The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) voted at its Oct. 27 meeting to grant tuition waivers to low-income high school students who take more than 15 credits of college courses through Running Start.
In a cost-saving move this year, the state reduced the amount of money it reimburses high schools and colleges for Running Start student enrollment.
Unless they qualify for a waiver, Running Start students must now pay tuition for college credits in excess of those reimbursed by the state — even if they are enrolled in a vocational program that requires more than 15 credit hours. A small number of Running Start students (fewer than 1,500 FTEs a year) enroll in such programs.
The tuition waiver takes effect winter quarter.
New kindergarten readiness class offered
Mountlake Terrace Recreation and Parks offers a kindergarten readiness class from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school year at the Recreation Pavilion, 5303 228th St. SW.
Activities include creative expression through art, movement, dramatic play and language opportunities; hands-on math and science experiences; craft projects and community field trips; as well as opportunities for swim and dance lessons.
The class is for children entering kindergarten in fall 2012. Classes started Nov. 2 and spaces are still available. There is no class on nonschool days. Cost is $264 for residents, $291 for non-residents.
For more information, contact youth programmer Shannon Lind at slind@ci.mlt.wa.us or 425-640-3103, or visit www.mltrec.com.
Edmonds woman joins EdCC board
Edmonds Community College’s Board of Trustees gains two new members: Diana Clay, of Edmonds, and Wayne Brown, of Mill Creek. In October, Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Clay to serve a term through September 2013 and Brown through September 2016.
Clay is co-owner of Clay Enterprises LLC, a family business involved in real estate in South County. She has worked in the business since 1974. She has served on the Edmonds Community College Foundation Board since 1997.
Community meeting focuses on ed cuts
The public is invited to a meeting 6-8 p.m. Nov. 9 to ask “How can we protect K-12 and higher education during tough budgets?” by 1st District lawmakers Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, Rep. Derek Stanford and Rep. Luis Moscoso.
Northshore schools Superintendent Larry Francois, Cascadia Community College President Eric Murray and University of Washington Bothell director of government and community relations Kelly Snyder also will speak.
The event will be held on the campus shared by UW Bothell and Cascadia, 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, in Mobius Hall. Parking on campus is $5.
Students can get info on service academies
Rep. Jay Inslee will hold an information session 6-9 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Shoreline Conference Center, 18560 First Ave., for students to learn more about the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
Students in grades 7-11 interested in military service are encouraged to attend.
“Our service academies provide an outstanding opportunity for students to serve their country and earn a top-notch education,” Inslee said in a press release. “I hope we can provide students and parents with valuable information and answer any questions they may have.”
Space is limited; RSVP by emailing inslee.rsvp@mail.house.gov or call 206-361-0233.
Program collects books for foster kids
Bethany Christian Services Seattle is partnering with Shoreline Christian School with a “Fostering Education” program.
Students will learn more about their peers in the United States and around the world who need adoption or foster care as they gather books to donate to foster families.
The program is open to other schools as well. To get involved, call Bethany Christian Services at 206-367-4604 or visit www.bethany.org/seattle. To donate, drop books off at Shoreline Christian School, 2400 NE 147th St., Shoreline, or Bethany’s Seattle office at 12360 Lake City Way NE, Suite 301.
Bethany aims to highlight the plight of 460,000 children in the U.S. foster care system and more than 163 million orphans worldwide through the program. The program will run through November, which is National Adoption Month.
“Our hope is that through the ‘Fostering Education’ program we will be able to provide educational support to foster care children through donated books. We’re also hopeful that we will make an impression on the students who support the program so that they commit themselves to aiding foster care children and orphans throughout their lives,” said Marc Andreas, vice president of marketing for Bethany Christian Services, in a press release.
SCC students protest budget cuts
Shoreline Community College students are organizing to raise awareness of pending state budget cuts.
“We would like to preserve the learning opportunities both in and out-of-classroom at SCC as well as at other colleges by persuading the legislators to dedicate funding for higher education,” wrote Kanpong “Gun” Thaweesuk, president of Shoreline’s Student Body Association Parliament, in a letter to students and the campus community.
On Oct. 31, the student association hosted an open meeting for students to hear college President Lee Lambert, faculty and others speak about impacts of previous and proposed budget cuts. Since 2005-06, Shoreline has lost $8.7 million from state-allocated funds.
On Nov. 16, student government is sponsoring a “teach-in” where faculty and students can gather outside of normal class to talk about specific budget-related issues. The public is invited.
“We will open these teach-ins to the public by inviting students from other colleges to attend as well as using (webcasts) to broadcast to other colleges,” Thaweesuk said.
On Nov. 28, Thaweesuk said the students are working with other colleges to organize a protest visit to Olympia, the same day as the start of the Legislature’s special session.
SCC report: State can be carbon neutral by 2030
The Clean Energy Technology Program at Shoreline Community College released a report, “Washington Sunrise 2030,” at the 13th annual Northwest Solar Summit held Nov. 7-8 at the Puget Sound Energy Auditorium in Bellevue.
“Every power agency in the state, from Seattle City Light to the Bonneville Power Administration, is required to plan for the future, but no one had looked at all those plans in one place,” said Mike Nelson, director of Shoreline’s Clean Energy Technology Program, in a press release. “The results are surprising.”
Some of those surprises, Nelson said, include:
• Washington can be carbon neutral by 2030.
• The 2030 Challenge as established by the American Institute of Architects, is more than a good idea [—] achieving it is the law in Washington.
• The 2030 Challenge can be extended to include transportation.
• There is enough existing power generation to electrify 70 percent of transportation needs.
• The planning to reach these goals is already done.
The annual Solar Summit brings together 200 to 300 energy officials in the region from solar manufacturers, utilities, government leaders, builders, electricians, architects, environmentalists and educators. A variety of speakers and panel discussions are part of the event. SCC is among the sponsors.
Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/NWSolarSummit.
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