Education

Madi Humphries, 9, Rose Austin, 13, and Eirene Ritting, 8, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

No grades, no teachers: Inside a Bothell school run by student vote

Each day at The Clearwater School, 60 students choose their own lessons. It’s one vote per person, whether you’re staff or student.

 

Kathy Purviance-Snow poses for a photo in her computer lab at Snohomish High School on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Snohomish, WA. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

To ban or embrace ChatGPT? Local teachers fight AI with AI — or don’t

“It has fundamentally changed my teaching in really stressful and exciting ways,” an EvCC teacher said. At all levels of education, ChatGPT poses a tricky question.

 

Students make their way after school at Edmonds-Woodway High School on March 12, 2020. All public and private schools in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties must close for six weeks. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

WA boost in student homelessness funding reaches more districts

Edmonds schools are using money to provide support specifically for its homeless seniors living without a parent or guardian.

 

A student reaches put their hands to feel raindrops as it begins to pour on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 in Camano Island, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Hollow gestures’ won’t allow Camano forest school to survive, founders say

Island County officials acknowledged they should have given Springwood Forest School families more time to prepare for an impending closure.

A student reaches put their hands to feel raindrops as it begins to pour on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 in Camano Island, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Accused of being bad neighbor, Everett mining company applies for permit

Mountain Loop Mine has operated next door to Fairmount Elementary without proper permits for months. Teachers are fed up.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Grayson Huff, left, a 4th grader at Pinewood Elementary, peaks around his sign during the Marysville School District budget presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

At tense meeting, Marysville schools stare down drastic cuts to sports, more

Even with a $5 million loan, the budget is still $10.8 million short. In a budget presentation Tuesday, officials discussed next steps.

Grayson Huff, left, a 4th grader at Pinewood Elementary, peaks around his sign during the Marysville School District budget presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Cascade Warbirds fly over Naval Station Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald file)

Bothell High School senior awarded $2,500 to keep on flying

Cascade Warbirds scholarship helps students 16-21 continue flight training and earn a private pilot’s certificate.

The Cascade Warbirds fly over Naval Station Everett. (Sue Misao / The Herald file)
The music room inside College Place Middle School in Lynnwood, Washington, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2023. If approved, a capital bond measure on the February ballot would allow the school district to rebuild both College Place Elementary and Middle. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Edmonds School District asks voters for $700M for new schools, upgrades

For the seventh time in a decade, the district is asking voters to approve bonds and levies for upgrades.

The music room inside College Place Middle School in Lynnwood, Washington, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2023. If approved, a capital bond measure on the February ballot would allow the school district to rebuild both College Place Elementary and Middle. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Picnic Point Elementary student teacher Joshua Wisnubroto goes through a worksheet with one of his students on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Pilot program in Mukilteo schools gets local teachers in local schools

Four teacher residents, all former paraeducators, are getting special education endorsements — and getting paid as student teachers.

Picnic Point Elementary student teacher Joshua Wisnubroto goes through a worksheet with one of his students on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A student walks down a hallway at Evergreen Middle School past a sign displaying different values the students should embody while occupying the space on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

ICYMI: Student violence trends down at Evergreen Middle School

Last year, Evergreen saw the most fights, by far, in the district’s middle schools. Now things are quieter. Parents credit staff and new policies.

A student walks down a hallway at Evergreen Middle School past a sign displaying different values the students should embody while occupying the space on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens School District Superintendent Ken Collins poses for a photo in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

After fleeting NFL career, Lake Stevens educator, coach found his niche

Retiring superintendent Ken Collins built a sterling reputation in 34 years in the district, with a decade coaching football at Lake Stevens High.

Lake Stevens School District Superintendent Ken Collins poses for a photo in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Heather White smiles while students raise their hands to answer a question on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 in Camano Island, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

In child care desert, Camano’s pioneering forest school faces shutdown

Island County Public Works abruptly banned a school from a nature preserve, its cofounders said. Parents are outraged and aghast.

Heather White smiles while students raise their hands to answer a question on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 in Camano Island, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Students exit Everett High School on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 after the first day of school since Feb. 8 due to weather cancellations. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

After pandemic’s peak, more kids missed school; bill aims to solve that

In Everett, attendance rates dropped 15% in a few years. A bill in Olympia aims to get kids back in the classroom.

Students exit Everett High School on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 after the first day of school since Feb. 8 due to weather cancellations. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Students make their way after school at Edmonds-Woodway High School on March 12, 2020. All public and private schools in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties must close for six weeks. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Icy roads close schools in Edmonds, Mukilteo, Snohomish and beyond

Early in the week, burst pipes closed a few schools. On Wednesday, a new cold patch affected schools across the county.

Students make their way after school at Edmonds-Woodway High School on March 12, 2020. All public and private schools in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties must close for six weeks. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Jeanne Willard, the executive director for college and career readiness at Everett Public Schools, on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Funding at risk for program that keeps Everett ninth graders on track

Doing well in ninth grade is often a predictor of success. But a program shown to keep students on track to graduate is in limbo.

Jeanne Willard, the executive director for college and career readiness at Everett Public Schools, on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community Health Center of Snohomish County’s new student health clinic that will open in Mountlake Terrace High School on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Clinic to offer free care for Mountlake Terrace High students

The county’s second school-based clinic will provide primary care, dental and mental health services.

Community Health Center of Snohomish County’s new student health clinic that will open in Mountlake Terrace High School on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A collection of screenshots taken from Evergreen Middle School fight videos posted to social media.

Low bill would make fighting at school a felony for kids, parents

State Rep. Sam Low, R-Lake Stevens, said the proposal’s main purpose is to protect sports referees from unruly spectators.

A collection of screenshots taken from Evergreen Middle School fight videos posted to social media.
Assistant Superintendent Patty Dowd greets a family with their child’s laptop and other class materials outside Endeavour Elementary on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, two days after an overnight fire tore through the inside the school in Mukilteo, Washington. Classes will be held online until after winter break to give crews time to make repairs to the building. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Endeavour Elementary in Mukilteo to reopen Monday after fire

Learning has been remote for the 450 students since an early morning fire damaged the building last month.

Assistant Superintendent Patty Dowd greets a family with their child’s laptop and other class materials outside Endeavour Elementary on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, two days after an overnight fire tore through the inside the school in Mukilteo, Washington. Classes will be held online until after winter break to give crews time to make repairs to the building. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
David Rzegocki

Arica Smith-Simmer (right), a parent of two children at Sky Valley Education Center, gives an account of her health issues as Jill Savery (left), Stacy Mullen-Deland (center left), and attorney Sean Gamble listen during a press conference in downtown Seattle on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018.

Photo taken on 01032018

Jury: Monsanto must pay $857M over PCBs in Monroe school

Hundreds of students, parents, teachers and staff have sued over harmful chemicals at the Sky Valley Education Center.

David Rzegocki

Arica Smith-Simmer (right), a parent of two children at Sky Valley Education Center, gives an account of her health issues as Jill Savery (left), Stacy Mullen-Deland (center left), and attorney Sean Gamble listen during a press conference in downtown Seattle on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018.

Photo taken on 01032018
Senior Hailey Jardine uses the new heat press for DECA to make school apparel at Snohomish High School in Snohomish, Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.  DECA is a national nonprofit for students interested in business. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Hot off the press! Snohomish High School students create custom swag

New heat presses allow teens to make T-shirts, hoodies and gear at the school’s merch store, Panther Pause — with the copyright.

Senior Hailey Jardine uses the new heat press for DECA to make school apparel at Snohomish High School in Snohomish, Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.  DECA is a national nonprofit for students interested in business. (Annie Barker / The Herald)