://lwsd.org/

LETTER: Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Sammamish, and Woodinville allow backyard chickens on average residential lots. Why not Redmond?

LETTER:  What do the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Sammamish, and Woodinville have that Redmond doesn't’t? Backyard chickens on average residential lots, that’s what! That’s right…unless you have at least ½ acre or larger lot, a Redmond city ordinance prevents you from raising a few hens for eggs.

Why does it matter if you can raise chickens in Redmond? Three hens can provide an abundance of protein-rich eggs right in your backyard. In addition to being fresh and delicious, some studies have shown “pastured” eggs provide more nutrients than commercial eggs. Food safety is also a growing focus, highlighted by the recent recall of over half a billion commercially-grown eggs.

Redmond is a wonderful city and we applaud their efforts to be livable and green. They’ve taken big steps like building City Hall to be an award-winning “green” building, but the Council continues to resist this small step that would allow individual citizens to contribute to their own health and to Redmond’s sustainable future.

What is more important? Winning an award for installing water-free toilets? Or allowing your citizens to contribute to a more sustainable community one hen (and 1 egg) at a time? If sustainability is really a goal, then Redmond should join all of our surrounding communities and change its ordinance to allow a small number of backyard hens on average residential lots.

As with any issue, it takes more than a few voices to promote change. Please join us by emailing your Redmond City Council at Council@redmond.gov  and contact us at chickensinredmond@gmail.com.  We are also on Facebook – look for Chickens in Redmond.

The author's email:  chickensinredmond@gmail.com
Photo from Google Images