Highline Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield Announces Plan to Fund Full-Day Kindergarten at All Highline Schools
Highline Public Schools will fund tuition-free full-day kindergarten at all schools starting this fall, regardless of the amount the state legislature allocates to full-day kindergarten.
State lawmakers are currently debating over budget plans with varying levels of kindergarten funding. Each of the three plans would fund full-day kindergarten at some, but not all, schools in Highline.
“We cannot wait for the legislature to act. Full-day kindergarten is the right thing to do for all our children and families now,” said Superintendent Susan Enfield. “This is a game-changer for our students.”
Full-day kindergarten is a key strategy for meeting the district goal of 95 percent of next fall’s kindergartners performing at or above grade level in all core subjects by the end of Grade 3. Multiple studies show that children who participate in full-day kindergarten make significant gains in reading and math compared with students in half-day programs. Research also shows that mastering reading and math skills by third grade is critical for success throughout middle and high school.
“Kindergarten is a critical year. It sets the stage for a child’s entire school experience,” said Highline’s P-3 Director Anne Arnold, who directs early learning (preschool through grade 3) programs. (more…)
Burien Keller Williams Reality Team Cleans Up Burien C.A.R.E.S. for Red Day
Early this May Burien Keller Williams Reality team took a break from the office to spend a day helping out local non-profit and Burien animal control organization, Burien C.A.R.E.S. (Community Animal Rescue and Education Society) at their facility just north of Olde Burien for RED Day.
Over 15 members of the Keller Williams team spent RED Day cleaning, painting, weeding and sweeping. The group purchased plants from vendors at the Burien Farmers Market happening on the same day and installed new planters in front of the facility. Laminate flooring in areas of the building that had previously been unusable, were scraped up and prepped for refinish and sealing. Rescued dogs were walked and cat kennels cleaned. Finally, a project that had been put on hold since CARES first opened their facility, an outdoor dog run behind the building, was started by the team by removing old asphalt and gravel, leveling the ground, and laying the foundation for a brick wall that will act as the base for a chain-link fence.
Rodolfo Hernandez McIntyre, Keller Williams agent, had this to say about the event “This Year our Keller Williams office has choosen Burien CARES as a recipient for our Red Day. Burien CARES is a local nonprofit pet shelter with a mission to encourage responsible pet ownership and protect the health, safety, and welfare of people and animals in Burien, they have a great need for developing a new section for the rescued dogs.” (more…)King County Sheriff’s Deputy Martin “Marty” Duran Passes Away After Sustaining Injuries in Motorcycle Accident
The following information was sent to Burien Daily by Sargent Cindi West of the King County Sheriffs Department on the evening of May 22, 2013.
King County Sheriff’s Deputy Martin “Marty” Duran passed away at Tacoma General Hospital late this evening from injuries sustained from an off duty motorcycle accident.
Deputy Duran who was 47 and had a history of public service. He served in the Army and then went on to become a paramedic and fire fighter in New Mexico prior to becoming a member of the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico.
In 2004 Duran moved to King County and accepted a job with the King County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Duran was a highly respected member of the Sheriff’s Office and most recently was a Master Police Officer assigned to the Southwest Precinct. (more…)
Former Burien City Council Candidate Len Boscarine Explains Withdrawal From 2013 Election
The following letter was sent to Burien Daily by former Burien City Council Candidate, Len Boscarine on May 21, 2013. Boscarine withdrew from the 2013 race the Monday after filing for position #5 against former Deputy Mayor Rose Clark and Planning Commissioner Nancy Tosta. Because Len withdrew from the election, Council Member Clark and Commissioner Tosta will be the only candidates not to face a primary election and will thus move onto the November general election.
“I want to thank the buriendaily.com for giving me this opportunity to comment about why I withdrew from the Burien City Council election. Also, I want to thank the friends and neighbors who encouraged me to run for the Council. It is always flattering to have citizens and friends tell you that you would be the right person to serve the city and their rights and interests in the city.
I decided to file for this election because until late Friday it looked like Rose Clark was going to run unopposed for the Burien City Council. I feel very strongly that new blood is needed on the Burien City Council.
Burien now has a situation in which the majority of the city council members have taken control of our city’s government and they have promoted some financially ill advised ventures such as the annexation of Area Y/White Center and spending into the city’s cash reserves.
Several citizens, and even some minority council members, have called for citizens’ advisory votes on such issues. The “Gang of Four” that holds the majority on the council have repeatedly said that they will not allow citizens’ advisory votes on the critical issues confronting the city.
When I saw that Nancy Tosta was running for the same position as I had filed for, I was delighted. Even though it would have been an honor to represent the citizens of Burien, I feel that Nancy is an even better candidate for this Council position. She and I share many of the same ideas and goals for the City and the Council. I hardly endorse Nancy Tosta for Council Position # 5. (more…)
Highline Public Schools Student from Burien Selected to Explore the Ocean with Titanic Discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard’s Nautilus Exploration Program
Mount Rainier’s Sebastian Martinez has been awarded the coveted position of Honors Research Student and will sail with the Nautilus Exploration Program during their 2013 expedition season. Sebastian will be sailing aboard the E/V Nautilus from August 8 – 17 in the Bahamas. “It’s a huge honor for me to work alongside professionals in the marine science field while on my expedition with E/V Nautilus,” said Sebastian. “I think it’s a great opportunity for students like me to gain insight on what exactly happens on research expeditions and how it will benefit the scientific community.”
Sebastian is one of just forty-seven educators and students from around the world selected from a competitive pool of applicants by the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) to participate at sea during the program. Among the Educators at Sea will be Mount Rainer Teacher Sam Garson who is returning for his third year with the program. In previous years, Garson has shared live video conferences with students and staff back at home. The selected educators and students hail from schools, universities, and science centers in twenty-one states and five countries. They will join the Nautilus Corps of Exploration during ocean expeditions from June through November in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea.
The 2013 educator and student selectees will embark on several expeditions aboard Dr. Robert Ballard’s ship of exploration, E/V Nautilus, and other research vessels off the coast of the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as Montserrat, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turkey. As members of the Corps of Exploration, educators and students will stand watch alongside scientists and engineers, as well as participate in live interactions with shore-based audiences via Exploration Now. When launched in June, Exploration Now will be a 24-hour online portal bringing expeditions from the field to future explorers on shore via telepresence technology. (more…)
Employees of Burien Albertson’s to be Honored by Burien Police and City Council for Thwarting Child Abduction
The following public notice was sent to Burien Daily by Sargent Cindi West of the King County Sheriffs Department. To read more about the insident these Albertson’s employees are being honored for, see our publication from October, 2012.
On September 29th, of last year, a suspect accosted and attempted to abduct a 10 year old child at the Albertson’s at South 128th Street and 1st Avenue South in Burien.
Albertson’s employees, becoming aware of a commotion, intervened and successfully rescued the child and after a struggle, detained the suspect pending the arrival of the police.
On May 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer will honor the employee’s with the King County Sheriff’s Office Meritorious Service Award. The Meritorious Service Award is the Sheriff’s Office 7th highest award conferred on an individual or group who demonstrate extremely meritorious dedication.
Please join Chief Kimerer and the Burien City Council when they acknowledge these very deserving citizens. (more…)
Shelli Park Announces Resignation From Burien City Council Race – Endorses Joey Martinez and Lauren Berkowitz
Arts Commissioner Shelli Park, who announced her run for Burien City Council on April 29th, released a letter Monday morning stating that she has decided to push off her run for a council seat until 2015.
In her letter, Shelli stated that she has come to the conclusion “after serious consideration” and that she “cannot do a responsible job as a City Council member” until her design business, Crimson Park Design, is in a more stable position.
The Burien Arts Commissioner took the opportunity to endorse Planning Commissioner Joey Martinez and candidate Lauren Berkowitz.
Commissioner Martinez has filed to run for City Council position #7, the seat currently held by Mayor Brian Bennett. Mayor Bennett announced earlier this month that he made the discussion with his family not to run for Council again and endorsed Martinez to fill his Council seat. Commissioner Martinez recently released a letter asking Burien residents to support him in his race against candidates Steve Armstrong and Chuck Rangel stating that “Together, we can build a better Burien.”
Candidate Lauren Berkowitz is currently running against Council Member Jack Block, Jr. and southeast Burien resident Kip Walton. Berkowitz announced her candidacy for City Council position #1 on March 14th and stated “We need new leaders to move Burien into the future… Our community has so much potential. It’s time to begin realizing it.” (more…)
Burien Bites Check-In Begins at 11am on June 2nd – Proceeds Benefit Local Charities
With yet another great initiative to help the community, HomeTask organizes “Burien Bites” on June 2nd, the second annual event allows people the opportunity to visit multiple restaurants for a bite to benefit local charities.
Known for its excellent service in all things related to day to day household operations, HomeTask is an emerging company that genuinely cares about people. HomeTask has come to the rescue again by organizing an event called Burien Bites, which is sponsored by Freggies, will let participants visit their favorite restaurants, for a good cause. Registration for the event is $10 per person and it will be held from 11am to 9pm, June 2nd. Each restaurant will serve a special bite for $5. Best of all, all the proceeds from this event will be given to local charities such as Highline Schools Foundation, New Futures, YETI, Highline Food Bank, and HomeTask Cares Foundation.
This event is a follow up of March 20th, when over 120 people gathered in addition to around 40 members from participating restaurants and volunteer film crews for each restaurant. Official event Food Critics choose the “Food Critics Awards” while the guests spoke for themselves with the “People’s Choice Awards.” Visit BurienBites.com to see videos and results from Top Chef. Now it is in the public’s hands to vote and decide who will win the 2013 Burien Bites event. Everyone is highly encouraged to participate and be sure to cast votes using the Burien Bites mobile app. Pre-register at BurienBites.com. (more…)