Sometimes you just have to laugh because crying would be a waste of time.At the Board meeting last night, Sue Venable struggled to recall that the Board recently decided to close Woodway Elementary. She remembered that Evergreen was scheduled to close, perhaps because it was on last night's agenda, but the loss of Woodway momentarily slipped her mind.
Also revealed last night was that Cypress Equities has revised their site plan and that Marla Miller was not at liberty to discuss how the plan has changed. Well, wouldn't this be a good reason to start the process over in selecting a developer? There were strong developers expressing interest in the site but with slightly different site plans in mind. The revised Cypress plan is likely to be something similar to what the other developers were offering. That is, if Marla Miller ever has the guts to share it with the public. I smell a Home Depot in our future, or some equally mundane big box.
Another interesting tidbit was the revelation that the City of Mountlake Terrace has placed a moratorium on any change of use for Evergreen Elementary until September 19, 2009, when the City will have a better idea as to how to permanently change the zoning for the site entirely. Just five or six years ago, the City attempted to change the zoning to some sort of designation called Transit Commercial. This would have prevented the District from doing any significant alterations to the site or any meaningful capital improvements. It is a strategy designed to let your structure and/or programs at an identified site just slowly rot away while the zoning authority plans a take over. Rest assured, when Evergreen's doors close at the end of the school year, they will never open again. Let's just hope the demographic trends across the county line don't trickle into Evergreen's current service area.
14 comments:
What about all the money that was just poured into that ball field, fences, nets, new asphalt and that beautiful garden?
Why spend all that money when the district knows their going to close Evergreen Elem.
Its not Marlas job on the line. Its you job on the line.
Just another dime and some change down the drain.
When is this district going to wake up and wipe the sleep out of their ears.
It's a shame the District is still going to make major field improvements - drainage, irrigation and turf renovation; plus earthquake safety upgrades this summer (after Evergreen closes). I know the upgrades are part of the 2004 Capital Levy, but geewize, isn't there a way to file an amendment with an explanation? We are in a major budget cut, wouldn't it be grand if we could use that $$$$$ else where??
How about an IKEA, at the old Lynnwood Site? Does this surprise you with the economy? Where will the $$ come from for the other projects in the district? Will any of the other projects be done on time? Why is this such a big Secret, who the new companies are? The tax payers who voted should know what is happening.
Glad they are closing a school to try and save money. What about trimming at the TOP? Do we really need 6 admin? Just like the rest of the world some fat needs to be trimmed from the TOP! Affecting students and cutting services at school where it is needed MOST, should be the last to be cut.
Remember when CHRISTINE G. comes up for election again that our state did not have a budget shortfall, while running for re election, once in office it was discovered, WE will now be short 9 million. IMAGINE THAT...
Business "requires" secrecy of "proprietary" information so that the competition doesn't get out in front of them. That's why you won't get any information on the plans for the Lynnwood Hi site until demomlition begins or ground is broken.
We are, after all, running our schools like an efficient business rather than the inefficient learning institutions that they really are. We have been ordered for years to run schools like a business. I wonder if they were hoping for a Wall Street type business? Or maybe we've already got it.
does anyone know:
(1) why they're re drawing boundaries for Oak Heights and Martha Lake?
(2) What the changes to the Superintendant's contract are? They're reading it at the next board meeting.
I'm guessing that the contract changes aren't a reduction in compensation???? The district keeps saying : ESD doesn't have any more superintendants than other districts of comparable size. But what's the percentage of the district's budget that goes towards the salary? I don't care how many we have...we can have 100 if they're only paid a dollar...but they're paid over 100k!!!! They must think we're all stupid! The apathy of the constituancy is hard to stomach. Come on people!!! and parents...wake up!!!!
What is this about redrawing boundaries at the two schools listed? Where did this information come from?
The District boundaries are being re-drawn to divert students away from Martha Lake and toward Oak Heights, primarily because of a single development of approximately 100 condos just off 164th.
The Superintendent is having his salary frozen. Now it will be just like the cheese sandwiches they serve to children.
When will the public be priviledged to these boundary changes? Will there be any input from families or will the district let us know when its a done deal? Martha Lake has been there, done that, boundary changes did not help ML before. Why would it help now? With all the apts. in the service area, the population stays the same. Blame the county on the 100 condos, they should have left it commerical, NO housing. They should just send those from the new condo development to Oak Heights.
Yeah well both are frozen, but one feedeth the Pesky kids, the other taketh away! "A Cheese Sandwich will never grow", my friends!
What happens to the staff at Evergreen; teachers, Office Manager, Para-educatos, Custodians, Kitchen ladies, etc., after the closure?
I've been told the staff, teachers and para eds will follow the kids to Terrace Park. I don't know about the office and custodial staff???
Food Service is in the crapper. Which fund bails out the so called "self supporting department" this year? 115 grand? Talk about a free fall. That espresso machine seems to be working out alright. Baby, there ain't a coffee machine anywhere that can keep up with someone who manages a business like that. You keep running that department, the district is gonna be lookin for a few good men to pan for gold on the south side. Stop eating and somebody shut some windows so she can't just throw the cash right out!
I attended from Kindergarten to 5th grade, it made me real sad driving by after the place had been long abandoned. But damn, I won't forget how you guys confiscated my Gameboy and never returned it.
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