Tahoma Matters: New THS project on time, budget

September 3, 2015

In This Issue

New THS project is on time, budget

New spirit rock found on site

District already planning for move

Boundary review process to start soon

Smarter Balanced test: Tahoma students performed above average

New administrators at Tahoma High School

School supply drive helps 600 students

News briefs

Calendar

Lunch menu

New THS project is on time, budget

Bond-funded improvements in progress throughout district

New Tahoma High School Aug. 24, 2015

Construction and maintenance crews have had a busy summer, making safety and security improvements at existing schools while, at the same time, the new Tahoma High School project is rapidly taking shape.

Much of the summer work was paid for with funds from the 2013 construction and remodeling bond measure. Most of the bond measure dollars are directed toward the new high school, but a significant portion is paying for improvements at existing schools.

Here are highlights from this summer's projects:

New high school: Work at the new Tahoma High School site is on time and within budget. Timber and brush removal is done and grading is substantially complete. Work has begun on pouring concrete footings for the main high school building.

Planning is underway to prepare for the opening of the new high school and the repurposing of four existing schools in the summer of 2017, including attendance area changes.

Security: Main entrances at Rock Creek and Glacier Park elementary schools were remodeled to improve visibility and control access. The old configuration had two sets of doors, with the interior doors opening into the foyer. The new arrangement moves the interior doors farther inside so that the main office entrance is between the two sets of doors. The interior doors will be locked at the beginning of each school day; visitors must enter the office and receive permission to move into the main hallway. Exterior windows in the office are being improved by removing opaque glass blocks and installing clear glass that allows people in the office to see outside. A new window is being installed in the area between the main doors to allow viewing of visitors coming into the office. The changes cost about $27,000 at each school.

Security fencing was added at Shadow Lake Elementary, along with new signs that direct visitors to the main office. Selected shrubs and trees at all schools are being trimmed to improve sight lines and reduce places where intruders could conceal themselves. Security fencing was improved last year at Lake Wilderness Elementary School and two years ago at Glacier Park Elementary.

The security changes are part of a comprehensive review of security at all schools. Tahoma will soon advertise for proposals to update safety and security plans for each school and the district. Further changes will be made during the next two years as part of $3 million that will be spent to improve security.

Safety : New gym floors are in place at Shadow Lake, Rock Creek and Glacier Park elementary schools. The flooring material is called Mondo Advanced, which is a durable multi-use surface. It covers worn rubberized flooring at Rock Creek and Glacier Park that was installed when the schools were built 20 or more years ago. Shadow Lake replaced indoor-outdoor carpet in its gym, which was installed 16 years ago. The new floors cost $119,716 at Glacier Park; $95,139 at Rock Creek; and $60,326 at Shadow Lake.

Disabled-access ramps on all campuses were inspected, repaired or replaced this summer to ensure they meet safety standards. The backstage area at Tahoma Middle School Theatre was repainted and rigging equipment replaced at a cost of $61,173.

The all-weather running tracks at Tahoma High School and Tahoma Junior High were resurfaced. The FieldTurf surface at Tahoma High School's Maxwell Stadium was replaced with new FieldTurf. The cost for the track and football stadium resurfacing is $739,831.26 and is paid for out of the general fund, where funds have been set aside each year for more than 10 years to replace the artificial surfaces when they reached the end of their life expectancy. The junior high track cost $130,917.85.

Lake Wilderness Elementary School: Architects and engineers have surveyed and studied the Lake Wilderness Elementary building and campus as planning work continues toward remodeling the school in the 2017-18 school year. Security fencing was added at the school last fall.

This new spirit rock was unearthed at the construction site.

New spirit rock found at construction site

The new Tahoma High School will rock on, thanks to the relentless effort of the team that is building it.

Tahoma High School's spirit rock is a long-standing tradition that Principal Terry Duty wanted to carry over to the new school. The current rock is a large boulder on the school campus that is regularly painted by students to celebrate and memorialize high school achievements.

Project supervisors for Skanska, the company building the school, took up the challenge of finding a new spirit rock but, as site grading neared its end, they became worried that they might not find a suitable rock. Fortunately, just as site preparation was nearly done, workers unearthed what will become the next spirit rock.

"It's a pretty cool thing," Duty said. "Years of tradition have gone by and the rock has become part of our school's spirit. It's become a very positive icon we want at our new school."

The rock will be placed alongside Future Ready Drive, the road that will lead to the student parking area.

Preparations underway for 2017 transition, moving process

Efforts to make the physical move of staff and the contents of the high school and both middle schools happen more smoothly are already underway.

In fact, the first part of the moving plan -- ridding the district of outdated, unused materials -- has already begun. Dubbed "the urge to purge," this part of preparing to move involves emptying closets, file cabinets and other storage of anything that should be recycled, repurposed or thrown away.

Administrators are meeting with staff at each building to talk about the pre-move strategy, as well as announcing contests to help give teachers and staff extra incentive to participate.

"The response from staff has been awesome," said Lori Cloud, assistant superintendent and finance director. "There have been lots of good questions, and I think people are eager to get started."

Plans call for a purge before winter break, just before the end of the school year and a third in the fall of next year.

The 2016-17 school year is earmarked for any remaining purging, the start of cleaning and moving on to boxing and identifying what furniture will be moved to which location.

Moving will begin in June of 2017; companies to help perform the move are being interviewed now. All of the moving costs were budgeted for ahead of time and are being paid for by the school bond measure approved by voters in 2013.

Boundary review process will start soon

When the school year begins in the fall of 2017, nearly 6,000 of the district's students will be in a building that is new to them. It will be the biggest change of this type that Tahoma has ever undertaken, but it's happening for the best of reasons.

This time, instead of shifting students around to lessen the impacts of packed schools, the district will move students into better facilities and eliminate overcrowding.

"This is a thrilling event to move from four to six elementary schools, and to move our middle school students into these fantastic facilities," said Annette Whittlesey, who will oversee the boundary review process. Whittlesey is Tahoma's director of Special Services.

While district officials view the move as a positive but challenging proposition, they also recognize that any boundary adjustment is emotionally difficult for students and parents.

That 6,000 figure includes all Tahoma High School students, who will move from the current building to the new facility being built southwest of Four Corners. The district's ninth-grade students will attend the new high school, and Tahoma will no longer have a junior high. Two middle schools will house grades 6 through 8 in what is the current high school building and the current junior high. And Tahoma's existing middle schools will become elementary schools.

"This is a big system shift, not just an adjustment," Superintendent Rob Morrow said, noting that the boundary review process will most heavily affect students who are currently pre-kindergarten through third grade.

The timeline calls for giving all families at least one year's notice of the changes. To meet that schedule, the process will begin as soon as the school board votes to put together a committee.

In years past, boundary committees have included parents, staff members from the administration and transportation. This committee will likely be similar, with parents representing each affected school site (all four elementaries and the two middle schools). The district will soon ask for volunteer applicants; those who are chosen will be asked to attend approximately six meetings, including two community input nights for the public at large to share their opinions.

Transportation employees have already studied the attendance areas extensively, and have put together several alternatives for consideration by committee and board members, Whittlesey said.

The school board has not yet made a decision on whether the current Cedar River building and Shadow Lake Elementary will be separate K-5 schools or companion elementary buildings, although Morrow noted that he is aware of strong feelings on the subject.

"I know it's the preference of parents there and the surrounding community to do two K-5s. I have heard that loud and clear," he said.

Click on the graphic to see a larger version.

Smarter Balanced results: Tahoma students perform above average

Tahoma students retained their standing in the top tier of school districts across the state, according to results from the first Smarter Balanced Assessment.

The new assessment replaces previous state tests and represents a change in learning standards. State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Randy Dorn, said the tests are more challenging but they also provide teachers and parents better information about student learning.

"Statewide results beat our predictions," he said. "That says to me that students are capable of learning our new standards, which are designed to make sure students are ready for career and college."

Tahoma students scored well above the state average for math and English language arts, the two subject areas that were tested last spring. Tahoma students were among the top 10 school districts (districts with enrollment higher than 50 students in each grade level) in grades 3, 5 and 7 in both math and ELA; overall, Tahoma students were in the top 10 percent for all grade levels among those districts. That compares favorably to Tahoma's usual standing with other districts on state standardized tests.

"Our students performed well and we're pleased that the change to Smarter Balanced Testing was successful," Superintendent Rob Morrow said. "Most of all, we're eager to look at these assessments closely and find ways to help our students gain a better understanding of math and language arts. That's the whole point of the new assessments and the new learning standards: how can we prepare students to be Future Ready?"

Parents will receive their student's assessment results in September; teachers will use those results to focus on areas where students need assistance. As State Superintendent Dorn stated, the assessments are intended as a tool to help students reach their learning goals.

"They are the most advanced (assessments) that students have ever taken," Dorn said. "They measure students' progress on the learning standards, so teachers know where students are succeeding and where they need extra help."

Associate Principal Marty Barber

New staff for new year
at Tahoma High School

Tahoma High School started the new school year with one new administrator, others filling different roles from last year and a new, state-recognized school security officer.

Marty Barber, who was the educational assistant last year, is now an associate principal and will perform similar roles in evaluating teachers and working on professional development. Barber replaces Diane Fox, who moved on to a position as principal of Orting High School.

Doug Burnham, another THS associate principal, took over Fox's duties as head of Career and Technical Education.

Barber attended the University of Victoria, taught in Brazil and Singapore and then taught English at THS for four years, before working for the Snoqualmie School District for six years as an administrator. He returned to Tahoma as educational assistant.

"I came back to Tahoma because it's such a great place," said Barber, who lives in Maple Valley with his family. "I'm highly invested in this community."

He noted that one big challenge the high school staff is working on this year is preparing for the move to the new building in the fall of 2017.

"We're looking at: How do we build a healthy and welcoming culture for all our students?," Barber said. "I want to make sure that the kids in this community have the absolute best experience that they can have."

Barber can be reached at mbarber@tahomasd.us.

Kara Runge

Replacing Barber as educational assistant is Kara Runge, who is new to Tahoma. Runge attended Luther College in Iowa, followed by University of Washington Tacoma. She taught at Curtis High School in Pierce County, again attended University of Washington Tacoma to earn her administrative degree and then worked at Curtis as an assistant principal.Runge has a background in special education and said she looks forward to working with special education at THS as well as other departments.

"I'm excited to be here," she said, noting that the opportunity took her by surprise in a pleasant way. "This is such a positive, open and collaborative team."

Runge can be reached at krunge@tahomasd.us.

Karin Weihe

Security Officer Karin Weihe

Tahoma High School is also lucky to welcome the Washington State School Resource Officer of the Year as its new security officer.

After Tahoma's former security officer, Jerry Fernandez, retired, former Issaquah Police Officer and School Resource Officer Karin Weihe (pronounced "Why") was hired as his replacement. Weihe has served as SRO for Issaquah High School for the past 10 years and received 83 nominations for the state honor last year.

With two children in Tahoma schools, Weihe said she is happy to be working in Maple Valley, although she loved her time in Issaquah.

"I feel like I have so much to offer, and I'm really excited," she said, noting that she will have an open door policy and encouraging students and parents to stop by and meet her.

Weihe's duties will include monitoring parking, walking the campus to watch for any suspicious activity such as alcohol or drug use, and checking on any people who look as though they don't belong on campus.

Asked what advice she has for students and parents trying to navigate the parking lot before and after school hours, she said "Patience is key. Parking is at a premium, and there simply is no great way to get students, parents and buses out quickly and safely."

Weihe can be reached at kweihe@tahomasd.us.

(Courtesy photo)

Volunteers for the Maple Valley Food Bank and Emergency Services helped sort supplies.

MV Food Bank school supply drive helps 600 students

The school supply drive held each year by the Maple Valley Food Bank and Emergency Services collected enough items and donations this year to provide about 600 students with backpacks stuffed full of supplies.

"It went great," project coordinator Angela Wilhelm said. "We're pretty consistently well supported in this drive. ... We are extremely grateful!"

Community members, businesses and churches all collected items -- a total of 16,000 items worth more than $18,000, Wilhelm estimated. One of business that participated was Skanska, the general contractor for the new Tahoma High School project. A Tahoma graduate working as an intern for Skanska this summer, Megan Byrne, helped organize employees, who donated money toward school supplies.

"It was a very generous donation that we could use to help purchase donations," Wilhelm said. "They were wonderful to work with."

Those funds and other donations from the community helped the program purchase items such as flash drives for older students. New Life Church and Covington Costco each donated about 300 backpacks, which was a huge help, Wilhelm said.

Parents sign up to receive a backpack for their child or children, and then come pick them up once they are ready.

"Some of the children are so excited. Some of them that come just can't wait to get out the door and explore what is inside there," Wilhelm said. "It's a service that is really, really vital to these families. When you are going back to school and you have three or four students, and the budget's tight already, it can be a real hardship. This is a huge gift to those members of our community who are struggling."

The program serves students in Maple Valley, Hobart, unincorporated King County, Ravensdale and Covington.

NEWS BRIEFS

Tahoma is hiring food service employees, bus drivers and substitutes for both positions.

GRCC President Eileen Ely and Rob Morrow pose at a school board meeting in June.

The current junior high, pictured here, will be renamed Summit Trail Middle School.

Tahoma is hiring

The district is still in need of bus drivers, food service workers, paraeducators and substitutes for all three positions.

Human Resources Director Mark Koch described the need as typical, but noted that it feels as though the situation is getting more serious each year.

Tahoma's Nutrition Services department has two open positions and needs at least five substitutes.

"We have people on long-term medical leave and need to backfill those positions," department supervisor Mary Nowak said. "We are now training and cross-training staff to develop food production and cashiering skills to help us open two more elementary schools in 2017. We also anticipate that at least five Nutrition Services staff will retire within the next two years."

Transportation Supervisor Tom Misfeldt said his department has two open positions and a need for as many as 10 substitute drivers.

"If you don't know how to drive a bus and have no desire to pay out of pocket for the training to get your commercial driver license, know that we'll train you and we won't charge you a dime," Misfeldt said. Subs that are hired and trained this year also have a very good chance of becoming contract drivers sometime this school year or by the start of next year, he added.

Tahoma is also in need of a district nurse, and an art teacher for the junior high and other classified employees such as playground assistants.

To view or apply for any of the positions, click here.

'Frog Frolic' event will benefit SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve

Community members are invited to a "Frog Frolic," hosted by Save Habitat And Diversity of Wetlands from 1-5 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve at 21656 184th Ave. S.E., Renton.

The event is family friendly and offers guided tours, children's activities, entertainment, refreshments, a raffle and a silent auction to benefit continued wetland and habitat preservation, restoration and environmental education in South King County.

All Tahoma fourth-graders visit the bog as a field trip.

For more information, directions or a schedule of events, click here.

District signs M.O.U. with GRCC

Green River College President Eileen Ely and Tahoma School District Superintendent Rob Morrow signed a memorandum of understanding June 23 that is the start of offering Green River College classes at Tahoma High School.

The agreement makes it possible to start planning for Information Technology classes that are taught by Tahoma teachers but will be college-level courses. It is the first step toward Tahoma's regional learning center concept, which eventually will offer other college and technical school courses to high school students on their campus.

Tahoma is working toward a similar agreement with Renton Technical College.

Students invited to apply for arts commission representative

Tahoma High School students are invited to apply to serve as the youth representative commissioner for the Maple Valley Public Arts Commission.

The commission makes recommendations to the City Council about matters concerning the arts; meetings are from 5 to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of the second month of each quarter. Occasional special meetings and workshops are also held.

Students who apply must be of high school age, attend a school within the Tahoma School District, and have an interest in the arts and fostering public art within Maple Valley. The term is one year.

To apply, pick up a packet at City Hall, 22017 S.E. Wax Rd., Suite 200; or online at www.maplevalleywa.gov (click on "City Government;" "Citizen Boards, Commissions and Committees;" then "Position Openings." Or, for more inf ormation, call Dorothy Stickney at 413-8800.

Applications are due by Sept. 28.

Protect valuables, lock vehicles in

THS parking lots

Security Officer Karin Weihe asked parents to please talk with their students and remind them not to leave valuable items in their vehicles while parked at school. Students and parents visiting and parking at the school should also remember to keep their vehicles locked.

School board approves new names for schools

Choosing from a list of names submitted by the community, the Tahoma School Board over the summer decided what the district's two middle schools will be named when they open in September 2017. The board also formally adopted names for the new high school and the schools that are switching from middle school to elementary school configurations.

The naming process is needed because the school district will undergo a significant shift in the 2017-2018 school year when the new Tahoma High School opens. The new school, which is under construction, will house grades 9-12. The current high school and junior high buildings will be converted to middle schools for grades 6-8. The current middle school buildings will be converted to elementary schools.

The board's decision came after it heard a report from a citizen committee that sifted through 49 names submitted by community members. The committee settled on three suggested names for each school and the school board made the final choices:

New High School: Tahoma Senior High School

Former High School: Maple View Middle School

Former Junior High: Summit Trail Middle School

Former Cedar River Middle School: Cedar River Elementary School

Former Tahoma Middle School: Tahoma Elementary School

Kelly reappointed to county's emergency management committee

Tahoma Junior High Safety Officer and Maple Valley Deputy Mayor Sean P. Kelly was reappointed recently to the King County Emergency Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) as a Sound Cities Representative by the Metropolitan King County Council.

The Emergency Management Advisory Committee advises, assists, reviews, and comments on emergency management and homeland security issues, regional planning, and policies. They measure and prioritize core capabilities, and recommend homeland security allocations and work products to sustain and enhance preparedness and operational levels.

Kelly also serves on Tahoma School District's Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee.