District News: Rumor Response Board

Have you heard a rumor about Tahoma School District that you want to check out? This is the place to do that! Welcome to the Tahoma Rumor Board. No rumor is too weird or wild. Just ask us and we will track it down!

The Rumor Board is intended to provide accurate, factual information. You can use this service to answer any question about Tahoma schools because this is YOUR school district. Please send the rumor or question to Kevin Patterson, Public Information Officer, at: kpatters@tahomasd.us. Or call 425-413-3409. Go ahead, ask us!

Rumor/Question: Why does the school district have snow delays when there is no sign of any snow on a majority of our roads and neighborhoods, such as Witte Road, Highway 169, or Kent-Kangley? Our family has been through and in the Tahoma School District for over 15 years and for the past 2 years snow delays/ closures are becoming more frequent when there is just a trace amount of snow or the neighborhood streets are bare and wet. Which primary road dictates a snow closure? Is a snow closure determined by a neighborhood? Why can't the schools stay open with a limited bus schedule, especially when many of the roads are clear?

Rumor/question response: Tahoma uses the following procedure for determining whether to delay or close school for weather-related reasons: The district transportation supervisor and at least one other district employee begin checking road conditions at about 3 a.m. if there is reason to believe that weather could affect transportation. The supervisor and his assistant or assistants travel main routes and a sampling of side streets and roads throughout the district to determine whether roads are safe for buses. They also look at weather and news reports and they contact the King County road department to get a broader view of weather and road conditions. If the transportation supervisor decides there is reason to delay or cancel school because road conditions are unsafe, he contacts his supervisor and makes a recommendation. The final decision on whether to delay or cancel school is made by the superintendent of schools. Decisions are made by 5 a.m. in order to provide enough time to issue notifications to the regional school reporting network, radio and television stations, the district Web site, and the district’s automated telephone calling system.

Tahoma School District covers 90 square miles; road conditions can vary greatly within that area. If conditions are unsafe in one part of the district, it affects the entire transportation system. In addition, slippery road conditions can cause overall traffic delays in the area and it is sometimes best to keep buses off the road until traffic has cleared. There have been two late starts this year as a result of weather, which is about average for our area. Last year’s weather was exceptional in its severity, which caused an unusually high number of school delays and cancellations.

The district has the option to use limited (emergency) bus stops as well as delayed starts. It is a judgment call each time as to which option best meets the safety needs of students and staff.

Rumor/question: Why does Tahoma have early release days and waiver days? Doesn't the district know that this is a hardship on parents who have to find childcare or change work schedules when kids are not in school?

Rumor/question response: The school district recognizes that early release and waiver days create scheduling difficulties for families. However, the district believes that the benefit of providing structured staff training that is focused on moving Tahoma and its students toward 21st Century learning is necessary and is worth the scheduling inconvenience. To read more about early release and waiver days, please click on this link: Why we have early release and waiver days.

Rumor/question: We have seen lots of new houses being built in Maple Valley. Does Tahoma School District collect impact fees from these homes? Are the impact fees sufficient to pay for new classrooms?

Rumor Response: The school district is collecting impact fees from new-home construction. However, impact fees are insufficient to pay for major construction projects. The district has used impact fees to purchase portable classrooms but there is not enough money to finance building additions or new-school construction.