In 1971 the Shoreline School District suffered its first levy loss in the District's history. I was a second-year teacher then. What happened afterward was paralyzing and devastating! Class sizes the following year were astronomical. Half the teachers working in my school (Meridian Elementary) were RIF'd. (reduction in force) I was one of them. Teaching materials were reduced dramatically and to be honest, I'm not sure the District has fully recovered from that experience to this day.
Yes, students have passed through the schools successfully, exceptional teachers remained and later more were hired and all the schools underwent renovations, but the district never fully achieved the position of leadership statewide that it once held. When I began teaching in Shoreline, the State Teacher of the Year, Kay Bartholomew, was selected from Shoreline. We had a national author of primary reading materials working in Shoreline. The science coordinator for the district was nationally known and the author of several science curriculum books. The art coordinator has gone on to become nationally acclaimed in his field. And, during those years, a special program, Specific Language Disability, was taught to qualifying students in selected schools. Shoreline was exceptional.
Now, once again, the voters have the opportunity to retain the exceptional educational staff, remodel their high schools and enhance their academic programs. Your vote counts and elections have consequences.
Please vote YES, YES, YES!
Kathi Peterson
Yes, students have passed through the schools successfully, exceptional teachers remained and later more were hired and all the schools underwent renovations, but the district never fully achieved the position of leadership statewide that it once held. When I began teaching in Shoreline, the State Teacher of the Year, Kay Bartholomew, was selected from Shoreline. We had a national author of primary reading materials working in Shoreline. The science coordinator for the district was nationally known and the author of several science curriculum books. The art coordinator has gone on to become nationally acclaimed in his field. And, during those years, a special program, Specific Language Disability, was taught to qualifying students in selected schools. Shoreline was exceptional.
Now, once again, the voters have the opportunity to retain the exceptional educational staff, remodel their high schools and enhance their academic programs. Your vote counts and elections have consequences.
Please vote YES, YES, YES!
Kathi Peterson
Shoreline