What a special night at the Kent School District School Board Meeting last night. Tensions were high as the Kent Meridian supporters led by their PTA President Linda Novak waited to hear that their support and advocacy had made a difference to the

Board. The evening before the Board and Administrators had held a meeting that was an Open Forum for comments by all

interested parties on the remaining Capital Improvements on the District’s list that were left for completion from the original list

that was developed for the 2006 Bond that passed for those improvements. The list of improvements will all be eventually completed as they were agreed as needed and the money passed in 2006 to do just that. But with the challenging economy

the selling of Bonds at optimum price can be a tricky business. To complete all the projects at once became impossible so the

Board was left to examine all the needs and priorities and place some projects on a further out continuum. Forums and meetings

have been conducted by the School District officials to allow the public to have comments about their particular projects. 

Kent Meridian High School had a large turn out for their official Forum earlier in the month. Including students, coaches,

parents, and supporters who turned out to say—they wanted their schools needs addressed now. They were tired of being put off

and being embarrassed by the condition of their gym and locker facilities. Representatives addressed the social justice and equity issues even.

The night of the Board’s forum March 23 the KM PTA was prepared. They filled the Board room with supporters. When asked by President Linda Novak, in her presentation to the Board ,would all those supporting KM please stand there was only one person

that did not stand and that person decided to join the supporters and slowly stood also. The moving testimony of all the parents,

coaches, and outside of the area representatives was extraordinary. Stand for Children spoke up. PAID spoke up in the ongoing activism of social justice in which Dale Smith has pursued. The crowning glory was the Petition presented to the School Board with over 700 signatures of the Kent Meridian Students wanting their voice to be heard. They signed in support of having the Kent Meridian Project Improvements being placed at the top of the list. This in itself was an act of Civics 101 by the students. Participating and supporting their school and asking that their Board hear their needs.

The Board responded by hearing their needs and all the needs of each school. But they agreed that Kent Meridian High School Projects did merit addressing sooner rather than later.

In the world of advocacy and letting parents and individuals see they can make a difference by being involved and showing up

and being the voice for education issues or Capital Improvements Issues or social justice issues it simply does not get any better. The supporters of KM felt their representatives heard them and acted with good business sense and with great communication sense.

That night when I walked out of that Board Meeting the Stars shown a little brighter in the Heaven and for a brief moment I felt

that all was right in this world.