In this weekend’s issue of the Kent Reporter, journalist Steve Hunter reports that Darren Motamedy, a popular Kent-based jazz musician and elementary school band teacher, is moving to Las Vegas. He started searching for a job 18 months ago when it seemed imminent that the Kent School District would soon be cutting school band programs from the budget. Although KSD offered him a teaching position at the middle and high school levels here, Motamedy and his family had already made the decision to move to Las Vegas where Motamedy had accepted a teaching position.

A Kentridge High School graduate, the 51-year-old Motamedy is a community favorite. He has won a Golden Apple award in 2009 for his teaching in Kent schools and was named Teacher of the Year by the Kent School District in 2008.  He has also won awards for his work as a composer and jazz musician. Though he plays a number of instruments, he is best known locally as a saxophonist and jazz musician.

One of Motamedy’s final performances in Kent will take place this Thursday, June 24 at the free Evening of Jazz and Art event at Kent Senior Center.

Having interviewed Motamedy several times along with his music students, I anticipate that his move out of the community will be a big loss to our cultural arts programs as well as to his students. There is no doubt, however, that he will be a success wherever he travels. Best of luck to you, Darren, and to your family! You will be missed!

File photo by Dana Neuts, February 2009

While students and teachers are anxious to end the school year, parents are planning ahead for the next school year. To help you plan your summer and beyond, you can view Kent School District’s 2010-2011 school year calendar here.

Key dates include:

Sep. 1, 2010:  First day of school

Dec. 20 – 31, 2010:  Winter vacation

Feb. 21 – 22, 2011:  President’s break

Apr. 4 – 8, 2011:  Spring break

Jun. 16, 2011:  Last day of school

Please join the Communities In Schools of Kent Annual Fundraising Breakfast located at the Kent Senior Activity Center on March 17, 2010 at 7:30 to 9:00am.

CIS Kent provides assistance to at risk students in the Kent School District through mentorships, internships, and support to stay in school and graduate. Contributing to success in school for today’s children and youth ultimately produces a future skilled workforce for area businesses which will be key to many businesses’ immediate and future needs. We’ve come a long way in the past five years and will celebrate our work March 17, 2010 with a St. Patrick’s Day fundraising breakfast. Please attend our event, at the Kent Senior Activity Center, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00. Dr. Edward Lee Vargas, Superintendent, Kent School District, has agreed to deliver the keynote address for us.

This is our primary fundraising event…reaching our fundraising goal allows us to continue to provide much-needed services to the at-risk youth in the communities that the Kent School District serves.

We appreciate your interest in supporting Communities In Schools Kent, helping make a difference in the lives of our most valuable asset – our children.

If you would like to attend the breakfast, serve as a table captain, and/or learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alice Pfaff, Tom Wood, or Mike Heinisch. Hope to see you there!

Each year the City of Kent, Kent School District, the Kent Downtown Partnership, and private sponsors work together to celebrate National Youth Art Month with Spring Into Art. Art from several Kent schools is displayed in various businesses in the Downtown area. Kent Downtown Partnership and local businesses support a night of activities coinciding with the City’s Art Walk and Reception.

Visit our website for complete details:

Spring Into Art 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
4 – 9 p.m.
Downtown Kent

This is a reminder for parents with kids in the Kent School District. The school district’s mid-winter break is this Monday and Tuesday, February 15 – 16. Normally the break is a full week long, but this break and spring break (April 5-6) have been cut short due to the teachers’ strike.

For a complete 2009-2010 KSD student calendar, visit KSD online.

Soroptimist International of Kent will process donated coats and socks through Kent School District’s PTA Clothing Bank.

Your donation of a new or gently used Children’s or Young Adult coat or socks provides underprivileged girls and boys much needed clothing to keep them warm during our colder months.
Thank you!

Drop Off Locations:

Kent Police Department -
Headquarters Lobby
220 – 4th Ave South

Kent Fire Stations
#71 – 504 West Crow
#72 – 25620 – 140th Avenue
#73 – 26512 Military Road South
#74 – 24611 – 116th Avenue SE
#75 – 15635 SE 272nd
#77 – 20717 – 132nd Avenue SE
#78 – 17820 SE 256th

City of Kent Centennial Center Lobby
400 West Gowe Street

Kent Station – Marie Haggin
441 Ramsay Way, Suite 103

Greater Kent Historical Museum
855 East Smith Street

Kent Senior Activity Center
600 East Smith Street

SI of Kent’s mission: To improve the lives of women and girls in our local community, and throughout the world.

Darren Motamedy, local jazz musician and a band director for the Kent School District, is asking his fans and friends to consider donating used band instruments for use by his 5th and 6th grade students. In particular, he’s looking for clarinets, flutes, trumpets, drum kits, snare drums and orchestra bells.

It could be a dusty instrument stuck in a corner, hidden away in a closet…or maybe one that needs a little TLC. Darren will take anything. He says band helps students to assimilate in group settings, helps them to stay focused in school and helps them to graduate.

“I appreciate all of you, and your kind support not only in my musical endeavors, but also in my teaching life as well…music saved my life, and I am thrilled to help out my 5th and 6th grade students.”

~ Darren Motamedy

If you have an instrument and can help, please contact Darren through the Kent School District or email iLoveKent.net and we’ll get the message to Darren. Thanks in advance for your support!

Also, Darren will be collecting instruments at his show this Sunday at Muckleshoot Casino (8 pm to midnight), featuring guitarist Jeff Golub. Anyone with an instrument to donate will be moved to the front of the line! Don’t miss this great opportunity to give back to the community AND to see Darren play.

As a parent of a new freshman at Kentwood High School, I am frustrated at the continued teachers’ strike for many reasons, but mostly because I want my daughter back in school. She’s had a great summer, has grown and matured in many ways, and she’s ready to get back to the business of learning, growing and changing. That includes returning to school. Alas, it isn’t that easy if you have kids in the Kent School District. The teachers voted to strike on August 26, delaying the first day of school indefinitely.

Originally scheduled to go back on August 31, we finished our back-to-school clothes and supplies shopping in mid-August. We did haircuts, room cleaning and laundry catch-up; my daughter even practiced waking up early to ensure she wouldn’t miss her 6:55 am bus. We even had a going-back-to-school lunch with another mom and her teen daughters to celebrate the start of school! It is now September 8, and we have no teachers, no school, and no bus. Parents are anxious to return to work or at least to their regular schedules, and kids want to go back to school but it is out of our hands.

Based on what I’ve read and heard, I support the Kent teachers and their arguments and reasons for going on strike. Classroom size and time with students are critical components to a good education, and I admire the teachers for standing up for their personal beliefs at all costs. The KSD, on the other hand, is trying to force the teachers back without an agreement, essentially stripping the teachers of their bargaining power.

At the same time, I see people all around me without jobs and I wonder why we can’t find some sort of compromise. Since that hasn’t yet occurred, I’m asking myself and fellow parents why this negotiation process is so difficult. Is it the mediation team who can’t iron out the details or the parties involved? Is KSD digging in its heels and throwing its weight around, or are the teachers making negotiations difficult? It feels like there other issues that haven’t been publicly disclosed, but if that’s the case, what are they? What are we missing? Did some union rep push for a controversial strike this year, or perhaps the KSD decided that its new administration had to take a hard line?

Without a dedicated media source or unbiased third party involved to focus on and investigate the inside story, it is hard to identify ALL of the REAL issues in this Kent teachers’ strike. Instead, we only hear what each of the two sides chooses to disseminate, and we are left to wonder what’s really going on and when a resolution will be reached. In the meantime, the students are the ones suffering.

Let’s get this strike resolved and get our kids back in school. That’s who we’re fighting for, isn’t it?

UPDATE–Sept. 12, 12:18 PM–KSD submits a counter-proposal addressing class sizes for all grade levels, administrative meetings and compensation. Read the latest proposal here.  No new updates have been posted to the KEA website or blog or to KentSchools.org. No word yet when KEA and the teachers will vote on the latest proposal.

UPDATE–Sept. 11, 7:00 PM–KSD website says the first day of school is Tuesday, September 15. KEA website doesn’t mention, but rather attacks KSD’s latest tactics and position.

UPDATE–Sept. 10, 9:58 PM–In today’s news:

Seattle Times’ op-ed on strike

Judge orders fines for striking teachers and union

Teachers to rally at KSD HQ on Friday

Parents & teachers rally

KEA Update

KSD Update

Kent Schools.org Update

UPDATE–Sept. 8, 4:44 PM–This afternoon a pre-recorded message was left for families in the Kent School District to advise parents and students that school will not start tomorrow as planned. In fact, school is delayed until further notice and the school calendar will have to be reworked once school resumes. KSD and KEA continue negotiations. For updates directly from the parties involved, visit their respective websites:  Kent School District and   Kent Education Association

For my personal thoughts on the strike, visit iLoveKent.net’s Op-Ed page.

UPDATE–Sept. 8, 6:56 AM–The latest blog post from KEA explains the teachers’ rationale behind their decision to continue the strike. According to the blog post, while KSD is willing to negotiate regarding excessive administrative meetings, the two parties remain “far apart” on the issue of classroom size.

UPDATE–Sept. 7, 9:52 PM–Teachers vote to defy Court Order. See KOMO News for more info.

UPDATE–Sept. 7, 8:47 PM–Rumor has it that teachers will remain on strike, against court order. No school on Wed.??? Nothing posted yet on the KSD or KEA websites. More info. coming soon.

UPDATE–Sept. 7, 8:37 PM–Teachers and the KEA are meeting tonight at GRCC to decide if they are going to follow the court order to return to school tomorrow as a prep day with the first day of classes on Wednesday. Still waiting for an update to be posted on KEA or KSD sites.

8:48 pm — A rally to support Kent teachers has been scheduled for September 4 from 11 am – 1 pm at KSD Administration Center. More details on Facebook.

8:00 pm — King County Superior Court Judge Andrea Darvas ruled today that the Kent School District Teachers’ Strike is illegal. As a result, teachers are being ordered to return to work on Tuesday, September 8 as a preparation day. School is scheduled to officially start the following day, Wednesday, September 9.

Following the announcement, KEA scheduled a meeting at Green River Community College at 2:30 p.m. today to explain the injunction and its ramifications to the union members. There is speculation, however, that the teachers may not follow the court order. Stay tuned for more updates on the strike, negotiations and the much-anticipated return to school.

More info. available at:

KSD

KEA

UPDATE–Monday, August 31, 2009, 4:53 pm – School is delayed until further notice. More info on KSD’s website here.

UPDATE–Monday, August 31, 2009, 5:27 am – Today was supposed to be the first day of school for students in the Kent School District, but instead, anxious parents and students are wondering how long the strike will continue.

According to the Kent Education Association’s blog, an agreement had not yet been reached between teachers and the Kent School District, delaying the need for a vote on Sunday, August 30 as planned.  Instead the teachers scheduled a candlelight vigil for Sunday evening in downtown Kent.

Despite reports and rumors that this strike is all  about pay raises, there are greater issues at stake here, including classroom sizes and administrative meetings, both of which reduce the amount of time students and teachers spend together. In a story on the Kent Reporter website, the Kent School District won’t put a cap, or limit, on the number of students per classroom.

Though it is not clear how the two sides will come to an agreement on these and other issues, one thing is clear…picketing resumes on Monday while parents and students wait anxiously for news.

Find more information about the strike here:

Associated Content
Kent School District
Kent Education Association (KEA)
KEA Blog
Kent Reporter

To read a copy of the latest response from the KSD to the KEA about outstanding issues, click here.

For frequent visitors to iLoveKent.net, I apologize for not having more coverage here about the KSD teachers’ strike.  I am at a journalism conference and learned of the news via text message fr0m my teenage daughter. Since then, I’ve been trying to learn ab0ut this issues and, honestly, I don’t think the media is giving the strike – or the items at stake – much play. I’ve been hard pressed to see any unbiased online forum or site which discusses the issues candidly and fairly.

As we all know there are at least two sides to every story and, in this case, there are likely to be as many perspectives as there are items 0n the negotiation table. Parents, students, teachers, the city of Kent, and KSD will all view things differently. The bottom line, however, is that we all want the same things….teachers to feel valued and to be compensated fairly and for students to get back t0 class. There are, of course,  many other issues to consider (class size, prep time, days off, budget c0nstraints), but the goal remains the same.

If you have an update 0r an 0pinion on the subject, post your comments or news here. Let’s start a dialogue to see how we as a c0mmunity can work together to make the m0st of this situation.

In the meantime, here are some links to other places you can go for info. (NOTE:  a number 0f the Google video links I clicked on after a search if the Kent School District strike were bogus, so d0n’t click on any links from sources you don’t know or trust.)

Kent School District

KSD Budget and Negotiation Info

Kent Education Assoc. Blog

Kent Education Assoc

Associated Content

The Kiwanis Club of Kent and Communities in Schools of Kent are teaming up with the Kent Parks Department to have a backpack and school supplies giveaway for elementary school students in the Kent School District.

The Kent Parks Department will host a barbecue at Tot Lot No. 1 and will hand out backpacks filled with school supplies to every student who shows up.

Details as follows:

Event:  Kent Parks Dept. Playground Program Community Barbecue and FREE backpack & school supplies give-away to elementary-aged kids

Date: Thursday, August 20^th

Time: 1-4 pm

Place: Kent Tot Lot #1 (downtown Kent, corner of First and West Crow)

For more information:  contact Janet Stebbins (253) 709-9559 or Dave Hobbs (253) 347-1115

The Kent School District has posted its calendar for the 2009-2010 school year.

Highlights:

8/31:  First day of school

11/26 – 11/27:  No School, Thanksgiving Break

12/21 – 1/01/10:  No School, Winter Break

2/15 – 2/19/10:  No School, Mid-Winter Break

4/5 – 4/9/10:  No School, Spring Break

6/18/10:  Last Day of School (dependent on snow days to be made up)

Subject to change. Please see the school district’s online calendar for changes and up-to-date information.

T-BIRDS EXHIBITION GAME TO RAISE FUNDS FOR KENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Kent, May 11, 2009 - The Seattle Thunderbirds are excited to announce a partnership with the Kent School District to help raise funds for the district.

Kent high school and middle school students and teachers will be selling tickets to the T-Birds only home exhibition game of the of the 2009-10 season, with a portion of the ticket sales going to each of the schools participating.

The T-Birds will play the Everett Silvertips on Saturday, September 12, at 7:05 p.m. at ShoWare Center. Tickets to the game range from $14 to $20.

Kent School District students and staff will direct those that want to support a specific high or middle school to purchase tickets to the game online at http://tickets.seattlethunderbirds.com. Those connected to a specific school will put in a special promo code to identify which school they are raising funds for. All Kent schools participating will distribute their special code to students, staff and families.

“The Kent schools appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Seattle Thunderbirds to raise financial support for our interscholastic teams and student athletes,” said Dave Lutes, Director of Activities and Athletics for the Kent School District. “We look forward to supporting and kicking off the new home season for the T-Birds at the ShoWare Center.”

“We are looking forward to helping the Kent School District raise funds at the game against the Silvertips,” said T-Birds General Manager Russ Farwell. “We want to continue to have a presence in the Kent community and this program, coupled with other team initiatives, will only strengthen our involvement in the south Puget Sound community.”

The tickets to the game against the Silvertips will go on sale Tuesday, May 12, at 10 a.m. online and at the ShoWare Center box office.

The high schools taking part are Kentridge, Kentwood, Kent-Meridian, Kentlake and the Phoenix Academy. The middle schools taking part are Cedar Heights, Mattson, Meridian, Mill Creek, Meeker and Northwood.

The T-Birds will open the 2009-10 exhibition season at the Everett Silvertips Preseason Tournament over the Labor Day weekend. They will play on Friday, September 4, Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6 against opponents to be determined. Game times are also still to be determined.

Season ticket holders who would like to purchase their seat to the exhibition game against the Silvertips should contact the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

T-Birds season tickets for the 2009-10 season are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-PUCK (7825).

PLANT SALE

Saturday, May 16
8 am – 3 pm

Kent-Meridian High School
10020 SE 256th Street
Kent, WA  98030

The Kent School District is hosting a plant sale on May 16 to help buy dictionaries for students. Here are the details:

Support our 3rd Grader Dictionary Program
Buy Your Plants and Help a Student Learn!

Presented by
Rotary Club of Kent – Sunrise
Rotary Club of Kent
Kent-Meridian and Kentwood Horticultural Program

Thank you!

2009-plant-sale-flyer

Last month I had the privilege of writing for Kent Magazine about Darren Motamedy, a popular contemporary jazz artist who is also an award-winning band director for the Kent School District. I’ve interviewed him and I sat through one of his classes at Ridgewood Elementary, but I wanted to hear him play live, so a girlfriend and I went to Kona Kai Coffee Co. (4th and Gowe, downtown Kent) last night to see Darren and his band play. In a word, WOW!

I fell in love with Darren’s music the first time I heard it, but nothing can duplicate walking into a music venue and hearing and seeing him live. Whether he is playing the saxophone, flute or another instrument, you can see that he feels his music, body and soul. At the same time, guitarist Frank Seeberger played some soulful music as part of the group and with solo parts. Percussionist Akim Finch was in his element too with his drums, chimes, wooden frog and other percussion instruments. I tried to dislike Akim because of his Yankees’ hat (I’m a die-hard BoSox fan), but I couldn’t help but love him too.

After a set of smooth jazz, some of Darren’s students played with the band while others did solos including several very talented young ladies from Ridgewood. The show wrapped up with a jam session featuring Darren, Frank, Akim and the seven guest students for the Kona Kai audience, packed with jazz lovers, Darren’s fans and parents looking on. The 3+ hour evening was a great way to wind down after a long week.

“We’re passing music from one generation to the next,” Darren said.

If you get the chance to see Darren Motamedy and his band play locally, I highly recommend it. You can visit his website for scheduled appearances, or see him at Kona Kai Coffee Co., Muckleshoot Casino (Auburn) and other area music venues.

To Darren and company, great show!

The Kent School District’s Spring Break is just around the corner. Students, teachers and administration will have the week of April 6 through 10 off.

For more news on KSD, including the community’s input on potential budget cuts, visit the KSD site online.

Hello, readers and I Love Kent followers. I attended Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke’s “State of the City” address yesterday at the ShoWare Center. I did not attend as a reporter, but I can’t help but take notes. For those of you who weren’t able to attend or watch the online version, here is a brief synopsis of her presentation.

About the ShoWare Center

- Mayor’s speech was the first major speaking event at the new ShoWare Center.
- ShoWare Center opened on January 2 with 10,000 in attendance. The Seattle Thunderbirds accommodated with a win!
- ShoWare Center is the FIRST green arena in the United States!
- It is anticipated that the ShoWare Center will bring in 400,000 people and $16 million in revenue to Kent each year.
- It is the city’s most significant economic project since Kent Station.
- City has signed a five-year lease to use the Park and Ride on James Street for ShoWare Center parking.
- The building was completed in 17 months with more than 100 city staff involved in the project.
- It won’t cost taxpayers any extra money to have the ShoWare Center in Kent.

Other City Topics
- City is reducing operating expenses, delaying hires and vehicle replacements and eliminating contracts to offset a drop in revenue.
- As of 12/31/08, city revenue dropped 14%.
- City workers who are unionized are working with the city to cut costs to avoid layoffs.
- 28 employees have not be replaced, so current city staff is trying to meet resident needs despite the manpower shortfall.
- “Our employees have been wonderful.”
- Alaska Copper and Brass Company is moving to Kent, bringing at least 100 new jobs to the area.
- The city has $50 million in pending projects in the permitting process.
- Other developments: Hampton Inn is building a 100-room facility on 64th; a new office building and banquet hall is being built near Top Foods (at the site of the old skate center); and GRCC is expanding, creating space for 700 additional students to attend the two-year college.
- City needs to focus on bringing high quality downtown residents to the area to access our stores and businesses.
- City will encourage mixed use urban buildings.
- City is looking at changes in the permitting process to make it easier to do business in Kent.
- Neighborhood program has established 15 new neighborhood councils. The West Hill neighborhood council has reduced crime in its area by 40%!
- City wants to create more affordable entertainment including offering free outdoor movies at Town Plaza this summer.
- City of Kent sent more than 3,000 criminals to jail last year.
- More than 1,000 city staff and residents have been trained for emergency response.
- Kent was third last year (among cities its size) in participating in the National Night Out.
- New bus route to connect West Hill, The Lakes and other critical areas to each other.
- Panther Lake Annexation is still under consideration. It would add 23,000 more residents to Kent, but it would cost more to serve that area than the City would bring in additional revenue. City is working with King County Council to see how those residents can still be adequately served.
- The City is actively seeking a solution to the parking garage problem.
- New Kent School District superintendent is a big proponent of partnering, so the City is looking forward to working with him.

Lastly, the mayor wrapped up with this message:

“I absolultely love serving you because you show you love this community…it’s because of you that I am your mayor…”

The City of Kent, the Kent School District and the Kent Downtown Partnership are teaming up once again to bring the community Spring Into Art, a free, family-friendly, art-oriented day of fun in downtown Kent. Go an art walk, attend fitness workshops, discover your inner artist, candle making, bug-a-rama and more.

For a complete list of activities, locations and times, visit the event’s website at SpringIntoArtKent.com.