October 2015

Skip Sidebar Navigation
Last item for navigation

Four Heroes Elementary Opens

Partnership announced with Lakewood Police

Oct 15
The Lakewood community celebrated the opening of Four Heroes Elementary School on Sept. 10.

More than 700 students, parents, staff, community members, first responders, dignitaries and community members celebrated the grand opening of the new Four Heroes Elementary on Sept. 10.

"I would like to thank Lakewood-area voters for their support of the 2010 school construction bond proposal," said Superintendent Debbie LeBeau.

Lakewood-area voters approved a $92 million bond in 2010 to build Four Heroes Elementary and Harrison Preparatory School and rebuild Hudtloff Middle School. A committee comprised of staff and community members came up with the "Four Heroes" name which was approved by the Clover Park School District Board of Directors in March 2014.

On the morning of Nov. 29, 2009, four Lakewood Police officers were tragically killed. Four Heroes Elementary is named in their honor to commemorate and acknowledge the dedication and sacrifice public servants make every day.

Interim Lakewood Police Chief Mike Zaro announced a new partnership between Lakewood Police and Four Heroes. The goal is to support students in their academic endeavors as well as encourage them to become good citizens.

New Beachwood Elementary School opens on Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Current and former U.S. representatives along with hundreds of families and other dignitaries officially opened the new Beachwood Elementary School on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) on Sept. 22. Former U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks spoke during the event as well as U.S. Rep. Denny Heck and Clover Park School District (CPSD) board president Dr. Marty Schafer.

"This represents a federal, state and local partnership that ensures our military students have access to the safe and updated facilities they deserve," said Debbie LeBeau, Clover Park School District superintendent.

In 2006, CPSD began a partnership with JBLM to evaluate and quantify the conditions and capacity of the six elementary schools on the base. The outcome of that study kicked off the Public Schools on Military Installation Program (PSMI), which raised awareness of failing school infrastructures on military bases across the United States. After dozens of tours and outreach to officials with the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Congress and the White House, $250 million was included in the Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11) defense appropriations bill to address the condition of educational facilities on military installations nationwide.

CPSD's Carter Lake Elementary School and Hillside Elementary School were the first two schools across the nation to be completed as a result of the PSMI. Meriwether and Rainier Elementary were the third and fourth CPSD schools to receive funding from the Department of Defense's Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) and Washington state's school construction assistance program. Beachwood was the fifth of six elementary schools located on JBLM to receive funding.

bw opens
Dignitaries cut the ribbon on Sept. 22, officially opening Beachwood Elementary School on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Construction Update

2014 JBLM School Construction Project

Beachwood Elementary School

More than 350 students, parents, staff and dignitaries celebrated the official grand opening of Beachwood Elementary School on Sept. 22. The school opened at full capacity for the first day of school on Sept. 2, 2015.

2015 JBLM School Construction Project

Evergreen Elementary School

The contractor is in the process of balancing the site; the "pad" for the building, fields and parking has been established. Plumbers and electricians are on site to begin the underground plumbing and electrical installations. Excavation for the foundation and footings is next.

2015 School Construction Projects

Lakeview Hope Academy Classroom Addition

The first floor wall framing for the new addition is nearly complete and the second floor concrete slab has been poured. Wall framing for the second floor has begun with roof framing scheduled to be finished in mid-October. Mechanical and electrical rough-ins have also begun.

Clover Park Early Learning Center

The facility modifications are complete and the program opened for Head Start preschoolers on Sept. 17, 2015 and Early Childhood Education Assistance Program preschoolers on Sept. 21, 2015 as scheduled.

Connect with your child's teacher!

Mark your calendars for parent teacher conferences- Tuesday, Nov. 17 through Thursday, Nov. 19. During this time, classes will operate on a half-day schedule. Contact your child's school for a conference schedule.

Events Calendar

News icon

District, school and athletic events are listed on the district website under "Calendar" and "Events Calendar."

Impact Aid surveys due Oct. 9

The 2015-16 Impact Aid annual surveys went home with students on Oct. 1. All parents and guardians are asked to complete the form, sign and date it in ink. Completed forms should be returned to schools by Friday, Oct. 9. A completed form is required for each student enrolled in Clover Park School District.

The surveys are confidential and information obtained from the surveys allows Clover Park School District to obtain federal Impact Aid monies, in lieu of property taxes. These Impact Aid funds, just like local levy funds, help to provide teachers, support staff, classroom computers, library books and other supplies and equipment in Clover Park schools.

If you have questions about the survey, please call the financial services department at 253-583-5020.

Students show understanding of more rigorous state math standards

Last spring, third through eighth-graders and students in grade eleven took the Smarter Balanced Assessment for the first time in ELA (English Language Arts) and Math. Many of our high school students also took the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) in reading and writing. In addition, in mathematics and biology many high school students took the End of Course (EOC I) Algebra/Integrated I or End of Course (EOC II) Geometry/Integrated II in Mathematics. In Biology our high school students took the Biology End of Course (EOC) in science.

Current graduation requirements for the class of 2016 include showing proficiency on the following assessments:

  • Smarter Balanced ELA or HSPE
  • Smarter Balanced Math or EOC I or EOC 2
  • Students may also show proficiency on one of our state CAA options including the Collection of Evidence in ELA or math.

Our students are showing gains despite the new and more rigorous standards in both math and ELA. The graphs below compare Clover Park students to the Washington State Average in mathematics at grades 3; 7; and 8. These students are meeting and/or exceeding state averages. Way to go Clover Park students and teachers!

2015 Smarter Balanced Math Results

% meeting standard by grade (preliminary as of Aug. 17, 2015)

50.2% 8th graders, 48.3% 7th graders, 55.2% 6th graders

District to launch two new apps for families

Clover Park School District app logo

Soon it will be even easier for families to be involved in their students' education! Clover Park School District is launching two new apps that give parents and guardians easier access to their students' information, school calendars and more.

 Mobal app screen shot

There will be a new mobile app for the district website so you can easily access district information on your smart phone or tablet. There is also a new app for Skyward Family Access, which is embedded in the Clover Park School District app. The Skyward app gives parents access to student, family and emergency contact information; assignments and grades; attendance; class schedules; and messages from the school or teachers. Both apps are available on Google Play and the Apple App Store; simply search for "Clover Park School District."

Skyward logo

More information on both apps will be available soon on district and school websites and in other communication to families.

City developing six-year financial forecast

City of Lakewood logo

The preliminary outlook: Lakewood is projected to meet its financial goals through the end of 2016, and is identifying ways to ensure this continues for the foreseeable future.

Why the projection six years out? The city of Lakewood's financial policy requires preparation of a financial forecast for six years starting with the current budget period. The projections help the city determine if current services are sustainable and identify any future financial gaps. This glimpse into the future allows the city to proactively plan and implement corrective measures over time to avoid drastic changes in service levels.

The city developed the preliminary six-year financial forecast in October 2014 for the 2015-16 biennial budget. Since then, it has updated the forecast and will continue to do so as more information becomes available and economic conditions improve.

During this process, it's important to not only look at operating revenues and expenditures, but also its reserves. City policy requires operating expenditures to be covered by operating revenues; the city can't spend more than it collects. Ultimately, the city must maintain 12 percent of its operating revenue in reserves.

Get the full forecast and more information regarding the city's finances online at www. cityoflakewood.us.