Aviation High School students and supporters assembled on the tarmac at King County International Airport
The Aviation High School inaugural class of 2008 landed and taxied into position at King County International Airport , with goals to become the next generation of aviation pioneers.
The group of freshman exited a variety of aircraft at Boeing Field and joined officials, educators and aviation business leaders to celebrate the formation of the first comprehensive four-year aviation high school in the nation. The innovative high school will officially open its doors to 100 students this fall with Boeing Field and more than 150 aviation businesses serving as the laboratory for the school.
"Its been nearly four years since we said, what are we waiting for – what better place than Boeing Field, the birthplace of modern aviation – to create the nation's first, four-year high school devoted to flight," King County Executive Ron Sims said. "So, the journey began to create the three-way synergy between government, education and industry that we see today. This new Aviation High School will not only be an exciting opportunity for kids dreaming of soaring in space, but it will also cultivate the type of talent that will help this region expand its competitive edge in attracting aviation-related industries."
Highline Public Schools is partnering with South Seattle Community College to run the school. The school will initially operate at the north end of Boeing Field at the college's Duwamish Campus on East Marginal Way South. Any student with a passion for aviation and aerospace may apply to attend, and can come from any school district. Course offerings will fulfill all standard high school requirements, but all subjects will revolve around an aviation theme and emphasize math, science and technology. In addition to credentialed teaching staff, local aviation leaders will be recruited to serve as instructors and mentors.
"The aviation industry is such a major player in the Highline community and economy," said Dr. Joe McGeehan, Superintendent of Highline Public Schools. "Aviation High School will not only engage students in an area of study that interests them, it will provide highly skilled employees for Highline-based industry.
Aviation High School will open its doors in September 2004 with a class of 100 ninth-graders. A new freshman class will be added each year, until the school reaches its capacity of 400 students in ninth through twelfth grades. Among the contributions supporting the school is a $6.5 million grant from the Port of Seattle that will help fund capital improvements over the next ten years.
A scholarship fund has also been established in memory of Dan Hartley, former Boeing Company employee and president of SPEEA, who passed away earlier this year. During the next four years, the scholarship fund will grow and be awarded to graduating students who best represent Mr. Hartley's love and dedication to aviation.
Students attending Aviation High School are already contemplating careers as pilots, astrophysicists and astronauts. During the celebration at the airport, the students were presented with an inaugural flight logbook to document their journey and were encouraged by leaders such as Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, Erik Lindbergh and Tom VanderArk from the Gates Foundation to set their sights on becoming the next generation of aviation leaders.
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Shuttles for Vashon Strawberry Festival
Metro will be providing $1 shuttle rides next weekend – July 10 & 11 – for the annual Vashon Strawberry Festival. The shuttles will transport festival-goers to and from the Vashon ferry dock and near the Ober Park-and-Ride.
Fleet in the national top 100
There is no doubt that King County's Fleet Administration Division is one of the best in the business and now one of the most prestigious fleet trade journals in the country agrees. Utility Fleet Management Magazine has named King County's Fleet Administration Division one of 2004's “100 Best Fleets in North America.”
The magazine’s 100 Best Fleets award program grades fleet divisions in 18 different “mission critical” categories.
Fleet manages a $22 million annual budget for fleet services, which includes two maintenance facilities, and the acquisition, maintenance and disposal of 3,000 cars, trucks, heavy off-road equipment and other machinery. The Fleet Stores program provides service and supplies to more than 120 contract cities and government agencies.
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Roadwork ahead:
Safety work set for eastern section of Novelty Hill Road
Residents and motorists are being advised that a section of Novelty Hill Road between 243rd Avenue Northeast and West Snoqualmie Valley Road will close for a four-week period beginning Monday, July 12 to allow for the construction of safety improvements. The county is requiring the Quadrant Corporation, developer of the Redmond Ridge and Trilogy communities, to construct the project, which will provide added safety for motorists while helping to stabilize the slide-prone hillside. For more information about the Novelty HIll Road safety project, call Quadrant's information line at (425) 452-0330.
Bridge over Cherry Creek closes July 6
King County will close the Kelly Road/Cherry Creek Bridge for repairs from Tuesday, July 6 until Friday, Aug. 27. The bridge is located on Kelly Road Northeast over Cherry Creek, approximately 4.6 miles east of Duvall. During the two-month repair, motorists should detour via Big Rock Road, State Route 203, and Cherry Valley Road.
Here is a list of other King County Department of Transportation projects that may disrupt traffic and travel in the coming weeks:
Northeast 124th Street, north of Redmond –
Work continues through October 2004 on Northeast 124th Street between Willows Road and State Route 202. Expect periodic traffic delays.
Juanita Drive, north of Kirkland– The county is installing sidewalk, curb and gutter on the west side of Juanita Drive between Northeast 122nd Place and Northeast 124th Street. There could be intermittent lane closures until the project is completed in mid-July.
Duvall Bridge – Crews will be working on a seismic upgrade of the Duvall Bridge on the Woodinville-Duvall Road through September. Most of the work will occur underneath the bridge. Full road or bridge closures are not expected, but flaggers will be controlling truck and equipment traffic.
Wyanco Bridge, east of Auburn – The Wynaco Bridge on 168th Way Southeast is closed through September for repairs and upgrades. Motorists should detour to Auburn-Black Diamond Road and Kent-Black Diamond Road.
Edgewick Bridge, east of North Bend - The Edgewick Bridge on 468th Avenue Southeast remains closed, and traffic has been diverted to a temporary one-lane bridge. The project is expected to last through mid-October.
South 277th Street, between Auburn and Kent – There will be no lane closures, but motorists may experience periodic traffic disruptions on South 277th Street between the West Valley Highway and 72nd Avenue South through October 2005 as a result of this major reconstruction project.
124th Avenue Northeast, in Kingsgate – Private utility relocation is underway, and will be followed by street improvements along 124th Avenue Northeast between Northeast 132nd Street and Northeast 146th Place.
Closures beginning July 12:
• Dockton Road on Vashon Island between Point Robinson Road and 75th Avenue Southwest – through July 30;
• 238th Way Southeast near Issaquah between Southeast 96th Street and Southeast 98th Place – through July 15;
• Fish Hatchery Road near Fall City between 356th Drive Southeast and 372nd Avenue Southeast – through July 23.
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DOT Dash