The Issaquah School District encompasses six different jurisdictions — King County, Bellevue, Issaquah, Newcastle, Sammamish and Renton. Yet it only does business with Issaquah and Sammamish.

Many years ago when trying to get school impact fees for Issaquah schools, Renton City Councilman Randy Corman suggested that all jurisdictions meet to get general questions answered. One of our current board members vetoed that idea saying, “Renton may sabotage the meeting. We don’t like Renton.”

In January 2005, the school board and Renton staff members met at Liberty for a meeting to consider “mutual concerns.” That was the only time the school board met with Renton officials.

Several weeks ago, the School Board met with Issaquah city officials to discuss “mutual concerns.” On Nov. 17, the board will meet with Sammamish officials to discuss “mutual concerns.”

I sent a note to the board asking when they would meet with officials from Bellevue, Newcastle, Renton or the county.

They responded that the board meets occasionally but that busy schedules sometimes preclude the bodies from meeting with the frequency they would like. The board will meet with Newcastle in the spring and is working on a date with Renton. There is no mention of meeting with Bellevue or King County officials

Just as the officials don’t want to do anything more with the Liberty attendance area, they want to ignore the government jurisdictions that are within our “sphere of influence.” It seems they can always find time to meet with Issaquah or Sammamish officials. In fact, the school board member representing this area seems to be on a number of Issaquah civic organizations. Are they members of any Renton/Belleuve/Newcastle civic organizations? What about Dr. Rasmussen? What civic organizations outside Issaquah is he a member of? Maybe someone should answer my questions. I know they never will.

-Claudia Donnelly

Renton

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