Issaquah teachers learn to learn from each other
August 31, 2010
Teachers are a valuable resource, especially for one another.
The Issaquah School District drilled home that point, telling teachers about the STAR Protocol, a program inviting teachers to observe other teachers in action.
The district introduced the protocol to administrators and teacher leadership teams last year, and a Skyline High School workshop Aug. 25 allowed every teacher to learn about it, giving them tools to learn how to properly assess other teachers.
Beaver Lake Middle School humanities teachers Michelle Jones (left) and Laura Gawler discuss instructional strategies during a districtwide teacher training session. Photo by Laura Geggel
Issaquah School District prepares to pass annual budget
August 21, 2010
New: Aug. 21, 1:13 p.m.
The Issaquah School District is one step away from approving its 2010-11 school year budget. If passed, the budget would absorb large state cuts, but make up for them temporarily by raising the levy lid. Read more
Creekside Elementary Building Tour
August 16, 2010
Washington fails to get Race to the Top school dollars
August 3, 2010
It’s official. Washington is out of the running for the Race to the Top federal education grant program.
On July 27, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced 19 states as finalists advancing to the next round. Washington was not among them.
Race to the Top is an incentive-based grant program that asked states to submit bold education reform packages addressing assessment, teaching standards and professional development, early childhood education, increasing graduation rates and requirements, and closing the achievement gap. Read more
Issaquah School and Sammamish officials reach agreement on Skyline fields
July 27, 2010
Issaquah School Board members voted unanimously to approve a newly negotiated agreement with the city of Sammamish for use of Skyline High School’s turf athletic fields. Read more
State Supreme Court hears oral arguments in school’s special education funding suit
July 7, 2010
State Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments June 22 from state and school district officials regarding how special education is funded statewide.
The 12-member School Districts’ Alliance for Adequate Funding of Special Education, a group that includes the Issaquah and Lake Washington school districts, calls into question how special education is funded. Read more
Educational assistants settle contract with Issaquah
July 7, 2010
The Issaquah School Board approved a new three-year contract for Issaquah School District educational assistants at its meeting June 23.
Educational assistants’ union representatives reached the agreement with district officials May 27. The union’s membership met June 15 and approved it.
Included in the contract are: Read more
Sammamish rebuffs Issaquah school’s field plan
June 24, 2010
New, June 24, 11:51 a.m.
Jacob Kuper threatened the Issaquah School District might take its ball and go home if it didn’t get the changes it wants to an agreement governing the use of the fields at Skyline High School.
“We could rescind our interlocal agreement and there would be no community hours – not that we want to do that, but legally it is an option,” said Kuper, chief financial officer for the district.
The Community Sports Fields abut the Redhawk neighborhood. Photo by Christopher Huber
Sammamish Forum June 16
June 15, 2010
Thanks, history society
Recently, an article regarding Blackwell Elementary School’s second grade Heritage Celebration was included in the Sammamish Review. We appreciate the critical link the Sammamish Review provides to our community regarding what is happening in our schools. However, we wanted to be sure to acknowledge the collaboration of Blackwell’s efforts with the support and partnership of the Sammamish Heritage Society. Read more
Issaquah school district families asked to report student ethnicity and race
June 8, 2010
Issaquah School District officials are asking families to voluntarily report their children’s race and ethnicity information through June 15.
“Each year, school districts in Washington are legally required to report student ethnicity and race data to the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction,” Superintendent Steve Rasmussen wrote in an e-mail. “Because federal and state lawmakers recently changed the reporting categories for this data, we need to completely update our records system.” Read more
