Inside: • Future Ready Report • Keeping a tight grip on spending Tahoma • Saying goodbye to old LWES Community News • Principals changing places June 2017 Tahoma School District Maple Valley, WA 98038 When school ends, moving begins Massive changes begin June 19 s the school year nears its last day on June 16, a small army of Acontractors, movers and school district staff is preparing to spend all summer working feverishly to finish con- struction and move furniture, supplies and equipment as six schools open for the first time or change roles for the 2017-2018 school year. Tahoma is poised to make the largest transition in its history. Planning has been underway for more than three years to construct new schools, realign grade levels, change attendance boundaries and reassign staff and students. Not only is the district adding two new schools, it is also repurposing four schools and reassigning staff and students districtwide. Only two schools will have the same principal next year, but both will be in new buildings. Each of the other principals will be at different schools next Assistant Superintendent Lori Cloud, left, and Purchasing Agent Cindy Darcy show a sampling of spreadsheets that are year, as will the majority of the district’s guiding the transition this summer to the school district’s new schools and grade configurations. Details range from furni- students and staff. ture moving to floor cleaning to ensuring that moving boxes arrive on time and in the right place. What drives this historic shift is the opening of the new Tahoma High School change that eliminates the junior high and mentary and Tahoma Elementary schools. schools, though there will be a fraction of in Maple Valley. The school itself is new establishes two three-year middle schools Three of the existing elementary schools what there were. and so is its grade alignment, as ninth- for grades 6-8. Maple View Middle School will have new principals, staff, and stu- grade students join their older peers on will operate in what is now Tahoma High dents. The fourth school, Lake Wilderness Summer updates on the web the same campus instead of attending School; Summit Trail Middle School moves Elementary, will be in a new building on Tahoma Junior High. The administrative into the current Tahoma Junior High School. the same site along Witte Road SE but will Check the Tahoma website staff will be largely the same, though But that’s only part of the change. The not change principals. this summer for office hours, there will be new members coming from current two-year middle schools, Cedar As if that weren’t enough, movers will construction progress, supply lists Tahoma Junior High. River and Tahoma, will become elementa- be busy removing old portable classroom and other student information. The new high school, with capacity for ry schools for grades kindergarten through buildings at each campus. New or slightly 2,400 students, kicks off a grade-alignment five and are renamed Cedar River Ele- used portables will be placed at several www.tahomasd.us RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER RESIDENTIAL Permit No. 244 244 No. Permit ECRWSS Kent, WA Kent, PAID Maple Valley, WA 98038 WA Valley, Maple U.S. POSTAGE U.S. 25720 Maple Valley-Black Diamond Road SE Road Diamond Valley-Black Maple 25720 NON-PROFIT ORG ORG NON-PROFIT Tahoma School District School Tahoma Page 2 Tahoma Community News www.tahomasd.us June 2017 Tahoma High School: Celebrating 90 years, 3 schools 1927 1974 1999 2017 Originally called TaHoMa, the school Students moved to the campus The high school was remodeled The new Tahoma High School and later served as a junior high, middle on Southeast 240th Street, on and expanded in 1999-2000 Regional Learning Center is located school and will become Tahoma the district’s western boundary, to its current configuration. It near Four Corners. It will open in Elementary School next fall. in 1974. This photo is from the becomes Maple View Middle September to grades 9-12. early 1990s. School this summer. Construction bond delivered more than promised When voters gave overwhelming approval to authorize products on time. I believe we have accomplished that.” for itself by working with construction officials in the -of Tahoma School District to sell $195 million in construc- The district raised a total of $243,923,652 for construc- fice of the state Superintendent of Public Instruction, who tion bonds, work quickly began to create a financial plan tion and facilities improvements. The bulk of the money determined that Tahoma should receive a higher amount that would deliver facilities, additions and improvements came from the $195 million bond sale. The next biggest of construction matching money than had originally been that the community taxed itself to provide. chunk is from the state, which provided $34,691,977 in promised. Those funds, combined with savings from the Now, with only a few months remaining before the major construction matching funds (which was higher than orig- site preparation phase of the new high school project, made pieces are completed, the school district has built every- inally expected) and another $4 million that was provided it possible for the district to build a new Lake Wilderness thing that was promised to the community and more, with by the state legislature to help purchase property for the Elementary School instead of remodeling the old school. construction of the new Tahoma High School and Lake new high school. In addition, there was money generat- “From day one, the district held each team member ac- Wilderness Elementary School coming in on time and un- ed by new home construction in Maple Valley and the countable to deliver the projects better and faster by chal- der budget. unincorporated areas of the school district, which added lenging us to think outside the box of how traditional public “This community put a lot of trust in the school district,” $8,138,127 in impact fees. Another $2 million was raised works project are typically delivered,” Kasey Wyatt, senior Lori Cloud, assistant superintendent, said. “Since the from interest on the construction funds. associate for construction management at OAC Services, bond passed, we have devoted significant time and energy The district hired a consulting team, OAC Services Inc., said. “There was continual dialogue on how each project to maximize revenues, control costs and deliver quality to help manage construction projects. OAC quickly paid See Bond funds, page 3 Summer brings excitement and a bit of nostalgia as schools change ummer vacation for Tahoma students Support staff also 31 will be the dedication ceremony at the Elementary School once was Tahoma is just a few weeks away. This marks have received their new Lake Wilderness Elementary School, High School, then Tahoma Junior High theS beginning of a very busy summer for 2017-18 assign- with rededication ceremonies happening and currently is Tahoma Middle School. I TSD staff as we prepare for students to ments and many at four additional schools on September 8. know for our patrons who graduated prior return in September. will be moving While there is great excitement for our new to the current high school opening, it will Before our students head home for a along with the schools and restructuring I’m sure some of always be Tahoma High School to them. well-deserved summer break, I want to certificated staff. you in the community feel some sense of Our students and staff continue to publicly commend our teachers, clerical We begin moving loss as well. So do I. The current Tahoma achieve at the state and national level in and custodial staff, administrators, main- as soon as school is High School has housed our high school academics, athletics and the fine arts! tenance workers, instructional assistants, out June 16. To find students for nearly 45 years. I started my ca- The hard work and dedication of our and other support staff for their efforts out when schools reer there in the ’80s. Many in our commu- students and staff as they continue to this year. The challenges of construction, reopen, check our nity have very fond memories of their time make achievement gains, despite all that is re-assigning staff, and preparing for a web page for the at the current THS (remember when we happening around them, is impressive. move have added significant stress to latest information. actually held graduation in the gym?). Ad- Finally, I am very grateful for the parent the system. Our staff remain focused on Thank you in advance for your patience as ditionally, the current Tahoma Junior High and community support that has helped providing a great program for kids; they we move through the summer. School is closing its doors this June and will make this a successful school year. Each deserve our gratitude. In addition to all of the moving activity, reopen as Summit Trail Middle School next of you own this success just as much as We will reach substantial completion of there are some special dates that we want fall. I was fortunate to be the principal when our students, faculty and staff. Thank you our new construction and improvement you to know about. The first important TJH opened in 2001 as a building for 8th for all of the sacrifices you have made for projects in mid-August. Additionally, we date to mark on your calendar is August and 9th graders and have great memories of our students. On behalf of the entire TSD have the task of moving staff to their new 8, for the grand opening/dedication of the the staff and students that I worked with in staff, have a great summer! assignments along with all of their equip- new high school.