Don’t forget to take the library survey
As of last Thursday, KCLS had received over 550 completed online surveys about Mercer Island Library. Please add your voice to the dialogue.
It is important to show KCLS how much we love our library, and to note specifically what we love about it.
Here’s the link: http://www.kcls.org/MISurvey. The deadline is April 20, so do it now.
In addition, I hope you received a postcard announcing the community forum with KCLS Director Gary Wasdin and Miller-Hull architects about the remodel plans for our library.
The community forum is on Thursday, April 23, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the library.
Please make every effort to attend this important meeting, and please speak up to share your thoughts about our very special library.
Meg Lippert
Secretary, Concerned Citizens for Mercer Island Library
State student assessment tests questionable
I have no confidence that the Smarter Balanced Assessments will be a valid measure of student knowledge in our state.
Recently, I explored several of the practice tests and scoring guides. I discovered that this is not merely a harder test.
This is a harder test with a poorly designed user interface, non-intuitive tools, heavily nuanced language, subjective answers, and glaring inconsistencies.
The ambiguity of some questions will force students to second-guess, and to make assumptions. And for struggling students, this test will fail to reflect valuable incremental growth.
I am calling for parents and educators to meet this pivotal change with eyes open, understanding that this baseline is arbitrary until proven otherwise.
Look for yourselves. Take the practice tests. Score your answers. See what our kids will be experiencing firsthand.
Questions are not answerable if the answers are questionable.
Practice Test: http://wa.portal.airast.org/training-tests/
Scoring Guide: http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/resources/#scoring.
Kristen Magnuson
Bellevue
Plastic bags in Bellevue
Residents, visitors and business owners should ponder for a moment; what positive lasting impact do plastic bags have on the eastside city literally meaning beautiful view? The sensible answer is zero.
As consumers we all have intentionally or unintentionally participated in plastic bag consumerism.
Every plastic bag sitting still in a landfill, littered on the street and being human made manufactured by corporations are simply not allowing our precious earth freedom to breath.
All humans have a responsibility to be environmentally aware and active.
I realize the effort to encourage a ban on plastic bags in Bellevue is more than just stating “Let’s ban plastic bags!”
My hope is in the future, sooner rather than later all of those who relish beautiful views are able to do so minus the plastic.
We shouldn’t mind copycatting our thoughtful neighbors Issaquah, Mercer Island and Seattle.
They were able to find tolerable solutions to the plastic bag dilemma despite opposing grimacing expressions, and lessen plastic consumerism, in turn making progress to improve the northwest environment we live, work and play in. They set an example we should mindfully consider following it.
Reusing, recycling, resourcefulness and not creating more plastic consumerism isn’t novel, it’s simple environmental common sense.
Erica Hale
Bellevue
