Hello Everyone,

A few of us attended the School Board meeting on 1/9/07. It was a pretty dry meeting and nothing much was resolved. However, the Board has finally decided to make an actual vote on E-15 on 1/23. There is still some convoluted confusion about whether they plan to link the E-15 decision with the Clark issue. It sounded like some of the members would like to postpone that decision (operate 14 or 15 schools in Issaquah) until the first part of February.

Some key points from this meeting:

1. What has changed since the Bond Levy was passed? = the orginal numbers/dollars were not parcelled out in relation to specific geographical location of schools; they were based upon overall numbers of students in excess of the 14 school. The Board will be reviewing the numbers provided per the Administration again before 1/23.2. My question for the Board: Does the Hebert Report reflect true numbers of children in multiple housing situations? They seem to feel that as homes are finished in the Highlands-2011, and more apt. and condos built in the downtown area, there will be relatively few families moving into apartments, townhomes, and condos. I disagree, and know plenty of families that have chosen this school district and the Highlands' amenities in lieu of a large home with ample land. With the shifting housing market, this may come in to play even more by 2011, and thereby making the 2006 Hebert numbers even more incongruous. Issaquah needs to alleviate the congestion at Grand Ridge and the other Plateau schools, many of us feel E-15 is a viable solution.
2. One Board member felt that if Clark were to be closed, perhaps it would be more palatable to the overall community if the dollars saved (roughly 600,000/year)were applied to enrichment programs in all the other schools, such as a science/tech program similar to what Clark had.3. Sara spoke with Jan (School Board Member), and the Board is looking forward to hearing from us in the puplic sector of the meetings = we are now in the midst of preparing for a couple of speakers to represent us at the next Board meeting scheduled for 1/2
3. This meeting should yield much more helpful information! The Board will also participate in a "Principals' Meeting" from 5-6 that same day; I'm not sure if I could sit that many hours!
4. The Board will convene and then caravan around on 1/19 to visit the new site (E-15), etc..... Their findings will most likely be discussed during the work study session from 6-7pm on 1/23 = I will do my best to attend that portion. They would like it be clear that they plan to not have any "hidden" agendas this day, and have invited the puplic to tag along. Any takers :)....?
5. After I spoke with Sue McPeak (Principal at Clark), she stated that even though Administration still stands by their "preferred" plan (Close Clark/Build E-15), they do not have any idea what the Board will actually decide. This in turn means that we still need to be actively involved in this process!!!!! It's a bit tedious to keep hearing some of the Board members make comments referring to "pulling from the Highlands" as a possible solution to keep Clark opened.

Leslie Warrick
January 10, 2008 4:31 PM
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