James Sales Elementary School in the Franklin Pierce School District is being recognized today by TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres as an “amazing school.”
The recognition reportedly comes with a $100,000 grant from the show and Target Corp.
The show airs today at 4 p.m. on KING-TV (Channel 5). Here’s what DeGeneres has posted on her website:
It’s a done deal.
The Tacoma School Board today ratified the new three-year teacher contract in a unanimous vote, one week after leaders from the district and teachers union reached a deal leading to the end of an eight-day strike.
“We ratified the contract and are ready to move on,” said Kurt Miller, school board president, after the brief meeting.
Andy Coons, president of the Tacoma Education Association union, said: “I’m so glad the contract was ratified by the school board today. We look forward to being able to focus on the students for the rest of the school year.” …
UPDATE: The board emerged from executive session at 5:45 p.m. as is waiting for the outcome of the teachers union vote.
5:30 p.m.: The Tacoma School Board has retreated into executive session, as the district’s teachers union is deciding in a separate meeting whether to strike.
The board will hear an update on contract negotiations in the closed door session, as well as discuss potential litigation. The executive session is expected to last 15 minutes, said board President Kurt Miller.
There’s still no word on whether the Tacoma Education Association’s strike vote, which is happening at Mount Tahoma High …
UPDATE: (7:25 p.m.) Superintendent Art Jarvis said he’s “gladdened” to report that classes will go on as planned Thursday.
“It is my understanding that there is no vote by our teachers to do anything other than to show up tomorrow,” he said after the school board briefly reconvened its meeting about 7:25 p.m.
Jarvis said “it is obvious that we have a lot of work yet to do to achieve a contract that can be ratified by both sides” and that a state mediator will continue to help with negotiations.
The school board is back is executive session, although members …
The Puyallup School Board is staging a do-over of its May 9 action, when it voted to accept the resignation of popular Rogers High School Principal Scott Brittain.
The vote approving Brittain’s resignation, along with several other personnel actions, took place in a meeting that started at Ballou Junior High, then adjourned to the school district’s downtown office after board members decided audience members protesting Brittain’s treatment by the district were disrupting the meeting.
Brittain had run afoul of district rules and was placed on paid leave while the district investigated. A draft report said he accompanied the school choir …
The University of Phoenix hosts an open house to unveil its new Tacoma Learning Center from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday.
The center is at 1126 Pacific Ave., Suite. 100. It replaces the Learning Center previously located at 1145 Broadway Plaza.
Saturday’s activities include free career workshops, sample classes and a children’s fun center.
The Orting School District will help build a healthier environment for youth with the help of a grant from the state Department of Social and Health Services.
The school district is scheduled to receive $80,600 per year, beginning this July.
The grant will help fund initiatives that prevent substance abuse, reduce juvenile crime and improve academic performance. Members of the community are invited to become involved in helping to plan strategies.
To learn more, or to find out how you can become involved, contact Shelly Smith at smiths@orting.wednet.edu or Hae Man Song at hsong@co.pierce.wa.us.
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is ranked in the top 10 percent in the nation, according to the Aspen Institute.
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has named Pierce College Fort Steilacoom to its list of the nation’s 120 best community colleges for its high standards for learning, college completion without delay, and serving as a training ground for jobs that pay competitive wages, according to a college announcement.
Pierce is one of only four colleges in Washington to be named to the list. The others are Spokane Falls, Spokane, and Walla Walla community colleges.
Inclusion on the …