March 2012

Thousands of people participated in the Donors Choose online giving campaign, funding 467 classroom projects in Highline schools.

Highline had more projects funded than in almost any other district in South King County. Only Seattle, with nearly three times as many students, funded more projects.

Last fall, Starbucks stores throughout the county distributed $10 gift cards that could be spent at the Donors Choose website where teachers posted classroom wish lists, ranging from basic materials such as books to scientific models for hands-on learning.

Many people who logged on to Donors Choose contributed their own money, as well.

In all, Highline students received 43,567 separate donations.

The city of Seattle invites Seattle architects to apply for a position on the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board. Applicants with a particular interest in the history of Ballard Avenue are encouraged to apply.

The seven-member Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board protects the historical and architectural values and significance of the district by regulating all proposed changes to the external appearance of buildings, structures, and public rights-of-way located within the district boundaries.

The board is composed of two district property owners, two district property owners/business persons, one district tenant/resident, one architect and one Ballard historian or person with a demonstrated interest in the Ballard community. Five board members are elected for a two-year term at annual elections in the district, and two are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The opening on the board is for the architect position.

Board meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Board members generally must commit two to four hours a month to Board business. Board members serve without compensation.

SeaTac lawmakers ended up March 10 endorsing ‘healthy living” policies such as encouraging neighborhood grocery stores to stock more fresh fruit and produce but the vote was close.

The City Council voted 4-3 to endorse the “Corner Store” policies and regulations. Mayor Tony Anderson, Deputy Mayor Mia Gregerson, Councilman Barry Ladenburg and Councilman Dave Bush voted in favor of the endorsement. Council members Terry Anderson, Rick Forschler and Pam Fernald voted against.

The policies are part of a healthily living grant from Public Health-Seattle, King County. Besides working with local stores, the policies would encourage such activities as mobile farmers markets and community gardens on public land. The policies could be incorporated into SeaTac comprehensive plan at a later date.

Fernald said she didn’t believe the city should become involved in what products are sold in the city. She said she opposes “bribing” stores to stock foods they would not normally carry. That could lead to stores throwing away lots of food they can’t sell, she added.

Statement from King County Sheriff Sue Rahr

Today, I have accepted a final offer from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) to become the Director. I plan to retire as Sheriff on March 31 and assume my new duties as Director of the academy on April 1.

I made the decision to leave the Sheriff’s Office before the end of my term for a number of reasons. First, and foremost, I have complete confidence in Chief Deputy Steve Strachan and the rest of the command staff to effectively lead the Sheriff’s Office and continue to protect and serve the citizens of King County. I would not and could not leave this post without that confidence. I believe this transition can be smooth with no impact on our service and no disruption of our workforce.

Press release:

Three Tree Montessori School is a small (143 children ages 1-12) school in South Burien.

Last month a few of our TTMS Elementary students challenged each other to a canned food drive.

Part of the continuous Montessori curriculum is community service. It is our hope that children will leave TTMS with a heartfelt commitment to their neighborhoods and to the world.

This year particularly our students have been discussing the need in our own community. They were shocked to learn that other children, right here in Burien, go each day with little to no food.

TTMS students have volunteered at the “Highline Food Bank” in the past, but this time they wanted to do something that could make a different kind of difference.

The challenge was on! Our upper Elementary (8 students, ages 9-12) and our Lower Elementary (25 students, ages 6-9) decided on a canned food off.

Students had 25 days to collect as many cans as possible. Time was short and the methods were creative. All efforts, as in all things Montessori, were student driven.

Press release:

Each year the Highline Schools Foundation solicits nominations from community members, district employees, and parents for its prestigious and much-anticipated Gold Star Awards. This year’s list of impressive and well-deserving nominees includes highly qualified staff, volunteers, and administrators.

The Gold Star Award WINNERS will be announced live next Thursday, March 22nd, at the first annual Gold Star Awards BASH. The Foundation has created this event as a low-cost way for parents, teachers, and community members to participate in Gold Star and celebrate all of the notable people who do such important, great work in Highline Public Schools.

Event Details:

Gold Star Awards BASH
Thursday, March 22nd
6:30-8:30 p.m.
The Production Shop (a new event space in Burien)
14624 9th Avenue, one block East of Burien Walgreens.
Tickets are $15 and include appetizers, drinks, music and celebration at this fun event unveiling the winners of the 2012 Gold Star Awards! 21 and over, please.
Click this link to our event registration page:
http://goo.gl/J7DtV

2012 GOLD STAR AWARD NOMINEES

The body that was spotted floating off the 3800 block of Beach Drive SW on March 12 is now the subject of a murder investigation and the Seattle Police Department is seeking the public's help. The body was that of a 51 year old woman from Kent identified as Greggette Renee Guy.

According to a report on the SPD Blotter,"Homicide detectives believe the victim parked her car in the 4400 block of Beach Drive SW on Sunday night, March 11th. The victim had planned to take a walk along the beach but was found deceased just offshore the next morning. Her throat had been slashed (according to some news reports) although on Friday no official cause of death has been announced. The suspect(s) remain at large.

Detectives recovered Guy's Buick on March 12, the day her body was pulled from the water. It was parked six blocks from where her body was found in the 4400 block of Beach Drive s.w.

If you have knowledge or information about this incident or if you saw any suspicious activity, vehicles or persons in the area on the evening of Sunday, March 11th, please call 911 or the Seattle Police Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. Anonymous tips are welcome."

The faces of Kyle Duce and his wife Kristi will soon be missing from one of West Seattle's new favorite restaurant/bars Locöl Barley and Vine at 7902 35th s.w.

Duce, who with partner Shane Whitall and a group of investors launched the beer and wine bar just over a year ago is moving back to Colorado to provide more support for his family. It's where his extended family still lives and where he hopes to launch another business.

He and Whitall will retain ownership of Locöl and he will still come back to visit on occasion but this Friday is his last day behind the bar. A private party is planned for his send off.

Duce and his wife and daughter have lived in West Seattle for five years, but it grew increasingly apparent that for his family he needed to be close to them in Colorado where he was born. He traveled there for Christmas and he chose this time to make the move.

Susan Enfield won’t have to take that much of a salary cut to move from the state’s largest school district to become Highline’s new superintendent July 1.

The Highline School Board Wednesday, March 13 voted unanimously to adopt Enfield’s three-year contract with an annual salary of $220,000.

The Seattle Times has reported that Seattle and Bellevue pay their superintendents about $225,000 a year. Enfield became a serious candidate for the Bellevue top job after indicating she was not interesting in moving from the interim superintendent to the permanent position in Seattle, the state’s largest school district.

Highline and Bellevue both enroll about 18,000 students.

Enfield will be making a larger salary than her predecessor, John Welch. The Seattle Times reported Welch was earning an annual salary of $186,000. Welch left the district in June to become superintendent of the Puget Sound Educational Service District, headquartered in Renton.

Highline spokeswoman Catherine Carbone Rogers emphasized that Enfield agreed to some reductions in non-salary compensation that were part of Welch’s contract package.

Sili Savusa, has been hired as the new Executive Director for the White Center Community Development Association. She replaces Aileen Balahadia who has been in the job for the past 8 years. Described as "a long time community advocate" Savusa also lives in White Center.

Sili Savusa will take on the new role at the CDA beginning March 19, 2012. She has been serving as the Family Center Coordinator for Southwest Youth and Family Services.

She has also served as Highline School Board Director in 2007 as the first woman of color, Position #1, and founded the first Samoan/Pacific Islander Parent Teacher Student Association in the Nation in 2002, addressing education issues impacting Pacific Islander students and their families.