REPORTER
COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND
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LOCAL | Donut Hole annexation agreement approved [page 3]
ON KENTWOOD’S COURT | Trio of seniors and coach Bil Caillier hope to lead FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 Conqueror’s back to state [14]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Students make big gains on state tests
Celebrating success, focused on city’s goals
BY KATHERINE SMITH
BY KRIS HILL
ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com
khill@covingtonreporter.com
Kentwood, Kentlake, and Tahoma high schools all saw big gains in the number of students who passed End of Course exams in the 2012-2013 school year according to data released by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. End of Course exams in math and biology, which were implemented in 2011 and 2013, respectively, test students on what they learned in specific courses instead of a comprehensive test like the High School Proficiency Exam, also known as HSPE, according to OSPI. End of Course exams in math have replaced the math portion of the HSPE and students are required to pass one of the exams in order to graduate. Passing the science exam will be a graduation requirement beginning with the
Covington has much to celebrate in recent months as well as a half dozen goals to focus on in the coming year. Mayor Margaret Harto and City Manager Derek Matheson gave the Covington Chamber of Commerce the annual state of the city address at the monthly luncheon Sept. 12 with the review of the city’s accomplishments COVINGTON providing an upbeat big picture while outlining the city’s goals for the short term and well into the future. Harto pointed out the hard work of the staff as well as Matheson’s longevity in his position before going over three highlights for Covington in the past year.
[ more TESTS page 9 ]
Musical Falcon
Kentlake’s Jacob Brown plays trombone with the school pep band before the football game Sept. 13 at French Field. Kentlake took on Kent-Meridian with the Royals defeating the Falcons 22-15. To see a wrap up of week two of South Puget Sound League football action for Tahoma, Kentwood and Kentlake, see page 15. KRIS HILL, The Reporter
City seeks funding to support Ravensdale Park BY KATHERINE SMITH
contribute additional funds to the project, but council members said they are committed to providing The Maple Valley City Council the youth of Maple Valley with debated whether or not to parks. contribute an additional “I think this is an op$1.5 million to the RaMAPLE portunity for us to move vensdale Park project at VALLEY forward,” said Councilits Sept. 9 meeting. man Layne Barnes at the The city, which has alSept. 9 meeting. “I think the ready agreed to give $500,000 main thing is we’ve got to do to the project, would have to find something for our youth.” additional revenue streams to
ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com
The plans for Ravensdale Park, which is located outside the city limits of Maple Valley, are laid out in the Ravensdale Park Master Plan and are being overseen by the Ravensdale Park Foundation. The master plan was adopted in 2009 and includes a community meadow and six ballfields designated for baseball, soccer and all purposes uses. Phase one of the master plan was completed in January 2012 which included renovating a pre-existing field. Phase two of the project, for which the foundation is currently collecting funds, is budgeted to cost $6 million and include add-
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[ more PARK page 8 ]
[ more GOALS page 9 ]
This rendering shows the proposed plans for Ravensdale Park including six ballfields. Ravensdale Park Foundation is planning to continue construction in 2014. Courtesy image
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