The Issaquah Press
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 •
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Alison Meryweather, Lisa Callan vie for Issaquah School Board seat By Neil Pierson npierson@ sammamishreview.com Alison Meryweather and Lisa Callan are familiar with each other, having been finalists for the Issaquah School Board’s vacant position earlier this year. Meryweather was appointed to the Position 4 post — left open by Chad Magendanz’s move to the state House of Representatives — in March. But Meryweather will have to impress voters to keep the job, and Callan will challenge her again on the Nov. 5 ballot. The Position 4 seat covers the southeast region of the district. Although candidates run for a specific geographic seat, voters districtwide cast ballots for all Issaquah School Board members. Members are elected to four-year terms. Meryweather has lived in Issaquah for more than 25 years, and she has served with various Parent Teacher Student Associa-
tion groups for nearly half that time. She has spent time in Olympia as a PTSA advocacy representative, and was part of education reform efforts in 2009. That led to the McCleary decision that is currently revamping the state’s funding of basic education. Meryweather is also a board member for Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, a citizen group that works on bond and levy campaigns; and she’s a trustee for the Issaquah Schools Foundation, which raises private donations for classroom learning purposes. She has two daughters who attend Issaquah High School. Callan’s educational background includes a math and science degree from Northern Arizona University, and she spent 14 years with The Boeing Co. as a software development consultant. Callan serves on the Grand Ridge Elementary School PTSA and helped create a cultural diver-
October is Disaster Preparedness, NOAA Weather Radio Month Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed October as Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month and NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Month. Local jurisdictions, individuals, schools and businesses across the state will promote all-hazard preparedness throughout the month. A highlight of the month is the Great Washington Shakeout “drop, cover and hold on” earthquake drill at 10:17 a.m. Oct. 17. The drill will emphasize the urgent need for people, organizations, schools, communities and businesses to practice what to do to be safe during an earthquake, and how to be ready before an earthquake strikes. Coastal communities will test their tsunami alert sirens at the same time. Organizers with the Military Department’s Emergency Management Division are aiming for 1 million Washingtonians to participate in the drill. To date, more than 550,000 have registered, and the number is climbing. Last year, 710,000 people participated. People and organizations can sign up at www.shakeout.org/washington.
This is the second ShakeOut for the state of Washington. More than 37 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Province of British Columbia will run an earthquake drill on the same date and time. Inslee’s proclamation also touts two other October happenings that emphasize emergency preparedness: 4The governor proclaimed October as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio Awareness Month. NOAA weather radios provide emergency alerts about approaching hazards, complementing other disaster information sources. 4The governor also took note of the Take Winter By Storm campaign that kicks off in October. Take Winter By Storm will highlight preparedness actions for the public to take to be ready for winter storms. Learn more about Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month, NOAA weather radios and emergency preparedness at www.emd.wa.gov/ preparedness/prep_index. shtml.
Issaquah companies will be at Seattle Home Show
Seattle Home Show 2 will feature all the latest trends and products for anyone set to tackle a Northwest home improvement. The annual exhibition will also feature chef demonstrations, antique appraisals and seminars. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for juniors and kids 7 and younger get in free. Doors open at 10 a.m. Learn more at www.seattlehomeshow.com.
Four Issaquah companies will showcase their wares at the Oct. 4-6 Seattle Home Show 2, the fall version of the country’s oldest and largest home show. Lake Washington Windows and Doors, SlabJackNW, Springfree Trampoline and West Coast Decks will all exhibit their services at CenturyLink Field Event Center.
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sity council there. None of the current Issaquah board members have a child attending Alison Meryweather elementary school, but Callan has a son at Grand Ridge, which she believes gives her a unique perspective. “The current directors are really doing their best to look after all kids in K-12, but I think it’s really nice to have that representation,” Callan said. Both candidates said they’re supportive of the district’s February 2014 ballot measures. Issaquah will be asking voters to approve three levy packages — a $193 million maintenance and operations plan, a $1.7 million transportation plan for new buses and a $51.9 million plan for various technology upgrades. Meryweather said she wouldn’t make any
DSHS is bringing mobile office to Issaquah The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Mobile Community Service Office will be in Issaquah from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, 179 First Ave. S.E. Those in need can apply for cash assistance, basic food assistance and child care services. Community members can also drop off paperwork, complete an eligibility review or mid-certification review, or make changes to an existing case. Learn more by calling 1-877-501-2233 toll free.
Kindering hosts ‘Sesame Street’ writer at fundraiser Emily Perl Kingsley, a writer, author and 20-time daytime Emmy Award winner, will speak at Kindering’s annual Salute to Courage benefit luncheon
changes to the three measures, and believes all of them are critical to the district’s operations. Lisa Callan In regard to the transportation levy, failing to pass it would mean “we would not be updating our fleet of buses according to the depreciation schedule with the state,” she said. Callan has a similar position. She was part of the district’s levy committee, listening to feedback from parents, students, teachers and administrators. “I’m comfortable with it,” she said. “The committee really pushed hard in asking the district, ‘Why are these your top priorities?’” Dealing with state legislators is a priority for both candidates. While funding remains the top concern for most school officials, Meryweather and Callan
Oct. 17. Kingsley, who has a son with Down syndrome, was instrumental in expanding the cast of “Sesame Street” to include children with disabilities. Kindering is the Eastside’s largest early intervention center for children with special needs. The organization served more than 3,500 children and families last year. The event is free, but donations are encouraged. It begins at noon at the Westin Bellevue, 600 Bellevue Way N.E. RSVP at bit.ly/16ltuYO or call 289-7506.
Learn about changes in new healthcare law Oct. 8 Theresa Baker, of the Baker Insurance Group, hosts the first of several interactive informational sessions on the Affordable Care Act “What You Need to Know” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Spiritwood at Pine Lake retirement commu-
said there are other issues to talk about as well. Callan said board members should reach out to legislators to continue defining basic education and paying attention to the amount of “face time” students receive. “The whole purpose of that is to get kids better understanding of their subjects,” she said. Additionally, Callan would like to address how many credits are needed for graduation, and how “mutual consent” to move teachers from one school to another should be handled at the local level rather than through a state mandate. Meryweather said Issaquah needs to continue pushing for equity. Its teacher salary schedule and levy lid amounts, for example, don’t match up with neighboring districts. “There’s a lot of grandfathering (laws) that put Issaquah at a disadvantage,” she said. Callan’s father was a school superintendent in
Arizona, and she said she’s had a lot of conversations about how district officials should interact with teachers unions. Ultimately, she feels negotiations need to keep students’ best interests in mind. “The board’s role is to set policies and govern policies to make sure there’s an open-door relationship, and that the administrators are being responsive to the Issaquah Education Association,” Callan said. Meryweather addressed the results of the district’s homework survey, which were presented over the summer. She said she felt the findings, largely determined by PTSA leaders, had merit. “In terms of the homework study, I think there were some items that Ron Thiele was going to follow up on,” Meryweather said of the superintendent. “I concur with that, so that kids are getting the types of homework assignments that are relevant, and not busy work.”
nity, 228th Ave. S.E. Baker also will share insights about the new regulations with patients affected by multiple sclerosis at 10 a.m. Oct. 10 at Swedish/Issaquah, 751 N.E. Blakely Drive. The 25-year insurance professional is also scheduled to speak at Spiritwood again Nov. 5. “ObamaCare is coming,” she said. “The only way to be prepared for the change is to be educated on how the law will affect you and your family.”
The foundation’s goal is to make up the gap between what the state provides for basic education and the actual cost. As part of the fundraiser, anyone who shops at Amazon.com can earmark up to 8 percent of his or her purchase for the foundation. Donations can also be made on the ISF website, www.isfdn.org.
Schools partner with Amazon to raise funds The Issaquah Schools Foundation has started its annual All in for Kids fundraiser, and is looking for families to donate money to fund basic programs throughout the school district. Issaquah remains near the bottom of the state’s public school districts in terms of per-pupil funding.
Annual audit released State Auditor Troy Kelley released Issaquah’s annual audit Sept. 27 and the city came away from the scrutiny cleanly. The Washington State Auditor’s Office reported no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the financial statements or the federal awards. Every year, the state office issues more than 2,000 audit reports, detailing for government transparency and accountability. View the report at http://ow.ly/pmfxo.