Redmond Reporter, March 07, 2014

Page 1

REDMOND

˜

.com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE: 425.867.0353

SPORTS | Bear Creek boys and girls qualify for state basketball tournaments [13] CRIME ALERT | Redmond Police Blotter [3]

DAYLIGHT

SAVINGS Sunday 9th

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

LWSD board votes to include $404 million bond on April ballot RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@kirklandreporter.com

Just one week after the $755 million Lake Washington School District (LWSD) bond officially failed, the school board of directors voted to put a smaller bond on the April ballot. Working on a March 7 deadline for the April 22 special election, the board met on Monday to discuss the next steps for the cur-

rent and future overcrowding issue that schools in Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish face. “Current enrollment is nearing our total capacity,” said district spokeswoman Kathryn Reith, adding that enrollment is around 26,000 students. “We’re expecting 4,000 more students in the next eight years.”

After a lengthy discussion, the board unanimously passed Resolution 2178, which calls for a $404 million bond measure. If passed by voters, residents with the district average house value of $495,000 would pay approximately $124 a year in property taxes over the next 20 years. “We heard concerns

SCHOOLS NEWS

from the community about the overall size of the February bond measure,” said Jackie Pendergrass, president of the LWSD board of directors. “We are facing growth and overcrowding in our schools today. These projects are the ones that are needed now to reduce current overcrowding and keep up with the rapid growth in our enrollment.” The $404 million bond would fund the construction of three new

elementary schools, two in Redmond and one in Kirkland; a new middle school; a new westside STEM-focused (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) school on the Juanita High School (JHS) campus; the rebuild of JHS; and an addition to Lake Washington High School. The bond would also leave some funds for future capital projects. “The district needs to act immediately to address our

Redmond students witness Dream Act signing ANDY NYSTROM anystrom@redmond-reporter.com

Four Redmond High School (RHS) students and one graduate didn’t want to miss out on the historic occasion in Olympia on Feb. 26. At 2 p.m. in the state’s capitol building, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the Washington Dream Act into law. Students like RHS senior Alexis (last name withheld for privacy reasons), who arrived in the United States undocumented 10 years ago, are one step closer to becoming eligible for college financial aid. “I really wanted to go because I really wanted to see that it was finally true,” said Alexis, 17, who traveled to Olympia as part of OneAmerica’s contingent. The Seattle nonprofit organization’s message is advancing “the fundamental principles of democracy and justice by building power within immigrant communities.” Senate Bill 6523 passed the Washington State House of Representatives on Feb. 18 with a 75-22 bipartisan vote. The bill — which is the first to pass both chambers this legislative session — requires students to have lived in the state

From left to right, Redmond High School (RHS) graduate Carlos Martinez sits on the Olympia Capitol Building steps with current RHS students Martin, Alexis, Jenni Martinez and Lety following Gov. Jay Inslee’s Washington Dream Act signing last month. The three students whose first names are only listed have asked to withhold their last names for privacy reasons. Courtesy photo for at least three years and to have received a high school diploma in Washington state before receiving aid. California, New Mexico and Texas have passed similar bills

to benefit students who arrived undocumented in the United States as children. “I’m a ‘Dreamer’ and it affects me because it’s my last year here (at

RHS), so I was planning to go to college right away,” Alexis said. “So now with the Dream Act passed, I have an opportunity to go to college [ more DREAM page 2 ]

urgent and critical need for additional classroom space,” said Superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce. “The board’s plan allows the district to first address the immediate need for additional space, and then to engage the community around the longer term need to continue to modernize our aging school facilities.” This current bond will not fund an eastside internationally focused choice [ more BOND page 3 ]

Caucuses set for Sunday Mid-term 45th and 48th legislative district Democratic caucuses will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Redmond Middle School cafeteria (1055 166th Ave. N.E.) and the Rose Hill Elementary School cafeteria (8110 128th Ave. N.E. in Kirkland), respectively. Keynote speakers in Redmond will include state Senate candidate Matt Isenhower, Congressional candidate Jason Ritchie and other Democratic Party leaders. Keynote speakers in Kirkland will include Rep. Ross Hunter and Senate candidate Joan McBride. Attendees will elect delegates and alternates to represent the districts at the Washington State Democratic Convention on June 21 in Spokane. Any registered voter in the districts or 17-year-old who will be eligible to register to vote in the November 2014 general election may vote at the caucus.

We listen. In person. ou talk. We listen. In person. Deana Hale

Face-to-face meetings. One-on-one relationships. How did Edward Jones become one of the biggest financial Whole Foods Market Place services companies in the country? By not acting like one. 17887 Redmond Way Suite 125 |Way, Redmond, WA 98052 | 425-861-0870 | www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC 17887 Redmond Suite 125

lace

704772

Hale Hale

With17887 more Redmond than 10,000 offices. Including the six in Redmond. FinancialAdvisor Advisor |.|WholeFoods FoodsMarket MarketPlace Place 17887 Redmond WaySuite Suite125 125 Redmond, WA 98052 425-861-0870||www.edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com 425-861-0870 || Financial |.|Whole Way ||Redmond, WA 98052 ||425-861-0870 Redmond, WA 98052

995335

Financial Advisor

MemberSIPC SIPC Member


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.