Video made for the White Center CDA’s annual fundraiser, September 2010. Created by Youth Media Institute.

School Board Vice President Angelica Alvarez (L) and President Sili Savusa (R).

Sili Savusa was elected by her fellow board members to the post of president of the Highline School Board for 2011. Savusa was initially elected to the board in November 2009. She served as board vice president in 2010.

via Highline Public Schools

Highline Public Schools
Educational Programs Renewal Levy
February 8, 2011

FACT: Highline’s Educational Programs Renewal Levy provides nearly 25% of the district’s funding for teaching students and operating schools.

FACT: Levy dollars are needed to fund the direct education of children. State funding does not cover the full cost of educating students to today’s expectations.

FACT: Our schools depend on the levy because of deepening state funding reductions. The district has cut $14.5 million over the past three years as the state has cut funds for schools. Highline schools face up to $2.1 million in additional cuts this year, and more state cuts in the next two years.

FACT: Eighty percent of the levy pays for teachers and other support staff. Levy dollars fund roughly 250 jobs.

FACT: The levy pays for basics like textbooks, bus transportation, and maintaining safe and healthy schools.

FACT: The levy is not a new tax. It renews an expiring levy.

FACT: The levy is for a fixed dollar amount; the school district does not collect more money as property values go up. The levy would raise $46 million per year in the first two years, $47 million in the third year, and $49 million in the fourth year.

FACT: The estimated levy rate is $3.44 per $1000 in assessed home valuation.

FACT: If the levy fails, the district will have to cut its operating budget by about a quarter. This would mean lay-offs of teachers and support staff. Other cuts could include:

-Shortening the school day.
-Reducing or eliminating courses.
-Increasing class size.
-Cutting extracurricular activities and athletics.
-Limiting community use of school facilities.
-Closing Camp Waskowitz.

FACT: This is a mail-in election. Ballots must be postmarked no later than February 8.

Dear White Center Community: THANK YOU from all of us at the White Center CDA for making last Saturday’s White Center Community Summit a success! Hundreds were able to access dozens of resources connected to Housing, Health, Employment and Education. In addition, participants attended community discussions (some in their own native language) to talk about these topics and how issues have effected them in the neighborhood. Food and Entertainment representing many countries were presented in the afternoon, and 14 different workshops rounded out the day in what was a great day to celebrate White Center. Our event artist Carol Tagawa (who also works at Cascade Middle School) created this drawing for the event:

To see more photos via Twitter, please click here. We’ll have more photos and a Community Summit video to post in the next couple of weeks. Thank you to the many community partner organizations and White Center residents who made this event possible. See you at the next White Center Community Summit - Saturday, December 3, 2011!

All are welcome to this free event! Click the link below this flyer to view the flyer in SIX different languages!

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A White Center Produce Market Tour was held on Oct. 20 to do updates/reports of past and current work to raise the awareness of healthy food options at the produce markets and promote healthy foodshopping and cooking (WC Food Bank Healthy Food Gift Certificate Program, Family Connections events). Around 20 participants walked through WC business district, visited two produce markets and conversed with the owners of Lee’s Produce and Samway Market. The tour ended at 3.14 Bakery and Coffee to see a presentation from Evergreen H.S. students on a food label project conducted at WC local markets.

Photos courtesy of Desiree Sideroff.

The White Center CDA is a co-host of this event. Please spread the word!