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‘Strong’ | Mayor Denis Law gives annual State of the City address [4] ON TO STATE! | The Hazen Drill Team is headed to Yakima this weekend to compete in the state competition. [Sports 14]
NEWSLINE: 425.255.3484 FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014
Renton School District looking to increase minority hires District has made progress but still working to match growing diversity of students and residents By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
The Renton School Board approved the district’s five-year affirmative action plan at its March 12 meeting, which has been revised to reflect new labor market statistics, including the district’s increasing diversity. A committee assembled to revise the plan found that the minority population in
King County has increased to 47 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to census data. The committee compared the percentage of racial and ethnic minorities and women employed in the district to the percentage of minorities and women in the available employment pool. They identified significant discrepancies
or under utilization and developed a plan to address it. “We were pleased to see that the overall percentage of Renton’s minority hires had increased by 34.5 percent since 2006, and that our diversity data for all of our certificated positions (teachers and leadership team) exceeded the availability in the regional and state labor market pool,” wrote Sheryl Moore, assistant superintendent human resources, in an email. The report also found under utilization in the custodial staff, food service, bus drivers and maintenance staff.
The under utilization analysis does not result in hiring goals, but the district will seriously work to expand its diversity in the applicant pool and in hiring, Moore said. Currently, there are openings in the custodial area and there will be three position openings in the other areas later this spring. From 2006 to 2013 women employees have grown from 1,265 to 1,435 and minority employees have increased from 307 to 413. The total staff increase for that same period has gone from 1,672 employees to [ more diversity page 15 ]
City closer to finalizing rules for pot businesses By Brian Beckley
bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
the flag
Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant, above, back right, watches as kids from around the region play flag football Saturday at Renton Memorial Stadium as part of the The Tru Experience Flag Football Tournament, sponsored by Pick 6 Sports. The two-day event featured boys and girls in first through eighth grade. Trufant signed autographs, posed for pictures, gave out high-fives and joined the huddle for some teams during the games. On Sunday, the pro cornerback even jumped on the field and matched up against the players. Brian Beckley, Renton Reporter
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The City of Renton is one step closer to finalizing its rules on recreational marijuana businesses this week but plans to extend its moratorium on medical marijuana businesses for an additional six months to further study the issue. The City Council on Monday moved to final reading of an ordinance laying out the city’s rules for recreational marijuana businesses, based on recommendations from staff and the Planning Commission, who have been studying the issue during the present six-month moratorium, which expires April 4. Under the new rules, marijuana producers and processors will be allowed in the city’s “industrial heavy” zones, while retail stores will be treated in the code like taverns and allowed in a limited number of retail zones. Senior Planner Angie Mathias presented the recommendations to the city’s planning and development committee on March 13. She said the Planning Commission worked hard on the issue, finalizing its recommendation in 4-3 [ more marijuana page 7 ]