Marysville gets back to school

  • Julie Muhlstein / Herald Columnist
  • Thursday, April 29, 2004 9:00pm
  • Local News

Carlos Veliz and Marco Gomez stood on the stage in business suits, speaking in Spanish. Their audience wasn’t a group of entrepreneurs, but an eager bunch of kids sitting cross-legged on the gym floor at Liberty Elementary School in Marysville.

"How many of you understood every word?" asked Heidi Johnsen, Liberty’s principal. A good number of hands shot up.

"How many of you were thinking ‘That’s kind of cool’ but had no idea what they were talking about?" Johnsen said. "This is what children from another country deal with in school six hours a day."

Veliz is president of Professional CAD Services Inc., an Everett engineering and design firm. Gomez owns the local chain of La Hacienda Mexican restaurants.

At a school assembly on Tuesday, they presented Liberty with $1,250 for bilingual reading kits. The kits, English and Spanish translations of children’s book and cassette tapes, are used by students whose parents speak little or no English. Eight cassette recorders were donated by Wal-Mart.

Johnsen wanted to provide the kits to Hispanic families but couldn’t because of Marysville School District budget constraints.

Then Veliz learned of the need.

"I spoke to local Latino business owners, and instantly the business leaders came together," he said.

"We cannot allow today’s diverse students to be left behind while our local school systems struggle to provide the necessary materials," said Veliz, who has no children in the beleaguered district, which rode out a 49-day teachers strike last fall.

The business contacts came through Marysville Parents for Higher Student Achievement. The group didn’t support the teachers union during the strike, but backed former superintendent Linda Whitehead.

Julie Aff, a leader of the parents group, said Tuesday was a day for healing and giving.

Aff’s group gave the school 300 new books, valued at more than $1,500, to be used as rewards for students who fulfill the home reading requirement of the school’s Success for All reading program.

The wiggly audience gasped with delight when Aff unveiled other gifts — two bikes, one a boy’s model and one a girl’s. Children with perfect attendance records will be entered in a drawing for the bikes.

"We want to show you we’re proud of the jobs your teachers are doing, and proud you’ve made a commitment to read each night," Aff said. "And we want to give you motivation for attendance. Children who attend school every day get much better grades."

From kindergartners up front to fifth graders in the back rows, the kids were listening.

Liberty has 420 students, 65 percent of them eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, Johnsen said. There are 42 Hispanic families in the school.

Johnsen was pleased that Veliz and Gomez made a connection with the school.

"We want our Spanish-speaking children to see people who have come from their countries and are business leaders. Carlos came from Mexico," she said of Veliz. "I like them to have that vision and hope, but I can’t be that person for them. I don’t even speak Spanish."

Another group also emerged during the rancorous strike, Accountability and Integrity for Marysville Schools, or AIMS, which supported the striking teachers and criticized district administrators.

"We are encouraging people to give their time — any volunteer time they are able to," said Teri Tyo, who is active in AIMS. "We’re hoping to hold a community event that highlights exciting programs and the ongoing commitment our classroom teachers put forth for our students.

"Our children’s education is everybody’s concern," Tyo said. "Knowing that adults care enough to give even 20 minutes is important for children."

After such bitterness last fall, it’s good to hear similar messages from the opposing groups. The kids matter the most.

"We’re moving on," said Johnsen, the principal. "Let’s get at what we’re about, educating every child."

Columnist Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or

muhlsteinjulie@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police: 1 suspect in custody, 1 at large after attempted carjacking

Beverly Elementary School went into a precautionary lockdown Thursday afternoon. Numerous officers continue to search for the second suspect.

Candidates announce campaigns for Everett city council seat

Ryan Crowther, founder of the Everett Music Initiative, will challenge incumbent Paula Rhyne for the District 2 seat.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.