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 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. There will be an addi- the 13 years I was at that building. ment and supplies. Approximately 350 tional opportunity to tour the new high While the names may change, the mem- Rob Morrow is superintendent of the teachers will be moving to a new building. school on Saturday, August 12. August ories will never go away. The new Tahoma Tahoma School District. Page 3 Tahoma Community News www.tahomasd.us June 2017 Lake Wilderness Elementary: old, crowded, beloved

On the last day of school at Lake Wilder- share of challenges, as teacher Rosemary ness Elementary, staff members typically Lathrop remembers. gather outside to say goodbye to buses “We got pretty good at solving prob- full of students. They blow bubbles and lems,” she said. “Leaky roof? No prob- wave enthusiastically to the children who lem. Sink doesn’t work? No problem. spent the year with them. Heater is stuck on 70? No problem.” This year, the goodbye may be bittersweet, Gill, Lathrop and other staff members as some staff will move to other locations shared memories of luncheons for parents and the old school buildings will be torn and staff, sales and bazaars, annual staff down immediately after the year ends. skits, student fundraisers (and counting “My memories of Lake Wilderness are thousands of pennies), Friday sing-alongs of how students brought it alive with and Halloween costume parades. their student work, laughter and energy,” Jeannine Koon, who has taught second said Shelly Huylar, who taught first and and fourth grade at the school since 1986 second grade at Lake Wilderness and is (minus a few years at Cedar River in the now the elementary literacy specialist for middle) said that most of her recollections the district. “I loved that the library was also center around people, but shared the center of our building, in both A and these building-related ones: B, where children gathered to hear stories • The year of the big windstorm, which and fall in love with reading.” caused major roof issues; classes Lake Wilderness Elementary staff will send off students for the last time at the All who are familiar with Lake Wilder- were held in the gym, library, stage old school June 16, much as they did in this 2015 photo. Students and staff are ness know that in addition to two librar- and every other available space. sharing memories of the school, such as on the wall outside Library B (below). ies, the school has two offices and two • Giving reading tests in a closet be- look forward to continuing the journey in gyms, which has helped staff accommo- cause it was the only available space. the new Lake Wilderness.” date the high enrollment (it is the state’s • Construction-related challenges, Parent Mikki Roessler, who attended largest elementary school) for many years including having more than 1,000 Lake Wilderness herself and now has -- but also created headaches as well. students in a very small space, a first-grade son at the school, said her June Gill, who worked in the main office students with hands crusted in mud favorite memories are of playing on the for decades, said it took about three years and teachers who taught all year with giant tires on the old playground, at- to come up with a smooth system that recess right outside their classroom. tending classes with her many favorite allowed all the students to rotate through • Beautiful murals painted by a parent teachers and taking the president’s fitness the lunchroom. in the old library that currently hous- test in P.E. in the two gymnasiums. Now, “I am not sad about that old building,” es the RAP program and also on the her son has his own beloved teachers and Gill said. “That school has been there so hallway wall outside the office. is making his own Wildcat memories. long, and it leaks like a sieve. The school “The emotion I feel the most is excitement “He walks the same hallways that I used to, itself was too divided.” -- I have always felt that the kids, teachers, and it felt sentimental that he was basically But she does miss the students and her parents, community of Lake Wilderness walking in my footsteps,” Roessler added. former coworkers, she said. was the best! Now we will have a building As Principal Audrey Meyers, Ph.D., said “It was always fun. I loved that job. The to match,” Koon said. “I will be sad when at the groundbreaking ceremony for the people were always good to work with and the old school is demolished. I have spent new school: “It is not the bricks and mortar we had a lot of parents that helped, too. We a good portion of my adult life within the that make Lake Wilderness a special place, were all there for the kids,” Gill recalled. walls of Lake Wilderness. It is a fabulous but rather the people that make Lake Wil- Working in an aging building had its community to work and growth with! I derness so special.”

out the construction process. quests,” she said. Bond funds “During construction, our bond oversight group of com- Committee members said they approve of how the school munity members was given regular and thorough brief- district is handling taxpayer dollars for construction and Continued from page 2 ings both in person and via email,” he said. “Additionally, remodeling. could better support the other, resulting in broader success our input and ideas were solicited at every turn, and the “The time and effort that has been spent on ensuring the program wide. ... The return on investment of taxpayer dol- district staff was responsive in their review and follow up bond dollars have been stretched as far as possible has lars to the community has been incredible.” to our feedback. I was especially impressed with the dis- benefited the entire district at every level,” committee The district also followed its usual practice and asked for trict’s management of the contractors to ensure the proj- member Jennifer Karol said. “The new high school and community members who would serve as an oversight ects were completed on or ahead of schedule as well as on elementary school are amazing facilities, which will en- board for the construction projects. or under budget.” able our students to remain leaders in our community and “I firmly believe the district staff and project coordinators Another member of the oversight committee, Valerie in our businesses going forward.” have gone above and beyond in fulfilling their obligation Paganelli, said committee members took their roles seri- Committee member Kris Azizeh said he is eager to see to the citizens of the Maple Valley community,” said Rock ously as representatives of the community. She said their the positive impact on the community from the changes Jenkins, a member of the oversight committee. “They questions were answered to their satisfaction. that are occurring. demonstrated significant due diligence on the front end “As a strong, fiscally minded member of the bond over- “We live in one of the greatest places in the country, and of the construction and remodeling both in solidifying the sight committee, I found the project status and financial thanks in part to this bond and the people who helped car- construction process and in the selection of contractors.” information provided on a regular basis to be consistent, ry it out, the Tahoma School District will continue to be Jenkins said the committee was kept informed through- complete, clear and responsive to the committee’s re- recognized as one of the very best in the nation,” he said. Page 4 Tahoma Community News www.tahomasd.us June 2017 Transition moves every principal to a new school Each of Tahoma’s nine school principals “I still love working with students and ty. Gere and his wife have two children. A product of the Tahoma School District will be at different schools next year as helping them to grow and be successful,” himself, Thomas attended Tahoma schools part of the transition that adds two ele- McGrath said. Glacier Park Elementary School from kindergarten through 12th grade. He mentary schools and realigns secondary McGrath graduated from Central Wash- An educator with 21 years of experience, earned his B.A. in Communication from schools. Here is a guide to which principal ington University with a B.A. and got his Principal Shelly Gaston completed her Boise State University, his master’s in is where for the 2017-2018 school year. master’s degree from Western undergraduate work at the University of Education and Administrative Credentials University. His wife, Julie, teaches first Washington, before earning her master’s from City University. Thomas and his wife Tahoma Senior High School grade at Rock Creek Elementary School degree and administrative credentials. have two children. Principal Terry Duty started his teach- and the couple’s son and daughter recently Gaston taught fourth and sixth grades in ing career 32 years ago at Tahoma High graduated from college. the before coming to Shadow Lake Elementary School School. Graduating from Eastern Wash- work for Tahoma nine years ago. At Rock Principal Mike Hanson, who has most ington University in 1984 with a B.S. in Summit Trail Middle School Creek Elementary, she taught fourth grade, recently been dean of students at Glacier Science Education, Tahoma presented an Principal Sean Cassidy and his wife and says she didn’t really plan to move on Park and Tahoma High School, formerly opportunity to teach and coach (football, moved to Maple Valley in 2001, in part from teaching until Principal Fritz Gere taught science at THS, wrote curriculum, basketball) in Maple Valley that was too because of the strong reputation of the encouraged her to apply as an instructional coordinated the district science programs good to pass up, Duty says. Tahoma School District. Cassidy grew up coach. Shelly and her husband Jerry Gas- and served as an academic trainer. Hanson After a decade of teaching science at Ta- in a family of educators. He attended Red- ton (principal at Tahoma Elementary next also earned his National Board Certifica- homa, he completed a master’s degree in mond High School, Centralia College and year) are raising three children who attend tion, coached golf and won program of the School Leadership and Administration the ; in 1999, he Tahoma schools. year awards from the state Fish and Wild- from the University of Washington. Taho- began teaching middle school in Issaquah. life Department and the Arbor Day Foun- ma offered him an assistant principal po- Cassidy later served as assistant princi- Lake Wilderness Elementary School dation. sition that he was quick to accept, and he pal at Redmond Junior High in the Lake Principal Audrey Meyers, Ph.D., joined A graduate of Tahoma High School, he be- was promoted to principal in 1996. Duty Washington School District, then principal Lake Wilderness Elementary’s staff in the gan working at THS in 1997. When he was and his wife have three daughters who at Evergreen Middle School in the same fall of 2014. Originally from Spokane, hired last spring, Hanson said he was eager have graduated from THS. district. He was hired as principal of Taho- Meyers received her degrees from Wash- to begin his new assignment. ma Middle School in the fall of 2014. ington State University, and worked in the “I am most excited about being part of Maple View Middle School Tukwila and Auburn school districts be- creating a place that is special to our kids, Principal Andy McGrath is completing Cedar River Elementary School fore serving as principal at Enatai Elemen- staff, and community,” he said. his 35th year in education as he prepares Principal Fritz Gere began his career in tary School in Bellevue. to move from Cedar River Middle School education in 1993, spending eight years Meyers said she sought out a job with the Tahoma Elementary School to the new Maple View Middle School. as a primary and intermediate teacher at Tahoma School District because of its vi- Principal Jerry Gaston is starting his 26th He taught high school math and coached Rock Creek Elementary, two years as dean sion and culture. “What drew me here – year in education. Gaston’s career includes soccer and tennis in the Renton School of students at Glacier Park Elementary, why I wanted to be here in this district and teaching at the primary and intermediate District at Renton High School and Lind- six years as an elementary principal in the at Lake Wilderness – is the community level, as well as adult learning courses. bergh High School for 13 years before White River School District, and most re- feel,” she said. “There’s a real collabora- He has served as a reading specialist, an moving into administration as an assistant cently served as principal at Rock Creek. tive sense of wanting to work together. I instructional coach and an administrator. principal and athletic director at Eatonville Gere has also taught undergraduate and could sense that right away.” Gaston and his wife, Shelly (who will be High School. After two years at the high graduate level courses in education at lo- in her first role as principal at Glacier Park school, he became principal at Eatonville cal universities. Rock Creek Elementary School next year) have three students in Tahoma Middle School and since has been a middle Born and raised in the Snoqualmie Valley, Principal Chris Thomas has led Glacier schools and have lived in the community school principal at Glacier Middle School he earned his degree in elementary educa- Park Elementary since 2010, before which for 26 years. They enjoy traveling in their in the White River School District and at tion from Northwest University, a master’s he spent 15 years working for the Bellevue free time, and Gaston recently started an Cedar River Middle School in Tahoma for degree in curriculum and instruction and ad- School District as a teacher and adminis- Instagram account -- be sure to check it the past six years. ministrative credentials from City Universi- trator. out!

Fast facts for the 2017-2018 school year Bell Times tary, and Tahoma High School are on the Tahoma High School classes start at 7:40 Tahoma website: www.tahomasd.us Tahoma Community Report is produced by the Tahoma School District Communication Office and mailed a.m. and end at 2:10 p.m. School boundary maps to all school district residents four times a year. Contact the Communication Office by calling 425-413-3409 Maple View Middle School and Summit School boundary maps will be posted on or by email to Kevin Patterson, communication director, at: [email protected] Trail Middle School classes start at 8 a.m. the Tahoma website: www.tahomasd.us The Tahoma School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, and end at 2:30 p.m. Bus information creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or Glacier Park, Lake Wilderness and Shad- Bus routes and stops are listed on the identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy ow Lake elementary school classes start Tahoma Transportation web page. Scouts and other designated youth groups. at 8:40 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m. See the new schools! The following employees are designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Cedar River, Rock Creek and Tahoma el- Aug. 8, Tahoma High School dedication, ementary school classes start at 9:10 a.m. 7-9 p.m. Title IX Officer ADA Coordinator Section 504 Coordinator and end at 3:40 p.m. Director of Human Resources Director of Human Resources Director of Special Services Aug. 12, Tahoma High School commu- 25720 Maple Valley Highway 25720 Maple Valley Highway 25720 Maple Valley Highway Safe-walking routes nity open house. Check web for times. Maple Valley, WA 98038 Maple Valley, WA 98038 Maple Valley, WA 98038 Maps that designate safe-walking routes Aug. 31, new Lake Wilderness Elemen- 425-413-3400 425-413-3400 425-413-3400 for Glacier Park Elementary, Lake Wil- tary School dedication. Check web for [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] derness Elementary, Rock Creek Elemen- times.