Several Tyee High students praised their new small learning communities during an April 26 Highline School Board meeting.

The SeaTac campus switched to three small schools in September.

In the learning communities, about 350 to 400 students take classes together in a themed school with a small group of teachers.

The more personalized system is designed to make sure students become well known to their teachers, who take responsibility for their success.

Highline high schools are moving away from the comprehensive model where students move between classrooms with different teachers and classmates in each one.

Tyee was the first Highline school to change to small schools in every grade.

Senior Lencho Williams told board members he was pleased when the principal of the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment (ACE), his small school, personally greeted him on the first day of class. An ACE staff member has also called him early in the morning to get him out of bed in time for school.

Sophomore Jacob Eiselstein pointed to friendly relationship between teachers and students in small learning communities. He noted all teachers care about him and are willing to help him.

But, they stress that excellence is up to him, Eiselstein added.

Noting he would be the first member of his family to go to college in the United States, student Sergio Valves credited encouragement from ACE teachers.

Because of their help, he earned his first perfect 4.0 grade-point average this year, Valves added.

Senior Joel Luna characterized small learning communities as “the greatest thing in the world.

“The teachers are completely devoted to me. I’m stunned they put in so much effort,” Luna declared.

Noting he tutors ninth-graders, Luna cited the strong relationship between lower classmen and upper classmen in the small school.

“I’m confident everyone can benefit, he added.

Senior Kacee Cronquist recalled that in her first three years at Tyee, she skipped many classes, didn’t think about her future and “felt insignificant.”

After eight months in a learning community, she has been accepted at three colleges and “consider my school as my family.”

Superintendent John Welch announced that the Tyee band would become part of Tyee’s Global Connections School next year.

Tyee band parents and students complained to Welch and board members after Tyee’s three principals suggested band be moved to an after-school activity in September.

Welch said he usually does not overrule principals.

“But this is one where I said I wouldn’t do it, and I did it,” Welch admitted.

He also announced that while Tyee’s enrollment is declining, the school would be assigned about the same number of teachers next year.

Board members also heard from Aziz Junejo, a representative of SeaTac’s Islamic community, who asked for a meeting to discuss the sale of the Riverton Heights school building.

Junejo, a Seattle Times religion columnist, said the school is located next to an Islamic center. Friday night services cause traffic jams in the area, so Islamic community members told district officials they wanted to buy the school property for an extra parking lot and community property.

Community members also cleaned up around the site, he said

According to Junejo, they were not told the building was up for sale, so did not submit a bid.

“We have taken steps toward you,” Junejo added. “We ask you take steps toward us.”

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1855.