Megan Stith, left, helps student Karen Huang, right, pin her sash to her gown before commencement. About 214 students graduated from Renton High School Tuesday.

New this year, we created slide shows for four of the Renton School District senior graduations. Look at the center fold of today’s newspaper (June 18). I took photos for the Renton High School graduation, but our photographer Charles Cortes took the remaining photos.

Renton High School

Lindbergh High School

Hazen High School

Black River High School

The three comprehensive high schools graduated Tuesday, June 15 at Kent’s ShoWare Center.
“This is what it’s all about,” said Superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel. “Some of these kids have overcome some amazing challenges to get here.”
One school after the other occupied the space. In a way it forced a comparison of the schools and their individual characteristics, struggles and values.
“One of the nice things is it brings the district together as a whole,” Heuschel said.

For Renton, Hazen and Lindbergh high schools, the event is June 15 at the ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent.

Renton High School’s graduation is at noon with student speakers Tamthy Le and Lindsay Dacuan. About 214 students are expected to graduate. Damien Pattenaude is the principal with Renton School Board Director Todd Franceschina accepting the class.

Lindbergh High School’s graduation starts at 4 p.m. with student speakers Paula Luu and Teresa Nguyen. About 260 students are expected to graduat. The principal is Tres Genger with board Director David Merill accepting the class.

Hazen High School’s graduation starts at 7:30 p.m. with student speakers Brian Palma and Grace Bradford. About 265 students are expected to graduate. John Knisely is the principal with board Director Al Talley accepting the class.

Black River High School’s graduation will take place at the school, 7800 S. 132nd St., Seattle. The ceremony starts at 2 p.m. June 16. About 30 students are expected to graduate.

The Sartori Education Center graduation ceremony is at Renton Technical College at 3000 N.E. Fourth St., Renton. About 22 students are expected to graduate. It begins at 4 p.m., June 17. Student speakers include Antonio Cebey, Zakk Marx and Shane Omtvedt, and board president Lynn Desmarais will be accepting the class.

Black River High School has two EBD classes, totaling about 20 students. Those classes will be closed along with the school come summer.

The district now plans to open classes at Lindbergh High School and Nelsen Middle School, said Rebecca Lockhart, director of special education services, at a Renton School Board study session Wednesday.

The idea with Lindbergh and Nelsen is to keep the classes as close to the comprehensive schools as possible to make moving out of the program easier, she said.

The EBD programs are expensive, costing about $32,000 per student annually, she said.

A regular student costs about $5,000 annually.

It wasn’t made known whether the 20 students at Black River would be transferred into the Lindbergh program, but it was said that the classes will start small. A full EBD class has 10-12 students, that ratio is smaller at Renton Academy.

Currently Renton Academy has the largest concentration of EBD students. It opened in the 2006-07 school year with 28 students and four sessions, now it has about 53 and six sessions.

The Academy was opened to save the cost of transporting students outside of the district for EBD classes.

It was also announced at the meeting that next year the whole district will all adopt the ReEd program for EBD students, after a successful run at the Renton Academy. About 60 teachers will receive training, Lockhart said.

(EBD is an academic term that works as an umbrella for several different disorders. Students with it may have anything from development disorders like autism to something like ADHD.)

Back row (left to right): Nathan Cruz, Trevor Thompson, James Cornell, Steven Thorkildson, Frank Cange, Nicholas Anderson Front row (left to right): Pearl Nguyen, Danielle Doolittle, Amber Hiranaka, Kaitlyn Osborn, Elizabeth Leonard, Paula Luu

Twelve Lindbergh High School students were recognized as Outstanding Seniors by Renton Board of Directors April 28.

Principal Tres Genger introduced the 12 students as a talented group of young people who have received numerous individual honors, succeed in the classroom, served their community and represented Lindbergh High School with poise and honor.

Students were selected based on their academic achievement, leadership, co-curricular involvement, community service and contributions to their classmates and school.

Students spoke briefly during the presentation about what made them successful in school and motivated them in their personal life. They recognized their parents in attendance, and honored many teachers “most inspirational.”

Hazen and Renton high school awards will come in the following weeks. They’re announced at the Renton school board meetings.

The April 28 meeting is from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Kohlwes Education Center, 300 S.W. 7th St., Renton. The meeting is open to the public.

I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls and e-mails from people who are concerned that their programs are going to be cut. If you’re one of those people, I recommend going to this meeting.

I expect it will give a picture of the what is going to be presented at the community meetings at 7 p.m., May 10 at Lindbergh High School, May 13 at Hazen and May 17 at Renton.

The regular board meeting will follow the session with the announcement of Outstanding Lindbergh Senior awards.

Below is a district press release.

Second LHS Pool Meeting Planed-3!4!2010

About 200 people attended the Lindbergh budget discussion Thursday, many to save the pool.

About 200 people attended the Lindbergh budget discussion last night, and about half were there pretty much to save their pool.
Read about it on RentonReporter.com.
There seemed to be a lot of great discussion going on, a little anger and a lot of passionate parents.
The Renton School District is facing a $6.1 million budget gap this year, based on the governor’s budget. It could mean about 35 teachers could be laid off.
The other half of the group spent time at the other 8 round tables asking questions about specific programs.
Several administrators were at the the meeting, including all of the board members.
“This for us a terrific opportunity for us to be visible,” said board president Lynn Desmarais. “We’re an extremely active board as far as boards go.”

The meeting schedule:
7 p.m., Feb. 23, Hazen High School, 1101 Hoquiam Ave. N.E., Renton
7 p.m., Feb. 25, Lindbergh High School, 16426 128th Ave. S.E., Renton
7 p.m., March 1, Renton High School Commons, 400 S. 2nd St., Renton

Below is the budget cut presentation Moore offered about a month ago. My story on the budget cuts is also good background.

10-11 budget development 1-11-2010 (2)

Where: Lindbergh High School, 16426 128th Ave. S.E., Renton
When: 6-8 p.m., Dec. 17
Cost: $5, $7 for VIP seating

Below is Pham’s press release.

Press Release