Tukwila

Primary election results signal big turnover in Burien council

ericm — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 01:29:14 +0000

ericm Wed, 08/07/2013 - 6:29pm

There could be at least three new Burien City Council members in January if Aug. 6 primary election results are a good indication.

In results as of Wednesday evening, Aug. 7, challenger Lauren Berkowitz was garnering a majority of the votes against Councilmember Jack Block Jr. and Kip Walton.

Former Burien mayor Joan McGilton was in a dead-heat with council critic Debi Wagner for McGilton’s council seat.

In the race for Mayor Brian Bennett’s council seat, newcomer Steve Armstrong had a healthy lead over planning commissioner Joey Martinez and Chuck Rangel. Rangel has also been very critical of the council majority. Bennett did not seek re-election.

In SeaTac, councilmember Rick Forschler had a small lead over challenger Kathryn Campbell. The third candidate, Othman Heibe was eliminated from the general election race.
Appointed councilmember Jeremy Nutting had a substantial lead over law-and-order candidate James Payne in Des Moines.

The top two vote getters in each race will continue on to the Nov. 5 general election.
For Block’s Burien council seat, Berkowitz received 51 percent, 2,541 votes; Block 42 percent, 2,101 votes; and Walton, 6 percent, 285 votes.

The council majority censured Block earlier this year for a Christmas-time private Facebook posting of a scantily attired young woman. Berkowitz was among those who complained to the council about the posting.

Also during the primary campaign, the Berkowitz campaign accused Block of running up exorbitant travel expenses during his two terms. For good measure, the Berkowitz campaign released a photo of Block posing with two Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders at a National League of Cities conference. Block responded that the expenses were for legitimate training and lobbying sessions.

Block has often aligned with Deputy Mayor Lucy Krakowiak and Councilmember Bob Edgar in opposing the council majority of Bennett, McGilton, Rose Clark and Gerald Robison. Clark will face Nancy Tosta in the general election.

In the four-way race for McGilton’s seat, McGilton received 33 percent, 1,628 votes; Wagner, also 33 percent, 1,617 votes; Andrea H. Reay, 23 percent, 1,140 votes and Robert L. Richmond, 11 percent, 559 votes. It appears that McGilton and Wagner will face each other in the general election.

McGilton served three terms as mayor but this year has missed several council meetings because of health issues and did not put out campaign signs during the primary.

Whether Wagner will pick up the anti-council majority vote from Reay’s supporters is unclear.
In the primary, Reay’s campaign filed a state Public Disclosure Commission complaint against Wagner over campaign finance reporting while Wagner criticized Reay’s use of a campaign consultant.

In the race to take Bennett’s vacated seat, Armstrong received 49 percent, 2,457 votes; Martinez received 28 percent, 1,410 votes and Rangel received 22 percent, 1,090 votes. It looks like Armstrong and Martinez will go on to the November election.

In SeaTac, incumbent Forschler picked up 47 percent of the primary vote with 1,023 votes. Campbell received 40 percent, 871 votes. Heibe came in third with 13 percent, 290 votes.

Forschler is among the SeaTac council minority along with Council members Pam Fernald and Terry Anderson. Mayor Tony Anderson, Deputy Mayor Mia Gregerson, Councilmember Barry Ladenburg and Councilmember Dave Bush often vote together.

Along with Forschler, Fernald and Tony Anderson are up for re-election in the general election. Joe Van opposes Fernald while Tony Anderson is unopposed.

SeaTac’s general election is commanding wide attention because of a measure on the ballot that would guarantee some airport workers a $15 an hour minimum wage. Campaign spending is expected to be very high.

In Des Moines, Nutting far outpolled his November opponent, Payne. Nutting received 56 percent of the total with 2,065 votes. Payne garnered 35 percent, 1,284. Chuck Swesey received 9 percent, 339 votes.

Swesey, who wrote in his Highline Times candidate questionnaire, “Frankly, I don’t particularly want the job” will get his wish.

Des Moines voters apparently have rejected a utility tax increase. Fifty-four percent (2,221 votes) voted against the measure while 46 percent (1,923 votes) voted for it. The proposed proposition increased the Des Moines’ utility occupation tax to pave existing city streets.

In Water District 49, incumbent David G. Lutz received 54 percent, 844 votes; Roger Gee received 28 percent, 434 votes and John Levich received 17 percent, 267 votes. Lutz and Gee will face each other in the November election.

Long-time incumbent Tukwila School board member Mary E. Fertakis picked up 55 percent, 590 votes and will run against Jennifer Johnson, who received 31 percent, 331 votes, in the general election.

King County Elections will update the results until the primary election is certified on Aug. 20.

Pavement work to temporarily close Sea-Tac’s center runway this summer

ericm — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 20:03:19 +0000

ericm Fri, 06/28/2013 - 1:03pm

Construction period scheduled for July 8 - August 2

Press release:

The Port of Seattle is alerting area residents to a scheduled temporary center runway closure for pavement work this summer at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

During the closure, airport neighbors may notice changes in runway use as the two outside runways will be used more frequently. All air traffic will be directed to Sea-Tac’s two other open runways during the project.

The construction work, scheduled for July 8-August 2, will extend the life of the runway.

The runway closure will not affect airline flight schedules or passengers. Construction work will occur primarily during daytime hours. The timing takes advantage of dry, sunny weather — ideal construction conditions — to reduce the total time of the closure.    

July 8 – August 2 Closure Details
Runway 16C-34C will be closed for less than a month to replace deteriorating concrete surface panels. This work will allow the continued safe operation of the runway until full reconstruction slated for 2016. Approximately 10 panels will be replaced, representing less than one percent of the approximately 4,000 concrete panels that comprise the center runway. In 2012, 19 panels were replaced and in 2010, 144 panels were replaced.

More Runway Project Details Runway 16C/34C was originally constructed in 1969, with a 20-year design life. The Port began a Runway Improvement Program in 1994 to rehabilitate and extend the useful life of the runway.

Approximately 670 concrete panels have been replaced since the beginning of the program. The cost of this year’s work, part of a larger $5 million airfield pavement project, is anticipated to be under $200,000.

Ground broken on permanent Tukwila commuter train station

ericm — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 20:28:54 +0000

ericm Mon, 06/24/2013 - 1:28pm

Sounder and Amtrak riders who travel through Tukwila have something to celebrate: Sound Transit broke ground today on construction of a permanent Sounder commuter rail station in Tukwila. The station will replace a temporary structure and offer 390 parking spaces, better transit connections, more bicycle storage, improved passenger shelters, and public art.

Joining in turning the first ceremonial shovels of dirt were U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, Sound Transit Board Vice Chair and King County Council Vice Chair Julia Patterson, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo, Sound Transit Boardmember and King County Executive Dow Constantine, State Rep. Steve Bergquist, and Tukwila City Council President Kathy Hougardy.

“Today marks a long-awaited milestone. Sounder rider access is improving in South King County,” said Julia Patterson. “Currently, more than 1,300 weekday boardings take place on average at the temporary Tukwila Station. Now, local residents and regional commuters will have a permanent Sounder Station in Tukwila for years to come.”

The Tukwila Station is the second most popular Sounder south line facility on a commuter rail route that serves 10,000 riders a day. Sound Transit secured $14.2 million in competitive federal grant monies to help fund for the project. Voters approved a station in Tukwila in the 1996 Sound Move ballot measure. Sound Transit delayed construction of a permanent facility to make sure it would work well with transportation and development plans in Tukwila and Renton. Sound Transit built a temporary structure in 2000 to serve riders in the area until the permanent station was complete.

“I am pleased this investment in our regional transportation system is moving forward,” said Congressman Adam Smith. “The partnership between Sound Transit, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Federal Railroad Administration is an excellent example of what can be accomplished by working together to continue building a transit network that will serve Central Puget Sound residents for generations to come.”

The new facility, with a total budget of $46 million, will include two 600-foot-long platforms, two new passenger shelters, improvements to the underpass connecting the two platforms, and a bus transit area supporting better access to King County Metro Transit services, including the future Rapid Ride F line. Parking for transit users will nearly double from 208 to 390 stalls, and a plaza, improved walkways and lighting will offer better pedestrian access to the station. The facility will also house four electrical charging stations, and bicycle storage will increase from 27 to 76 spaces. Stormwater detention facilities and rain gardens will help manage stormwater runoff, which has been an issue at the temporary facility. A signature entryway art piece by artist Sheila Klein will welcome riders to the station.

“The new Tukwila Station strengthens Amtrak’s Cascade service in Central Puget Sound for some 27,000 Amtrak passengers annually,” Joseph C. Szabo, Federal Railroad Administrator said. “Construction of this station brings us one step closer to realizing the region’s long-term vision for future interconnected regional and intercity passenger service that is safe, more frequent, and more reliable.”

“The City of Tukwila would like to thank Sound Transit for its work in realizing the vision of a permanent Sounder station in our city,” said Tukwila City Council President Kathy Hougardy. “The investments in a new structure, additional parking, and improved access for those walking, riding, and taking the bus will enhance transportation connections for those who depend on transit for their travel needs.” 
The station will serve Sounder commuter rail and Amtrak Cascades service. The temporary facility will remain in operation during construction. The station is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2014.

Tukwila

Transportation

Highline Times

Students from Highline accepted into the Washington Aerospace Scholars Program at Museum of Flight in Tukwila

ericm — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:28:57 +0000

ericm Thu, 06/06/2013 - 3:28pm

Washington Aerospace Scholars Program provides opportunities for high school students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math

Press release:

The Washington Aerospace Scholars program is pleased to announce that the following students will be participating in one of the four WAS Summer Residency sessions held in June and July at the Museum of Flight in Tukwila. Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is a competitive educational program, based at Tukwila’s Museum of Flight, for high school juniors from across Washington State.

Mahekdeep Singh from Burien, Aviation High School
Marie-Alexis Mayor from Burien, Bellarmine High School
Abigail Jarve from SeaTac, Aviation High School

These scholars are among the 160 students who qualified for the Washington Aerospace Scholars Summer Residency program from 283 students who applied in November. To qualify for the residency program, they spent five months studying a University of Washington and NASA-designed, distance-learning curriculum via the Internet and have been selected to attend one of the four residencies hosted at The Museum of Flight this summer based on their academic performance on the distance-learning lessons.

Through a special partnership with the University of Washington, WAS students were also able to register for an optional fee of $237 to earn five UW credits in Space and Space Travel -ESS 102 (a course which satisfies the Natural World area of knowledge requirement for graduation from the University of Washington) based on their successful completion of the WAS curriculum.

During the residency experience, they will collaborate with the other student participants on the design of a human mission to Mars. WAS scholars are guided by professional engineers, scientists, university students and certified educators as they plan these missions.

The WAS program is designed to inspire students to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) but the students are divided into teams which also require them to learn about mission management, budgets, the legal aspects of space exploration, and medicine.

In addition to the design of the human mission to Mars, they and the other WAS scholars will also participate in a number of hands-on engineering challenges. These challenges included design, construction and deployment of robotic rovers, model rockets, lander devices, and payload lofting systems.
Summer residency participants will also receive briefings from experts in the fields of engineering, science, physics, medicine, project management, risk management, and space exploration, such as Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, NAE, retired NASA astronaut. They will also visit Everett, WA, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Boeing Commercial Airplane assembly plant, (including the new 787), tour Aerojet’s Redmond facilities, and the engineering laboratories at the University of Washington.

Returning for 2013, interested parties can follow the Summer Residency experience through Twitter. Incorporating Twitter into the Aerospace Scholars program is a fun way for the scholars to keep their parents, family and friends back at home informed as to what they are doing during the week. WAS will be posting daily events to give parents an update on what is going on, and students will be able to post as well giving their own insights of the program. If you already have a Twitter account, you can follow us with the username @WASMission2Mars.

All room and board are provided to students free of charge by the Washington Aerospace Scholars Foundation. The program has been supported by Governor Chris Gregoire, The Apex Foundation, The Aldarra Foundation, The Boeing Company, Microsoft, Battelle, The Washington Space Grant Consortium, GenCorp and individual donors. The Museum of Flight hosts both the program administration and the summer residency sessions. Additional partners include NASA Johnson Space Center for curriculum development, the Washington State Governor’s Office, and Washington State Legislators.

As we celebrate our seventh year of programming, we are proud to report that over 1,680 students have participated in our online distance-learning curriculum and as of this summer over 1,000 students will have participated in our Summer Residency program. Since the program launched in 2006, students from 299 different public, private, and home school organizations in 158 public school districts have participated in WAS. Our alumni association tracks scholars after they graduate high school, and we are excited that over 70% of our reporting alumni have told us that they are pursuing a college degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) field. We now have over 860 WAS alumni attending some of the top engineering colleges and universities across the U.S. and they continue to amaze us with updates on their progress. Last spring, the inaugural class of 2007 began to graduate from college and we look forward to learning their post-collegiate plans.

Washington Aerospace Scholars will be accepting applications for students and teachers in early September for the 2013-2014 program cycle; visit www.museumofflight.org/was to download an application. WAS participants must be high school juniors, United States citizens and Washington State residents. Teachers must be currently practicing, Washington State certified educators, and must also be US Citizens. The deadline for applications is November 8, 2013.

For more information, please contact Washington Aerospace Scholars at 206-764-5866 or waaerospacescholars@museumofflight.org.

Founded in 2006, Washington Aerospace Scholars is an educational program for high school juniors from across Washington State. The program emphasizes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and encourages students to consider careers in these fields.

Highline Public Schools

Public Schools

Highline Times

Man shot, police officer hit by car at Southcenter Wednesday afternoon

ericm — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:59:07 +0000

ericm Wed, 05/08/2013 - 4:59pm

One man was hit by police gunfire and an officer was hit by a car in an incident Wednesday afternoon at Southcenter mall in Tukwila

Here is a report by our news partner Q13 Fox News:

http://q13fox.com/2013/05/08/shooting-at-southcenter-mall/#axzz2SkSGk02I

Tukwila

Crime/Vandalism

Highline Times

Gov. Inslee declares support for SR-509 extension project

ericm — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:54:56 +0000

ericm Mon, 04/15/2013 - 11:54am

List of 509 project supporters also released

Press release:

Gov. Jay Inslee has joined more than 90 community, business, labor and civic leaders in urging lawmakers to approve a new round of transportation improvements and projects.
Inslee and representatives from the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle, area legislators and long-time SR 509 and SR 167 stakeholders convened at the Port of Tacoma near the proposed SR 509/SR 167 Gateway project.

This project will significantly improve freight mobility for area businesses and connect the state’s largest ports to key distribution centers in King and Pierce Counties and to Eastern Washington.

Among the list of supporters of the SR-509 extension project are the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila, Federal Way and Kent.

Additional 509 project supporters are the Port of Seattle, Teamsters Local 174, International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 19, Professional & Technical Employees Local 17, Shuttle Express and Kent Chamber of Commerce.

Still more supporters are South Sound Chambers Legislative Coalition, Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, Washington Trucking Association, Graham Trucking, RONTRA Freight, PROLOGIS, Colliers International and Llewellyn Real Estate.

“There’s little we can do to grow our economy if we don’t address the fundamental need to provide businesses and workers with a reliable and efficient way to get people and products where they need to be,” said Inslee. “We also need to recognize that new investments must come with a new level of accountability. Legislators and members of the public want to be assured these projects are constructed as efficiently as possible and deliver real benefits.”

Inslee shared what he called key principles for a 2013 transportation package:
Jobs – In addition to short-term construction jobs, transportation investments must spur long-term economic benefits in the form of reduced commute times or quicker freight movement
Fix it first and maintain what we have – Today, driving on roads in need of repair costs Washington motorists $272 per motorist a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs. More than 1 in 5 bridges in Washington are considered functionally obsolete and 67% of Washington’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition. We need to ensure the safety of existing roadways and bridges and address the backlog of maintenance projects that has built up over time.
Finish what we’ve started and invest in the future – We’ve made down payments on numerous major projects, and it’s time to finish them. These projects include the Columbia River Crossing in Vancouver, the SR 167/SR 509 corridor in Pierce County, the SR 520 floating bridge in King County and the Snohomish County freight corridor.
Explore new ways of funding a balanced and multimodal system – Our quality of life calls on us to make investments that protect our transportation assets, preserve our natural environment, and offers transportation choices including roads, trains, light rail, buses and bike paths.
Inslee’s accountability action plan calls on the Washington State Department of Transportation to right-size projects to avoid excess costs, use Lean management for efficiency, facilitate permitting to speed up completion, increase transparency to reduce errors, and reward innovation in cost-effective construction and management.

Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island) has released a proposed transportation package that Inslee says is the right first step. He asked those at today’s meeting to urge their lawmakers to move forward and work with Clibborn to pass a package this session.

“We have a great opportunity in the next two weeks to fill potholes, fix bridges, provide new transportation options and lay new pavement for people who are sick of sitting in traffic,” said Inslee. “Washington’s businesses rely on our roads, and so do Washington’s families. Let’s get this done.”

City/County Initiatives

Highline Times

Who will walk the plank at the Tukwila Pool when it re-opens on April Pools Day?

ericm — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:29:59 +0000

ericm Thu, 04/11/2013 - 3:29pm

Press release:

The City of Tukwila’s Mayor and the Tukwila Metropolitan Park District’s Board of Commissioners will complete to become the first Tukwila Citizen to “Walk the Plank” or maybe they’ll choose to do a cannonball into Tukwila’s renovated pool.

The Tukwila Pool has been closed since November 2012 for a $1.66 million renovation: air handling systems, circulation and filtration systems, motors, pumps, locker room improvements, pool deck upgrades and a new pool liner are just some of the improvements patrons will notice. A generous Energy Efficiency grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce was utilized to provide energy saving upgrades.

Pool patrons will celebrate the re-opening of the Tukwila Pool on April 20, 2013, the community will also celebrate April Pool’s Day – a national water safety awareness event.

Ribbon Cutting Festivities begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by tours of the facility and aquatics demonstrations by Seattle Synchronized Swim and Kelly McCormick-Robertson’s local dive team. Robertson spent 10 years on the United States National Diving Team and won 10 national titles, including competing in two Olympic Games. She was also a two-time gold medalist in at the Pan American Games. The ceremony will wrap up with a “Walk the Plank” competition being organized by a citizens group who are raising money for the Pool’s scholarship program.

April Pool's Day activities will begin at 1:00 p.m. with water safety events, open swims, and fun for all ages. April Pool's Day is a national water safety awareness day. Learning about water safety is BIG fun at this annual event.

All ages are invited to play games, try on life jackets, and test water skills. Tukwila Pool staff is eager to educate and share their knowledge to help keep people of all ages safe in the pool and our surround natural water areas. The pool is located at 4414 S. 144th St., Tukwila, WA 98168. To pre-register for this fun event or for more information about the upcoming closure please contact the Tukwila Pool at 206-267-2350.

Parking at the Tukwila Pool will be limited due to coinciding events at Foster High School. Several parking alternatives will be available within walking distance to the pool; signs will be posted to help direct drivers. For More Information Call 206--267-2350 or visit www. tukwilapool.org

About the Tukwila Pool:
The Tukwila Pool Metropolitan Park District owns and operates the Tukwila Pool. This community pool began as a King County Forward Thrust pool 1973, and has since been operated by several different government agencies. The pool has always been a place where people learn to swim, participate in water fitness activities, capture personal wellness goals, and connect with friends. The experienced staff works closely with Tukwila citizens and visitors to ensure their aquatics needs are fulfilled. In addition to pool staff, several Tukwila citizens play a key role in the success of pool by actively participating in Tukwila Pool Metropolitan Park District meetings. More information about the Tukwila Pool and the upcoming improvements can be found at www.tukwilapool.org

City/County Initiatives

Highline Times

Congressman Smith to speak at Tukwila health fair

ericm — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:07:42 +0000

ericm Thu, 04/11/2013 - 1:07pm

Free health screenings available on April 27 at Tukwila Bartell's

Press release:
The SeaTac/Tukwila-based Global to Local initiative and Bartell Drugs are hosting a community health fair on April 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Attendees can receive free health screenings, information and resources from more than 20 local health organizations and companies.

Health screenings include glucose*, cholesterol*, blood pressure, body mass index, hearing and vision, and mammograms. Games for kids and healthy snacks will also be provided.

Join us for a program at noon featuring keynote speaker, U.S. Congressman Adam Smith, along with other officials, where we will celebrate this important initiative and discuss how Global to Local and Bartell Drugs are working together to build healthy communities. For more information, call (206) 370-1426 or visit www.globaltolocal.org/news.

Global to Local was created by Swedish Health Services, HealthPoint Community Health Clinic, Public Health - Seattle & King County, and the Washington Global Health Alliance, in partnership with the cities of SeaTac and Tukwila.

*Fasting is recommended for glucose and cholesterol screening.

Date: April 27, 2013

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Location: Bartell Drugs
(Store and Parking Lot)
14277 Pacific Highway South
Tukwila, WA 98168

Phone: (206) 370-1426

Website: www.globaltolocal.org/news

Tukwila

SeaTac

City/County Initiatives

Healthcare

Federal Government

Highline Times

Parent forum in Tukwila will provide road map to schools

ericm — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:48:10 +0000

ericm Tue, 04/02/2013 - 2:48pm

Press release:
Parents in Seattle and South King County are invited to a free event that will provide the information and resources they need to help their children do well in school – from cradle to college and career.
Hundreds of parents are expected at the April 20 Road Map Region Parent Forum, which is designed to help parents understand school systems, get information on academic requirements and build stronger relationships with schools. Research shows these factors are critical for student academic success.
The Parent Forum will feature workshops, prizes, inspirational speakers and an interactive Resource Fair that will include Radio Disney.

Road Map Region Parent Forum
Saturday, April 20 Foster High School
4242 S. 144th St., Tukwila, WA 98168

Registration opens at 9 a.m. | Welcome begins at 10 a.m. | Workshops run until 3 p.m.
Resource Fair is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event is free and open to families. Child care and interpretation services will be available to those who register in advance. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and transportation will be available to families in Seattle, Kent, Highline and Federal Way. Please visit the Parent Forum webpage to learn more and register.

The Parent Forum is being hosted by the Road Map Project, a community-wide effort to dramatically improve education results in South King County and South Seattle. Road Map Project partners, including nonprofit organizations, agencies, school districts and parents, collaborated and co-designed the forum to address needs identified by parents.

The workshops will span many topics, including the exploration of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), understanding the school system, the importance of early learning, preparing for college and advocating for children with special needs. There will also be special sessions designed to connect parents with leaders from school districts.

Ginger Kwan, Executive Director of Open Doors for Multicultural Families and a member of the Parent Forum Planning Committee, said the Parent Forum will provide great opportunities to parents.

“We’ve never had a Parent Forum at such a large scale for families, particular addressing families from the immigrant/refugee community. The Parent Forum Planning Committee is working hard to encourage parents to participate by providing meals, child care, interpretation and transportation to those who register,” Kwan said. “At its core, I think this event is about getting families together in a supportive environment to learn about better engaging in their children’s education. Parents can expect to get information and resources relevant to themselves and their families on how to help students achieve academically.”

For more information, please visit the Parent Forum webpage by clicking here.

Tukwila

Highline Public Schools

Public Schools

Highline Times

Three Highline schools win multiple state achievement awards

ericm — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:44:05 +0000

ericm Tue, 04/02/2013 - 1:44pm

Three Highline schools have won multiple 2012 Washington Achievement awards. The awards were announced Tuesday, April 2.

Aviation High School in Des Moines earned awards for overall excellence, math, and science.

Global Connections High School on the Tyee campus in SeaTac won for overall excellence, extended graduation rates and closing achievement gaps.

Health Sciences and Human Services High School (HS3) on the Evergreen campus in White Center won for overall excellence, extended graduation rate and high progress.

Single award winners were Marvista Elementary in Normandy Park, science; Gregory Heights Elementary in Burien, closing achievement gaps; and Southern Heights Elementary in Burien, high progress.

In the Tukwila district, Cascade View Elementary was honored for math.

Aviation, Global Connections, HS3, and Southern Heights also won 2011 Washington Achievement Awards.

The office of the state superintendent of public instruction issued a press release giving details about the awards:

A total of 381 schools (bit.ly/Z6ycWX) are receiving Washington Achievement Awards for 2012. Award-winning schools were notified today via email by State Superintendent Randy Dorn and State Board of Education Chair Jeff Vincent.

The Washington Achievement Awards (bit.ly/jrE77V), now in their fourth year, are sponsored by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education.

Award winners are selected using the state’s Achievement Index and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Waiver (bit.ly/XGgkXz).

“We’re thrilled that the Achievement Awards have come to mean so much to schools and districts across the state,” Vincent said. “It’s important to us at the state level to ensure that our work benefits everyone, and the award and index do exactly that.”

Schools are being recognized for being top performers in seven categories:
Overall Excellence
Language Arts
Math
Science
Extended Graduation Rate (only awarded to high and comprehensive schools)
Closing Achievement Gaps
High Progress (Title I eligible or participating schools only)

This year the Washington Achievement Awards have been combined with the awards and accountability criteria in the ESEA Flexibility Waiver. The “High Progress” category replaces the “Improvement” category from previous years.

State Superintendent Dorn praised this new collaboration. “Schools and communities expect state and federal governments to work together on accountability,” he said. “We’re grateful that the Flexibility Waiver has given us a chance to align our accountability efforts with the federal government’s expectations. This will streamline both systems over time and provide a better picture of how our schools are doing.”

The award-winning schools will be honored during an award ceremony on April 30 at Kentwood High School in Covington, itself an award winner for “Math” and “Closing Achievement Gaps.”

About the awards 
Washington’s School Achievement Index rates all schools according to specific outcomes and indicators from 2010 to 2012. The five outcomes are student performance in statewide assessments in reading, writing, math and science tests, as well as the school’s extended graduation rate, which includes those students who took longer than four years to graduate.

Those outcomes are each measured using four indicators:
achievement of students who are not from low-income families;
achievement of students who are from low-income families;
achievement of a school when compared to “peers” (schools with similar student characteristics, such as the percentage of students who have a disability, are learning English, are designated as gifted, come from low-income families, and are mobile); and
improvement in the achievement of all students combined from the previous year.

The average of the resulting 20 measures comprises the overall index.

Highline Public Schools

Public Schools

Highline Times