News
Gates
Veterans Day Parade
continued from page 1
the classroom seven years ago after serving
in the U.S. Navy, would like to see protract-
ed mentorship programs for teachers and
more time to work together on self-evalua-
tions.
Gates said the foundation is conducting
experiments in Fresno, Calif., and Bridge-
port, Conn., to see how districts can give
teachers more planning and training time.
She said teachers need some of
that time for learning about the new
national academic standards known
as the common core, which have
been adopted by 45 states and are
considered by Gates to be one of the
most important education initiatives
right now.
Also on the top of the founda-
tion’s agenda is improving teacher
evaluation systems and professional
development. The foundation’s
third main education initiative
involves helping teachers use tech-
nology to support their work, such
as online forums for sharing lesson
plans.
“I know the difference a great teacher can
make,’’ said Gates, who has three children,
one each in elementary, middle and high
school.
One of the foundation’s first big education
initiatives focused on creating smaller
schools out of large comprehensive high
schools.
The widespread and expensive experi-
ment was considered mostly a failure by
education experts, but Gates said the small
schools initiative helped the foundation
learn what was really important: the teacher
at the front of the classroom.
That’s what led to years of research on
what makes a great teacher and how schools
can use various evaluation methods to study
teachers and help them improve. That initia-
tive is now influencing many states in
redesigning their teacher evaluation sys-
tems, at the insistence of the federal gov-
ernment.
The foundation also has invested money
into charter school networks and continues
to support charter schools as laboratories for
innovation, Gates said.
``You get these pinpoints of light from
charter schools,’’ she said, adding that par-
ents can evaluate their own children’s
schools by looking for successful reforms
first tried in charter schools.
Gates said she is very excited to see char-
ter schools finally coming to her home state.
Last November, Washington voters
approved adding up to 40 of the independ-
ent public schools within five years.
is necessary to secure the company’s 777X
commitment to the region. In neighboring
Oregon, some 1,200 machinists who work
at Boeing’s Gresham facility and the net-
Oregonian reported.
Several Republicans expressed concern
during debate Saturday that lawmakers
would rush to aid Boeing but wouldn’t pro-
Joel Kretz said his district has very little
aerospace business, and he said some busi-
nesses in his area spend years trying to get
permits for work.
``We’ve got to fix it all over the state,’’
Kretz said.
Separately, Inslee had sought a $10 billion
transportation package as part of the Boeing
bills, although some lawmakers say that
measure can be passed at a later date. Dem-
ocratic Sen. Tracey Eide, a leader on trans-
portation matters, said she hoped
lawmakers could have an agreement on the
package soon and be able to approve it at
some point this month.
“We’re very close,’’ Eide said.
The foundation also has
invested money into
charter school networks
and continues to support
charter schools as
laboratories for innovation,
Gates said.
My gosh, they’re incredible,’’ she said, after
a day listening to 110 teachers from around
the nation compare notes and talk about
what they need to improve at a gathering at
the Seattle foundation.
At a forum for teachers and foundation
staff on Tuesday morning, educators talked
about needing more time outside the class-
room for training and collaboration.
“Time is a great barrier to the many inno-
vative things we would all like to do as
teachers,’’ said JoAnn Miller, a biology
teacher in Oconto Falls, Wis., who was one
of three educators sitting on the podium
with Gates.
The relatively new teacher, who came into
PHOTO BY VALERIE CHAMBERLAIN
mer employees at the foundation in Wash-
ington state.
Some see the foundation as a critic of
American teachers because of their empha-
sis on teacher evaluations, but Gates said
that impression is wrong. She hopes teach-
ers see the foundation as partners in figuring
out how to help them do their jobs.
“We fundamentally believe in teachers.
Buffalo Soldiers rode with the 27th annual Veterans Parade at Fort
Vancouver on Saturday, Nov. 9. Hundreds turned out for flags, marching
bands, Gold Star families and the Clark County Junior ROTC as well as
many retired U.S. military personnel.
Boeing
continued from page 1
senators to oppose the bill, expressing a
variety of concerns. He was concerned that
the bill didn’t provide enough protections
and that Boeing could use the 777X work to
supplant work being done on the 787.
Hasegawa also expressed concern that the
Legislature was essentially pressing union
workers to accept a contract that may not be
beneficial to them. He was also concerned
that lawmakers would approve such a large
tax break after considering the issue for just
a couple days.
“We haven’t, I don’t think, fully thought
out the uses of that $9 billion,” Hasegawa
said.
Boeing has proposed a lengthy contract
with the Machinists union and says the deal
Boeing has proposed a lengthy contract with
the Machinists union and says the deal is
necessary to secure the company’s
commitment to the region.
work of Boeing suppliers across the Port-
land area could have been impacted, The
vide tax or permitting benefits to other
industries or businesses. Republican Rep.
gally and are seeking to have them returned.
They say they are glad they weren’t
expelled, but they are appealing their proba-
tion because they don’t want the sanction on
discipline board on Friday found Fagan and
McIntosh responsible for two violations:
possessing weapons on school grounds and
putting others in danger by the use of
Gonzanga
continued from page 1
Fagan offered the man a blanket and a can
of food but refused to hand over any cash,
he said. The man became agitated and com-
bative.
Fagan shouted for McIntosh, who came
downstairs holding a loaded 10 mm Glock
pistol.
“I draw on him,’’ McIntosh said. “As soon
as he sees me, he decides he doesn’t want to
deal with me. So he takes off.’’
The men called police and campus securi-
ty. Fagan has a concealed weapons permit,
he said.
Campus security returned the next day
and confiscated McIntosh’s Glock and
Fagan’s shotgun, which he uses for hunting
and sport shooting.
The men say their guns were seized ille-
The men say their guns were seized illegally and
are seeking to have them returned
their school records.
Students are not allowed to have guns in
their homes if they live on campus or in a
university-owned apartment. The university
weapons.
The man who went to their door, John M.
Taylor, 29, is a six-time felon, said police
spokeswoman Monique Cotton. His crimes
have included riot with a deadly weapon,
possession of a controlled substance and
unlawful imprisonment.
Officers responding to an initial report of
a residential burglary, found him in the area,
Cotton said. He was jailed on an arrest war-
rant from the state Department of Correc-
tions, she said. Typically that means a
person under department supervision has
violated terms of release. Taylor was no
longer on the jail roster Monday.
Calls to the Department of Corrections
were not immediately returned Monday and
there was no answer at the Spokane County
Public Defender office, which might repre-
sent Taylor.
November 13, 2013
The Seattle Skanner Page 3