Public Schools

Highline students, including football players, joined leaders from Highline Public Schools, the City of Burien and King County Parks and Recreation Division for the dedication of upgrades to Moshier Park Field Thursday, Dec. 6.

Highline School District and the City of Burien partnered to create a safer, more functional practice field at Moshier Park for use by school and community teams. Poor drainage kept the field covered with water and unusable for 
several months each year. A new drainage system was designed and installed, and
 the field was hydro-seeded.

Half of the cost of the $38,425 project was funded by
 Highline Public Schools and the City of Burien, and the King County Parks and
 Recreation Youth Sports Facilities Grant Program awarded a $20,000 matching grant.

The event was hosted by John Boyd, one of three Exec. Directors of Highline Schools K-12. He is also involved with their athletic program. He is the former Chief Sealth High School Principal for seven years.

Highline superintendent receives journalism award

Highline Public Schools press release:

In recognition of her “unwavering support of students’ rights and scholastic journalism,” the Journalism Education Association (JEA) has honored Dr. Susan Enfield with the 2012 Administrator of the Year award.

Kathy Schrier, executive director of the Washington Journalism Education Association, wrote, “Dr. Enfield is a school superintendent who understands the crucial role that a free student press plays in our schools. She has shown her commitment on the front lines in Seattle, and will continue to do so as the first superintendent of schools to serve on the Student Press Law Center Board of Directors.”

Dr. Enfield started her career in education as a high school teacher of English, ESL, and journalism. Over the years she has been a passionate advocate for the free press rights of students.

Highline Public Schools press release:

Highline Public Schools has refinanced a portion of the district’s outstanding capital bonds, taking advantage of a 40-year low in interest rates.

By reducing the interest rate from 5.23 percent to 2.43 percent, this transaction will save taxpayers over $6.6 million over the next thirteen years.

Combined with two other refinancing transactions over the past year, the district has reduced interest costs by nearly $12 million.

“We are grateful for the generous support of our Highline voters who approved capital bonds that ensure our students and staff have safe schools in which to work and learn,” said Superintendent Susan Enfield. “Refinancing at this time allowed us to demonstrate that Highline Public Schools is a responsible steward of the funds that our voters entrust to us.”

Taxpayers benefit directly from these savings. Refinancing bonds is similar to refinancing a home mortgage. Locking in a lower interest rate reduces the overall cost of paying back the bonds, and the savings stays in the pockets of property owners.

Highline Community College press release:

The Highline Community College Library Exhibit and Art Gallery is pleased to announce the arrival of the collection, “Indonesian Cultural Arts from Tanah Air Kita—Our Homeland, Our Land and Water.” This collection will feature traditional Indonesian pieces and crafts such as Batik, woven and dyed textiles, ornamental arts and theatrical crafts.

The exhibit comes to Highline through the efforts of 10 visiting Indonesian faculty members with the Community College Faculty and Administrator Program for Indonesia (CCFA). The CCFA professional development program allows instructors and administrators from Indonesia’s technical colleges to witness how community-based institutions of higher education in the United States deliver quality technical and professional education to vital sectors of society. The faculty arrived at HCC this summer and will stay until mid-December.

Highline Public Schools press release:

Thanks to the very generous Highline community, the Global Connections High School wind ensemble will travel to Washington, D.C. January 18 to perform at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration Music Festival.

“I am delighted to announce that our $60,000 goal has been met and exceeded,” said Rick Harwood, Principal of Global Connections High School. “Our community has demonstrated in a big way just how much it cares about all students.”

Many individuals and organizations pitched in to reach the goal. Parents hosted potlucks, and students sold Entertainment Books. More than 50 percent of the funds were raised at a special event, An Evening of Jazz and Friends.

The largest individual donation came from Congressman Adam Smith, an alumnus of Tyee High School. Rep. Smith made a personal visit to the Tyee Educational Complex, where Global Connections is located, to congratulate wind ensemble students.

Highline Public Schools press release:

Highline families have the opportunity to sign up for low-cost broadband service. Of the 8,700 Highline families who are eligible, only 260 have taken advantage of this inexpensive option.

Families with students who qualify for free- or reduced-priced lunch can get low-cost broadband service through Comcast's Internet Essentials program. The program was started last year by Comcast as a federal requirement after Comcast acquired NBC Universal.

Program participants receive:

■Residential Internet service for $9.95 a month plus tax;
■No price increases, no activation fees, or equipment rental fees;
■A voucher to purchase a low-cost computer for $149.99 plus tax;
■Access to free internet training.

Families may visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376 to determine if they are eligible.

Press release:

An Evening of Jazz and Friends, a fund-raising event benefiting the Global Connections High School Wind Ensemble, was a sell-out success! Generous individuals, businesses, and community organizations contributed more than $27,000 to send the Wind Ensemble to Washington, D.C., to play at the Presidential Inauguration Music Festival. The school, where nearly 80 percent of the student body qualifies for free- or reduced-price lunch, needs $60,000 to pay for travel and accommodation for the band members.

The success of this event was made possible by many community members and organizations. “Our community extended its generosity to these students in a way that I have seldom witnessed,” said Superintendent Susan Enfield. “I thank each and every individual, business and organization for their tremendous support. They demonstrated how very deeply our community cares about its students, as well as the power of community collaboration.”

Press release:

New Futures, the King County Housing Authority, and many partners including Woodridge Park residents, Congressman Jim McDermott, Burien Mayor Brian Bennett, and Highline School District Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield, will celebrate the grand opening of the new Woodridge Park/New Futures community center on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Please join us! Community members and New Futures' Board of Directors, staff, participants, and supporters are invited to attend. The facility is located at Woodridge Park Apartments, 12424 28th Ave. South, in Burien.

Press release:

A group of Central Washington University faculty and staff leaders will visit Des Moines on Thursday, October 18.

Called the “Wildcat Caravan,” the purpose of the visit is to meet with community college and and area business leaders to find out what they consider to be the most pressing education needs in Des Moines.

“We want them to share ideas with us so that we can be even more effective partners through CWU-Des Moines and increase educational opportunities in the community,” said Margaret Badgley, CWU assistant vice president for University Centers, who is heading up the caravan.

CWU-Des Moines is among the eight university centers CWU operates across Washington. Those centers offer upper division courses in selected degree areas and are designed for place-bound and time-bound students who have completed their associate degrees.

“Our campuses are co-located with community colleges in order to make the transition from two- to four-year degree programs easy,” Badgley pointed out.

Because times have changed from what many adults remember about their school experience, SeaTac Police Chief Jim Graddon told SeaTac lawmakers Oct. 9, a full-time police officer is needed at the Tyee High campus and Chinook Middle School.

The council members agreed and unanimously voted to renew the School Resource Officer (SRO) contract for the adjoining campuses.

Councilmember Pam Fernald noted constituents question her about the program.

The police chief said that a police officer has much more authority than a school district security officer. With arrest powers, a police officer can deal more effectively with weapons, drugs or an unruly student at school. The officer can also handle problems off school grounds, he added.

With the officer already on site, there are fewer 911 calls from the school, which would have taken officers off patrols, he added.

Especially in the middle school, a police officer can also develop relationships with students and serve as a mentor, he said.

“Just one person deciding not to go in the wrong direction would be worth it,” Graddon declared.