EatonvilleNews

Growth and Time puts School District in Crisis
Part Three...

(photo by Bob Walter)

Eatonville North Hall Spring 2004

     by Ray Arment
     Superintendent Eatonville
     School District 404
     November 22, 2005

Note from the author: This is the second in a three part series on the history and current situation on the Eatonville School District. This article will discuss the general background of the Eatonville School District. The second article will discuss the specific needs the District faces. The final article will focus on what will be gained by meeting the District’s needs. The second and third parts will run one and two weeks from today,
respectively.

     In any school district, what happens when you combine a century of history with appropriate funding to meet continually changing needs? What happens when you add sufficient classroom space to accommodate future population growth? What happens when you provide children expanded technology to meet the demands of the 21st Century workplace? Your community has Quality Schools, of course.
    Quality Schools help ensure quality education for the children of our community.
    While our test scores routinely meet federal No Child Left Behind standards, we can, and must, do better. Our children will benefit from improved access to computers and other modern technology, indispensable for a present-day education.
     Importantly, with added repairs, the school atmosphere will no longer be cluttered by dated and broken heating systems, corroded piping in plumbing systems or walls and doorways chipped with decades of wear. Education dollars will not be diverted from teaching to pay for facilities repair and utilities expenses. We need to provide a quality learning environment for our students; making basic structural repairs to many of our schools would bring us that much closer.
     Quality Schools – and the well-educated students they produce – are solid investments in our community’s future.
     We are all aware that today’s students are tomorrow’s doctors, firefighters, business owners and teachers. How far our graduates go in life is directly tied to their education in Eatonville. Where our graduates settle with their families is directly tied to their experiences in Eatonville. Today’s educational and social investments in our community will certainly affect the character and quality of our community in coming generations.
    Quality Schools mean safer neighborhoods.
    When schools provide a greater number of after-school activities – whether recreational, athletic or academic – our children would be busier and less likely to engage in worrisome behavior. As mothers always say, ‘Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.’
    Expansion of Eatonville School District’s facilities would lead to expansion in after-school programs and opportunities.
   Quality Schools improve property values.
    Ask any real estate agent, one sure way to increase property values is to improve schools. Quality
Schools attract quality people – people that are willing to pay a premium price to live near Quality
Schools.
   In turn, increased property values – and new households – decrease the cost of paying off the debt by current homeowners.
    Improving Eatonville schools will benefit the entire community, in the very near future, as well as, down the road.
    So, what do you get when you combine a school district with a century of great history, good students and a community willing to improve that District’s schools?
    Just what most people are looking for: Welcome to Eatonville

    TOGETHER, We commit to excellence in education and preparation for life.

Growth and Time puts School District in Crisis
Part Two...

(photo by Bob Walter)

Eatonville North Hall Spring 2004

     by Ray Arment
     Superintendent Eatonville
     School District 404
     November 14, 2005

     Think of a house built around the turn of the century.
     Imagine the quality of the timber and creativity of workmanship.
     Imagine the undeniable character and picturesque beauty.
     Imagine a woodstove heating a poorly insulated interior. Imagine the inventively constructed electrical and plumbing systems. Imagine it trying to house each and every succeeding generation of the family.
     Now imagine if that family had more than two thousand children, with many more on the way. Imagine the fair wear and tear. Imagine the lack of space.
     Understanding the age and capacity of many of our local school buildings helps one to understand the Eatonville School District's needs.
     Our student population, already well beyond the capacity of our schools, is projected to increase by 450 students in the next five years.
     Indeed, our students now attend classes in 33 portables, four former houses and one former church. Space currently devoted to makeshift elementary classrooms needs to be turned back over to the library. The overcrowded cafeterias at the High School and the Middle School need to be
expanded and modernized.
     Our schools, constructed between 27 and 90 years ago, also require major renovation and modernization. However well-maintained, there is only so far you can go in a classroom with one power outlet.
     Wooden windows need to be converted to insulated, energy efficient windows. Corroded pipes and deteriorating plumbing systems must be replaced. Markedly inefficient heating and ventilation systems, long since past their time, need to be replaced. Basic structural improvements - fixing corroded entry ways and walls, sealing leaks in roofs, and repairing the basic infrastructure of the High School pool, to name a few - must be completed as soon as possible.
     Computer labs are stuffed into already crowded libraries at Eatonville High and Middle School. While functional, these facilities are anything but ideal. Wiring is bunched into unsuitable locations. In the 21st Century, education requires adequate technology, which Eatonville School District is currently third rate.
     In short, we need to provide updated technology, safe school facilities and adequate classrooms to our students. Specifically, new classrooms, restrooms, and science laboratories must be built at schools in the District AND outdated, inadequate school facilities must be improved district wide.
     Imagine how much better our children’s schools could be.
     What is the next step, then? A comprehensive facilities needs study was conducted by the District with input from staff, students and the broader community. The resulting needs assessment is available at the District Office, at 208 Lynch Street, Eatonville. Over the next several weeks, the
District will be looking for more input from our public through school site meetings, letters, presentations, phone banks and more.
     What is to be gained from making these improvements? For that, you will have to wait until next week.

Growth and Time puts School District in Crisis
Part One...

(photo by Bob Walter)

Eatonville High School's North Hall spring 2004.

     by Ray Arment
     Superintendent Eatonville
     School District 404
     November 1, 2005

     Note from the author: This is the first in a three part series on the history and current situation on the Eatonville School District. This article will discuss the general background of the Eatonville School District. The second article will discuss the specific needs the District faces. The final article will focus on what will be gained by meeting the District’s needs. The second and third parts will run one and two weeks from today,
respectively.
     The year was 1915. With the sinking of Lusitania, America entered WWI. A first class stamp cost the mighty sum of two cents. Henry Ford and his assembly line had just finished their one millionth Model T. The world’s population was less than two billion. And the town of Eatonville built a new high school, still in use today.
     The year was 1924. With the death of Lenin, Stalin took the lead of the Soviet empire. A first class stamp cost the mighty sum of two cents. The Washington Senators won the World Series. Walt Disney was turning Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland into an American children’s classic. Macy’s began its tradition of Thanksgiving Day parades. And the Eatonville School District constructed a new elementary school, still in use today.
     The year was 1951. Bill Gates of Microsoft turned four years old. The Korean War raged and Seoul fell to both Communist and American-led forces. A first class stamp cost the mighty sum of three cents. The first
nuclear power plant is built by the US Atomic Energy Commission. Color television was introduced. And the Eatonville School District opened the Columbia Crest School in Ashford.
     The year was 1978. First commercially available cellular phone was available. A first class postage stamp cost the mighty sum of 13 cents. Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby, is born at Oldham Hospital in London. Sony introduced the walkman. Hotel California by the Eagles topped the charts. Norman Rockwell died. And Eatonville School District constructed the Weyerhaeuser and Eatonville elementary schools.
     The year was 1987. A first class stamp cost the mighty sum of 22 cents. The Simpson’s cartoon debuted. "That’s What Friends Are For," by Bruce Bacharach, was the Song of the Year. Prozac was released in America. The Magic Johnson led Lakers beat the Celtics and Larry Bird four games to two in the NBA championship. The world's population reaches five billion. And Eatonville School District built Eatonville Middle School.
     Our country and community have been through much in the past century, but Eatonville School District has maintained an excellent educational tradition. These schools represent the history and pride of Eatonville.
     Despite their age, our community’s schools regularly meet federal progress standards. The State of Washington has recognized the District for "outstanding, continuous improvement in student achievement." Eatonville students regularly earn academic and athletic honors.
     Eatonville students have traveled to the White House in Washington D.C. to receive national recognition   by the President of the United States for their academic achievements in salmon ecology. Sports and academic teams and individuals have earned league, district and Washington State championship recognition. Clubs, such as the Equestrian Club have represented Eatonville and won honors in regional competition. The
Eatonville High School Band traveled to Orlando, Florida and returned home with a national first place trophy. Similar achievements continue to occur daily in our schools.
     We all should be very pleased.
     However, due to the age of our schools, classrooms and facilities are in need of major repair and improvements. Outdated facilities at many of the District’s schools are inadequate to support 21st Century educational needs. The Eatonville High School is nearly one hundred years old. Our community’s newest schools opened their doors over a quarter century ago.
     They are all very tired.
     In addition, due to the expanding size of the District, the schools must increase their size. Originally serving 68 Eatonville High students in 1915, the District today represents 2141 and provides education for the
communities of Eatonville, Ashford, Elbe, La Grande, Alder as well as much of unincorporated Pierce County. Class sizes have grown considerably and projections only see this growth continuing.
     What is to be done? Tune in next week.

TOGETHER, We commit to excellence in education and preparation for life.



	Growth and Time puts School District in Crisis Part Three... (photo by Bob Walter) Eatonville North Hall Spring 2004 by Ray Arment Superintendent Eatonville School District 404 November 22, 2005 Note from the author: This is the second in a three part series on the history and current situation on the Eatonville School District. This article will discuss the general background of the Eatonville School District. The second article will discuss the specific needs the District faces. The final article will focus on what will be gained by meeting the District’s needs. The second and third parts will run one and two weeks from today, respectively. In any school district, what happens when you combine a century of history with appropriate funding to meet continually changing needs? What happens when you add sufficient classroom space to accommodate future population growth? What happens when you provide children expanded technology to meet the demands of the 21st Century workplace? Your community has Quality Schools, of course. Quality Schools help ensure quality education for the children of our community. While our test scores routinely meet federal No Child Left Behind standards, we can, and must, do better. Our children will benefit from improved access to computers and other modern technology, indispensable for a present-day education. Importantly, with added repairs, the school atmosphere will no longer be cluttered by dated and broken heating systems, corroded piping in plumbing systems or walls and doorways chipped with decades of wear. Education dollars will not be diverted from teaching to pay for facilities repair and utilities expenses. We need to provide a quality learning environment for our students; making basic structural repairs to many of our schools would bring us that much closer. Quality Schools – and the well-educated students they produce – are solid investments in our community’s future. We are all aware that today’s students are tomorrow’s doctors, firefighters, business owners and teachers. How far our graduates go in life is directly tied to their education in Eatonville. Where our graduates settle with their families is directly tied to their experiences in Eatonville. Today’s educational and social investments in our community will certainly affect the character and quality of our community in coming generations. Quality Schools mean safer neighborhoods. When schools provide a greater number of after-school activities – whether recreational, athletic or academic – our children would be busier and less likely to engage in worrisome behavior. As mothers always say, ‘Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.’ Expansion of Eatonville School District’s facilities would lead to expansion in after-school programs and opportunities. Quality Schools improve property values. Ask any real estate agent, one sure way to increase property values is to improve schools. Quality Schools attract quality people – people that are willing to pay a premium price to live near Quality Schools. In turn, increased property values – and new households – decrease the cost of paying off the debt by current homeowners. Improving Eatonville schools will benefit the entire community, in the very near future, as well as, down the road. So, what do you get when you combine a school district with a century of great history, good students and a community willing to improve that District’s schools? Just what most people are looking for: Welcome to Eatonville *TOGETHER, We commit to excellence in education and preparation for life.* Growth and Time puts School District in Crisis Part Two... (photo by Bob Walter) Eatonville North Hall Spring 2004 by Ray Arment Superintendent Eatonville School District 404 November 14, 2005 Note from the author: This is the second in a three part series on the history and current situation on the Eatonville School District. This article will discuss the general background of the Eatonville School District. The second article will discuss the specific needs the District faces. The final article will focus on what will be gained by meeting the District’s needs. The second and third parts will run one and two weeks from today, respectively. Think of a house built around the turn of the century. Imagine the quality of the timber and creativity of workmanship. Imagine the undeniable character and picturesque beauty. Imagine a woodstove heating a poorly insulated interior. Imagine the inventively constructed electrical and plumbing systems. Imagine it trying to house each and every succeeding generation of the family. Now imagine if that family had more than two thousand children, with many more on the way. Imagine the fair wear and tear. Imagine the lack of space. Understanding the age and capacity of many of our local school buildings helps one to understand the Eatonville School District's needs. Our student population, already well beyond the capacity of our schools, is projected to increase by 450 students in the next five years. Indeed, our students now attend classes in 33 portables, four former houses and one former church. Space currently devoted to makeshift elementary classrooms needs to be turned back over to the library. The overcrowded cafeterias at the High School and the Middle School need to be expanded and modernized. Our schools, constructed between 27 and 90 years ago, also require major renovation and modernization. However well-maintained, there is only so far you can go in a classroom with one power outlet. Wooden windows need to be converted to insulated, energy efficient windows. Corroded pipes and deteriorating plumbing systems must be replaced. Markedly inefficient heating and ventilation systems, long since past their time, need to be replaced. Basic structural improvements - fixing corroded entry ways and walls, sealing leaks in roofs, and repairing the basic infrastructure of the High School pool, to name a few - must be completed as soon as possible. Computer labs are stuffed into already crowded libraries at Eatonville High and Middle School. While functional, these facilities are anything but ideal. Wiring is bunched into unsuitable locations. In the 21st Century, education requires adequate technology, which Eatonville School District is currently third rate. In short, we need to provide updated technology, safe school facilities and adequate classrooms to our students. Specifically, new classrooms, restrooms, and science laboratories must be built at schools in the District AND outdated, inadequate school facilities must be improved district wide. Imagine how much better our children’s schools could be. What is the next step, then? A comprehensive facilities needs study was conducted by the District with input from staff, students and the broader community. The resulting needs assessment is available at the District Office, at 208 Lynch Street, Eatonville. Over the next several weeks, the District will be looking for more input from our public through school site meetings, letters, presentations, phone banks and more. What is to be gained from making these improvements? For that, you will have to wait until next week. Growth and Time puts School District in Crisis Part One... (photo by Bob Walter) Eatonville High School's North Hall spring 2004. by Ray Arment Superintendent Eatonville School District 404 November 1, 2005 Note from the author: This is the first in a three part series on the history and current situation on the Eatonville School District. This article will discuss the general background of the Eatonville School District. The second article will discuss the specific needs the District faces. The final article will focus on what will be gained by meeting the District’s needs. The second and third parts will run one and two weeks from today, respectively. The year was 1915. With the sinking of Lusitania, America entered WWI. A first class stamp cost the mighty sum of two cents. Henry Ford and his assembly line had just finished their one millionth Model T. The world’s population was less than two billion. And the town of Eatonville built a new high school, still in use today. The year was 1924. With the death of Lenin, Stalin took the lead of the Soviet empire. A first class stamp cost the mighty sum of two cents. The Washington Senators won the World Series. Walt Disney was turning Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland into an American children’s classic. Macy’s began its tradition of Thanksgiving Day parades. And the Eatonville School District constructed a new elementary school, still in use today. The year was 1951. Bill Gates of Microsoft turned four years old. The Korean War raged and Seoul fell to both Communist and American-led forces. A first class stamp cost the mighty sum of three cents. The first nuclear power plant is built by the US Atomic Energy Commission. Color television was introduced. And the Eatonville School District opened the Columbia Crest School in Ashford. The year was 1978. First commercially available cellular phone was available. A first class postage stamp cost the mighty sum of 13 cents. Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby, is born at Oldham Hospital in London. Sony introduced the walkman. Hotel California by the Eagles topped the charts. Norman Rockwell died. And Eatonville School District constructed the Weyerhaeuser and Eatonville elementary schools. The year was 1987. A first class stamp cost the mighty sum of 22 cents. The Simpson’s cartoon debuted. "That’s What Friends Are For," by Bruce Bacharach, was the Song of the Year. Prozac was released in America. The Magic Johnson led Lakers beat the Celtics and Larry Bird four games to two in the NBA championship. The world's population reaches five billion. And Eatonville School District built Eatonville Middle School. Our country and community have been through much in the past century, but Eatonville School District has maintained an excellent educational tradition. These schools represent the history and pride of Eatonville. Despite their age, our community’s schools regularly meet federal progress standards. The State of Washington has recognized the District for "outstanding, continuous improvement in student achievement." Eatonville students regularly earn academic and athletic honors. Eatonville students have traveled to the White House in Washington D.C. to receive national recognition by the President of the United States for their academic achievements in salmon ecology. Sports and academic teams and individuals have earned league, district and Washington State championship recognition. Clubs, such as the Equestrian Club have represented Eatonville and won honors in regional competition. The Eatonville High School Band traveled to Orlando, Florida and returned home with a national first place trophy. Similar achievements continue to occur daily in our schools. We all should be very pleased. However, due to the age of our schools, classrooms and facilities are in need of major repair and improvements. Outdated facilities at many of the District’s schools are inadequate to support 21st Century educational needs. The Eatonville High School is nearly one hundred years old. Our community’s newest schools opened their doors over a quarter century ago. They are all very tired. In addition, due to the expanding size of the District, the schools must increase their size. Originally serving 68 Eatonville High students in 1915, the District today represents 2141 and provides education for the communities of Eatonville, Ashford, Elbe, La Grande, Alder as well as much of unincorporated Pierce County. Class sizes have grown considerably and projections only see this growth continuing. What is to be done? Tune in next week. TOGETHER, We commit to excellence in education and preparation for life. Back to Top Back to Front Page





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