N o n - P r o fi t Organization U.S. Postage PAID Wauna, WA 98395 Permit No. 2 BOX HOLDER Mail your ballot, make your vote count www.keypennews.com THE VOICE OF THE KEY PENINSULA November 2016 Vol.43 No. 11 Homeless Student Candidates Numbers Increasing SARA THOMPSON, KP NEWS Answer KP Voters’ Wendy Wojtanowicz, the Communities Questions In Schools of Peninsula site coordinator at TED OLINGER, KP NEWS Key Peninsula Middle School and Peninsula High, has seen the face of homelessness in Nine candidates running for county, state our community too many times. and national offices answered audience “John” was referred to CISP because of questions at a KP Civic Center forum Oct. repeated absences. As part of the program, 4 organized by the KP Business Association, he received tutoring twice a week. Over a KP Civic Center Association, KP Commu- period of about a month, he revealed that he nity Council and the KP News. Community had been living in a car with his mother for Council President and Key Peninsula Fire the last year. They parked the car in various Department Battalion Chief Chuck West locations, so he never had a stable place to moderated. catch the school bus. Without dependable transportation, he missed school. The candidates included: Wojtanowicz stepped in to fi nd help for • Todd Bloom (R) running for the 6th both student and parent. She located a steady Congressional District seat held by U.S. pickup and drop-off site for the bus. CISP was Rep. Derek Kilmer (D). A representative able to provide a laptop with hotspot access for Kilmer read a statement in his absence. to the internet for homework (a program that • Larry Seaquist (D) and State Rep. Jesse is no longer available). The YMCA provided Young (R), running for state Legislative shower facilities and the local food bank District 26, Position 1; supplied food that did not require cooking. • State Rep. Michelle Caldier (R) and Randy John’s mother had lost her job after a Spitzer (D), running for state Legislative work-related injury. She had a cellphone, but Evergreen second-grader Raina Torres observes how red wiggler worms respond to light District 26, Position 2; Photo: Lisa Bryan, KP News any minutes on it were precious. Wojtano- and dark. • Former State Sen. Bruce Dammeier (R) wicz helped her fi nd local resources for jobs and Pierce County Councilman Rick Talbert and she found employment. Once employed, Evergreen Elementary Goes Full STEAM (D), running for Pierce County executive; they concentrated on housing. Wojtanowicz LISA BRYAN, KP NEWS the process on an iPad as the rest conducted • Mike Lonergan (NP), running unopposed connected her with Associated Ministries in their science experiment. for re-election as Pierce County assessor-trea- Tacoma and coached her on navigating the Enthusiasm for learning is in the air “You couldn’t have torn those kids away surer; and Paul Pastor (NP), running unop- system to fi nd local housing. inside and outside as Evergreen becomes from the activity,” Maxwell said. After- posed for re-election as Pierce County sheriff. And, fi nally, John received counseling to the fi rst elementary school in the Peninsula ward, the students were eager to go back Below are excerpts from candidates’ help him address issues arising from the School District to become a fully integrated and watch the video multiple times to answers to some of the questions relevant stress of his homeless experience. (Some STEAM school. really understand what was happening. to the offi ce they hold or are seeking. Since identifying details, including his name, have STEM is a buzzword in education across Technology allowed them to participate not all questions pertained to all positions, been changed to protect the family’s privacy.) the nation. This familiar acronym stands fully in the moment yet enabled them to excerpts are arranged by subject and appear “This is not isolated,” Wojtanowicz said. “It for science, technology, engineering and review the process as often as needed to in the order they were given. feels like I see one or two a week in similar mathematics. The extra “A” in STEAM drive home the lessons learned, he said. circumstances.” is for art. “We have a great curriculum in the How will you bring improved government The number of local students identi- The spark for change came nearly four district, but it becomes pretty wide and service to the KP? fi ed as homeless has recently skyrocketed. years ago when Principal Hugh Maxwell lacks the depth we’d like,” Maxwell said. Talbert: How we can serve the citizens According to Peninsula School District, there and third-grade teacher Therese Souers “There is a lot of pressure on students to throughout the vast geographic area of Pierce were 31 homeless students in the district in attended a technology conference in Seattle. perform well on state tests and I worry County is through technological advances; 2011-12. Last year, it was 127. Thirty-seven During one of the presentations by an that’s where we lose some of the kids. we can take advantage of that to bring county have already been identifi ed this school year. Idaho grade school transitioning to STEM, “We typically see STEM programs start government into every home. The county PSD coordinates services for these students they watched video footage of students at the high school level and fi lter down,” council district I represent now has the with counselors at each school. “We have working collaboratively in small groups. Maxwell said. “Why not start when children highest level of poverty, the lowest income, CONTINUED PAGE 4 One student was assigned to record video of CONTINUED PAGE 2 CONTINUED PAGE 2 OUTPUT AT 95.16% 2 www.keypennews.com November 2016 November 2016 www.keypennews.com 3 STEAM FROM PAGE 1 “We want to get a committee together to CANDIDATES FROM PAGE 1 own school district, fire district. are young, naturally curious and creative, begin plantings, like a native garden specif- of all of the county council, so I understand Bloom: The big issue for me right now beginning in preschool and the early ically to attract butterflies,” Souers said. what it’s like to represent people who feel is our economic growth and getting the primary levels instead of waiting until “We’ll have to get a class or two together like they’ve been left behind often by their economy running again. We’ve seen median middle school or high school?” to commit to caring for that.” government. We just need to be smarter household incomes that continue to suffer Making the transition to the STEAM Students will need basic things like about how we deliver services. even though we’ve got good unemployment program required teachers willing to gloves and shovels. Community support Dammeier: First of all, I think we should rates. The labor participation rate is still very, embrace and develop an integrated from garden clubs, conservation groups return the sheriff’s office to the end of 302. very low; it rivals the rate at the end of the teaching approach in their classrooms. and others could play an important role The second thing I would do is look at mental Carter administration. My solution would be In order for it to work throughout the in making the outdoor learning center health needs. I’m proud to have worked with relieving regulation on small business and school, everyone needed to be on board. successful, she said. Jesse (Young) and Michelle (Caldier) to hold tax relief for American taxpayers. I believe As teachers attended conferences, visited “We know we could be doing more with the tolls flat when I was in the Senate. If that would go a long way toward stimulating other schools and learned more about how the existing playground and we’re looking at those tolls get too high, it’s going to create the economy. STEAM engaged students and improved getting things that will be more interactive a wall—an economic wall and a cultural Pastor: You’re underserved. This area is outcomes, a renewed sense of enthusiasm for students,” Souers said. “For some kids, wall—between the Key Peninsula and Gig growing and you don’t have a live body at Candidates Michelle Caldier, Randy Spitzer, Jesse Young, Larry Seaquist and Todd Bloom. Candidates Bruce Dammeier, Rick Talbert and Mike Lonergan. Photos: Ted Olinger, KP News began to take hold, Maxwell said. recess with unstructured time can be diffi- Harbor and the rest of the county. your precinct right now. There’s something The district acquired the adjacent 2½ cult, so we’re working to get educational Lonergan: The assessor-treasurer’s office is wrong with that. I’m spending less than over it, and we have to figure out where it Caldier: There’s a huge disconnect between woman president on education. our government. acres north of the school many years ago outdoor things to keep them entertained a nonpartisan position; what we call a minis- half than any law enforcement agency in connects into 16. Those are citizen decisions, the people and what happens in Olympia, Young : As an IT professional that under- Lonergan: Did I mention earlier that I’m for possible building expansion or parking in productive ways.” terial position. In other words, if you do it Pierce County per capita per year. I’ve been but we need some state money to fund that and that has happened for far too long. I stands global commerce, that has set up running for a nonpartisan position? I’m in the future.