Voters approve bus levy

Mukilteo School District voters have approved a one-year levy on local taxes that will raise $3 million to purchase about 30 new school buses over the next several years.

At last count, the Transportation Vehicle Fund Levy proposal was approved by 59.34 percent of the voters. The measure needed support from a simple majority to pass.

The levy will raise the local property tax rate by an estimated 26.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation during 2013 and then will expire. With the added tax, the total tax rate for school measures in 2013 will be an estimated $4.53 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which will be lower than this year’s tax rate of $4.68.

The decrease will occur because of a large drop in the school district’s bond obligation next year.

Speaking of elections…

Children in Washington had an opportunity to cast their own votes in a Mock Election conducted by the Secretary of State’s office.

Kindergarten through 5th grade students voted for president, governor and Initiative 1240 (charter schools), while secondary students voted on an additional two measures: Referendum 74 (same-sex marriage) and Initiative 502 (marijuana). A total of 38,848 ballots were cast.

Here’s how the results turned out: 69.01 percent voted for Barack Obama, 57.39 percent voted for Jay Inslee, 50.77 voted for Initiative 1240, 67.47 percent voted for Referendum 74, and 50.99 percent voted against Initiative 502.

Mukilteo athletes recognized

WESCO announced its all-conference teams this past week and several Mukilteo athletes were recognized. Congratulations to the following who received first-team honors:

Football, Offense: Ian Hughes and Austin Hall of Kamiak and Hector Ruiz of Mariner High School; Football, Defense: Tyri Bethea, Riley Briggs and Tyler Kunard of Kamiak High School and Dan Nadat, Kiante Ahmad-Woods and Malcolm Manson of Mariner;

Girls’ Soccer: Maddie Seckman, Emele Chaddock and Emma Makela of Kamiak; Boys’ Cross Country: Tomislav Smith of Kamiak; Boys’ Tennis: Joseph Lee of Kamiak (singles) and Colin Kim and Sung Yu of Kamiak (doubles);

Girls’ Swimming: Brianna Lucien of Mariner (200 free and 500 free), Alyssa Jacobson, Laura Johnson, Haley Lasley and Ingrid Straume of Kamiak (200 free relay), and Laura Johnson, Haley Lasley, Errin Hendrickson and Ingrid Straume of Kamiak (400 free relay).

Is your child a highly capable student?

Students throughout the Mukilteo School District will be tested in January and February to determine whether they qualify for the school district’s program for highly capable students.

To qualify for the Summit Program, a student must be creative, have an IQ of 130 or higher, and score in at least the 95th percentile in reading or math.

All 2nd grade students are tested for ability and achievement and 5th grade students are tested for achievement.

If you are the parent of a 3rd through 7th grade student who you believe could be eligible for the Summit Program and you wish to have your child tested, contact the Elementary Education Department before January 1.

Call 425-356-1209 or go to the Summit website at: http://www.mukilteo.wednet.edu/departments/tl/summit/index.htm

Messiah tickets go on sale

One of the most popular events at Kamiak High School each year is the orchestra and choir performance of some of the best-known portions of Handel’s Messiah and other holiday favorites.

This year’s concert will be held in the school gym at 1 p.m. and at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16.

General admission seating in the bleachers costs $5, reserved seats in the bleachers are $10, floor seating is $25, and front-row seats are $35.

Tickets to a benefit dessert reception following the 3:30 performance can be purchased separately for $5 and will be available both online and at the door.

For more information, go to:

http://www.mukilteo.wednet.edu/departments/pr/info/pdfs/messiah.pdf

Skills center dental clinic open for patients

Students in the dental assisting program at the Sno-Isle Skills Center will get real-life experience in the field, as the school’s state-of-the-art dental clinic is now open for public appointments through next April.

The dental work, of course, is done by a licensed dentist. An appointment for a cleaning, an exam and X-rays costs $75, as does an appointment for fillings. That’s a savings of at least $250, made possible because the patients are helping to educate students.

There are a limited number of openings. To schedule an appointment, call 425-384-2220.

These briefs are provided by Andy Muntz, spokesperson for the Mukilteo School District.