Tukwila Reporter, November 20, 2013

tukwila reporter 11 • 2013

FINDING THE

BEAT

SUCCESS

OF

at FOSTER

SCHOOL CONNECTIONS: Tukwila School District update, pages 14-15

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2 h NOVEMBER 2013

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tukwila’sstory

When Tukwila’s money was kept in a can

BY LOUISE JONESBROWN

Lois Thursey Cathey was born in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 17, 1893 as the first

child of Althea and Franklin Cathey. She was born in the basement of the church where her father was a Free Methodist preacher. Born at home, no record of her

birth was recorded and her mother had to verify the birth before Justice Tom Clark of Foster.

Frank Cathey was a district elder for the church

Tukwila’s “cash can” sits in front of a photograph of Tukwila former city treasurer Lois Newton at the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center. Tukwila Historical Society

and made several moves with the family including Tyler and Roslyn, Wash., and Baker, Ore. In 1899, the family traveled east by

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train to New York and finally settled in Camden, where Lois graduated from high school. In 1911, the family with nine children moved to Seattle and lived in Green Lake.

While in college, Lois married Dana Newton on May 19, 1914. She graduated with Seattle Pacific College’s first graduation class and in 1965 Seattle Pacific University named a Hall in her honor as the only surviving graduate from 1915.

In 1919, the Newton family moved to Tukwila.

By 1925 Lois and Dana’s family included five boys and two girls. Foster-Tukwila Presbyterian Church was an important part of life in Tukwila and Lois was the first woman to become an elder. She was asked to be town treasurer in 1948.

She earned extra wages collecting water bill monies deposited in a “coffee can” at her home. Her son, Gor-

don recalls being paid $1 a month to deliver water bills to local residents.

Lois retired as Tukwila treasurer in 1962 and 1972, moved to Wesley Gardens in Des Moines. In the same year, Tukwila celebrated dedication of the Lois Newton Bridge over the Green River. Lois summed up her life by saying, “My life has been good - no more interesting or harder than anyone else.”

The historical society’s holiday meeting is Dec. 12 at the Nelson House, 15643 West Valley Highway, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Tukwila’s Story is written

by Louise Jones-Brown, who is acting director of the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center and treasurer for the Tukwila Historical Society.

For hours and arrangements for a tour, call 206/244HIST or email: tukwilaheritagectr@tukwilahistory.org.

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013

i 3

Extreme sports helping in youth counseling treme sports activities at the agency have also included motocross, long-boarding, mountain bike riding, skateboarding, and standup paddle-boarding. All have been developed under the direction of Brandon Stogsdill, a Sound Mental Health therapist.

Cheney grew up without a father, no male role models and lost her brother to suicide, when she was 7 years old. Her family life affected her and made her shy, not wanting to socialize much.

Hamilton was challenged by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. He had problems controlling his anger, he said.

Hamilton and Cheney both recounted how snowboarding trips with the agency and Chill, snowboard company Burton’s foundation, helped turn their lives around.

“When I was up there, I was free,” said Hamilton. “I cleared my mind of all the anger, stuff like that. And then, when I learned these lessons, it helped me pick up

BY TRACEY COMPTON TCOMPTON@RENTONREPORTER.COM

Teens Mikayala Cheney of Renton and Gabriel Hamilton of Kent weren’t participants in typical teenage activities and socializing before three years ago. Both came from troubled pasts and had issues they were trying to overcome. Now, after three years participating in extreme sports activities through Sound Mental Health’s group-therapy programs, Cheney and Hamilton are socially active and engaged in the world around them.

“I’ve found myself more open to things, more open to being social because I know that if I hold myself back, I’m not going to get anywhere,” said Cheney. “If I keep isolating myself, I’m not going to be able to do the fun things that I do.”

The fun Cheney has participated in is snowboarding and indoor skydiving at iFly in Tukwila with Sound Mental Health. Ex-

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on that and get rid of that anger, using what I’ve learned.”

Life lessons were taught to the group by Stogsdill. He had his own rough road to navigate as a youth. The therapist was once incarcerated at 19 and spent time in prison.

Stogsdill turned it around in jail, saying, “God got ahold of my heart and changed it and gave me a crystal clear purpose to work with kids and prevent them from standing in the very same prison cell I stood.”

He went to college, the first of his family, got his master’s degree and became a child mental-health specialist and chemical dependency professional. Stogsdill has worked with Sound Mental Health for three years, developing this unique approach to therapy. “(There was) no research,” he said of extreme sports and therapy. “The only thing I found is that kids, who do extreme sports, are pot smokers and bad for the community, and I scoured for years,” Stogsdill said

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of the relentless research he did to support his group therapy idea.

Stogsdill is working to get this extension of his group therapy at Sound Mental Health, recognized legitimately in textbooks for its benefits to mental health therapy. Most kids have a predisposition to risk-taking behavior that lets the brain take chances and make mistakes, he said.

Some choose to take those chances with drugs, but people can get a natural and organic high with extreme sports activities, Stogsdill said.

“This is a novel idea; it’s very cuttingedge,” he said. “It’s very extreme and it gets people into therapy, who normally wouldn’t do it.

“Counseling’s not what it used to be.”

theroles

In the Tukwila School District, the school board and superintendent work together to shape the district’s future.

6

notontrack

The Tukwila School District has tightened up access to the field at Werner Neudorf Stadium and other facilities.

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abig hit

Seahawks star Richard Sherman brought supplies and cleats and a healthy dose of inspiration to Foster’s homecoming assembly.

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Foster athletes Alem Belete and Sierra Parsons were named Athletes of the Year in their sports by Seamount League coaches.

tukwila reporter i19426 68th Avenue South i Kent, WA 98032 i253.872.6600 i www.tukwilareporter.com

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editor dean radford editor@tukwilareporter.com

425.255.3484, ext. 5150 circulation james kostoroski 253.872.6610

The Tukwila Reporter encourages reader participation in your community newspaper.

Share your thoughts in a letter to the editor (200 words or less) including your full name, address and phone number.

HERE’S HOW To submit a letter to the editor, E-MAIL: editor@ tukwilareporter.com FAX: 253.437.6016 MAIL: 19426 68th Ave. S., Ste. A, Kent, WA 98032 STORY IDEAS: dradford@ tukwilareporter.com ONLINE CALENDAR: tukwilareporter.com

[ more EDITOR’S NOTE page 5 ]

Team effort to lead schools

Nancy Coogan Mark Wahlstrom

If you have visited the administration building or a schoolboard meeting recently, you know that things certainly look and feel a lot different! Over the past several years, turnover and challenges with administrative leadership often caused relationships, trust, and communication to wear thin. It may not be perfect now, but we are getting much closer. As the school board president and the superintendent, we think it’s important for the entire community to know that we are working closely together.

We are a team of six. Plain and simple. We are a five-member school board working hand-in-hand with our new superintendent. We support and hold each other accountable for the same shared vision, we respect each other’s roles, and we are humbled by the joy and challenge in overseeing one of the most unique school districts in the nation.

A school board’s most critical work is representing the community to ensure public schools fulfill local values and expectations for educating children.

The board also makes certain that the district acts legally and exercises fiscal responsibility with its public tax dollars. Board members do this by establishing learning goals for students and policies for operations, and then continuously dialoguing with the superintendent to ascertain progress and compliance.

A superintendent’s most critical role is implementing a strategic plan to achieve the school board’s mission and goals. In essence, the superintendent is the chief educator, someone so skilled at teaching and learning she can lead the organization to higher and higher levels of student success.

Our roles are separate, but deeply entwined, and to move forward without complete transparency would be like playing basketball blindfolded. It’s a new era in the Tukwila School District, and we hope you not only feel the difference but experience it as well. Your district leaders are modeling an open-door, collaborative, congenial model, and we welcome your participation at all levels.

After all, we are all on the same team, in service to children.

Sincerely, Mark Wahlstrom, School Board president Dr. Nancy Coogan, superintendent

OUR SCHOOLS

Dean A. Radford

publisher ellen morrison

Race is not being ignored in the Tukwila School District.

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will ensure that.

Nor is student achievement.

Dedicated teachers and staff – and a success coordinator at Foster High School – will help ensure that all students ignite their passion.

Nor is the district itself shying away from meeting its responsibility to create an environment in the workplace and classroom where everyone is valued and respected.

A community conversation will help ensure that. It’s beginning this week.

Of course, all that is easier to write than actually put into place. Racial tension has been a central theme of our American history from the beginning.

Frankly, we’re not very good at understanding each other; we’re culturally incompetent, no matter which census box you check.

For Tukwila, race is a key defining demographic. For the Tukwila School District, that multitude of colorful faces is magical but also its greatest challenge.

Tukwila’s schools have been shaken for two years and not just because African-American employees have filed lawsuits – that’s a symptom of a larger issue and it’s their right.

Tukwila’s school community is finding its racial footing, one that everyone shares or at least understands and from which everyone can try to move forward.

And that’s not going to happen without a lot of talking.

And understanding. And more talking. And a realization that success isn’t achieved by going to court and winning but figuring out how to keep everyone out of court. Let’s spend those legal fees to educate kids.

And it starts at the top.

Talk about school district leadership, including the school board, and the employee’s attorney, Joan Mell, asks, “Where’s the color?” Voters in the City of Seattle have just opted to elect City Council members by district, rather than in a city-wide vote, an effort to better represent neighborhoods with common needs and demographics. A change like that in Tukwila could add color to the dialogue on the Tukwila school board, Mell says.

Anyone who grew up in Tukwila in the middle decades of the 20th century (boy that sounds like a long time ago), found little color in Tukwila’s schools (actually, South Central School District 406). But that doesn’t mean those kids weren’t exposed to the social upheaval of those decades. Tukwila is small, but it’s not isolated.

Still, Tukwila has had a steep learning curve, I think, in learning how to provide a home and an education for all the new arrivals from around the world who have made the city and the school district among the most diverse in the nation.

Right now is a critical point in that evolution and it should continue with not one but many conversations.

Those conversations started this week. Superintendent Nancy Coogan has organized a Socratic Seminar that will allow students, community members

EDITOR’S NOTE

regional publisher polly shepherd

Open conversation will empower schools

Tukwila School District Superintendent Nancy Coogan can be reached via email at coogann@tukwila.wednet.edu.

Job satisfaction critical in schools Chuck Parrish

viewpoint iwrite staff

tukwilacommentary

COMMENTARY

4 hNOVEMBER 2013

On Nov. 1, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued determinations on charges by 10 employees against the Tukwila School District (TSD). The EEOC found sufficient evidence to indicate that the complainants were subjected to an illegal, hostile work environment consisting of race and color harassment. This violates title 7 of the Civil Rights Act. The TSD is expected to work with the charging parties and the commission to achieve

conciliation and settlement. If it does not, the commission has court enforcement alternatives.

For the moment, it makes sense that the TSD deny the determinations of the EEOC because there is a separate concurrent Superior Court case brought by the same employees. TSD expects vindication through the court case next year.

The school board should consider what it needs to do differently to avoid or be aware of such problems before they get

out of hand. Simplistic “what’s best for kids” thinking is neither sufficient nor holistic. While leaving the day-to-day operations to the superintendent, the board should ensure that the metrics reflect policy and that employee job satisfaction is high.

Contact Tukwila Reporter columnist Chuck Parrish at chuckparrish2002@ yahoo.com

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013i 5

Two incumbents win re-election

Council raises utility rates

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.

BY DEAN A. RADFORD

COM

DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

The Tukwila City Council has approved increases in the city’s 2014 water, sewer and surface water rates.

Increases in the rates are necessary to meet operational and capital expenditures.

Among the rate increases: • The minimum water meter charge for single and multi-family housing units will increase from $14 to $15.

Two incumbents on the Tukwila School Board have won re-election in the Nov. 5 general election.

They took a commanding lead following the initial count election night.

In the Director District 1 School Board race, incumbent Mary E. Fertakis beat Jennifer L. Johnson, 59 percent to 41 percent.

In Director District 3 School Board A l i c i a race, incumbent Alicia Waterton beat Waterton Bobby Cruz by 63 percent to 37 percent.

The next results will be posted to the King County Elections Division website at about 4:30 p.m.

The Elections Division will finalist the election results this week.

City Council members Verna Seal, Allan Ekberg, Joe Duffie and De’Sean Quinn ran unopposed. There were Mary Fertakis write-in votes in each of their races.

Foster drama students present ‘Popularity’ Foster High School’s advanced theater students will present their fall play, “Popularity,” a remake of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” but set in 1958, on Nov. 21 and 22.

The play is a light-hearted look at the high-school scene of that era, which was on the brink of major changes with gender roles being redefined. It is a fun-filled flash from the past with poodle skirts and ducktails.

Performances are 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22 in Foster’s Performing Arts Center, 4242 S. 144th St. Tickets at the door are $4 with an ASB card and $5 without.

[EDITOR’S NOTE from page 4] and political leaders to inquire deeply into a single issue and come up with an action plan. That issue is race and racism in education.

And it should continue with community partnerships like the one that brought Jesse McCall to Foster as the school’s success coordinator. Reaching or teaching kids is all about making connections on many levels, including skin color, or in McCall’s case, a cultural one. (See our cover story in this issue).

And I’ll end by circling back to the courtroom. A judge or a jury should not impose a set of values on the Tukwila school system. Choosing its own values is a right and responsibility that belongs to the community.

Dean A. Radford can be reached at dradford@tukwilareporter.com or by phone at 425-255-3484, ext. 5150

• The sewer fund’s monthly flat rate will increase from $23.10 to $26.50.

• The surface water fees will increase from $107 to $118 for residential parcels and commercial rates also will increase.

Bob Giberson, the city’s public works director, submitted a memo to city officials, explaining the need for the rate increases.

The Cascade Water Alliance, the water wholesaler to Tukwila, is projecting to increase its rates by 5.1 percent in 2014. The increase in the water

rate is necessary “to maintain the current level of service and lessen the impact of future increases for purchased water.”

The city is proposed increasing water-consumption charges for multifamily and commercial/industrial rates.

King County, which is responsible for sewage treatment, will not increase its disposal fees in 2014. However, the City of Tukwila will increase its sewer base rate next year because of operational and capital needs.

Food, gift drive at the mall The Westfield Southcenter Mall, Tukwila Police Department and the Tukwila Parks and Recreation Department will be in partnership to hold the annual 2013 Holiday Gift and Food Drive.

This year the event will be held on Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the south side of the mall .

The sponsors say there are many struggling families in Tukwila and

need a little bit of help during this tough economic time and are hoping that shoppers and others will drop off food and toy donations from shoppers.

All food items will go to the Tukwila Pantry Community Food Bank.

The money will be used to buy toys for the children for the Holiday Giving Program. This year there was a head start with a donation of soft

and cuddly stuffed animals from Jared Jewelers located on Southcenter Parkway in Tukwila.

Look for the Tukwila Police Mobile Command Center in the south parking lot of the mall or the Tukwila Police Officers, Police Explorers and Parks and Recreation employees at various locations at the mall.

Boeing union rejects offer Boeing Machinists overwhelmingly rejected last week an eight-year contract extension in a vote they say will preserve their pensions and other benefits.

The contract, which Boeing and union leadership negotiated in a short time, was rejected by 67 percent of the 31,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 751.

In a statement Wednesday night Boeing indicated it would start immediately to open a competitive process to decide where to build the next version of the 777, the 777X, now

built in Everett.

The company had offered to forego the competitive process if Machinists agreed to the contract extension.

“Today, the democratic process worked and our members made the decision to not accept the company’s proposal,” said IAM District President Tom Wroblewski in a statement issued Wednesday night. y belief that we represent the best aerospace workforce in the world and hope that as a result of this vote Boeing will not discard our skills when looking to place the 777X.” In rejecting the contract

proposal, he said Machinists “preserved something sacred.”

“We’ve held on to our pensions and that’s big. At a time when financial planners are talking about a ‘retirement crisis’ in America, we have preserved a tool that will help our members retire with more comfort and dignity.”

In his statement, Ray Conner, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO, said the company is “very disappointed” in the outcome of the union vote.

“Our goal was two-fold: to enable the 777X and its new composite wing to be

produced in Puget Sound and to create a competitive structure to ensure that we continue market-leading pay, health care and retirement benefits while preserving jobs and our industrial base here in the region.

“But without the terms of this contract extension, we’re left with no choice but to open the process competitively and pursue all options for the 777X,” he said.

He thanked Gov. Jay Inslee and the Washington state Legislature for their efforts to keep 777X production in Washington state.

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District tightens access to Foster field

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

The Tukwila School District is tightening up public access to Werner Neudorf Stadium at Foster High School, in the in-

tukwila reporter

terest of student and staff safety during the school day.

The Tukwila School Board adopted in October a new facility-use policy that applies to all district schools and outdoor facilities.

A second key policy change is establishing formally who is first in line to use school district facilities to ensure everyone has equal access to them. Top priority goes to the school district, followed by the City of Tukwila and then community groups, such as youth sports organizations.

Supt. Nancy Coogan stressed that the intent of the policy is not to exclude anyone from Tukwila’s schools.

“We want them in our schools. We want them to participate with us. We want them to be partners in raising all children. This is just part of how we do business,” she said.

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that I have some type of security measures for all those students and staff,” she said, pointing to breaches in school security across the nation.

In essence Tukwila’s schools have had an open campus, meaning, for example, that anyone could walk onto the track at Neudorf Stadium for some exercise any time, even when students were present during the school day.

The facility-use policy is separate from the long-standing policy that anyone who wants to enter a school building must first go to the office, sign in and get a pass.

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Seahawk inspires team, brings supplies

BY BRIAN BECKLEY BBECKLEY@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM

It must have been the shoes.

The Foster Bulldogs football team picked up their second win of the season at this year’s homecoming game Oct. 18 against Evergreen after an exciting rally that featured a surprise visit from a Seattle Seahawk who brought gifts and inspiration for the team.

Halfway through the school’s homecoming assembly that afternoon, All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman was introduced, sending the students, especially the football team, into a frenzy.

But the visit wasn’t just a cheering session; Sherman brought gifts.

After taking a look at the shoes owned by a few members of the team, Sherman wheeled out a cart filled with brand new Nike cleats, a pair for each member of the team.

The gift was from Sherman and the Blanket Coverage Founda-

tukwila reporter

Seahawks player Richard Sherman is surrounded by players and students at Foster’s homecoming assembly. Brian Beckley/Tukwila Reporter

tion, Sherman’s charitable group dedicated to making sure as many kids as possible have adequate school supplies and clothes.

“You never want to see kids with inadequate gear,” Sherman

said, adding that it was an “honor and a blessing” to be able to inspire the Bulldogs.

According to Shaun Guerrero, the foundation’s vice president, Foster was identified as a school

with “immense potential” but having a high percentage of lowincome students.

Sherman said when he was in high school, his only hope of making it out of his inner-city neighborhood in Oakland was to get a scholarship and now he wants to give back and make sure others have the same chances.

The Blanket Coverage Foundation also provided 120 students with backpacks filled with more than $100 in school supplies, but Sherman made it clear that he does not believe in charity and each student who received a bag signed a contract promising to keep up their grades.

“Everybody knows i’m making an investment in your future,” Sherman told them, adding that he wanted each of them to go to college someday. “So I’d like to see a return on my investment.”

Students who received backpacks and live up to the terms of the contract will receive supplies and school clothes from the foundation again next year.

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Football Coach Matt Leonard called the visit “amazing” and said the team had been using a “rag-tag” bunch of cleats before his arrival.

“It means so much,” he said.

“I’ve never seen the team like this.”

“It means a lot,” echoed quarterback Randy Tippins. “A lot of people didn’t have nice cleats.”

Receiver Thomas Joseph thanked his coaches for bringing Sherman to the school.

“It shows we’ve got the best coaching staff,” he said, adding “and it shows what kind of guy Richard Sherman is to give back to the community.”

Sherman also fired up the team with a locker room speech before the game, which the Bulldogs won 25-19, and said he would keep checking in on the squad and the school could count on him to keep his end of the contract next year.

“I would give y’all my cell phone number,” he joked, “but I feel like y’all would give it out.”

The public will still have access to outdoor facilities, just outside the normal school day.

At Neudorf Stadium, under the new policy unscheduled use of the track is now allowed 5 a.m.-8 a.m., before students arrive, and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., when students aren’t present. The community can use the Foster track on weekends.

For now, Foster staff will educate the public about the changes and ask non-school users to leave the stadium during the school day; the district will post signs. But starting Jan. 1, the access gate will be locked and only those users with an access card can enter the stadium.

Tukwila citizens who want to use the track during the open public hours can get a free gate-access card at the school district office next to Showalter Middle School.

Unscheduled use of the turf field is prohibited.

The facility-use policy also spells out what facilities are available for rent at district schools. Those facilities include gyms, classrooms, kitchens, commons, libraries and weight/conditioning rooms.

Rental of all district facilities to the community are on a first-come, first-served basis, using an established process. Rental arrangements for facilities at Foster High School are made through J.D. Hill, the the athletics and activities director.

What may complicate the community’s use of the stadium is replacement of the turf field, likely next summer, Coogan said.

A new field turf would mean an increase in fees to use the field, Coogan said. The district is also looking at the fees charged to rent indoor facilities but changes in any fees won’t occur until next September.

7 h NOVEMBER 2013

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com Âť NOVEMBER 2013

ÂŤ www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

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TUKWILA CITY PAGES

MAYOR: Jim Haggerton COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Kathy Hougardy

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In 2010, as part of the City of Tukwila’s Surface Water Management Program, the City began to survey its citizens to measure the public’s knowledge and perception of stormwater and, at the same time, conduct an education and outreach program as is required by our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) Phase II permit.

One of the nation’s oldest and largest youth mentoring programs has a shortage of men. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Puget Sound – like the organization’s many other chapters nationally – has a backlog of boys waiting for Big Brothers. The organization’s recruiters believe the shortage of volunteers can be attributed to longer work hours, other volunteer options, and even increased entertainment options such as video games. Contrary to the perception that younger adult men are targeted to fill the Big Brother role, the organization is increasingly looking for older men who bring time, patience and life wisdom to the role.

Trevor – a former Little Brother – remembers “I met Steve when I was in 7th grade. When I first met him I wasn’t too sure. He seemed so much older than me. As time went on I began to realize he was just another big kid. We had a lot of great adventures together, doing everything from going to his lab to snowboarding to river rafting. Steve was the first person to show me what a real man is and I will be forever indebted.�

Make a difference and donate 3-4 hours a month to a child. Interested in learning more? Contact Kara Sanders at Kara.Sanders@BBBSPS.org.

Pregnancy Aid provides needed things For over 40 years, Pregnancy Aid in Des Moines has been serving low-income pregnant women and families with babies in South King County. Pregnancy Aid provides maternity clothes, baby and children’s clothes, diapers, books, toys, and baby furniture – including car seats – to anyone in need. Families return the borrowed items once their child has outgrown them. The office is located at 730 South 225th in Des Moines, and open from 10:00am to 1:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. No appointment is necessary; bring picture ID.

Get into the spirit

Make a plan with children in case you get separated.

Establish a central meeting place.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep a secure hold on your purse and parcels.

Ensure that all children with you know your cell phone number.

Give cards with your contact information to any who don’t.

Spirit of Giving

ĆŹČśČˇÉ ÎŽ ȞɀȽȾɀȯȝΎ É€ČłČşČˇČłÉ ÎŽ ȽȟΎ ČąČˇÉ‚ČˇÉˆČłČźÉ ÎŽ ɅȜȽΎ ČľČłČźČłÉ€Č˝ÉƒÉ ČşÉ‡ÎŽ ČžÉƒÉ€ČąČśČŻÉ ČłÎŽ Toy & Food Collection Event ȟȳɅΎ ȾȡȴɂΎ ČˇÉ‚ČłČťÉ ÎŽ ȴȽɀΎ ɂȜȳΎ É€ČłČąČˇČžČˇČłČźÉ‚É ÎŽ ȡȟΎ É‚ČśČˇÉ ÎŽ ȞɀȽȾɀȯȝ˴Ύ ɂɇȞȡȹȯȺȺɇΎ Saturday, November 23 ȹȜȡȺȲɀȳȟΎ ȯȟȲΎ Č´ČŻČťČˇČşČˇČłÉ ÎŽ ɅȜȽΎ ȯɀȳΎ ČśČ˝ČťČłČşČłÉ É Ë´ÎŽ ȺȽɅ˚ȡȟȹȽȝȳΎ ȽɀΎ ȡȟΎ 10:00am to 4:00pm É‚É€Č˝ÉƒČ°ČşČłČ˛ÎŽÉ ČˇÉ‚ÉƒČŻÉ‚ČˇČ˝ČźÉ ËˇÎŽÎŽ Westfield Shopping Center Ć¤ČŻÉ É‚ÎŽÉ‡ČłČŻÉ€ÎŽÉ‚ČśČˇÉ ÎŽČžÉ€Č˝ČľÉ€ČŻČťÎŽČŻČşČ˝ČźČłÎŽČśČłČşČžČłČ˛ÎŽÉ ČłÉ€É„ČłÎŽČ˝É„ČłÉ€ÎŽĚąĚ´ĚŻÎŽČąČśČˇČşČ˛É€ČłČźËˇÎŽÎŽ ĆŹČśČˇÉ ÎŽÉ‡ČłČŻÉ€ĚƒÉ ÎŽČľČ˝ČŻČşÎŽČˇÉ ÎŽČŻČ°Č˝ÉƒÉ‚ÎŽĚ˛ĚŻĚŻÎŽČąČśČˇČşČ˛É€ČłČźËˇÎŽÎŽĆ¨ČşČłČŻÉ ČłÎŽČśČłČşČžÎŽČ°É€ČˇČźČľÎŽČśČ˝ČşČˇČ˛ČŻÉ‡ÎŽČąČśČłČłÉ€ÎŽÉ‚Č˝ÎŽČťČŻČźÉ‡ÎŽĆŹÉƒČšÉ…ČˇČşČŻÎŽČŻÉ€ČłČŻÎŽČ´ČŻČťČˇČşČˇČłÉ ÎŽÉ‚ČśČˇÉ ÎŽČśČ˝ČşČˇČ˛ČŻÉ‡ÎŽÉ ČłČŻÉ Č˝ČźËˇÎŽÎŽ ĆšÉ‡ÎŽČžČŻÉ€É‚ČˇČąČˇČžČŻÉ‚ČˇČźČľÎŽČˇČźÎŽÉ‚ČśČˇÉ ÎŽČžÉ€Č˝ČľÉ€ČŻČťË´ÎŽÉ‡Č˝ÉƒÎŽČąČŻČźÎŽÉ‚É€ÉƒČşÉ‡ÎŽČťČŻČšČłÎŽČŻÎŽČ˛ČˇËŽČłÉ€ČłČźČąČłÎŽČˇČźÎŽČŻÎŽČşČ˝ČąČŻČşÎŽČşČˇČ´ČłËˇ ĆĄČ´ÎŽÉ‡Č˝ÉƒÎŽČ˝É€ÎŽÉ‡Č˝ÉƒÉ€ÎŽČ°ÉƒÉ ČˇČźČłÉ É ÎŽÉ…Č˝ÉƒČşČ˛ÎŽČşČˇČšČłÎŽÉ‚Č˝ÎŽÉ ČśČŻÉ€ČłÎŽČˇČźÎŽÉ‚ČśČłÎŽÉ ČžČˇÉ€ČˇÉ‚ÎŽČ˝Č´ÎŽ ȾȡɄȡȟȾ˴Ύ ČžČşČłČŻÉ ČłÎŽ ȹȽȟɂȯȹɂΎ ƍȜȯȟȟȽȟΎ ĆžČˇÉ ČśČłÉ€ÎŽ ČŻÉ‚ÎŽ ̹̯̾˚̡̜̾˚̡̹̹̹Ύ ȽɀΎ ĆŤČśČŻČźČźČ˝ČźËˇĆžČˇÉ ČśČłÉ€Ë˛ĆŹÉƒČšÉ…ČˇČşČŻĆŻĆ™ËˇČľČ˝É„Ëˇ

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south parking lot Please come down, shop & donate toys, food or cash

t #JPEFHSBEBCMF TPBQ JT OPU B TBGF BEEJUJPO UP TUPSNXBUFS ESBJOT BOE should be kept from entering the stormwater drainage system.

This collection event is jointly sponsored by Tukwila’s Police Department and Parks & Recreation Department

t 5P QSPUFDU UIF FOWJSPONFOU TPBQZ XBUFS GSPN XBTIJOH B WFIJDMF JT best handled by allowing it to be absorbed by a lawn or the ground.

It should not be allowed to flow into the street or drainage ditch. t 5IF HBQT CFUXFFO CSJDLT PS QBWFST IFMQ SFEVDF UIF WPMVNF PG TUPSNwater runoff and pollution in the environment.

during any Tukwila Pool Family Swim, Lap Swim or Open Swim!

Coupon valid through December 31, 2013

Take oversized purchases (like TVs) straight home, rather than risk having them stolen while you continue to shop.

Each time you make a purchase, make sure you leave with your checkbook, credit cards, cell phone and wallet.

Street sweeping and stormwater

Reducing the occurrences of false alarms saves you money A false alarm is an alarm caused by human error or equipment malfunction that results in summoning a Police or Fire Department response with no evidence of an existing police or fire emergency situation.

False alarms are costly, misdirect valuable Police and Fire resources, and can jeopardize the safety of police officers, firefighters and citizens alike. Frequent false alarms also promote a complacent attitude. In the case of a residence, this can cause neighbors to ignore your alarm, making your system less reliable and credible if a true emergency occurs.

The City of Tukwila allows two free Police or Fire false alarm responses per calendar year.

A courtesy letter is sent to the home or business location giving notification of these alarms.

False alarm #3 incurs a $25.00 fee charged by both the Police and Fire Departments. All false alarms beyond #3 are $25.00 for Police Department responses; beginning with alarm #4, Fire Department false alarm response fees are $50.00. Notification will be given by invoice which states the fee due, the alarm number for the year, the incident number, and the date, time and location of the occurrence. False alarm fees, in effect since 2007, are being reviewed for possible increase.

Before activating your alarm system, take note of these prevention tips for fewer false alarm occurrences: t Keep pets, helium-filled balloons, plants, fans, etc., away from the motion sensor monitor of the alarm. t .BLF TVSF BMM XJOEPXT BOE EPPST BSF DMPTFE BOE MPDLFE to ensure that all alarm contacts are properly aligned. t .BLF TVSF UIBU OFXMZ QMBDFE E�DPS JUFNT TVDI BT IPMJday decorations) don’t interfere with your door or window alarm contacts or motion sensors. t 'PS CVTJOFTTFT NBLF TVSF BMM TUBGG IBT CFFO USBJOFE JO alarm procedure for entering and exiting alarmed buildings. For residences, make sure all family members know these procedures as well. Ensure that guests are also aware that an alarm exists, how it is activated, and what to do should they accidently trigger the alarm. t 8BJU B GFX NJOVUFT CFGPSF ESJWJOH BXBZ GSPN UIF IPNF or business, to make sure that the alarm system does not have a false activation. t .BLF TVSF UIF DPOUBDU MJTU ZPV IBWF XJUI ZPVS BMBSN company is accurate and up-to date.

For answers to questions about false alarms, or for advice/ information on fire and crime prevention, contact the Police administrative representative at 206-433-1804 or the Fire administrative representative at 206-575-4407.

Tukwila City offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 28 & 29, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

As the holiday season approaches, retailers, malls and grocery stores are more crowded than usual with busy shoppers. Keep these tips in mind whenever you go out to shop (the rest of the year, too!) Common-sense measures are the key to thwarting thieves. And for everyone’s safety, there’s advice for those shopping with children over the next several weeks.

A main component of the City’s Surface Water Management Program (SWMP) is cleaning the City’s catch basins.

When it rains, sediments and contaminates such as motor oil and car brake residual that have collected on City streets are washed into catch basins. The contaminates then attach to the sediments and are carried away by stormwater downstream to the Green/Duwamish River.

On October 16, three Tukwila businesses were recognized for their excellent efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality at the 20th annual Diamond Awards luncheon at the Hilton Airport Hotel. With Mayor Haggerton in attendance, this King County program honored:

By following this advice, you can reduce the stress of shopping during this particularly busy season. As always, keep your personal safety in mind, and be on the lookout for fraud and identity theft.

The City’s street sweeping operation collects significant amounts of these sediments and contaminates before they can enter the catch basins. The City’s street sweeper makes two or three cleaning cycles throughout the City each year. Also, after snow and ice events, sweepers direct their efforts to the removal of sand from City streets.

Group Health’s Employee Transportation Coordinator Sarah Hollis, with an award for her outstanding work with employees at headquarters located in Tukwila; and

4414 S. 144th St. Tukwila, WA 98168 | 206-267-2350 | www.TukwilaPool.org | poolinfo@TukwilaWAgov

Review with your children who they can turn to for help if approached by someone they don’t know or if they find themselves alone.

The entire survey results of this year and previous years can be viewed on the City’s NPDES web page at www.TukwilaWA.gov/PubWks/NPDES.

ONE FREE ADMISSION with one paid admission

Have your keys in your hand as you are walking to your car.

Do not put items down or on your car to open the door.

t In Tukwila, water drains into the stormwater system, completely separate from the sanitary sewer system. Typically stormwater is not treated to remove pollutants before being released into the environment. t 5IF QSJNBSZ DBVTF PG QPMMVUJPO JO TUPSNXBUFS SVOPGG JT JOEJWJEVBM human activity, not industrial dumping. Success in reducing environmental pollution depends upon everyone’s participation in helping to make a difference.

Clip this coupon and bring it to Tukwila Pool to receive

Shopping season is upon us‌ outsmart the crooks!

Never leave your laptop, GPS, purse, etc., in the vehicle. Visible power cords tell a potential thief there’s something worth stealing in the car.

The City of Tukwila recently completed the 2013 survey that you might have participated in. The objective is to compare results of this year’s survey to previous years’ results, allowing the City to analyze the effectiveness of its communications on – and the public’s awareness of – surface water issues, and to identify areas for improvement in educational outreach. Some important stormwater issues to understand:

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Attention, businesses: Your current licenses expire on December 31.

Watch your mailbox for the annual renewal notice, coming soon!

Stormwater survey results

Help change a child’s life for the better

Always lock your car doors and take the keys. Suspicious people in the area?

Call 911.

If you go back inside to shop after stashing packages (out of sight) in your vehicle, move it to another parking location on the other side of the lot or building, where a watching & waiting thief cannot see you re-park.

i 9

Any blockage by fallen leaves or debris on catch basins will back up on City streets and may cause flooding. Citizens making sure that the catch basins are free of blockage helps the entire system work better.

For more information about the City’s surface water management programs, contact NPDES Coordinator Greg Villanueva at 206-431-2442 or email SWMP@TukwilaWA.gov.

Tukwila businesses shine at King County’s Diamond Awards event

BECU, with a coveted Diamond Ring award for their work in managing employee commutes as central to the company’s vision of becoming carbon-neutral by 2035;

Monica Patti of BECU, with Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton

The Boeing Company, with an award for their innovative marketing guides.

The Diamond Awards program was established to recognize employers and individuals who are redefining the popular notion of commuting in King County. Through their outstanding and innovative programs, these employers improve the performance of our transportation system, keep our economy vibrant and protect our precious ecosystems.

Sarah Hollis of Group Health, with King County Executive Dow Constantine

Meeting agendas, City programs, recreation activities, publications and more‌ get the most current information at TukwilaWA.gov!

10 hNOVEMBER 2013

« www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

tukwilasports Top athletes in Seamount!

She also was named to the Seamount girls all-league first team.

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM

Sierra Parsons

Two outstanding Foster High athletes, cross-country runner Alem Belete and soccer forward Sierra Parsons, were voted the Seamount League girl Athletes of the Year in their sports by the league coaches.

Alem Belete Belete, 19, a Foster senior, finished her high-school, cross-country career with a 10th-place finish at the state meet in Pasco.

She did so with a personal-best time of 19:21.37 for the 5,000-meter race. She won the SPSL 2A sub-district meet with a time of 19:25.05.

In an interview with the Tukwila Reporter in October, her coach, Bill Napier, said of Belete: “She is a kid who has worked really hard. The thing is, she’s still so new. The sky’s the limit.”

Belete was the top girls finisher from the Seamount League in the state meet. The girls team from RentSierra Parsons led the Foster girls soccer team, playing on’s Lindbergh High School placed fourth overall and the Lindbergh boys offense and defense. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

Alem Belete finished 10th at the state cross-country meet in Pasco. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

place sixth overall.

Belete was the only Foster runner at the state meet.

She placed second Nov. 2 in the Westside Classic district cross-country tournament at American Lake and won the Seamount League crosscountry championship.

Parsons, a senior and captain of the Foster High School girls soccer team, was also named to the all-league girls first team. This is Parson’s fourth year playing soccer for Foster.

Parsons is also an outstanding hurdler and runner in track who has competed at state.

The Bulldogs ended the soccer season 3-4 in league play and 5-9 overall.

Nashir Tura has coached Parsons for three seasons.

“Sierra Parsons distinguished herself by her personal hard work, but Sierra also earned much respect for her demonstrated ability to foster growth in her younger teammates,” Tura said in an interview with the Tukwila Reporter.

Parsons can play both defense and offense; this year she was especially called upon as a defender.

“She is fast, strong, skillful with the ball and she is a finisher on the goal,” Tura said. “Most importantly, she will always give you 100 percent.”

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013i 11

The Foster Bulldogs received the Seamount League Team Sportsmanship Award from the league’s football coaches. Here the team poses for its team photo at the beginning of the season. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

Bulldogs win league’s sportsmanship award

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM

The Foster Bulldogs received the Team Sportsmanship Award in the Seamount League and placed two of its athletes on the league’s first team.

The Bulldogs finished fifth in the league, with a 2-4 league record.

League coaches vote on the team and player honors.

Named to the first team are senior quarterback Randy Tippins and junior receiver Patrick Straight.

Tippins also received honorable Matt Leonard mention for his play on defense as a linebacker.

“Randy was our everything,” said Coach Matt Leonard. “He stood tall in the pocket, ran hard when called upon and gave us a chance to win every game he played.”

The “greatest thing” about Tippins,

Randy Tippins

Patrick Straight

he said is “how hard he competed, especially late in games. He never quit.”

“The future is very bright.”

Matt Leonard, coach, Foster football team

Straight is one of the top receivers in the league.

“Patrick is a dynamic receiver who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. When he is locked

Hannah Schenck and Connor Forsyth are the October Rotary Students of the Month at Foster High School.

Tukwila School District.

Rotary honors Foster students

in, he has the ability dominate,” Leonard said.

The sportsmanship award, he said, “speaks to how well we competed and the class we played with. You have to face adversity with class and embrace greatness with even more.”

This is Leonard’s first year at the Foster football coach.

“While we didn’t reach our playoff goal, we certainly played our best football at the end of the year,” he said.

“We competed hard, got better, and played as a family.”

Two Foster players were named to the second team, senior defensive end Joe Davison and senior linebacker Justice Muna.

Besides Tippins, receiving honorable mentions were sophomore linebacker Rueben Purganan, sophomore defensive back Zane Jacobson and senior offensive tackle Carlos Brambila.

“Toward the end of the season we were starting six sophomores and a freshman on defense,” Leonard said.

“The future is very bright.”

Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425-255-3484, ext. 5150.

The Southcenter Rotary Club has honored Foster High School seniors Connor Forsyth and Hannah Schenck as its October Students of the Month.

The club recognizes a Foster boy and girl in the senior class each month, based on: • Academic achievement for students pursuing four-year, two-year or trade/technical schools or apprenticeships.

• Community involvement or service, including being involved at the school level.

• character and strong work ethic.

• On track for graduation.

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coverstory

Dreamweaver:

Success coordinator Jesse McCall to help Foster students find their ‘spark’ and ignite their futures

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@RENTONREPORTER.COM

Jesse McCall says he’s like a dreamweaver.

His official title at Foster High School is success coordinator.

But there are two key words there that, if put together, tell the story best – dream and success. Doing the first leads to the second.

McCall joined Foster’s staff this year, part of the school’s team effort to address the needs of Foster’s multi-cultural student body. McCall, who holds a masters in social work, tends to Foster’s highest-potential, at-risk students.

“The success coordinator is going to support our students toward graduation and the ultimate goal of a productive hopeful future,” says Superintendent Nancy Coogan.

McCall was hired by the school district with a grant from Renton-based Providence Health and Services, which was looking to help students in local impoverished communities.

Initially, McCall is building his list of students to engage and mentor, helping ensure they stay on track to graduation. But he has big plans, to find that “spark” in students that will ignite their passions.

“Maybe they haven’t found it yet, but it’s there. I see it,” he says of that passion that all students possess.

McCall is 24, not far removed in age from the young students he serves. He meets them at eye level, just talking with them in a slang and lexicon that make up a common language.

Dig deeper and you’ll find a common culture – hip hop, composed of music, poetry, spoken word, breakdancing and graphic artistry. And finally there’s knowledge, “what ties it all together,” he says.

“If I am really being honest, I connect with a lot of these students at a pretty deep level,” McCall says.

McCall has four academic degrees, but it’s arguable that a defining classroom was Kansas City, Mo., where he grew up but didn’t attend high school like other members of his family. The city’s schools are not accredited, he says.

Instead, he went to high school in suburban Blue Springs, a “nice comfortable community” where mostly wealthy white people live, he says. That was his “springboard,” but it still didn’t sit right with him that a good education was only available in a wealthy community.

Jesse McCall checks out some artwork by junior Joey Chambers. ON THE COVER: McCall strikes a hip-hop pose; hip hop, he says, is a big part of his culture, one he shares with students.

Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

“I understood quite clearly that it was about race and it was about class,” he says.

McCall says he was “very engaged” in high school, doing “well.” He learned quickly how to “work the system,” he says, a skill that kids find appealing in him.

“It’s clear I know a world other than the system,” he says. It’s why kids see him as “real,” he says.

He shares with students that they have different skills than are expected of Jesse McCall connects with students at eye-level, speaking them in the school district, their language. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter but the goal is to “learn is a way to make positive contributions to how to make those skills the world and to your own life, and to your transferable,” which they are, he says. family using those skills that have previIn some cases, it’s turning a perceived ously have been seen as negative.” negative into a positive.

Students have come into his office, asking “Sometimes they (skills) have been whether they’re in trouble. deemed criminal, sometimes they’ve been His response: “People don’t come to me deemed bad, something to be ashamed of,” to be in trouble, man. This is the opposite he says. “But there is a skill set and there

of that. People come to me to stay out of trouble. Or to create a positive type of trouble.”

McCall has moved quickly to engage students creatively and academically. He’s holding a writers circle, the result of the initiative of “natural leaders” among students.

That has resulted in a partnership with student-led Poets with a Purpose, based in the Burien area.

The wall next to his desk will fill with student artwork and he’d like to see their artistry displayed throughout the community.

On an “adult level,” he’s working with Foster’s counselors, who also have a social worker’s role, community liaisons, specialists in public health and mental health and administrators.

“It’s a giant team effort,” he says.

How he fits into that team is still evolving.

“I am like a dreamweaver, I guess,” he says.

Referrals come from counselors and teachers and others and he’s looking for students who are on everyone’s radar screens to add to his caseload.

He sees a “ton of potential” in his students and “clearly potential” from the other adults in their lives.

There are dots, he said, that aren’t being connected.

“So I see myself as one of those people, one of those tools, one of the instruments that can come in and connect those dots,” he says.

He’s meeting with students who may have one high school credit and are 19 years old, or they’re close to graduating but haven’t come to school in a month.

How he helps each students is tailored to their individual situation, because there is so much going on in their lives.

“Their life is non-stop, more so than most kids in the rest of this country,” he says. “This is a very unique place. And these students got a lot going on. I’ve got to respond to their situation.”

Some students in the toughest situations may become disillusioned and feel they don’t have options. Maybe they had “a spark back in the day but it’s just been slowly and slowly dimmed.” Let’s find something they would like to do, if nothing stood in their way, he says.

“My goal is to reignite that flame,” he says.

Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425255-3484, ext. 5150.

Position funded with grant from Providence Health A $60,000 grant from the Renton-based Providence Health & Services is funding the success coordinator position at Foster High School.

To support its mission of “service to people most in need,”

Providence Health & Services did a needs assessment of local impoverished communities, led

by Sister Susanne Hartung. That effort led to the Tukwila School District.

“Sister burst into my office

this summer like a ball of energy asking what she could do to help,” said Superintendent Nancy Coogan. “It was like a miracle.

Here was an organization — with a checkbook and an army of potential volunteers — asking me

what it could do to invest in our students.”

In addition to funding the Success Coordinator, Providence Health & Services committed to paid work hours for administrative employees to volunteer in

Tukwila schools. The two organizations are using that manpower to build a long-term mentorship program at Foster High School.

The grant is written on a yearto-year basis, according to district spokeswoman Sara Niegowski.

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013i 13

Racial complaint moves to Superior Court Daryl Wright

J.D. Hill

can staff member.

And it asks for a conversation about racism in the Tukwila School District, facilitated by a national expert.

In the planning stages for a time, a Socratic Seminar hosted by Coogan is Nov. 19 at Foster High School that will bring together students, elected leaders and community members. The inquiry is centered on a research paper on race and racism in education.

The Tukwila Reporter interviewed two of the employees after the EEOC determination was released.

Daryl Wright, who was transferred from his job as a Foster High School vice principal to a teaching po-

sition at Cascade View Elementary School, and J.D. Hill, Foster’s athletic director, want to see permanent changes in the district’s hiring practices that reflect the school district’s diversity.

Wright is taking a medical leave of absence, rather than take the teaching position, which he called a demotion.

If systemic changes aren’t made, Hill said, “we know that things can revert back to the old ways.

“We want something in place, to say that these things are going to be the practice of Tukwila for the future, because the demographics are not going to change and we are in this for our kids.

“That’s the main reason that we are here. Our kids are not being served appropriately,” he said.

What’s sad, Wright said, is that’s he’s asking for a job back that he never should have lost.

He wants those responsible for the fears that minor-

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placed the principal and two vice principals at Foster High School, hired a new superintendent and hired a new personnel director and other directors at the district officer.

Mell addressed the question whether such hires were part of the solution.

“Where’s the color? This is about color. That’s the issue. Where’s the color?,” she asked about the new leadership.

She’s not saying that white people can’t lead people of color, but “the absence of color does not welcome a diverse dialogue.”

The EEOC determination was issued by Michael Baldonado, the director of the agency’s San Francisco District Office, based on the Civil Rights Act of 1967.

One of the options open to the Tukwila School District is to appeal the federal determination, according to Niegowski, the district’s spokeswoman.

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“I want people who want what’s best for our kids, who want what’s best for our staff, who want what’s best for this community to recognize that they don’t have the skills, they don’t have the ability and their lens at looking at this world is unhealthy and please allow people who are willing to be more healthy be in those positions.”

Many of the issues Wright and Hill raised are also the basis for their lawsuit.

In its answer or response to the lawsuit, the school district denied the allegations against it and asks the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

“The district has taken reasonable care to prevent, promptly investigate and remedy all alleged incidents of discrimination and/or retaliation brought to its attention,” the district’s 26page answer reads.

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The Tukwila School District created a hostile work environment for 10 of its employees based on their race, sex or color, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has determined.

The 10 employees filed the racial-discrimination complaint with the EEOC in March 2012 and called for the suspension of thenSuperintendent Ethelda Burke.

Burke was placed on paid administrative leave and resigned in July 2012. Burke was named in the EEOC complaint and in a lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court by the employees earlier this year.

“It’s a nice, refreshing ruling that says they’re right,” Joan Mell, the employees’ attorney, said of their complaint against the district.

Nine district employees also filed a lawsuit against the Tukwila School District in King County Superior Court in February. That lawsuit is still pending; the school district in October issued its response in which it denied the allegations.

The school district issued a formal statement on Nov. 1, following the EEOC’s determination. In it the district writes that it has and continues to “adamantly deny the allegations made by this small group of employees.”

The next step in the federal process is a conciliation to resolve the federal complaints. One option is a financial settlement for the 10 employees. Another option, according to Mell, is an open dialogue in the school district about racial issues that would lead to systemic changes in the school district’s hiring practices and policies.

As of last week, no meetings had been scheduled between the employees and the school district to discuss the conciliation process, although Mell provided additional information to the EEOC. In a letter to the community this month, Superintendent Nancy Coogan wrote the district is already preparing a strategic plan

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TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

tiffs.

It also asks that the district bar employee use of terms “d a r kie” and “slave girl” or to use the term “a p e” to refer to an AfricanAmeri-

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that will include all voices of the community and staff and “will be a commitment and roadmap of our collective responsibility of knowing every child by name and need.”

“Through my actions, I intend to demonstrate that my underlying sense of fairness and opportunity extends unequivocally to staff as well as students,” she wrote.

With the EEOC determination in hand, the district employees will next press their claims of racial discrimination in King County Superior Court, where a trial is set for next June, although that timing could change.

“We are on track for the June court date with the trial, which further complicates any conciliation meetings because much of that information is going into the discovery process,” said Sara Niegowski, the district’s spokeswoman.

In their lawsuit, the employees, who are all African-American, maintain “the Tukwila School District and its officials endorse a white agenda, and systematically repress equality in education and teaching.”

The lawsuit asks for monetary damages for the nine employees named as plain-

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BY DEAN A. RADFORD

14 hNOVEMBER 2013

« www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

school connection Tukwila School District #406

Important corrections to printed calendar Some bad news and some good news if you’re a student: The printed calendar sent to every family incorrectly lists Dec. 20 and Feb. 14 as early-release days.

Please note that these are actually full school days.

But do not despair! Spring break was accidentally left off the printed calendar, and students do get those days off from April 7-11. For the most accurate and up-to-date calendar, go to www.tukwila. wednet.edu.

November 2013

Inclement weather: Snow in-the-know It’s a four-letter word: SNOW! Let’s be prepared for the white stuff this winter and hope we don’t have to use the plan often. Each family should have prearranged childcare if school is delayed, cancelled, or ended early due to emergency weather conditions. We will make every effort to call a delay or cancellation early in the morning or even the evening before. A two-hour delay means there is no preschool, Puget Sound

Skills Center, out-of-district transportation, special-needs transportation, or taxi services. If you hear no announcement before school begins, that means all operations are normal. In the event of a cancellation or delay, you will be notified through: • An automated call to the primary household number in our student record system.

• An announcement posted on the

district homepage.

• Information on all major radio and television channels.

• Flashalert.net (go to this website now to subscribe for Tukwila School District alerts).

When certain roads are impacted more than others, we put buses on SNOW ROUTES. If your route is listed below, be prepared to change pickup locations when snow routes are announced:

Bus

Regular stop

Limited Transportation stop

11 MS/HS

Stop on 65th Ave. S. and S. 153rd St.

65th Ave. S. and Southcenter Blvd.

3 MS/HS

All stops will be picked up at 42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St.

11 Elem

4320 S. 150th St.

42nd Ave. S. and S. 150th St.

10 Elem

53rd Ave. S. and S. 142nd St.

53rd Ave. S. and S. 144th St.

10 Elem

53rd Ave. S. and S. 139th St.

53rd Ave. S. and S. 144th St.

8 Elem

37th Ave. S. and S. 130th St.

37th Ave. S. and S. 128th St.

3 Elem

46th Ave. S. and S. 160th St.

42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St.

3 Elem

43rd Ave. S. and S. 160th St.

42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St.

3 Elem

4421 S. 158th St.

42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St.

3 Elem

44th Ave. S. and S. 156th St.

42nd Ave. S. and S. 160th St.

Getting Social: Connect with the district on Facebook, Twitter, and more Want to hear Foster High’s new Success Coordinator beatbox? Have you ever seen a library stampede? Or the joy on a kindergartener’s face when she gets to “drive” a fire engine? If not, connect with the Tukwila School District on a new social level— you will get critical information/alerts plus

access to the day-to-day happenings in schools. Here’s where to find us: • www.facebook.com/tukwilaschools • www.twitter.com/tukwilaschools • www.youtube.com/tukwilaschools • www.flickr.com/photos/tukwilaschools

Please drive carefully near schools Especially with dark winter commutes, we are focusing on traffic safety near our campuses. In the months ahead, individual schools will be reevaluating their drop-off/pick-up routes, and parents may be asked (with plenty of ad-

vance warning and friendly reminders from police) to adhere to new procedures.

In the meantime, please follow these safety tips every time you are on the road: • Always adhere to schoolzone speed limits.

• Always yield to students

and pedestrians in crosswalks.

• Always come to complete stops at crosswalks and stop signs.

• Be extra vigilant (no fiddling with the radio or phone) when driving near a school.

Volunteers sorted literal walls of donated clothing during C.A.R.E. (Clothes Are Really Expensive) Night Oct. 23 at Cascade View Elementary. When the doors opened, more than 550 children and community members were able to “shop” for much-needed free clothing. Many students were so excited that they attempted to wear every piece of their new wardrobe—from pajamas to jeans to mittens!—the next day. Thank you to everyone who donated clothing and time to the C.A.R.E. Nights throughout the district. These events are a significant service to our students who would otherwise not be able to afford such clothing.

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » NOVEMBER 2013i 15

Tukwila School District #406

NOVEMBER 2013

District opens first Head Start classroom: Early learning is critical to school success The Tukwila School District expanded its early-learning program this month by opening its first Head Start classroom at Thorndyke Elementary. This complements the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) classrooms there and at Cascade View Elementary.

Head Start (federally funded) and ECEAP (state funded) are both comprehensive income-based preschool programs. Head Start has the

ability to serve 3- and 4-yearold children whereas ECEAP serves only 4-year-olds. By partnering with our local educational service district to host a Head Start program in Tukwila, more children will enter school ready to succeed.

“It’s much more impactful to support children at the front-end of the continuum where it prepares them to enter kindergarten rather than playing catch up later when

they’re falling behind,” said Gwen Estes-Zuehlke, Director of Special Services.

The ultimate goal in Tukwila schools, Estes-Zuehlke added, is to continue working with the educational service district and state and local partners to offer Head Start for all qualified 3-year-olds and ECEAP for all qualified 4-year-olds prior to entering the district’s full-day kindergarten classes at age 5.

Tukwila Elementary kindergartner Myra Lee was elated to take a turn behind the wheel during a recent visit to a local fire station to learn about fire safety and procedures.

Cultivating Community for One Tukwila Strategic planning underway: Your input needed A unified vision of success for children and everyone working together to get there—it’s as simple and challenging as that! Superintendent Nancy Coogan has started the process to create a strategic plan for the Tukwila School District that will drive focus, resources, and accountability in our schools for years to come. A group of diverse stakeholders—including students, staff, parents, and business and civic leaders—met in November and will meet again in December to form a foundation for the plan. In the new year, the process will go community-wide, and you will have the opportunity to weigh in with your thoughts and priorities. The final strategic plan should represent all of the diverse voices in our school district. Keep up with the process online at www.tukwila.wednet.edu.

school connection is presented by the Tukwila School District

Tukwila School District #406

Jonathan Moreno carefully pressed pine needles into a clay ornament in Ms. Ordonez’ art class at Showalter Middle School in early November. At Gov. Jay Inslee’s request, Ms. Ordonez selected and sent 17 of the ornaments to Olympia to decorate the holiday tree in the Governor’s Mansion, where they will be viewed by thousands of visitors.

Danny Yost proudly kicked off the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program at Thorndyke Elementary on Nov. 6. He did it all— graded papers, patrolled the hallways, set up parking cones, and even appeared on the daily student newscast. The program provides positive male role models and an extra set of eyes and ears to reduce bullying on campus each day. All students’ dads, grandpas, uncles, older brothers, and male family friends have been invited to participate.

www.tukwila.wednet.edu 206.901.8000 4640 South 144th Street Tukwila, Washington 98168

Board of Directors: Mark Wahlstrom, President 206.243.9855 Steve Mullet, Vice-President 206.244.7553 Mary Fertakis 206.767.6053 Dave Larson 206.244.2313 Alicia Waterton 206.248.4302 Superintendent: Dr. Nancy Coogan 206 901-8006

16 hNOVEMBER 2013

« www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

PA I D A D V E RT I S E M E N T

Have a water efficient H2Oliday!

When preparing for meals and parties this holiday season, you can use much more water than your normal, everyday use. Running your tap continuously while preparing food or washing dishes wastes water. You can use more than two gallons of water every minute your tap is running. That’s a lot when you’re cooking a big meal for extended family members and friends! Here are two ways to reduce your water and energy use over the holidays: s

Scrape dirty dishes instead of using water to rinse them before you put them in the dishwasher.

s

If you don’t use a dishwasher, fill the sink with a few gallons of soapy wash water, clean your dishes, and put them aside.

Then rinse them all together afterward.

Either of these simple practices could save 10 gallons of water each time you wash dishes. If every American household reduced

their water use by 10 gallons on just one meal this holiday season, we could save more than 1 billion gallons of water, as well as the energy and materials used to pump and treat tap water.

For more water saving tips, visit the Cascade Water Alliance website at cascadewater.org.

And don’t forget these winter water tips: Winterize your pipes Make sure that all outdoor spigots are winterized; this could avoid pipes from freezing, bursting and losing water.

Insulate

Locate your master water shut off valve Also, remember to locate your master water shut off valve in your house — mark it for quick identification. If a water pipe were to break, it could cause flooding and tremendous water loss.

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Even a tiny leak can translate into thousands of gallons of wasted water over a short period of time. Repair or replace any equipment leaking water immediately.

Insulate hot water pipes to reduce the amount of water that must be run in order to get hot water to the faucet.

Like us on Facebook!

Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, hose connections, and faucets

Follow us on Twitter!

Use shut-off nozzles on hoses Use nozzles which completely turn off the water when you are not using it; they also help to more effectively direct water than using your finger to create a stream.