Letters
May 3, 2012
Community college support helps Newcastle
I am a member of the Renton Technical Foundation Board. We raise scholarship monies for students who otherwise would not be able to complete their job training programs.
Until recently, I did not realize the important connection between Renton Technical College and the economic development potential of Newcastle.
The college offers 36 associate degrees, 11 associate transfer degrees and 61 professional certificates. It is an open enrollment school, has one of the highest student completion rates in Washington and tuition is about one-third the cost of a four-year public university.
Of those who attend the college, 74.3 percent are there for workforce training purposes. Most importantly, RTC graduates have a 76 percent job placement rate!
During this economic downturn, many have turned to the college for workforce training or retraining in new careers. Conversely, state government has reduced funding to community colleges for the fourth year in a row, requiring tuition increases.
Many RTC students are living in poverty and need job skills training to achieve living-wage jobs. Foundation scholarships enable many to complete their certificate or degree programs.
I attended a recent seminar about strategies to attract and retain economic development in cities. The presenters surveyed businesses and scored factors that were most important in choosing cities for new business placement. One of the top four factors was the availability of an appropriately trained labor force and the importance of nearby community colleges in providing that labor force.
Newcastle is in the RTC service area. Our economic development potential is enhanced by the availability of these trained graduates: workers for new businesses, such as restaurants, dental, medical, ophthalmology and accounting offices, auto repair shops, banks and daycare centers; in the fields of computer consulting and appliance repair; and to work as electricians, legal assistants, office assistants, etc.
By helping RTC students we are advancing our own community. The Newcastle economic development team should champion the quality workforce provided by RTC as one reason businesses should locate in Newcastle.
Support the Foundation in providing scholarships by calling Susanna Williams at 235-2356, or donate at www.rtc.edu/foundation.
Carol Simpson, Newcastle
Renton Technical Foundation Board member
New school planning begins right now
May 3, 2012
It’s official: Newcastle will soon be home to the newest school in the Renton School District.
And while voters may have given their stamp of approval to financing a new middle school in the April 17 election, the work to bring the project to fruition is just beginning.
Early projections from the district have doors opening at the school in 2016. With the project in its infant planning phases, it’s never too early for parents, community members and city leaders to give valuable input on the project.
District spokesman Randy Matheson said there will be ample opportunity for community input as the project progresses. We hope the residents of Newcastle will answer the call and be involved and dedicated to a school that will have lasting implications for those neighborhoods for decades to come.
With some public concern for the necessity of the school construction bond (the measure failed Feb. 14 and barely passed April 17), the district and its core of education advocates should do everything it can to keep the residents abreast of the middle school’s financial impact, encourage public involvement in the planning process and maintain a steady construction schedule.
As a district that has been recognized for outstanding financial management and reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International and the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for the past eight years, residents have legitimately high expectations for this project to be completed on budget.
Letters
April 5, 2012
Renton bond invests in students’ future
The Renton School District passed both levies in the Feb. 12 election. However, the bond, which requires a 60 percent yes vote, received only 58.08 percent, falling short of approval by 335 votes out of 17,000.
Because of that narrow margin and the significant value that passing the school bond will have on students in the district, the Renton School Board decided unanimously to seek approval of the bond again, and I agree.
The bond accomplishes two essential components for the district. First, it provides the funding for a new middle school in the district. Why is this important? The average middle school in Washington has 609 students per school. Renton’s three middle schools rank in the state as follows, McKnight: third (1,150 kids, almost double), Nelsen: ninth (1,050) and Dimmitt: 24th (890).
If the bond is passed, it means a fourth middle school, which could open in four years, allowing the school district the ability to lower the average number of children per school down to 891 in 2016 (this number includes adjusting for anticipated growth). As you can see, a fourth middle school really just helps the district hold the line.
In addition, the bond provides capital for improvements, upgrades and modernizations to other schools and the renovation of the Lindbergh pool. These improvements will save the district money by lowering operating costs of these facilities.
The Renton School Board understands the concerns of taxpayers and balances those concerns with the essential needs of the district. This will help balance the concerns about school size for now. Your yes vote goes a long way for the children of the Renton School District.
Newcastle residents in the Renton district would see an increase of $5.83 per month on average if the bond is approved (defined as a home in Newcastle with average assessed value of $388,000). Less than $6 per month for all of that seems like a great investment to me.
Vote yes for the Renton school building improvements bond on April 17!
John Galluzzo, chairman
Citizens for Renton Schools
Controversial bond deserves a yes vote
April 5, 2012
We wish the Issaquah School District had been more conservative in its request to fund the long list of items on the April 17 construction bond, but we get why it was not.
With another school bond ending its 20 years of tax collections, this is a good time to get a lot of catch-up work done on our school facilities, while still giving taxpayers a couple hundred dollars’ reduction in property taxes next year (an estimated $215 drop on a $500,000 assessed valuation home.)
Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, the group pushing a yes vote, say this is the biggest campaign it has ever mounted. It’s no wonder. With so many questions and a $219 million price tag, the proposed bond has raised a lot of eyebrows.
There are a lot of questions voters are asking, as we did. Do the middle schools really need artificial-turf fields? Does it really make sense to tear down Clark Elementary School? Does Tiger Mountain Community High School, population 80, really need to be relocated at a cost of $4 million? Isn’t $75,000 for clocks at Beaver Lake Middle School rather excessive? And so on.
First, recognize that the extensive repairs, remodels, permanent classroom additions for 500 students, rebuilds of the five oldest schools, stadium upgrades, safety and energy-saving additions is so extensive that it will take eight years to get it all done — although taxpayers will pay for the next 20 years.
Equality in school facilities will come closer to reality if these projects are completed. Consider that the slower economy makes it a great time to get the best construction bids.
For many voters, this bond request is a stretch. But just like the committee of volunteers who studied the issues and drafted the bond plan, we believe the facilities bond keeps Issaquah schools in tip-top shape and designed for changing educational needs.
Vote yes.
Rapid Response
March 8, 2012
What are you most looking forward to for this year’s Newcastle Earth Day event?
My Daisy Girl Scout troop will be on hand, girl-manning the community recycled art activity! Come see the adorableness and create your best upcycled art!
— Trina Sooy
I’m looking forward to good weather to enjoy it!
— Jackie Foskett
Where are sidewalks/pedestrian friendly trails most needed in Newcastle?
I would like to see 116th Avenue Southeast have wide, continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street between Southeast 68th Street and Southeast 88th Street. Both Southeast 68th Street and Southeast 88th Street need continuous sidewalks connecting 116th Avenue Southeast to Coal Creek Parkway. This would establish the “primary” pedestrian grid needed to provide access to Lake Boren Park and our “micro” city center. “Secondary” spurs could be added as needed to connect smaller neighborhoods to this Main Street walkway.
— Jeff Skocelas
Southeast 89th off of Coal Creek Parkway to 116th Avenue Southeast — it would create a perfect running/walking loop.
— Trina Sooy
Finish linking the sidewalks on the east side of 116th Avenue and then run sidewalks down the north side of Southeast 88th/89th until they reach Coal Creek Parkway. That will offer sidewalks that circumnavigate nearly all of Newcastle.
— Lee Strom
What do you think of the Lake Boren Townhomes project on the north shore of Lake Boren?
Great use of the space/area.
— Trina Sooy
I like the idea of the Lake Boren Townhomes, but am concerned about what the final product will look like. Will it emphasize the waterfront? Will it include a public walkway like downtown Kirkland has in front of its newer lakefront condos? Will it look like dense apartment living with sparse vegetation or like a beautiful lakefront condo with thoughtful and beautiful landscape? I sure hope these were the questions asked during the permitting process.
— Maury Miller
I think they are fine. A bit small for my taste, what I’ve seen of the insides so far, but I know they will be great for some people. Nice location!
— Jackie Foskett
Join the conversation! Sign up to receive Rapid Response questions by emailing newcastle@isspress.com.
Brick plant revamp is key to city’s future
March 2, 2012
Talk to anyone with a vested interest in the potential redevelopment of Newcastle’s Mutual Materials brick plant site and you’ll hear the same word time and again — opportunity.
It’s no exaggeration that as the city faces a $300,000 shortfall in 2013, and similar deficits in coming years, the redevelopment of this critical Coal Creek Parkway property may have an unprecedented impact on Newcastle for years to come.
With redevelopment comes the potential for much-needed revenue in the form of real-estate excise tax, sales tax, permitting fees, impact fees, review fees and any combination thereof.
Simply, this project matters.
It must be done efficiently, competently and in a way that benefits Newcastle. With this much at stake, it must be done right.
With a 52-acre site and a developer that has been in the community for more than 50 years and seemingly wants what’s best for the city, Newcastle arguably won’t have a chance like this again.
Rapid Response
February 3, 2012
Has the city’s response been adequate in light of the first major ‘snowstorm of the season?’
Yes! Days before the storm, I went for a run through Lake Boren and I saw the preparations of the trucks, equipment and all. They were ready. When the storm came on Sunday, the plows were hard at work and didn’t stop until it was over days later.
— Trina Sooy
The city has done a really good job in my part of Newcastle keeping the roads as passable as possible under difficult conditions. I live on a neighborhood arterial, and the plow and sander are constantly going by. I was amazed on Monday morning that they had been working all night, the results being the road was very clear. It has remained so all week.
— Valerie Young
Excellent, I saw them out there at 2:30 in the morning!
—Lee Strom
Juvenile criminals’ names should be public
February 3, 2012
The Legislature is now considering two bills that would restrict access to records of crimes committed by minors, only allowing disclosure in the case of “serious violent offenses” as defined by law. Lesser violent crimes and property crimes would remain confidential.
The bills are bad ones, and should be stopped.
When a juvenile commits a serious crime, nobody involved takes the matter lightly. From the prosecutors to the courts, to the media that reports on crime, everyone weighs the value of punishing an individual against the needs of society.
The policy at Newcastle News is to report the names of juveniles only when they are charged with a felony. We did not arrive at this policy lightly. We’re glad to say it is infrequent that we come across minors charged with felonies. We do understand the implications when we choose to publish the name of a minor. But we stand by the public’s right to know.
If you were the victim of a string of home burglaries or neighborhood arson fires, you’d want to know who did it. We believe you’d want to know regardless of whether it was an adult or a teen — especially if the suspect lived next door.
It is just as important to ensure that the wrong people are not accused of a crime. Too frequently, the school-based gossip mill implicates an innocent person. Reporting in the media can make clear who is actually the suspected criminal.
Letters to the editor
January 6, 2012
Re: Hazen orchestra students share their passion for music
The article illustrates that instrumental music programs teach kids valuable lessons about hard work and dedication.
Clearly, the students profiled are great kids that have benefited tremendously from both playing and teaching music. They all appear to have bright futures ahead of them in college and beyond … and it all started in the instrumental music program at Hazelwood Elementary School.
Unfortunately, the article misses a key point in its conclusion. There are no “future cherubs hoping to follow in their footsteps at Hazelwood.” That opportunity no longer exists. The Renton School District cancelled instrumental music education in elementary schools three years ago.
Pity.
Kelly Paletta
Newcastle
Hats off to Newcastle volunteers
Thanks to the many volunteers helping out this year in both the planning and production of the various projects and events that occurred in Newcastle during 2011.
This past year was packed full of terrific events and valuable projects making Newcastle the livable small community it has become. Some volunteers worked during several events or projects, and many more volunteered whatever time they could give from a few hours to several days.
A special thanks to Grace Stiller, from the Newcastle Weed Warriors, who graciously stepped in to encourage, solicit and coordinate volunteers for Newcastle Days; and to Angela Wingate, from the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, who personally visited or called on local businesses to support Newcastle Days with sponsorships or donations.
Last but not least, thanks to the entire city of Newcastle Public Works Department staff, who put in a lot of extra hours to produce the city’s events and projects this year.
Michael Holly, parks program manager
Newcastle
Our 2012 goals for Newcastle
January 6, 2012
- The city must do all it can to facilitate the redevelopment of Mutual Materials’ brick plant site, a major change with potential opportunity for Newcastle’s future.
- The Newcastle library will open this summer, with a lot of opportunities for public involvement through classes, book clubs, book sales, homework helpers and more. It could very well become the city’s de-facto community center. Let the celebration begin!
- Continue to encourage business development in Newcastle’s downtown along the lines of recently revised requirements that are more development friendly. Now is also a good time to look at sign codes, fees and customer service. Also work with the chamber of commerce and landlords to identify businesses that would add to the mix in Newcastle and reach out to them to fill vacant storefronts.
- Create a city Celebrations Committee to plan both Newcastle Days and other new city traditions and events. It need not be a commission with paid staff involvement, although any plans must be coordinated with City Hall.
- Seek a long-term budget fix that will get revenue on pace with expenditures in the next five years. Many projections show the city could be in real trouble if this isn’t addressed.
- Fund projects that enable connectivity and mobility via sidewalks and trail systems. Residents have repeatedly said that this is important!
- Continue to pursue a ZIP code for the city of Newcastle.
- Continue working with the Renton School District to implement the Safe Routes to School program, primarily near Hazelwood Elementary School. The continued exchange could lead to grant money for sidewalk improvements and is a great way to get kids active and walking to school.
- School leaders and citizens should set aside their opposition to cutting the school year by four days, provided the total hours of class time remains the same. It offers a good way to save precious education dollars.
- Voters need to be committed to learning all of the pluses and minuses of school construction bonds coming before voters in February and April. For Renton, it means a new junior high school in Newcastle. Issaquah’s bond includes improvements to Liberty High, Maywood Middle and Newcastle Elementary schools. But is the time right?
