Record South Whidbey
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012 | Vol. 88, No. 46 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
INSIDE: Birding, Island Life, A10
Citizens, cops want sales tax for Island County police
Bye bye Bayview
By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Bayview School graduates Alex Brumley, Christyna da Rosa, Megan Scott and Marlee Quintasket celebrate graduation after the ceremony June 7 at Thomas Berry Hall at the Whidbey Institute. In total, 14 students graduated from the alternative school.
Compassion defines Bayview School graduates BY BEN WATANABE Staff reporter
CLINTON — Better late than never. That was true for the graduation ceremony for the Bayview School class of 2012. It rang true for a few graduates in their fourth or fifth year of high school. And it could be said about the occasional tardiness of Bayview School’s 14 graduates, who will get their diplomas and diploma cases later than planned after they were mistakenly left back at the school. “This class is symbolic of that school,” said Bayview School Director David Pfeiffer. He added: “This group is very kind, very determined and they’re going to go out and make a difference in the world in a positive way.” Life messages and humor permeated the afternoon at Bayview School’s graduation June 7 at Thomas Berry Hall at the Whidbey Institute. And so it was that the last graduating class of Bayview School started, and
will end, a little late. If everything had run on schedule and flawlessly, the ceremony would not share the essence of Bayview School — the alternative high school for the South Whidbey School District. It’s the last stop for students, a safety net of sorts when traditional high school doesn’t work on the South End. One of the ceremony’s student speakers, Megan Scott, praised Bayview School’s staff and faculty for their compassion. Scott, 18, transferred to Bayview School in November after she moved from Idaho. As a fresh face to the old school, whose students typically transfer from South Whidbey High School, Scott felt welcomed and accepted at Bayview School. “Bayview has been the best school I’ve ever been to,” said Scott, who plans to return to Idaho for work and come back to South Whidbey, with eventual hopes of obtaining a degree in animal studies. “The teachers have been so into helping the students, and the students help each other. If anyone doesn’t succeed at this school, it isn’t
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Katie Harrje, a Bayview School graduate, wipes tears away during her introduction by Bayview School counselor Charlene Ray and administrative assistant DeAnn Houck. because they didn’t have enough support.” During the ceremony, the graduates and staff honored some of the people who supported them. Tutors, teachers,
counselors, secretaries and parents were thanked. Students selected Clyde Monma, a math See Bayview, A9
A group of citizens, government officials and cops is recommending that Island County commissioners ask voters to increase the sales tax to fund extra deputies, extra police cars and other needs within the law and justice community. The county’s Law and Justice Council met for a special meeting Wednesday to decide whether to recommend some sort of tax increase to address dire funding needs and whether it should be a sales tax or property tax. In the end, they voted to recommend that the commissioners place a measure on the ballot to increase sales tax by threetenths of 1 percent, with the caveats that all the money go to law and justice functions and it can’t be used to supplant current spending. The increase would generate an estimated $1.8 million per year, but only two-thirds would go to the county; cities and towns would divide the rest. Yet disagreement within in the Law and Justice Council itself may foreshadow the difficulty supporters will have in selling the measure to the public. Linda Sturza, a member of the council, said she believes the county commissioners already have the money to fund law and justice departments adequately. “They don’t want to do what’s right in eliminating areas that are non-essential, but they are asking for money to fund things that are essential,” she said. Commissioner Kelly Emerson, who attended the meeting, flatly said she will oppose putting the measure on the ballot; only the commissioners have the power to do so. In addition, another sales tax increase would not be welcome by most merchants. Island County’s rate is currently at 8.7 percent, which is one of the highest rates in the state. If it’s increased to 9 percent, only King County will have areas with higher rates. By contrast, the Island County general fund property tax levy is the lowest. Jill Johnson, director of the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, said a sales tax increase is a bad idea. She pointed out that the burden of the tax would not be equitably distributed throughout the county, with areas like Camano Island receiving services but collecting little in taxes. See Sales tax, A6