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VOL. 13, NO. 393
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Editorial: Readers will need Facebook to comment online [6] Palmer: Gifts from grass-roots heroes CRIME BLOTTER | Knife found at Truman High School, police log says [5] ELECTION RESULTS | For a complete list of all area elections [4-5]
SPORTS | Federal Way’s D.J. May just SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011 keeps smiling all the way to state [8]
CALENDAR | Upcoming events include Veterans Day observance [7]
Elections: Honda, Celski, Duclos win council Unopposed FW School Board race still too close to call FROM STAFF REPORTS
For the 2011 general election in Federal Way, early results show newcomers Susan Honda and Bob Celski winning seats on the city council, with incumbent Dini Duclos earning reelection to the council. Voters also picked Claire Wilson for school board. However, the race for school board position 3 is in a statistical dead heat between Danny Peterson and Liz Drake — even though Drake pulled out of the race last month to
become principal at Thomas Jefferson High School. For South King Fire and Rescue, incumbent commissioners Mark Thompson and Jim Fossos won reelection. Tim McClain was elected to the Lakehaven Utility District board of commissioners. Initiative 1183, the controversial liquor privatization measure, is passing with more than 60 percent of the statewide vote. Results for this all-mail election will be certified Nov. 30. Visit kingcounty. gov/elections for more information.
Check out election night photos at federalwaymirror.com Results as of 4:21 p.m. Nov. 9 (Ballots cast/registered voters: 11,565/39,776 or 29.07 percent):
FEDERAL WAY CITY COUNCIL
t 1PTJUJPO Jim Ferrell, the incumbent, ran unopposed. (97.92 percent) t 1PTJUJPO Susan Honda (58.68 percent) over Roger Flygare (40.95 percent). These two candidates seek the council seat vacated by Mike Park. Honda serves as chairwoman of the Federal Way Arts Commission and Federal Way Diversity Commission. [ more ELECTIONS, page 4 ]
Susan and Bruce Honda react to the news that she is winning the race for Federal Way City Council position 3. ANDY HOBBS, The Mirror
FWPS policy draws ire from district teachers BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
DHS dedicates a new wall of war
Students at Decatur High School put together a memorial “wall� for their Veterans Day ceremony Thursday. The wall represents soldiers killed in action in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. A total of 6,285 names were written out by students. GREG ALLMAIN, The Mirror
KC Council adopts 2012 budget BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
The King County Council unanimously adopted its 2012 budget on Wednesday, with the council placing an emphasis on continuing its “proactive approach to reforming county government while protecting vulnerable populations and increasing the focus on county roads.�
According to the county, the $5.2 billion budget includes $650 million for the General Fund, of which 76 percent will be committed towards public safety and criminal justice programs. The County also touts that “even in the midst of the Great Recession, the adopted budget continues to protect the County’s AAA bond rating by not using the County’s cash reserves or tapping the rainy day fund.�
Budget chairwoman Julia Patterson was pleased with the budget being adopted ahead of schedule and also with the fact it continues to fund programs that help the most vulnerable people in King County. “For the second year in a row, we have been able to produce a county budget ahead of our projected schedule,� she said. “This budget responds to the [ more BUDGET page 3 ]
Standards Based Education (SBE), the new system implemented by Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) this year, drew a vociferous round of criticism at the FWPS board meeting on Tuesday. But instead of parents being upset at the implementation of a new policy, it was teachers who expressed their displeasure and frustration at the way the new policy was implemented throughout the district this year. Staff from various schools, along with a fair number of parents, packed the Federal Way City Hall council chambers, making it standingroom only, with some having to stand out in the hall in an attempt to view the proceedings. SBE, which is aimed at creating standardization for teachers and students regarding grading, class content and other important areas, was rolled out in an awkward and frustrating fashion, said Jason Brown, president of the Federal Way Educators Association during the Nov. 8 meeting. “The majority of staff here in Federal Way support Standards Based Education. What my members have asked to share with you this evening is their extreme frustration over the process,�
Brown said. “They believe the process we’ve used thus far has been confusing to staff, students and parents alike. It has not been uniform across grade levels or sites and has created an enormous and unrealistic workload for teachers and support professionals, as well as principals.� Brown continued, saying FWPS teachers are “burning the candle at both ends,� and feels a major issue with the implementation of SBE has been technology related, a common refrain from previous board meetings in the 2011 school year. “(My) membership believes that the technology glitches have been a major contributing factor to the frustration,� he said. “But the most significant concern has come with the workload, with the [ more TEACHERS, page 2 ]
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