REPORTER
Mercer Island www.mi-reporter.com
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19,20, 2015 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2013| |75¢ 75¢
MIHS alum dies in SR-2 crash
Branching out
Movies in the Park return Continue the swashbuckling fun of Summer Celebration! and see “Pirates of the Caribbean” on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Mercerdale Park. Bring blankets, warm clothes, chairs and flashlights. The pirate-themed fun begins at 7:30 p.m., and the movie starts at 8:30 p.m.
Woman swerved to avoid tire on road; she and two kids in car wore seatbelts By Allison DeAngelis Bellevue Reporter
Seahawks preseason continues Following a 22-20 loss at home to the Denver Broncos, the Hawks travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on Friday, July 21. Check listings for kickoff time and viewing information.
Farmers Market needs volunteers The market is always looking for helping hands. Email volunteer@mifarmersmarket.org to learn more.
life Have the ! you want
Back to work on education funding State did not fulfill McCleary obligation, Supreme Court finds By Katie Metzger
kmetzger@mi-reporter.com
As students prepare to go back to school, the Washington State Supreme Court has ordered the Legislature to go back to work to fulfill its ‘paramount duty’ — fully funding education. The order, given Aug. 13, imposed a fine of $100,000 per day until the Legislature adopts a complete plan for complying with its earlier McCleary decision by the 2018 school year. The Supreme Court found the state in contempt on Sept. 11,
2014, but held back sanctions until the completion of the 2015 Legislative Session. “After the close of that session and following multiple special sessions, the State still has offered no plan for achieving full constitutional compliance by the deadline the legislature itself adopted,” the order stated. Gov. Jay Inslee met with legislative leaders on Monday to discuss the order and next steps. “There is much that needs to be done before a special session can be called,” Inslee said in a statement. “I will ask lawmakers to do that work as quickly as humanly possible so that they can step up to our constitutional and moral obligations to our children and lift the court sanctions.”
Registered Financial Advisor
CRASH | PAGE 2
REPORTER
Bring old electronics to the Congregational Church on Mercer Island, 4545 Island Crest Way from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. See www.ucc-ccmi.org or http://1greenplanet.com.dsf.
Inslee said the state has already taken “significant steps.” The Legislature passed an operating budget that invested an additional $1.3 billion in Pre-K-12, a “major victory for education in Washington,” said Rep. Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island). More than $100 million went to quality early learning programs, all-day kindergarten was fully funded statewide, class sizes in grades K-3 were reduced and funding was allocated to new teacher training and mentoring programs as well as a cost of living adjustment for teachers, Senn said. The budget, which also reduced college tuition, was finally agreed upon after a record-setting 176-day session. But the court found that it wasn’t enough. Justices questioned whether the state devoted enough money to class-size reduction and ruled that the state’s underfunding of education has forced local school districts to rely too heavily on local
Mercer Island
Recycle and give back
Contributed Photo
During a summer of record-breaking heat, Cub Scouts Harrison Wang and Blake Ogata water plants in Mercerdale Hillside to help keep the park green. See more on page 9.
STARTING AT $39/YEAR
On Thursday, Aug. 20, the city and school district will conduct an exercise to test their ability to respond to a large-scale incident. Some roads and facilities will be closed during the drill. Check page 4, or the city website, for more information.
Community members are mourning the death of Bellevue resident and Mercer Island High School graduate Christine Morris, who was killed on Aug. 6 after she swerved to avoid a tire that became dislodged from the vehicle in front of her and lost control of her vehicle. “We’re devastated. It’s not fair,” said longtime friend Megan Radvick. “She’s such a wonderful person. She would help anyone. Anyone who even met her once has memories of her.” The 40-year-old mother of two was heading eastbound on State Route 2 in Chelan County near
Subscribe online at www.Mi-Reporter.com or please call 1-888-838-3000
City-wide emergency drill
SUBSCRIPTIONS
MI | THIS WEEK
Serving Since1947 1947 Servingthe theMercer MercerIsland Island Community community since
STATE | PAGE 2
2448 76th Ave SE, Suite 107 - Mercer Island
(206) 275-2700