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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
Schools labeled as failing, but are they? Local, state officials sound off against the idea schools aren’t measuring up BY KATHERINE SMITH ksmith@covingtonreporter.com
Who’s going to flinch first? The state and the U.S. 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 D.C. 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 U.S. 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. [ more SCHOOLS page 4 ]
Teen pedestrian killed had just moved to Kent from Afghanistan BY STEVE HUNTER shunter@kentreporter.com
Great wall Crews continue to assemble sections of walling for Amazon’s new 800,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Kent this week. Approximately 1,000 massive concrete slabs provide the exterior to the Amazon’s fourth fulfillment center in the state. The shipping center – in the Stryker Business
Road construction projects will impact local commutes FOR THE REPORTER
Kent drivers can expect several major projects to impact their commutes this fall. • James Street In order to provide a safer route
Center at the corner of South 208th Street and 59th Place South – will store more than one million units of various small products, from books and games to electronics and accessories. Amazon officials expect the center to be finished by 2015. ROSS COYLE, Kent Reporter
for pedestrians, crews will repair failing portions of the sidewalks on both the north and south sides of James Street between Clark Avenue to 102nd Avenue Southeast. The work requires removal of the existing trees. Public Works Director Tim LaPorte said trees planted decades ago [ more PROJECTS page 2 ]
The 13-year-old girl killed Saturday in Kent after being hit by a pickup truck while crossing Pacific Highway South had just moved to the Kent area with her family a few weeks ago from Afghanistan. Kent Police and fire personnel were sent to the 23400 block of Pacific Highway South at 6:07 p.m. Saturday after a family crossing the busy roadway on the rainy night were struck by a passing vehicle. The family attempted to cross Pacific Highway, just south of the Kent Des Moines Road intersection. As the family made their way across the lanes of travel, they crossed into the path of a southbound vehicle. The pickup driver was unable to avoid the collision, striking the 31-year-old father and throwing the young teen pedestrian to the ground. The impact also sent the girl’s 31-year-old mother to the ground. [ more TEEN page 2 ]
School board renews superintendent’s contract BY ROSS COYLE rcoyle@kentreporter.com
The Kent School Board renewed Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas’s contract over the summer. In exchange for his
administrative services, as well as maintaining involvement in both the business and civic community, Vargas will receive $263,320 and a month of paid vacation, of which he’ll need to use 10 days a year as manda-
tory leave. Vargas also will receive 12 days of sick leave, three discretionary vacation days, and five days of discretionary time for consultative [ more VARGAS page 3 ]
Vargas