REPORTER
Mercer Island
Serving the Mercer Island community since 1947
Senn is new 41st District state rep
Second half comeback falls short
Historical Society talk on rare visit to North Korea Islander and retired dentist, Dr. Robert Lewis will show photos and slides from his recent trip to North Korea. Visitors are rarely allowed to visit the country. The meeting and presentation are at 1 p.m., Sept. 16, in the Slater Room at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.
By Reporter Staff
Have your say on Sept. 12 on school bond proposal There are two opportunities this Thursday to learn more about the Mercer Island School District plans to update and expand Island schools. The Board of Directors will meet at 7 a.m., Sept. 12, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The board will meet again from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the old North Campus Gym. Islanders can view schematic designs, ask questions and give feedback. For more information, go to www.mercerislandschools.org.
Friday concert is ‘Russian Kaleidoscope’
Two violinists will perform with pianist Natalya Ageyeva at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 13, at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. The concert, presented by the Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle, will feature works by Russian composers.
9/11 Heroes Run Runners and walkers of all levels and ages are invited to participate in the International 9/11 Heroes Run at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, in Luther Burbank Park. For more, go to www.travismanion.org.
James Kirkish, The Shuttered Image/Special to the Reporter
Defensive back Patrick Nielson, 20, makes a touchdown-saving tackle on the Mustangs’ Jordan Hall. Down by 21 in the first half, the Islanders waged a strong second half comeback, losing by just 8 points in Friday’s opening season game against Redmond. See story on page 13.
School ‘listening sessions’ valuable Support is growing for new bond proposal By Mary L. Grady
editor@mi-reporter.com
After many months of work, the Mercer Island School District is approaching a final proposal for a bond to send to the community for a vote next year. The district has held several ‘listening sessions’ with the public and has gathered input in a variety of ways over the past 15 months. A new bond to rebuild Island schools has taken shape. The dollar amount is less and the changes less dramatic. Many who vehe-
mently opposed the first bond sent to the voters last year have now joined in supporting the proposal. The amount of new construction has been scaled back to reflect voters’ view that the first bond was simply too much and that not enough detail was available to justify the amount. Many felt that the remodeled schools still have several years of life left in them. The amount of the bond has been reduced substantially from $196 million, turned down by voters in April of 2012, to under $100 million. The latest proposal includes a new elementary school adjacent
HAVE YOU SEEN BOB? Bob Toomey, C.F.A., 25 years of experience in Financial Planning & Investments and contributor to the Mercer Island Reporter
to the high school campus for approximately 500 students with a developmental preschool, for $42 million; an extensive renovation, rebuild and expansion at Islander Middle School for $49 million; and a 10-classroom addition to Mercer Island High School for $11.6 million. An amount of $3.8 million of state dollars will reduce the total amount to be paid for by local dollars. At a listening session at Islander Middle School on the evening of Aug. 27, some three dozen Islanders came to look at new renderings of the plans and talk one-on-one school with school administrators and contractors. When asked how many attendees felt that they did not know much about the district’s plans, several raised their hands. Others wanted to ask questions about what they already knew.
The nine members of the Metropolitan King County Council voted to elect Mercer Island City Councilmember Tana Senn to represent the 41st Legislative District of Washington state and King County in Olympia. Senn, 42, replaces former state representative Marcie Maxwell, who resigned her seat in July to take a position in state government. The vote of the County Council was held on Monday afternoon. Senn was elected by fellow City Councilmembers to join the Council when former mayor Jim Pearman resigned in 2012 to work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Senn has been a Mercer Island City Councilmember since her appointment to the post vacated
SENN | PAGE 2
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BOND | PAGE 8
(206) 275-2700 Bob is at the drive-thru Starbucks every Friday from 9:30 – 10:30 am. Come by for a cup of coffee!