January 6, 2014 Spokesman

Posted by Scott Becker 
on Jan 06, 2014
 
President Scott Rethke called the January 6, 2014 Kirkland Rotary meeting to order at 6:30 and Jason Overleese led the Pledge. Scott announced that we were especially fortunate to have a special selection of pizza tonight and to be thankful that we don’t have to put up with our usual Fillet Mignon feast.
 
Announcements:
  1. Angela Marks introduced her guests, David and Amy Mutal, who are looking for a new Rotary club to call home. Amy is a financial advisor and a former member of Newcastle Rotary
  2. John Pruitt introduced our “Student of the Month”, Gloria Lew, who is a student at Juanita high School. She has applied to five of the top schools in California and plans to study Computer Sciences.
  3. Dan Bartel announced that our club will participate in Rotary First Harvest this weekend. We will carpool from the Houghton Park & Ride, meeting there at 8:30 a.m.
  4. Scott Becker announced that the Duck Dash is now off and running, with the ducks having been ordered and that we will be holding the event again at Summerfest, in August. Please be thinking about sponsors and donorsors, no matter how small the contribution. All of the dollars add up!
  5. Bill Taylor told us that Check Brockway has finished his treatments and says he has lots of energy and is optimistic about his recovery, going forward. He should know the results of his treatment in about a month. Please keep Chuck in your thoughts and prayers.
  6. Rick Ostrander announced the slate of officers for John Pruitt’s year as president and they are: John Pruitt, President; Rich Bergdahl, President Elect; Scott Becker, Vice President; Anne Hamilton, Secretary; Rick Walter, treasurer.
 
Jason introduced our speaker, Traci Pearce. Traci is Superintendent of Lake Washington School District and a member of Redmond Rotary. Tonight Traci talked about funding measures up for a vote in February 2014. These are an Education, Programs & Operations Levy (EPO), a Capital Projects Levy and a Bond Levy. The EPO Levy will provide 22% of general operating revenue of the school district. The Capital Projects Levy will provide monies to replace computers on a four-year cycle and maintain teacher training in technology, provide software and support staff for over 25,000 computers and security, safety and health upgrades for the district. The Bond Levy is a big one. It will provide new classroom space for a growing enrollment of the 4,000 new students expected by 2021-2022. New space will be added in three elementary schools and one middle school, additions will be made to Eastlake and Lake Washington High Schools, a STEM-focused high school on the Westside and an international-focused high school on the Eastside, as well as a funding the continuation of the current modernization schedule. The total cost of all this will be a whopping 20% increase in the current property tax assessment, or approximately $4.73 per $1,000 of property value. The Lake Washington School district does boast a 94% graduation level amongst its students.
 
Byron Schutz, who heads up the Citizens Levy Committee for Lake Washington Schools, spoke in support of the levies and is available to further explain these measures. His email address is info@vote4lwsdkids.org. the website is www.vote4lwsdkids.org.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Scott Becker, your scribe for tonight.