BETHEL
MARCH / APRIL 2019
N U Y THA K O , R T O V E S!
Congratulations to all of the athletes and their families who made Pack the Gym 2019 such a huge success!
Bond Passes! 4 6
Bond Results 66% of our voters chose to use their local tax dollars for local kids in local schools.
Construction Calendar Look for construction to begin soon!
Overcrowding Options
In Our Schools
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Task Force Recommendations The Task Force reports their findings to the board.
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Boundary Changes Boundary changes are inevitable, but not for this fall.
Trimesters Coming 2019/2020 Changes to high school schedules will help students graduate on time.
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Equity For All Students Bethel is working hard to advance equity for all students.
On the cover: School Construction Bond passes! See Bond Construction Calendar on pages 6-7.
After Spring Break there are only 10 weeks until the class of 2019 walks across the graduation stage. Time sure flies. This spring is shaping up to be a busy one for Bethel. Now that our bond has been approved by voters, we are able to begin planning and building the new schools we promised our community. Elementary #18 on Waller Road will open its doors in the fall of 2021, and the new Bethel High School will open in the fall of 2023. All our 2001 and 2006 bond projects were completed on time (or early) and on budget. We will continue that track record with this bond. Until the new schools are finished, we will be closely monitoring the number of incoming students, and figure out ways to make things work, for just a couple more years. This will involve adding a few more portables at buildings, but at this point, no boundary changes are going to be needed. As you may know, Pierce College has been offering classes to students and community members at Graham Kapowsin High School. This fall, that program will expand to Spanaway Lake High School, with courses available to Running Start students during the school day. This will allow students to get college credit without the transportation hassle. In the coming years, I expect we will see even more students receiving an AA degree at the same time they graduate from high school.
Tom Seigel
Superintendent
SCHOOL BOARD
From the desk of...
Brenda Rogers President 360.893.5425 brogers@bethelsd.org
Marcus Young Vice President 253.439.7174 myoung@bethelsd.org
Roseanna Camacho 253.495.0096 rcamacho@bethelsd.org
John Manning 253.222.2938 jmanning@bethelsd.org
Amy Pivetta 253.213.3767 apivetta@bethelsd.org
BETHEL PRIDE Bethel Pride is produced by the Bethel School District’s Communications Department.
Doug Boyles, Communications Director 253.683.6049; dboyles@bethelsd.org Conor Christofferson, Communications Manager 253.683.6966; cchristoff@bethelsd.org Timra Knox, Graphic Design Manager 253.683.6053; tknox@bethelsd.org Nicole Thompson, Secretary 253.683.6051; nthompson@bethelsd.org
Questions and feedback: 516 176th Street East Spanaway, WA 98387 Phone: 253.683.6000
Email: communications@bethelsd.org Website: www.bethelsd.org
Bethel School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all federal rules and regulations, including Title IX, RCW 28A.640, RCW 28A.642 and Section 504. Bethel does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any disability, or use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Please contact Title IX officer Bryan Streleski, Director of Athletics and Security at 253.683.6055, Section 504 coordinators Lori Haugen (students), Executive Director of Special Education at 253.683.6920 or Todd Mitchell (staff), Executive Director of Human Resources at 253.683.6020 or Civil Rights coordinator Debbie Carlman, Director of Equity and Achievement at 253.683.6035 with any questions or complaints.
School Construction Bond passes with 66.14% approval Highest percentage for a Bethel bond since 1990! The state's 60% supermajority requirement for school construction bonds is a tall hurdle to overcome for many districts in Washington. It not only requires a level of trust between the community and the district, but it also requires motivated parents and community members that are willing to step up and champion the bond in ways the district is unable to do during elections. We were heartbreakingly close to passing our bond in November, and that was something that was felt throughout our community. That's why during this election we saw more parents getting involved – like the PTA parents who picked up ballots for voters who were snowbound during the last days of the election. We even had high school students create a documentary to make their voices part of the conversation.
Voters responded, and did so at a level not seen for 29 years. With 66.14% approval, we want to thank our community for their incredible show of support, and for putting their trust in us to better the future of all Bethel students. As we were looking at some very undesirable options if the bond had failed, we are incredibly excited to begin building new schools and repairing and expanding our old schools. But while Bethel has overcome the 60% supermajority, other districts were not as lucky. "Our successful bond doesn't mean we won't continue to speak out against the inequitable 60% supermajority requirement," Superintendent Tom Seigel said on Twitter. "Many districts have the majority support of their voters, but due to circumstances beyond their control, aren't able to pass bonds. Change is needed."
‘Our successful bond doesn't mean we won't continue to speak out against the inequitable 60% supermajority requirement. Many districts have the majority support of their voters, but due to circumstances beyond their control, aren't able to pass bonds. Change is needed.’
– Tom Seigel, Superintendent
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CONSTRUCTIO The School Board has unanimously approved the calendar of construction projects that will be funded by the voter-approved 2019 School Construction Bond. “Just because we passed the bond doesn’t mean we move into new schools next week,” School Board member John Manning said. The construction calendar not only reflects the planning, permitting and construction process for each project; it also shows how the bonds will be sold over time so as to keep the tax rate fairly consistent for voters. Planning and permitting for Elementary School #18 on Waller Road has begun and the building is expected to be completed in time to kick off the 2021/22 school year. Planning and permitting for the new Bethel High School at 224th and 70th will begin soon. It is expected to be opened for the start of the 2023/24 school year. That same year, Graham-Kapowsin High School’s new wing and expansion of existing common spaces is also expected to be completed. The construction project the community will see happening first is Phase 1 of Challenger 6
High School, which was funded through the district’s general fund last year. That project is expected to be completed later this year, and will begin housing students in early 2020. Phase 2 of Challenger will be bondfunded and is expected to be open for the 2022/23 school year. The renovation and expansion projects at Cedarcrest, Evergreen, and Naches Trail will wait until students and staff from Bethel High School move into their new school building in 2023.
Swing School Beginning in 2023, the old BHS building will be used as a “swing school.” This will allow students and staff from Cedarcrest, Evergreen, and Naches Trail to move out of their current buildings while construction crews get to work. “We’ve done that in the past and it was pretty successful,” said School Board President Brenda Rogers. “It’s so much easier for the contractor, it’s cheaper for us, and we don’t have kids running around a construction site.” Superintendent Tom Seigel agreed. “On average it actually
ON CALENDAR 2019 Bond Projects
Planning & Permitting
Construction Schedule / Cash Flow
Projects
2021 Bond Sales
2019 Bond Sales
Elementary #18
High School #4
Bond Sales
Construction Bond Sales
Estimate Budget in Millions 2019/2020 2020/2021
2021/2022
Bond Sales
2022/2023 2023/2024
$48.5 $1,500,000
$27,000,000
$20,000,000
$15,000,000
$30,000,000
$55,000,000
$58,000,000
$500,000
$5,500,000
$6,000,000
$20,000,000
$15,000,000
$1,000,000
$10,500,000
$18,000,000
$183.0
Elementary School Land Acquisition
$6.0
Challenger High School
$41.0
Graham-Kapowsin High School
$35.0
accelerates the construction of the project because they can have the entire building and do it in about one year, as opposed to a year and a half,” he said. “When we did that with the modernization of Spanaway Lake High School, we saved between 5 and 6 million dollars, so it’s a good thing.” Once the old Bethel High School building is finished being a swing school, it is scheduled to be renovated and then will be used for the needs of the district at that time. It could become anything from a magnet high
school to a preschool center. That decision will be made at a later date by the School Board.
There are a number of other projects that will be funded with the 2019 bond money.
$25,000,000
$5,500,000
You can see them all at bethelsd.org/bondprojects. As more information becomes available, we will continue to provide updates throughout the next 10 years of bond-funded construction in Bethel.
Renovation & Expansion Projects expected completion dates Naches Trail: 2024 Evergreen: 2025 Cedarcrest: 2026 BETHEL PRIDE
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Not that long ago, in a meeting room not so far away... Even though planning has already begun for Elementary #18 and the new Bethel High School, depending on how many new students we grow in the next couple of years, the Board may need a short-term fix as they wait for the new schools to be built. “Your act as citizens engaged in what’s going on is deeply appreciated,” said Seigel. “You made a difference. You really did.”
The community-led Long Range Task Force recently presented their final recommendations to the School Board after months and months of hard work.
group’s recommendations will still be valuable for the Board, especially if growth in our area continues at the rapid pace it is currently at.
This is the same Task Force that made the recommendations for the bond package that was finally passed (on its third try) by voters this February.
“Your work has not been in vain,” said Superintendent Tom Seigel. “It will help this board, and future boards, who find themselves in similar situations.”
After that bond failed for the first time in February 2018, the Task Force reconvened to study alternative options to a successful bond that would help alleviate the overcrowded conditions our schools are currently facing. Now that the bond is passed, the
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You can see the Task Force's recommendations and read the full report at bethelsd.org/ TaskForce. The Long Range Task Force consisted of members of the Pierce County Land Use Commission, retired educators, administrators, parents, teachers and longtime community members.
“Your act as citizens engaged in what’s going on is deeply appreciated. You made a difference. You really did.” – Thomas Seigel, Superintendent
Boundary Changes are Inevitable ...but not for the 2019-2020 school year Now that voters have approved a bond to build new schools, there is a light at the end of the overcrowded tunnel, and boundaries will not need to be shifted simply to spread out the crowds in 2019/2020. That said, there may be a change this summer as the new apartment complexes across from the Spanaway Walmart are finished and families begin to move in. These apartments are currently in the Shining Mountain
Elementary boundaries, a school that is hundreds of students over capacity already. If those boundaries need to be changed, they should only impact the families in those new apartments, and not current students. The Boundary Committee, which is made up of parents and principals, has recessed until October of this year. At that time, they will begin reviewing the need for possible boundary changes in the 2020/21 school year. October is when the new
enrollment numbers are released, which will give them good data to begin their conversations. The committee will also begin to review the boundary changes that will need to happen when the new elementary schools are built. Boundary changes will be necessary to fill all those new classrooms. One thing the Boundary Committee is committed to, is working hard to limit the disruption to families, and to make sure that communication is at the forefront, so there will be plenty of time for parents to prepare for the changes that are coming.
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HIGH SCHOOLS MOVE TO TRIMESTER SCHEDULES IN 2019/20 Whenever district leaders make a decision about schools, they ask themselves one big question: What is best for our students and families? When Washington state recently increased graduation requirements from 22.5 credits to 24 credits, Bethel leaders had to make some major decisions. After studying numerous options and getting feedback from parents, teachers, and principals, district leaders decided that for the graduating class of 2019 and beyond, all Bethel high schools will move away from the current six-period semester schedule to a fiveperiod trimester schedule. This will benefit students in a
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number of ways. Namely, they’ll have more opportunities to explore different classes. Built in interventions and academic supports will help them graduate on time, and they will have fewer courses to keep track of during a trimester. “As administrators, we know this is a big change,” said Dr. Jennifer Bethman, Bethel’s Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education. “Prior to any decisions being made, a task force was established to review high school schedules.” The task force met throughout the year to research high
school schedule options. At the end of the year they agreed that the best option for students was the five-period trimester schedule. “We’ve been talking about this change for quite some time, and we want to make sure that every one of our students has a variety of opportunities
earn 2.5 credits each trimester, 7.5 credits per year, and 30 credits over four years. “When it came to this format, what it did was it presented the students with a number of opportunities to be able to gain all of the credits that the state now requires of them, but still have a cushion there if they did have an issue or a traumatizing situation happen during the year that caused them to get behind. They have an opportunity during
As administrators, we know this is a big change.
– Jennifer Bethman, Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Schools
for success,” said Bethel School Board President Brenda Rogers. Under the new trimester system, students will have five 70-minute classes each day. They’ll attend three 12-week trimesters during the school year instead of two 18week semesters. Under this system, a student will be able to
the normal school day and normal school year to catch back up,” said Bethel School Board Vice President Marcus Young. Teacher teams are currently meeting to realign course standards to the Five-Period trimester schedule.
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Teams tasked with ensuring educational equity for all students W
hen our 100-member Strategic Planning team met last year to map out the district’s next five years, they gave special attention to the issue of student equity. Now that the Strategic Plan is in place, district leaders are putting together “Equity Teams” at each school to ensure every child is given the best, most equitable education possible. The teams, which include 5-9 staff members in each building, are meeting monthly, analyzing data, identifying problems and solutions, and looking at ways to view every aspect of their jobs through an “equity lens.”
Diversity ADVANCING Equity
Embracing
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The first task is educating people on the difference between equity and equality. “Being equal is giving everyone a one-size-fits-all T-shirt. Equity is giving everyone a T-shirt that fits them,” said School Board member Roseanna Camacho. Equity teams have already been convened at nine Bethel schools. Nine more teams will be created next year, with the final nine teams being formed the following year. Deb Carlman, Bethel’s Director of Equity and Achievement, is helping the teams as they begin their work.
YEAR ONE
YEAR TWO IDENTIFYING
PRIORITIZING
Building Trust
Professional Development
Next Steps
• Responsive Teaching Practices – Build Capacity for Instructional Practices • Possible share-out of equity notes at staff meetings • Engage in more courageous conversations with other staff • Individual implementation of culturally responsive instruction • Serve as role models for others in the school
• Training Other Staff • Deep dive into systems that create inequitable outcomes • Participate in mandatory training with all staff where curriculum is provided • Brainstorm ways to apply an equity lens • Coaching/collaborative lesson planning • Community Engagement: Fostering positive relationships with students’ families
ANALYZING
• Team norms • Analyze and review data and strategize ways to reduce predictability of failure and success • Personal and professional growth of Equity Team members; book study of Courageous Conversations
YEAR THREE
“Part of the process is looking at everything we do through an equity lens,” Carlman said. That means that when making decisions or planning instruction, educators should ask themselves several questions:
EQUITY LENS When making decisions, problem solving, taking actions and planning instruction, utilize the following questions: • Does this practice align with the District mission/vision? • Whom does this practice affect both positively and negatively? • Does the practice ignore or worsen existing disparities or produce other unintended consequences? • Are those being affected by the decision included in the process? Who is not in the room? What perspectives are we missing? • What other possibilities were explored? • Is the practice/outcome sustainable? Carlman said one of the goals for the first year is to build trust and encourage self reflection among the team members. “It’s our hope that each team member will raise their own awareness and take the time to examine their own blind spots. We all have biases and implicit associations that are unconscious. If we don’t first become aware of those, we can unintentionally discourage the very students we are seeking to support,” she said. “Equity is not an event, program or initiative — it’s a belief, a mindset.” BETHEL PRIDE
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Congratulations to the 2019 inductees to the Bethel School District Athletic Hall of Fame! Team Inductees 2005 Spanaway Lake Special Olympics Basketball Team 2009 Spanaway Lake Special Olympics Basketball Team Individual Inductees Garret Alwert (BHS '98) Ryan Barrett (GKHS '07) Darin Borden (BHS ‘82) Jan Dempsey (BHS ‘83) Marjorie Melanie (Goddard) Riccardi (BHS ‘83) Blaine Guenther (BHS ‘03) Yvette (Henry) Barnes (BHS ‘82) Sadena Parks (BHS ‘06) Coaches Frank Pavia (1955-65) Caesar Rayford (BHS ‘04) Brad Sweet (GKHS ‘08) Chris Tompkins (BHS, SLHS 1980-83) Felix Brodigan (BHS ‘54) Gene Curbow (BHS ‘55) Gene Ketter (BHS ‘55) Contributors Jim Ball (1977-2007) Beth Bardwell (1945-1972) LaVada Roy (SJH 1976-1981; SLHS 1981-1998) Cody A. Miller, Jr. (BHS ‘65) Family The Mullen Family (Mike, Pat, Molly and Nick)
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District Calendar may
april
june
Spring Break
1
Late Arrival
9
School Board Meeting
9
Elem Battle of the Books
12
HS End of 3rd Quarter
14
School Board Meeting
2123
Secondary Conferences
1-5
23
No School
7 p.m., ESC
Early Dismissal, 9-12
School Board Meeting 7 p.m., CPE
Please Note: Due to our three snow days, June 18th will now be a full day of school, June 19 will be a full day of school, and June 20th will be the last day of school (and a half day). May 24th will also be used as a snow make-up day.
4
District Orchestra Festival
5
Late Arrival
6
District Band Festival
Early Dismissal, 6-12
7
Elem/MS/HS Grade Prep
24
Snow Make-Up Day
11
School Board Meeting
27
Memorial Day
28
School Board Meeting
7 p.m., EPSOC
7 p.m., Bethel Learning Center
Classes in Session, Regular Schedule No School
7 p.m., BHS
Graduation 2019
7 p.m., PLU Olson Auditorium
7 p.m., PLU Olson Auditorium Early Dismissal, K-12
7 p.m., Bethel Learning Center
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Last Day of School
25
School Board Meeting
Early Dismissal, K-12
7 p.m., Bethel Learning Center
CHALLENGER HIGH SCHOOL
SPANAWAY LAKE HIGH SCHOOL
BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL
GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN HIGH SCHOOL
PLU Olson Auditorium
Tacoma Dome
Tacoma Dome
Tacoma Dome
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 2 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 1 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 4 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7 p.m.
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