MIHS marching band competes in Battle of the Bands
The Mercer Island High School marching band is competing in the KZOK School of the Rock contest again this year. The contest, put on by KZOK and The Rock Woodfired Pizza, features local high school bands that create a video of themselves playing a classic rock song.
This year, Mercer Island’s video features the band performing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Voting is currently open in the contest, which started on Jan. 4 and runs until Feb. 1. On Feb. 1, the top 10 videos receiving votes will go to a judges panel, which will vote on Feb. 2 for the top four videos. The first-place winner receives $10,000 and all top four bands will get pizza from The Rock Woodfired Pizza.
In order to vote for Mercer Island, text ROCK 16 to 24300. Standard text messaging rates apply and each phone is allowed 10 text votes per day.
The videos for all the schools, including Mercer Island, can be viewed at www.TheRockWFP.com.
MIHS student added to MIYFS Advisory Board
Cristina Scalzo, a student at Mercer Island High School, was recently named to the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Advisory Board.
The Island resident of 11 years said in her application that she wanted to have her voice and opinion help make a difference in the community.
The MIYFS Advisory Board was created in 1973 to advise the city on matters dealing with MIYFS. There are currently 11 youth members on the 24-member board. Interested parties must be keen on working with youth and adults in matters dealing with families and the needs of youth on the Island.
PTA rally gathers local families in Olympia
Island families headed south to Olympia during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to rally together with families and lawmakers from across the state and let everyone know the importance of school funding dollars.
The annual PTA rally in Olympia urges legislators and lawmakers not to cut school funding, chanting “cuts hurt kids” on the steps of the capitol.
At the rally, Gov. Christine Gregoire addressed the crowd, as did Rep. Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton, and State Superintendent Randy Dorn.
Over 800 parents, children and teachers attended the event — more than expected — including five Mercer Island families.
MISD increases kindergarten program fee
The Mercer Island School District will be increasing its fee for the district’s kindergarten activity program (KAP) next year to $4,100.
The fee increase of $100 was approved by the Board of Directors during its retreat last Wednesday, Jan. 20, after the matter was discussed at the School Board meeting on Jan. 14.
The increased cost makes Mercer Island’s program the most expensive in the state, even as other districts increase their fees for the next school year as well.
According to Superintendent Gary Plano, district staff felt that the increase was necessary as fixed costs such as supplies, electricity, etc., continue to rise, even though the area is still in a bad economy.
“I don’t think the amount is excessive, given what we have,” said Plano during the Jan. 14 meeting. The Bellevue School District recently increased its KAP fee by $200 to $3,200 total, and the Northshore School District increased its fee by $150 for the next school year. Issaquah’s program costs parents $3,500 to enroll.
Some board members expressed concern over the increase, especially since other districts are less expensive; but as others pointed out, determining the fee is not as simple as looking strictly at the tuition fee, because Bellevue gets more state money per student, which can help offset other costs.
KAP is the district’s full day kindergarten program, supplemented by a tuition fee because the state only pays for kindergarten students to attend half-days.
