Bethel Pride by Bethel Schools

BETHEL

PRIDE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018

GOOD NEWS & BAD NEWS

• Evergreen Elementary is a National Blue Ribbon School • Bethel Bond fails by only 307 votes

ACDC Another One Bites the Dust

4 November Bond 4

Final Results

Same Old Song & Dance

Bethel's November Bond got close but did not meet the 60% supermajority requirement.

The fourth bond attemt was not the charm and the school board will soon decide when the bond will go back on the ballot.

8 Drop 60%

National Honor

There is a Storm Coming The Boundary Review Committee continues to prepare for the worst.

Contact your legislator

Our Blue Ribbon School Evergreen Elementary is the first Pierce County school since 2004 to be named a National Blue Ribbon School.

The 60% supermajority requirement for school construction bonds needs to change.

On the cover: Students at Evergreen Elementary were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Bethel’s School Construction Bond failed even though it received 59.22% of the vote. If only 307 of the “no” votes had been “yes” votes, the bond would have passed. I am grateful for each one of you who took the time to educate yourselves (and others) about the bond, and who voted in this election. Unfortunately, the 60% requirement for school bonds is allowing 40% of our community to override the will of the majority. I encourage you to consider contacting your legislators about changing this outdated requirement. Contact information can be found on page 13. Our last bond in 2006 passed by only 196 votes. Our 2001 bond passed by less than 100. With a 60% hurdle to overcome, every vote matters. If you are not registered to vote, I encourage you to do so. Overcrowding in our district is only going to get worse until a bond is passed. We will soon have to make some very tough choices.

SCHOOL BOARD

From the desk of...

John Manning President 253.222.2938 jmanning@bethelsd.org Brenda Rogers Vice President 360.893.5425 brogers@bethelsd.org

Roseanna Camacho 253.495.0096 rcamacho@bethelsd.org

Amy Pivetta 253.213.3767 apivetta@bethelsd.org

Marcus Young 253.439.7174 myoung@bethelsd.org

Yours, Tom Seigel Tom Seigel

Superintendent

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.

l a f i nr e s u l t s 60% 50%

FINAL VOTE COUNT 59.22%

40%

Y E S

30% 20% 10% 0

40.78%

N O

DISTRICT STATISTICS

66,140

41,539

62.80%

307

Registered voters in Bethel

Bethel ballots returned in November 2018

Voter turnout in Bethel in November 2018

Number of votes short of passing

NOVEMBER 2018 59.22% of Bethel voters said yes to the bond

Unfortunately, 60% is required to pass so the bond failed 35%* of Bethel parents voted in this election *As reported by Bethel Citizens Committee for School Support

2,039 residents returned ballots without voting either way on the Bethel School bond

2006

2001

The bond passed by 196 votes.

The bond passed by just 96 votes.

Historically, Bethel's last two successful bond elections won by just a handful of votes.

BETHEL PRIDE

SAME OLD SONG AND DANCE First, we want to take a minute to thank the strong majority of voters who put their ballots behind our School Construction Bond. We appreciate you. You are the wind beneath our wings. Unfortunately, Washington state requires a 60% supermajority to pass school bonds. That’s a very high mark to reach – even for our elected officials – and it has caused our district no small amount of grief, including 17 failed bonds since 1980 (four in the last two years alone). The last four bonds that passed were in 1986, 1990, 2001 and 2006. Regardless of what the future holds and what resources our voters decide we need, our staff is committed to providing the best quality education to your kids ... any way the wind blows.

tep S y b Step

Will there be another bond? Yes. Until the state changes the way they fund school construction, funding for new schools and repairing old ones will come from School Construction Bonds. When? Will it be the same package? That’s up to the School Board to decide.

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Will the district really change school boundaries? The Boundary Review Committee will present their recommendations to the School Board on December 18. Parents will be notified of the School Board’s decision in February 2019.

Will the district move to a year-round, multi-track school calendar? This past summer, the School Board authorized planning for year-round multi-track schools to begin in the 2021/22 school year. The Long Range Facilities Task Force is currently studying the issue. They will make their recommendation to the board on March 12, 2019.

This time around there was not an organized “no campaign,” and apparently there didn’t need to be. There are enough people in our community who are disengaged from the schools, and who simply don’t want to approve taxes to support them. This means that a minority of the community (40%) is overriding the will of the majority.

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According to the Bethel Citizens Committee for School Support only 35% of registered Bethel parents voted this time around. While that’s up from the abysmal 17% in February, it wasn’t enough of a movement to get us to 60%.

Only 6 states require 60% for school bonds:

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ma Sou ri nd The re juan Tra 201 qu a ns 6 ire leg it v d 5 ali ot 0% zat e a to ion nd pa on ss ly .

Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, West Virginia ... and Washington.

If you think the system needs to change, you need to get involved. If our community doesn't seek change from our legislators, then nothing will happen. Superintendent Seigel is a constant voice in Olympia, testifying on behalf of our community and students. But he is only one voice. On page 13 you'll find a list of the legislators serving the Bethel School District. Feel free to contact them about the 60% supermajority or any other issue you have.

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Y IV M T DR M ' SA AN IC

TALKING HEADS

BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE

"Why should I pay taxes for the fire department? My house currently isn't on fire."

BETHEL PRIDE

There is a storm coming.. 8

During their latest meeting, the Boundary Review Committee reviewed the new homes and developments within the district boundaries. Dr. David Hammond, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools, said the forecasted student population growth, including 296 new students from the new houses currently for sale, and the 973 students from the proposed subdivisions, is darkening the horizon. “The storm is offshore right now,” he said. “But it’s getting ready to come onshore in a couple of years. But we don’t have the plywood for our windows, and we don’t have the sandbags. We are not prepared.”

The Boundary Committee broke into small groups and began problem solving, searching for remedies for the approaching storm. They also discussed which schools have a little capacity left to share — either in their main buildings or in their portables. This would help spread out the crowding so schools that are severely overcrowded, like Shining Mountain Elementary, could breathe a little easier. Hammond encouraged creative conversations among the group members. Everything was on the table, from putting portables on Art Crate Field, to taking no action at all. The group also heard from Karen Campbell, Director of Transportation, who shared

some guidelines the district had adhered to in the past during boundary changes, including keeping a watchful eye on travel time for students, and the fact that only 9% of roads in the Bethel School District have sidewalks — making walking to and from school very dangerous, especially in the winter months. Campbell also encouraged the groups to look at who would be at the bus stops in the early morning hours. “Who is at the bus stop at 5 a.m.? It can’t be a kindergartner,” she said. The Boundary Review Committee makes their recommendations to the School Board on December 18, 2018.

"The storm is offshore right now, but it's getting ready to come onshore in a couple of years. But we don't have the plywood for our windows, and we don't have the sandbags. We are NOT prepared."

– Dr. David Hammond, Assistant Superintendent, Elementary Schools

BETHEL PRIDE

E E R G R E V E For American schools, there are few honors greater than being named a National Blue Ribbon School. Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has selected a small number of elementary, middle and high schools that have demonstrated academic excellence or have gone above and beyond in their quest to close achievement gaps. This fall, Evergreen Elementary was named a 2018 Blue Ribbon School. It’s the first time a Pierce County school has been given that prestigious honor since 2004. It is also the first National Blue Ribbon School award for the Bethel School District.

This recognition is just the latest in a string of awards Evergreen has received in recent years. The school has also earned four Washington State Achievement Awards, five School of Distinction Awards, and a National Title I Award. The school’s success is especially gratifying for the teachers who were on staff before Evergreen was so highly regarded. Fourth grade teacher Bobbie Dysart said the turnaround started when staff members got together and decided they were not going to accept anything less than 100 percent effort from both students and teachers. “At a certain point we decided we were not going to make

excuses for kids or for staff,” Dysart said. “We decided we were going to raise the expectations for all the kids, no matter what their ability level. In doing so we found that kids rise to the challenge and we’ve had great success with that.” While the teachers and students deserve the lion’s share of credit for the strides they’ve made in the classroom, school leaders are also quick to credit parents for the work they’ve done holding their children accountable. “I feel like we couldn’t do it without our parents,” said first grade teacher Stephanie Mesa.

Our Blue Ribbon School “Parent support is huge. Having parents be an active part of their kids’ academic experience makes a huge difference in whether a kid is successful or not.” Given their recent string of awards, you might assume Evergreen’s leaders would be comfortable resting on their laurels. That’s not the case. Principal Jamie Burnett said he and his team will go the extra mile to make sure their students continue on the successful path

they began at Evergreen. “When we see a student who has succeeded here at Evergreen, we don’t stop there,” said Burnett. “We, as a staff, truly care – How are they doing in middle school? And then getting to high school and graduating. Ultimately, our goal is (to shape) what happens after high school. We want them to go to college or pursue a career.”

BETHEL PRIDE

THE 60% SUPERMAJORITY REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BONDS NEEDS TO CHANGE In Washington State, School Construction Bonds require a 60% supermajority to pass. This requirement is negatively impacting school districts around the state, including Bethel. 59.22% of Bethel voters said yes to our bond this November. Bethel's last two successful bond elections won by just a handful of votes. In 2006 the bond passed by 196 votes. In 2001, just 96. From 2011-2017, 94 school districts in Washington failed to pass bonds even though they had more than 50% of the votes. Bethel had two bonds fail during that time, including one that had 57% approval. The only way this will change is if enough voters contact their legislators and let them know that change is needed to drop the 60% requirement for school bonds to a simple majority of 50%. Visit bethelsd.org/DROP60 for more information.

Contact your Legislator DISTRICT 2 LEGISLATORS (Frederickson, Graham and Roy areas)

DISTRICT 29 LEGISLATORS (Spanaway and Frederickson areas)

Senator Randi Becker 316 Legislative Building PO Box 40402 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7602

Senator Steve Conway 241 John A. Cherberg Building PO Box 40429 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7656

Representative Andrew Barkis 122D Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7912

Representative David Sawyer 369 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7906

Representative J.T. Wilcox 335C Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7912

Representative Steve Kirby 437B Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7996

DISTRICT 28 LEGISLATORS (Elk Plain area)

DISTRICT 25 LEGISLATORS (in Bethel, north of Brookdale Road)

Senator Steve O'Ban 102 Irv Newhouse Building PO Box 40428 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7654

Senator Hans Zeiger 109B Irv Newhouse Building PO Box 40425 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7648

Representative Dick Muri 424 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7890

Representative Melanie Stambaugh 122E Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7948

Representative Christine Kilduff 334 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7958

Representative Joyce McDonald 406 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7968

BETHEL PRIDE

Enroll now for winter! YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COLLEGE Evening classes at GKHS www.PierceAtGraham.com Pierce College is an equal opportunity institution. Learn more at www.pierce.ctc.edu/equalopportunity

FederalStudentAid

ATTENTION SENIORS!

A n O F F I C E o f t h e U . S . D E PA R T M E N T o f E D U C AT I O N

Students who will be attending college during the 2019/20 academic year can file their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Many types of aid are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Even if you're not sure what school you'll attend, you should still fill out the form ASAP. Visit fafsa.gov to learn more. 14

District Calendar december

january

february

1-4

Winter Break

School Board Meeting

Highly Capable Referrals

Late Arrival

Professional Learning Day

Snow Make-Up Day or No School

School Board Meeting

Highly Capable Referrals

Presidents Day

School Board Special Meeting

School Board Meeting

Waiver Day #3

School Board Meeting

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

HS Spring Sports begin

Highly Capable Referrals

Tech Fair & Art Festival

School Board Meeting

Winter Break

School Board Meeting

Elem/HS End of 2nd Qtr

Highly Capable Referrals

2431

Forms available online Kindergarten only

7 p.m., ESC

6 p.m., PCSC 7 p.m., ESC

Forms Due – Kindergarten only

No School

No Students

Forms available online Grades 1-8 only 7 p.m., ESC

No School

10 a.m., SLHS 7 p.m., CCE

Early Dismissal, K-5 & 9-12

Forms due – Grades 1-8 only

7 p.m., ESC

No School

No School for Students

7 p.m., CHS

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516 E. 176th St., Spanaway, WA 98387-8399 (253) 683-6000 | www.bethelsd.org

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