REPORTER
COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND
NEWSLINE 425-432-1209
LOCAL | Internal investigation continues in Holiwell aftermath [page 3]
Ingles returns | Hall of Fame coach Tom Ingles returns to Kentwood sidelines as FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014 quarterback coach [12]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Schools labeled as failing, but are they? School and state officials sound off against the idea schools aren’t measuring up BY KATHERINE SMITH ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com
Who’s going to flinch first? The state and the US Department of Education are playing a game of chicken that by design puts Washington state students in the middle. A lack of action on Capitol Hill in DC related to updating the Education and Secondary Education Act — its most current iteration is known by the name “No Child Left Behind” — has trickled down to Washington’s school districts, which were required to mail home letters that labeled schools as failing. The label came from the US Department of Education, which revoked Washington state’s waiver from requirements in No Child Left Behind earlier this year, making Washington the first state in the country to lose its waiver. One of the requirements in No Child Left Behind is that schools meet Annual Yearly Progress, or AYP, benchmarks. Among those benchmarks is by 2014 every student pass their state’s standardized tests in reading and math. The ESEA has historically been updated regularly, but has been overdue for a revision for a number of years. That update would replace No Child Left Behind. As the date for refreshed legislation came and went with no action in Congress and the 2014 deadline for meeting AYP approached, the Department of Education granted states waivers on a yearly basis. For the past two years Washington had received such waivers.
This year, however, the state’s waiver was denied because of a Department of Education requirement that students performance on standardized tests be a component in teacher evaluations. In Washington, including that component in evaluations would require a change in state law by the legislature. No change equaled no waiver. Besides mailing home the letters, there are also federally imposed financial ramifications for districts. Schools that receive Title 1 funds — e.g. schools that meet a threshold in the number of students who receive free and reduced lunch and receive federal funds for programs that help economically disadvantaged students in the classroom through additional programming — and are labeled as failing must set aside 20 percent of the Title 1 funds for either private tutors or to transport students to other schools. Additionally, after two years of not meeting AYP, schools enter a series of remedial steps as outlined in NCLB, which can conclude in the reorganization of
Great Horror Campout spooks out a success BY ERIC MANDEL emandel@covingtonreporter.com
The Great Horror Campout may not have reached its lofty attendance goal, but organizers of the event are still planning a return trip to Black Diamond in the future. The Black Diamond Police Department estimated 500 people attended the inaugural two-night event in Black Diamond, held July 25-26. A spokesperson for Ten Thirty One Productions said that number was “hugely incorrect” but that the company does not release attendance figures. No matter the exact number of bodies, the ominous, wooded environment was unlike any other on their tour.
a school.
DISTRICTS MAKE A POINT OF THEIR OWN Last week the superintendents of 28 school districts in the Puget Sound Educational Service District, which provides additional resources and support for school districts and includes Kent and Tahoma, signed a letter that went home to parents explaining the situation. The letter also took a stance against the “failing” label, calling it “repressive” and “punitive.” In addition, PSESD held a press conference last week with four of the superintendents and one of Kent’s elementary principals to discuss the impact of schools being labeled as failing. “It’s clear, the evidence is overwhelming that schools are not failing,” Kent School District Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas said at the press conference. “We want to be held accountable and now it’s time to hold accountability accountable.” Vargas went on to call the law antiquated [ more SCHOOLS page 7 ]
“The fan passion levels for the Great Horror Campout have surpassed our wildest expectations and frankly been shocking,” said Melissa Carbone, CEO and president of Ten Thirty One Productions, in an email. “The Seattle (Black Diamond) location was the favored location on the tour. We absolutely will be back next year.” Organizers of the Great Horror Campout describes it as a “choose your own adventure” overnight. The 12-hour interactive camping experience targets 18-34 year olds. Ten Thirty One Productions, out of Los Angeles, created the event in 2013 and planned tours of major cities in California and Texas this summer. The event consists of cages, kidnappers, voodoo rituals, “blood tag,” horror movies and the “Hell Hunt” interactive challenge. Electronic billboards promoted the event in
WEBSITE | Check the website for breaking news, sports and weather stories. maplevalleyreporter.com or covingtonreporter.com
Police chief candidates interview for opening BY KATHERINE SMITH ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com
The city of Maple Valley is continuing to move toward selecting its next police chief. Two candidates, Capt. Scott Somers and Capt. DJ Nesel, both from within the King County Sheriff ’s Office, were interviewed by the City Council Monday night in MAPLE a special council VALLEY meeting and by City Manager David Johnston on Tuesday. Both were also previously interviewed by a panel of senior city staff members and by a panel of current members of the Maple Valley Police Department. The top post in the department opened earlier this summer when Sheriff John Urquhart decided to shuffle staff within the Sheriff ’s Office, including reassigning [ more CHIEF page 9 ]
both Seattle and Kent. Organizers had estimated the event would draw 1,000 people to each night. The campout was held on a portion of Palmer Coking Coal’s 600-acre property. William Kombol, manager of Palmer Coking Coal, had no complaints about the event. “I think it went well,” he said. “They picked up every gum wrapper, did a good job, paid their rent on time.” Kombol said when he informed Ten Thirty One of some litter he found on the property after initial cleanup of the event, they immediately sent workers from Portland to finish the job. “Most people would say, ‘why don’t you just pick it up [ more CAMPOUT page 6 ]
1098782
Tahoma Basketball Needs Coaches Paid positions for Fall & Winter 3rd - 8th Grade • Boys and Girls Visit www.tahomahoops.com for application.