chicken little? | A Renton High School baseball game is briefly interrupted by a falling airplane part. [3]
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GAME SAVER | Hazen’s Erik Johannesson made a last-minute save on a penalty kick to get the Highlanders one step closer to the playoffs. [Sports 13]
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014
Free, full-day kindergarten coming to all Renton schools By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
The Renton School District announced that it will provide free, full-day kindergarten next year. In a public study session, Wednesday night, officials examined how they will implement free, full-day kindergarten next year and what that would look like. In a round-table study session, with district administration, principals and staff the school board listened to testimony and examined six ideas that would put them closer to making the idea a reality. This new program would be funded as part of the superintendent’s proposed budget, which has to be approved by the Renton School Board. Many of the motivations for having free, full-day kindergarten stem from upcoming educational requirements, like meeting literacy rates in third grade and the Common
Core standards that are rolling out in school districts across the country. “With the Common Core coming we want our students to have an early jump on that learning,” said Tammy Campbell, assistant superintendent of learning and teaching. Campbell also stated that full-day kindergarten would help support the goal of having all third-graders on a thirdgrade reading level, when they reach that age. The study session at district headquarters examined why full-day kindergarten should be implemented, which schools would be involved, included principal and teacher feedback, how facilities and transportation would be affected and what professional development for staff might be involved. Teachers and principals cited an “immediate” and “powerful intervention to address gaps,” stronger relation-
ships with students and the rigor of upcoming educational demands as reasons to adopt full-day kindergarten. “I think it helps with closing the achievement gap,” said Zakariya Palsha, Campbell Hill Elementary School principal. Campbell Hill has full-day kindergarten and Palsha as well as other district staff, who have it at their schools, praised the results they see in their young students. “I couldn’t be more enthused,” said Nanci Davis, Sierra Heights Elementary School principal. “I mean it’s what we’ve needed all along. It would put the kids on an equal playing field; they’re all going to get the same.” Davis gave testimony about a full-day kindergarten program at her school that’s taught by a teacher, who also specializes in teaching English Language Learners. There was only one audience objection raised by a par[ more FULL DAY page 8 ]
City designates Sunset Area as ‘Economic Target Area’ By Brian Beckley bbeckley@rentonreporter.com
Your Residential Specialists
Students and volunteers from all across the city, including these students from Hazen High School, pitched in this past weekend for the city’s annual Earth Day/Arbor Day event April 26. These workers all did their part at Gene Coulon Park, working on the playground at the south end of the park. Photos submitted.
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Earth first
The City Council this week declared the 269-acre Sunset development area an “Economic Target Zone,” making it eligible for additional funding. Located along Sunset Avenue in the Renton Highlands, the Sunset Area has been a high priority for the city and council since the late 1990s. Presently, the city is working with the Renton Housing Authority, the Renton School District, the King County Library System and other partners to redevelop the area, including new housing and parks, as well as the new Highlands Library, set to be the cornerstone of the project. The designation as an Economic Target Area will allow the city to pursue New Markets Tax Credit financing for projects in the area. The tax credit allows private investors to invest in community-enhancing projects in exchange for tax credits. The idea is to leverage public investment to attract additional private investors to stimulate new commercial and