NSD faces tough choices

The Northshore School District released proposed 2008-2009 budget reductions to deal with next year’s projected budget shortfall of $3.4 million. They are listed at www.nsd.org.

According to the district, the shortfall is due to declining enrollments, insufficient state funding and increased costs. Shortfalls are also forecast for two years beyond the 08-09 school year and have challenged district administrators and teachers for the past six years.

Close a school?

Perhaps the most controversial recommended budget reduction involves closing an elementary school in the Woodinville service area. Doing so would save an estimated $700,000 annually.

Staff photo/Ian Gleadle
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center recently purchased Simpatico Stables, a 17-acre horse property in Redmond. In two years’ time when Little Bit’s move is complete, it will be their horses peeking out of these windows.

“On paper, we looked at hundreds of properties over the course of the last two years,” said Kristin Miller, board member of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. “In person, we probably looked at 50.”

After all the properties they looked at, she, as a member of the nonprofit organization’s land-search committee, started to think finding a new, more spacious home for Little Bit might not happen. That would have been devastating for the 200 families who had loved ones on a two-year waiting list for riding classes. Miller understood that.

Photo by Leanne Christensen
Tolt Middle School WMEA students who played in the All State Honor Band are, from left, Devon Young, Nick Vergara and Kathy Brusewitz. The band performed at the Washington Center of the Performing Arts in Olympia last fall.

Band played at Center of the Performing Arts

Three 8th grade Tolt band students qualified for the 2007 All-State Honor Band. Participating were Devon Young, flute; Nick Vergara, oboe; and Kathy Brusewitz, tuba.

These students had the honor of playing at the Washington Center of the Performing Arts in Olympia.This was the 3rd annual WMEA Junior All-State Band. The band is sponsored by the Washington Music Educators Association.

Photo by Rick Webber
(Front row, left to right) Jeff Dwyer, Jon Poulin and Sean Ansell. (Back row) Jared Shoop, Jules Russell, John Bethel and Greg Bawden. Not pictured: Bill Wisham.

Duvall firefighters commit to help others

Don’t be fooled. The stair-stepper you’ll see at Safeway is just for practice. The firefighters using it there this Saturday prefer to climb skyscrapers. And climb they will.

Eight firefighters from Duvall have already registered for the 17th annual Scott Firefighter Stair Climb, scheduled for March 2.

“It’s the largest single firefighter competition in the world,” said Kris Howard, senior campaign director for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which will benefit from the competition fundraiser. “We’re expecting 1,400 to 1,500 firefighters this year.”