Kitsap Education

New vote count in Bremerton, BI

marietta nelson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:03:41 +0000

In the Bremerton School District Board race for Position #4, David Boynton has now pulled out ahead of incumbent Cynthia Galloway by 110 votes. Boynton has 50.32 percent of the vote to Galloway’s 49.07. On Bainbridge, the school district bond gained more votes. It’s approval rate is now at 61.36 percent.

Yet another count is set for Monday at 5 p.m. There are 900 ballots left to count in the county, according to the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office.

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Update on youngsters’ lack of fitness for military service

marietta nelson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:22:18 +0000

A few days ago I posted this about a report on the fitness of young people for military service. The full story came out Thursday and can be read here. It includes a link for the full report.

A couple high (or maybe they should be called “low”) lights:

27 percent of youngsters are too fat to serve
One in 10 would not be eligible to join because they have a prior felony or serious misdemeanor conviction
32 percent have other health problems, including asthma, ADD and poor hearing or eyesight, that prevent them from serving
One in four do not have a high school diploma, making them ineligible. Some can join with a GED, but they have to score high enough on the military entrance exam to receive a waiver. However, according to the report, most of those who dropped out and received a GED instead do not possess good enough reading and math skills to serve.
Lots of kids have a combination of these problems.

As a result, only two in 10 are fully ready to join the Army without any waivers.

So what do all these top military leaders propose to do to combat these problems? he answer will probably at least surprise, if not shock, you. It’s preschool.

The report takes evidence from a long-term study done in Michigan called the High/Scope Perry Preschool Project. reschool students, along with a group of kids who did not attend preschool, were followed for years to see how their early education experiences (or lack of experiences) affected their lives.

Call me an education geek, but this is fascinating stuff.

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Boynton increases his lead in BSD race; BI bond goes over 61 percent

marietta nelson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:31:35 +0000

After the ballot count on Thursday, challenger David Boynton increased his lead over incumbent Cynthia Galloway in the race for Position #4 on the Bremerton School Board. Boynton now has 50.2 percent of the vote to Galloway’s 49.2. That’s 81 votes.

In other school news, the Bainbridge Island School District’s capital bond is now passing with 61.38 percent of the vote. Sounds like good news for BI school supporters who want to use $32 million of the $42 million bond to rebuild Wilkes Elementary.

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North Mason needs a new school board member

marietta nelson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:38:08 +0000

The North Mason School District needs applicants for the open position representing District 2.
The applicant chosen will serve through the winter of 2011. Qualifications include residing within the boundaries of District 2 (Union River south to Belfair-Tahuya Rd. including Lynch Cove, Beards Cove and View Ridge Hts.- map and legal description available upon request) and registered to vote in NMSD. To be considered, applicants must submit a letter of interest to include contact information, a brief biographical sketch and a statement about your interest in being a board member. Letters of interest will be accepted at the District Office, 71 E Campus Dr., Belfair, WA 98528. Please call the District Administration Office at (360) 277-2300 for more information.

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Galloway comments on Bremerton School Board race

marietta nelson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:44:38 +0000

I wasn’t able to get in touch with incumbent Bremerton School Board member Cynthia Galloway tonight until 8:30, which made it too late to include her comments in a short recap story of the most recent count of ballots in her race with David Boynton. You can find that recap here.

But aren’t blogs handy? I can just include Cynthia’s comments here so at least everyone can see them (or everyone who reads Kitsap Education anyway.)

Galloway thanked Bremerton voters for being so involved and interested in their school district. She said she was excited and happy to see a good turnout. “Voters are speaking in volumes.” Galloway said she wasn’t necessarily surprised at the close outcome. After the count Wednesday, Boynton was 23 votes ahead of her.

It will be interesting to see what Thursday’s vote count brings, that’s for sure.

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Are too few young people fit for military service?

marietta nelson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:56:31 +0000

This press release popped into my inbox this morning. I’d heard something about it on the radio a few days ago, but didn’t get a clear picture until I read this:
“According to an alarming new report, 75 percent of young people ages 17 to 24 are unable to enlist in the military because they fail to graduate high school, have a criminal record, or are physically unfit. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and some of America’s top retired military brass will hold a news conference at the National Press Club Thursday to call for immediate action to address this national security threat.
The retired admirals and generals and Secretary Duncan will call for greater investment in high-quality early learning programs to ensure that more young people graduate, obey the law, and have the option of military service if they choose that path. They will also release state-specific data on the number of young Americans unable to serve in each state.”
WHO: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan – U.S. Department of Education
General Wesley K. Clark, U.S. Army (Ret.) – Former Supreme Allied Commander – NATO
Major General James A. Kelley, U.S. Army (Ret.) – Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Major General James W. Comstock, U.S. Army (Ret.) – Former Reserve Component Advisor, U.S. Central Command
Brigadier General John W. Douglass, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) – Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Rear Admiral James Barnett U.S. Navy (Ret.) – Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC
Former Under Secretary of the Army – Joe Reeder
National Director, MISSION: READINESS – Amy Dawson Taggart

Wow! I’ll follow up here on Thursday after more information is released.

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School election results posted

marietta nelson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:20:56 +0000

Early returns in voting Tuesday show Bainbridge Island School District voters narrowly approving a $42 million construction bond while several school board races produced surprising results.
The Bainbridge bond was passing with 60.19 percent of the vote, just squeaking over the ~~two-thirds~~ 60 percent supermajority vote needed to pass a bond. An almost identical measure failed by the slimmest of margins, less than 1 percent or 19 votes, in May.
Replacing Wilkes Elementary will consume $32 million of the bond; the remaining $10 million will be spent for renovations at six schools, the transportation facility and the administration building.
“We are absolutely thrilled,” said school board President Mary Curtis. “We’re hanging on to our 60 percent margin and we all could not be more pleased.”
A second ballot count will be completed at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

In Bremerton, current school board President Cynthia Galloway and challenger David Boynton were in a dead heat for the Position #4 seat. Galloway held a slight lead over Boynton with 49.85 percent of the vote to his 49.57 percent
In the race for Position #1 on the board, Scott Rahm had a 17-point lead over Christianne Martin. Rahm received 58 percent while Martin had 41. The winner in that race will fill out the term of Pat Jones, who resigned from the board in May. The term runs through the end of 2011.Carolynn Perkins was up by 27 points over Ruben Garcia in the race for Position #5. The winner in that race will take the place of long-time board member DeWayne Boyd, who declared earlier this year that he would not run for a third time.

In South Kitsap, Director District 3 challenger Christopher Lemke held a significant lead – 22 points – over incumbent Naomi Polen. Lemke had gathered 60 percent of the vote while Polen had 38 percent. Polen has served on the SK board since spring 2008; Lemke served on the board previously from 2001 to 2005. Incumbent Kathryn Simpson, who was not challenged, received 97 percent of the vote. She represents District 4.

In Central Kitsap, incumbent Eric Greene had an early lead over challenger Richard Romero. Greene, who currently represents Director Area 5, received 60 percent of the vote while Romero had 38 percent. In the race for Director Area 2, Mark Gaines collected 62 percent of the vote to take the lead over Robert MacDermid, who had 37 percent. District Area 2 is currently represented by long-time board member Carl Johnson, who did not run. Incumbent Bruce Richards, who represents District Area 1, was unchallenged. He received 98 percent of the vote.

In North Mason’s District 5 race, with 56 percent of the vote, incumbent Mike Gaudio was defeating Danielle Skeeters, who has collected 43 percent of the vote.

In North Kitsap, District 1 incumbent Tom Anderson, who was not challenged, received 98 percent of the vote. NK newcomer Kathleen Dassel, the only candidate to file for Director District 3 to replace Melanie Mohler, received 97.8 percent of the vote. On Bainbridge incumbent Mary Curtis (District 5) received 98 percent of the vote; Mike Spence, who was running unopposed for District 2, also received 98 percent of the vote.

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Mr. Leavell goes to Washington

marietta nelson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:40:53 +0000

Christine Lynch, the state's 2009 Middle School Principal of the Year, and Aaron Leavell, the state's 2009 High School Principal of the Year met with Sen. Patty Murray on a recent trip to Washington D.C.

In what may seem like a lifetime ago, Aaron Leavell was named the 2009 High School Principal of the Year in March, honoring him and the staff at Bremerton High School. Leavell has since moved from BHS to become director of secondary education for the North Kitsap School District, but the recognition and its benefits are ongoing.

In fact he just recently got back from a national event hosted by the National Association of School Principals in Washington D.C. for the state-level winners.

A former social studies teacher, Leavell said he was in awe during his first visit to the nation’s capitol. He joked that one aspect of professional development for first-year teachers should be a sightseeing trip around D.C.’s landmarks.

“It was truly amazing, everything is so fast-paced,” he said.

Leavell and the other 99 winners (including Spokane’s Christine Lynch, the middle school winner) “stormed the Hill” one day to talk with members of Congress. It was a busy time with staffers and senators and representatives rushing around debating healthcare reform, Leavell said. But most folks made time for the educators. Lynch and Leavell met with Sen. Patty Murray and with staff members from the offices of Maria Cantwell, Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and Norm Dicks.

In Dicks’ office, Leavell met with a familiar face: Colin Sheldon, son of former state Sen. Betti Sheldon. Also, Murray told Leavell that one of his former students now works in her Seattle office. The young woman got into politics due in part to Leavell’s influence in social studies class.

“That kind of reminds you that this really is the right work that we’re doing,” he said.

Before the meetings, Leavell and Lynch agreed to focus on federal-level education issues, especially the requirements of No Child Left Behind and the funds coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Christine and I agreed that the accountability of NCLB keeps us focused in education,” he said.

But, Leavell said they tried to explain that the requirements under NCLB are unfair to special education students and English language learners. And that money is taken away from the classroom under NCLB when schools don’t meet the requirements.

The congress members and their aides seemed to understand that federal education laws need to be changed, he said.

“I felt listened to. They were very attentive and they appeared to understand the issues,” he said. They also reminded Leavell and Lynch that while education is at or near the top of their priorities, funding is still a problem.

And speaking of funding, Leavell said he and Lynch reminded everyone of the need to “fund the middle.” It’s popular right now to push money toward early childhood and higher education, but those middle years are important too. What happens from sixth through 12th grades has great influence on the drop-out and graduation rates. Further, the educators asked members of Congress to consider the new High School Graduation Promise Act. The act would release $2.5 billion in competitive grants for programs aimed at reducing the dropout rate. It would target schools with a 60 percent or lower rate of on-time graduation.

On another day in D.C. the principals gathered in small groups to share success stories and new ideas from their schools.

They were given scenarios: If you could build the high school of your dreams, what would you put inside it?

During the ensuing discussion, Leavell was proud to be able to share the different strategies BHS has employed to help kids. Those strategies include: dedicated teacher collaboration time, standards-based homework and grading, contract learning, a support system for AP students and the freshmen academy.

Leavell said it also was interesting to hear what other school districts are doing. Lack of funding was certainly a common complaint, with lots of “doom and gloom” talk.

But, he said, “I look at it as an opportunity. This is just one more opportunity for us to put our best thinking forward and do the best with what we have.”

Funding might be inadequate and out of local school leaders’ control, he said. So it’s important to focus on what local leaders can influence – student achievement and teaching.

Leavell hopes to use the rest of his time as the 2009 winner to talk about education with anyone who will listen. He’s open to speaking with local service clubs. And he’s giving speeches at some education association meetings in the near future.

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Bremerton School Board will talk about levy on Thursday

marietta nelson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:45:21 +0000

Bremerton folks interested in the school support levy proposal should plan to be at a study session on Thursday at the school district offices, 134 Marion Ave.

The meeting starts at 5 p.m. Board members and school staff are expected to discuss proposals for putting the levy on the February 2010 ballot.

See you there!

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NEWS lawsuit awaits a decision

marietta nelson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:22:16 +0000

The lawsuit brought by various Washington school districts against the state over funding is awaiting a decision. The judge in the case said it would probably be 90 days. In the meantime, there’s plenty at this website to read all about it.

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