By Johnson, on February 13th, 2013
 At the time of this writing, both King County Proposition 1 and 2 are passing by wide margins. Proposition 1 is currently leading 74.11% to 25.89% while Proposition 2 is ahead 71.58% to 28.42%. As we’ve written about before, both Propositions support the Seattle Public School District. Prop 1 will provide the District with approximately 25% of their Operational Budget while Prop 2 will finance improvements to existing facilities and a few new facilities. With the apparent passing of Prop 2, the following improvements will be coming to a school near you!
- Thornton Creek School would get new athletic field improvements (although it is not clear if this is a result of the new school proposed on the ball fields)!
- Eckstein would get a new science lab!
- Eckstein, View Ridge Elementary, and Wedgwood Elementary School would get seismic upgrades!
- Eckstein, View Ridge Elementary, and Wedgwood Elementary School would get new track and/or playfield upgrades!
- Eckstein would get its roof worked on!
- And a variety of technology upgrades…
Of these capital improvements, the most controversial part of Prop 2 for Wedgwoodians has been the proposal to construct a new K-5 elementary school in NE Seattle. Originally, the new school was specifically sited on the ball fields adjacent to Thornton Creek Elementary School. However, strong grassroots opposition to the school managed to have the wording changed in the final list of projects to allow flexibility in the school’s siting should a more suitable site be identified. We’ve had no word on whether or not there are other sites being considered at this point.
While the passing of Prop 2 may come as a blow for those opposing the proposition, and more specifically the new K-5 elementary school at Thornton Creek Elementary, we would like to remind the community at this point of our last communication with the District. During our email correspondence with Lucy Morello at the end of January, she reiterated the District’s intent to have the community part of the design process. The following is portion of an email exchange between myself and Ms. Morello.
…”As the levy approaches, I would just like to reemphasize that the Wedgwood Community Council and the NE Seattle communities and neighbors most directly impacted by the proposed NE Seattle K-5 school would very much like to be part of the design process from the outset. The WCC believes that strong community participation in this process can improve the overall outcome of the school for the District, our kids, our community, and the neighbors. From Ms. Morello’s email to me back in May 2012 (see below), I presume the District agrees with this as well.”… - Email from Per Johnson, President of the WCC, to Lucy Morello, Pegi McEvoy, and Harium Martin-Morris with the Seattle Public School District on January 24th 2013
“Yes, we (the District) very much want the community represented on the School Design Team Committee (SDT) for the NE Seattle K-5 school.”… – Response from Lucy Morello on January 24th 2013 to Per Johnson.
While Prop 2 is well on track to be approved, we will continue to reach out to the District to make sure that the NE Seattle community is represented during the design process whether or not the school is ultimately sited at Thornton Creek Elementary School site or not.
By Johnson, on February 13th, 2013
 Rob Dembowski being sworn in alongside his father. As you probably remember, the King County Councilmember serving Wedgwood and the rest of King County District 1 (see map below) has been Bob Ferguson. As former Councilmember Ferguson is now State Attorney General Ferguson, yesterday the County appointed Rod Dembowski to fulfill Mr. Ferguson’s term on the Council.
Councilmember Dembowski is currently working as an attorney with Foster Pepper PLLC. You can read more on his appointment from the King County Council’s release HERE. Looks like his new colleagues on the council have pleasant things to say about him.
View Larger Map
By valarie, on February 9th, 2013
 It’s the weekend, and perhaps your ballot for the upcoming school levy is still somewhere around the house? Take a look, consider the issues, and take time to record your vote. Ballots must be returned on or by Tuesday, February 12.
By Johnson, on January 29th, 2013
As we’ve previously written about, the School District is in the midst of a discussion on what to do about overcrowded schools in both the short and long term. In the next few weeks, some decisions will be made by the School Board and by the voters of Seattle.
Short Term Capacity Management
This Thursday, January 31 (5 PM at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence Auditorium), the School Board will vote during a special meeting on what to do to address short term capacity management. The vote had been delayed until the Board could review updated attendance forecasts which were to come out this week. One of the more controversial aspects of their decision will be on how they address overcrowding at Eckstein Middle School. While we are not experts on this subject, there appears to be 3 options before the School District, although this is the proposal that appears to be before the District to approve as part of this action/motion. Also, here is the agenda for the special meeting for those interested in attending.
Long Term Capacity Management
Ballots should have been delivered to your mailbox now for the upcoming election on Proposition 1 and 2. If passed, Proposition 1 would provide approximately 25% of the School Districts operations budget while Proposition 2 would fund capital improvements which is known as the Building Excellence IV levy (BEX IV). You’ve likely heard that part of BEX IV would include construction of a new K-5 elementary school in Northeast Seattle. The new school was proposed for the present site of the Thornton Creek Elementary School playfields, but a grassroots campaign of local residents successfully lobbied the District to broaden the language to allow more time for other sites to be evaluated. However, we are currently unaware of any other potential sites besides the Thornton Creek Elementary playfields that the District has evaluated as alternative sites.
While the new Northeast K-5 school is a contentious issue for many Wedgwoodians (see Comments Section of our 2013 Priorities Poll and this post), it should be noted that there’s more in the BEX IV levy than just the new school. If Proposition 2 is passed, these other improvements would be coming to our neighborhood schools:
- Thornton Creek School would get new athletic field improvements (although it is not clear if this is a result of the new school proposed on the ballfields)!
- Eckstein would get a new science lab!
- Eckstein, View Ridge Elementary, and Wedgwood Elementary School would get seismic upgrades!
- Eckstein, View Ridge Elementary, and Wedgwood Elementary School would get new track and/or playfield upgrades!
- Eckstein would get its roof worked on!
- And a variety of technology upgrades…
The WCC has been asked to oppose BEX IV by those who are part of the grassroots effort to stop it. They have done an absolutely wonderful job advocating their position to us and the District. The WCC’s position on this issue has not changed. To read more about the WCC’s position on BEX IV, please read the bottom of this post. Despite our unwillingness to support or oppose the BEX IV levy, we have reached out to Lucy Morello to remind the District that the Wedgwood community expects to be part of the project design process should the voters approve Proposition 2. We were assured by Ms. Morello that “Yes, we (the District) very much want the community represented on the School Design Team Committee (SDT) for the NE Seattle K-5 school.”
One way or another, long-term capacity management choices will be made by the voters on February 12th.
By Johnson, on December 13th, 2012
 Special Recommendation/Endorsement Meeting Tonight
46th District Democrats
Olympic View Elementary School, 7PM
Last year, due to some very unfortunate circumstances, the 46th District Democrats had to call several special meetings to recommend and then nominate new appointments to the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives. Ultimately, Senator David Frockt and Representative Gerry Pollet were appointed through that process. Both of whom have now been formally elected to their positions.
Following the November election of King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson to State Attorney General, another special business meeting has been called for tonight, December 13th, to listen to prospective candidates and ultimately recommend/endorse a candidate to fulfill Councilmember Ferguson’s 1st County Council District seat on the County Council. There are 7 candidates vying for the recommendation/endorsement. Only 46th District Democrat PCO and members in good standing are eligible to take part in the meeting.
For more information on the meeting, candidates, and rules, please visit the 46th District Democrats website.
By Johnson, on December 11th, 2012
By now, you’re probably aware that school capacity is a big issue at the Seattle Public School District. Apparently, people are still having kids! More increase is projected, so the crowding is only going to get worse. The District has been hosting a series of meetings over the past year on what to do. Our NE Seattle and Wedgwood-area elementary and middle school buildings are beyond the capacity they were designed for and multiple portable units are being added. To address this, the District is looking at both short and long-term solutions.
Short Term (2013-2014) Capacity
On December 11th the District is hosting a community meeting at the John Stanford Building auditorium from 7-8:30PM to discuss their short term capacity management proposal. According to information shared at the December 5th board work session on short term capacity management, it looks like a new portable is planned for View Ridge Elementary and may be required at Wedgwood Elementary. If you can’t make it to the December 11th meeting, a NE Seattle Capacity Management Community meeting will be held on December 17th at Olympic Hills Elementary from 6:30-8 PM.
Long Term Capacity
In November, the District formally adopted a $694.9 million Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Levy proposal to be voted on in February 2013 (along with a $559.1 million Operations Levy…that’s $1.25 billion). It is well known to some in Wedgwood that part of the District’s proposed long term solution to the growing capacity is a new school that is proposed to be constructed adjacent to Thornton Creek Elementary School, although language has been formally adopted by the school board in the BEX IV levy to allow some more flexibility on its location should another suitable site be identified. The adopted text is as follows:
“Northeast Seattle elementary school: To meet growing capacity, add K-5 school on Thornton Creek site by 2016 or equivalent additional seating capacity at another location.”
Now that the BEX IV Levy proposal has formally been approved, here’s a little bit on what the levy will do in the Wedgwood area if approved:
- A new K-5 school would be built at the Thornton Creek site or some place similar, to be open by 2016.
- Thornton Creek School would get new athletic field improvements (although its not clear if this is a result of the new school proposed on the ball fields)!
- Eckstein would get a new science lab!
- Eckstein, View Ridge Elementary, and Wedgwood Elementary School would get seismic upgrades!
- Eckstein, View Ridge Elementary, and Wedgwood Elementary School would get new track and/or playfield upgrades!
- Eckstein would get its roof worked on!
- And a variety of technology upgrades…
Not all of the proposed improvements have been welcomed with open arms by everyone in Wedgwood, but it’s because of these improvements and the pressing need to pass the Operations Levy, representing 27% of the District’s budget, that Schools First is hoping to emphasize how important these two levys are.
By Johnson, on November 12th, 2012
 Congratulations to Senator David Frockt, Representative Gerry Pollet, and Representative-elect Jessyn Farrell on their election victories. Both Senator Frockt and Representative Pollet had been appointed to their positions midway through the last term following the untimely death of former Senator and Wedgwoodian, Scott White. Jessyn Farrell will be filing the vacancy left by the retiring Representative Phyllis Gutierrez Kenny.
While the WCC is a nonpartisan organization, we wish all three of our District 46th legislators luck and success!
 Senator David Frockt  Representative Gerry Pollet
 Representative-elect Jessyn Farrell
By Johnson, on October 31st, 2012
 Thankfully, we’re not considered a ‘battleground state,’ because we’d be swimming in even more political mailings and flyers than we already are. Nevertheless, most of us are bombarded by media in our mailbox from various candidates and issues groups trying to convince us one way or the other. It’s enough for someone to ask themselves, “How can I cut down on all these mailings?” Turns out, there’s a simple answer to that question. “Vote!“ The sooner you get your vote in, the sooner the candidates/groups know that as well and they’ll stop mailing so much to you.
 The closest ballot box to Wedgwood is in Magnuson Park! A lot of important candidates and issues are on the ballot. The Wedgwood Community Council is nonpartisan, but we strongly encourage everyone to exercise their democratic right to VOTE.
As you hopefully know, Tuesday, November 6th is the deadline to get your ballots in the mail or dropped off in a ballot box. If you’re not sure if you’re registered to vote, you can check HERE. If you’ve already voted and you want to make sure the County Elections has received your ballot, you can check HERE.
Statewide Online Voters Guide
King County Online Voters Guide
There are a variety of other voters guides out there for those passionate about certain issues although we will not link to those here.
So, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!
By Johnson, on August 6th, 2012
This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow (Tuesday, August 7th) is the last day to submit your primary election ballots. There are important initiatives, referendums, resolutions, and elected positions on the ballot. There are lots of voter guides available online to help you, if you so choose, based on your personal interests and perspectives. As a non-partisan group, however, we’ll let you search for those on your own. But here’s the WA Secretary of State’s Online Voters Guide and the King County Online Voters Guide.
If you can’t get your ballot in the mail by August 7th, you can drop off your ballot at 1 of several ‘drop boxes’ throughout King County. The closest drop box to Wedgwood is down at Magnuson Park off of the 74th Street entrance. See photo of the drop box at the end of this post.
This will be the first election following State-wide redistricting. If you’re curious what district you’re in now, you can search by your address here.
Also new this year and to this election is a Washington State Election Results ‘Ap’ from the Secretary of State, which is available for both iPhone and Android phones. This ‘Ap’ allows you to follow those up-to-date results that you’re most interested in.
|
|
Recent Comments