As a Tillicum Middle School (parent/staff/community member), we advocate for Saving Tillicum Middle School, as well as no consolidation of enrollment. At minimum, we need to be agile and keep options open. We advocate for no consolidation of any Middle School.  

 

We desire to:

Protect our already strong and diverse Tillicum community which also cares for and educates many of our district’s most vulnerable students. 
Advocate against consolidation, or at the very least, urge the need for flexibility to keep options open.

Question the demographic study's oversight of major enrollment drivers: immigration, migration, and transitions between private and public schools.
Highlight that the demographers' conclusions fail to consider the City of Bellevue's long-term housing expansion plans.
 

We have built a strong TILLICUM COMMUNITY

Tillicum holds many of our most vulnerable students and disruption disproportionately impacts them. 

Tillicum is one of the most diverse (ethnic and socio-economic) middle schools in the district.

Recognize that Tillicum is home to the Special Education program. 

Cascade (Centered behavior Program) with 6 special education teachers and 18 para-educators
16 kids in Cascade program
65 kids in in resonance program
Children in these programs have one class in the beginning of the day and end of the day on their own. The rest of the time they are encouraged to mix into regular classes, and Tillicum teachers and staff have the experience in managing this in our current structure. 
Tillicum is only one of two middle schools with this special program. A change in location can seriously impact this sensitive student population.

Tillicum is proven to be able to host multiple programs under one roof. The student body is unified and not segregated. 
Tillicum hosts two choice language programs. 
Both language programs have teacher and family communities that have worked hard over decades to work in harmony with each other.
Both language program communities have worked through previous disruptions with the threat of majorly changing Spanish language programs, school movement, and school consolidation.

Tillicum holds students already impacted by the disruption of school consolidation and moves.
The consolidation of Eastgate Elementary and move of Puesta del Sol disrupted the education and emotions of our students for several months. Many students, staff, family and community members are still processing these changes.
One Eastgate parent remarked that teachers were very distracted during the latter part of the year, and his daughter’s test scores fell as a result. This is one example of many where teachers, staff, and students spent time packing/unpacking, organizing, worrying and impacted our students’ overall education. We should not hurt these kids again.
 

INVEST in our thriving diverse community.

Tillicum’s central location and new building makes it the ideal place to house students from schools that are consolidated. 
Moving programs to Tillicum will likely allow more kids to attend a closer school. This fits with the BSD goal of reducing environmental impact. 
Over 90% of Tillicum’s student body lives south of the 90 or in the attendance area, and shuffling to a farther school defies logic.
Tillicum unique building design is not replicated at other buildings.
4 CTE Classrooms (very popular classes)
The Computer lab, clean room, shop (woodworking), robotics classroom creates a makers's space
These CTE classes are not easily expandable because of hardware requirements.

MLL 
Spanish and Mandarin program students in BSD tend to score lower on STAR in 3rd and 4th grade in literacy. However, by 7th and 8th grade, after spending time at Tillicum, they are outperforming peers. 
Research (How many domain specific AL kids?) – Tillicum is the ideal place to host another choice program. 
Research (Tillicum’s support of vulnerable populations)

 

Ways to make your voice heard

Fill out the BSD Survey on Middle School Consolidation. https://tinyurl.com/m5sbbvje
Write BSD Board at board@bsd405.org
Write MSConsolidation@bsd405.org
Attend BSD Board Meetings and voice your support. Sign up to speak at the meeting.Nov 2nd/9th, Dec 7th/14th, Jan 11th/25th
Use thes link to sign up to speak at the board meeting!
Link to info about public comments
Sign up to commit to attending the board meeting. Hold up signs. Advocate!
Donate to the Tillicum PTA to help advocate
Order a yard sign and PROUDLY display it! Click Here