Showing posts with label fircrest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fircrest. Show all posts

Community meeting Sept 17 re projects at Fircrest

Saturday, September 7, 2019


The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Fircrest School is hosting a community meeting to discuss progress on the Master Development Plan that DSHS is preparing to allow for continued maintenance and redevelopment projects on the campus

The Master Development Plan is a land use permit with the City of Shoreline that is required prior to the construction of projects on properties zoned as “Campus.” 

This meeting is required by the City of Shoreline to allow the public to learn about the Plan and provide input to DSHS and the City of Shoreline Planning Department.

A community meeting was previously held on October 30, 2018. The project was placed on hold due to pending legislative direction. This meeting restarts the Master Development Process.

New uses will be introduced due to legislative direction. 

An updated site plan will be presented at the community meeting.

The meeting will be held at the Fircrest School, Activities Building Day Program Area (see below). 15230 15th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155,

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Staff will be available to answer questions regarding the Master Development Plan process. We welcome your attendance and hope you are able to participate.

Meeting agenda:
  • 5:30pm: Meeting begins
  • 5:45pm: Presentation
  • 6:00pm: Question and answer session
  • 6:15pm: Open house begins
  • 7:30pm: Meeting adjourns

Directions to meeting location:

If arriving by car, please enter from the driveway at intersection of 15th Avenue NE and NE 155th Street. 

Parking is available immediately adjacent the activities center, or in the parking lot just to the north.

The activities building is also served by the 77, 330 and 348 King County Metro bus lines.



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Monday's Shoreline City Council meeting will study Fircrest Master Plan

Thursday, January 31, 2019



The agenda for Monday’s February 1, 2019 Shoreline City Council meeting includes two Study Items. 

(a) Discussing Fircrest Master Plan and Underutilized Property Land Use Options.

Staff is bringing this item to Council to better understand the Council’s preference for the City’s participation in discussions and actions that could lead to land uses, zoning, and/or development of underutilized property at the Fircrest Campus.

The State is interested in maximizing the number of affordable housing units that could be built. City staff has continued to advocate for mixed-market housing, which is reflective of the City’s adopted housing policies. There are various options on how the City can work with the State to address the State’s interests in repurposing portions of the Fircrest Campus.

The location of the Governor’s requested BHFs (Behavioral Health Facility) has not yet been decided but, DSHS expects that the Fircrest Campus could be considered. 

DSHS indicated that if the Fircrest Campus is considered, then DSHS would anticipate that the focus would be on Area 5 (Attachment E) of the Fircrest Campus for either a 16-bed or 48-bed facility. The south-west corner would be the only area on the campus to support a 150-bed facility.

A BHF is a state-owned and state-run community-based mental health facility providing services for clients that currently are (or would theoretically be in the future) served by Western and Eastern State Mental Health Hospitals (Hospitals). The Governor’s proposal would reduce clients in the Hospitals that are civil in nature, leaving the “forensic” cases coming from the criminal justice system and the more complex civil cases at the Hospitals.

Staff report HERE

(b) Discussing the 2019 Federal Legislative Priorities

For 2019, staff proposes a continued focus on funding and support for investments in the NE 145th Street Corridor and the associated I-5 Interchange. This supports our goals for the 145th Corridor, the interchange replacement, a pedestrian overpass serving the light rail station and redevelopment of the station area for housing and economic development.

Comments above are taken from the staff reports available online.



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Fircrest School Campus Master Plan neighborhood meeting

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Fircrest Activity Center
Photo by Janet Way
The state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is holding a required neighborhood meeting about their plans for maintenance and redevelopment projects on the Fircrest campus adjacent to Hamlin Park on 15th NE.

The meeting will be Tuesday October 30, from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Fircrest School Activities Building, 15230 15th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155.

A Master Development Plan is a land use permit with the City of Shoreline which is required prior to the construction of projects on properties zoned as ""Campus." This meeting is required by the City of Shoreline to allow the public to learn about the Plan and provide input to DSHS and the City Planning department.

Agenda:

  • 5:30pm meeting begins
  • 5:45pm presentation
  • 6:00pm question / answer session
  • 6:15pm open house begins
  • 7:30pm meeting adjourns


Staff will be available to answer questions regarding the Master Development Plan process.

Directions: If arriving by car, enter from the driveway at the intersection of 15th Ave Ne and NE 155th St. Parking available immediately adjacent the Activities Center or in the parking lto just to the north.

Questions: contact Larry Covey, Capital Projects Manager, DSHS



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Seattle Times: Fircrest School fails Federal audit

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Fircrest School Administration
and Health Services building
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
According to our news partner The Seattle Times, Federal inspectors found that required improvements at Fircrest School in Shoreline and Rainier School in Buckley have not taken place. 

According to DSHS, federal Medicaid auditors stopped paying for new admissions to the institutions after routine inspections in August 2016. 
Auditors cited Fircrest School for failing to provide active treatment of residents and gave the institution a year to comply with federal rules. They returned last September and found the problems had not been fixed.

They have informed the school that they have a year to be in compliance. If they fail the next inspection they will lose their certification and Federal Medicaid funds will be cut off.

DSHS, which has jurisdiction over Fircrest, is optimistic that additional staff called for in the Governor's two-year budget will solve the problems and meet federal requirements.

Fircrest is located south of Hamlin Park at 15230 15th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155. It is a residential rehabilitation center for severely disabled children and adults. It is owned by the state and managed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

See the full article here



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Reps. Kagi and Ryu respond to major fire at Fircrest facility

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Smoke fills the sky from the fire
at Fircrest
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Reps. Kagi and Ryu respond to major fire at Fircrest facility 

Statement by Rep. Ruth Kagi (D-32nd District)

“This morning there was a substantial fire at Fircrest. Fircrest is a vital part of our community and performs critical work taking care of individuals with serious developmental disabilities from around the state.

“We have consulted with the Department of Social and Health Services about the safety of clients and staff at Fircrest, damage caused by this fire, and what happens next.

“The Department has assured us that there is a plan for continuing operations in the short term and will address the fire damage in the long term.

“We will continue to work, as lawmakers and representatives of the district, to make sure that the people at Fircrest won’t see a disruption in their care.

“I appreciate that the staff at Fircrest and firefighters responded quickly and safely evacuated very vulnerable clients.”


Statement by Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-32nd District)

“This was a serious fire—and the response by Fircrest staff and firefighters to safely evacuate everyone was seriously heroic.

“If this building is a total loss, it needs to be rebuilt or its function restored elsewhere. Additionally, we need to address ongoing infrastructure problems at Fircrest. That would require funding in the state capital budget and we will work together for one that funds construction projects for Residential Habilitation Centers like Fircrest, schools, colleges, parks, community services, and the environment around the state.

“I want to thank the staff and firefighters for their stellar efforts in the face of what could have been a terrible tragedy and ask for community support during these difficult times for Fircrest staff and clients.”



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Demo Day: abandoned buildings at Fircrest come down

Friday, June 30, 2017

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The abandoned buildings at NE 150th and 15th Ave NE in the corner of the Fircrest site were demolished on Wednesday. These buildings had been vacant for a very long time, and were in extremely poor condition.

What will happen to the rest of Fircrest is unclear at this point. The community grant request through Rep. Ryu's office to open the pools and activities buildings was shelved. State Sen. Dino Rossi, one of the main budget negotiators, wanted to close Fircrest and sell the land for development. 

The state is supposed to release the budget agreement details soon, which may contain details about Fircrest's fate.



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Rally to save Fircrest Saturday

Thursday, May 18, 2017


By Diane Hettrick

Friends of Fircrest, Council 28 AFSCME employee's union, and community members will rally in front of Fircrest's front gates on Saturday, May 20 from 11am to noon to protest proposed plans to close most of the facility and sell the land.

Earlier this year, DSHS prepared a Master Plan to upgrade the aging facilities and open the activity center and pools for community use. Rep. Ryu's office was deeply involved in the plans to turn over part of the facility for community use and her office was working on funding.

In the recently completed session of the state legislature, Sen. Dino Rossi introduced legislation, with bipartisan support, to make different renovations to the facilities on the property. The bill went through many revisions, amendments and committees and was not completed when the session ended.

In its current form, (see summary document) it phases out patient care, transitions patients to residential facilities, and sells the property.

Sen. David Frockt was an original sponsor of the bill. However, he no longer supports it in its current form.

The original bill would have renovated one building on the Fircrest campus to a nursing home facility. This facility would have been available to those currently living on the Fircrest campus as well as to individuals from the community at large. 
It also provided for a couple of buildings on the campus to be consolidated and renovated to provide current residents with an option of staying on the campus. I viewed this original version to be in keeping with the longer term Master Plan for the Fircrest campus. That is not the case in the amended version that is now pending.

The legislature is now in special session, called back by the Governor to complete their job of funding education. Sen. Rossi has revived the Fircrest bill in the special session.


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DSHS community meeting highlights change of plans for Fircrest site

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Fircrest Activity Center
By Jean Hilde

DSHS is hosting a community meeting at the Fircrest Activities Building next Wednesday, March 29 from 7:00 to 8:30pm to present its update on the proposed master plan for the property.

DSHS has some very different ideas for Fircrest than were expressed in earlier community meetings.

It appears that DSHS now intends to implement numerous suggestions from the proposed 2010 master plan (which never went anywhere) including reducing the Fircrest Center's footprint while using 20-plus acres of "excess property" for such things as "mixed-income residential", "townhouses", "governmental offices" and "public service uses."

What DSHS is proposing could result in some very substantial changes to Fircrest and to the surrounding neighborhoods. I encourage you to attend this meeting to learn what DSHS has in mind as well as to voice your opinion about changes being proposed for our community.

Fircrest is located at 15230 15th Ave NE Shoreline 98155



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Op-Ed: Support the Fircrest community center with an email

Monday, January 16, 2017

Fircrest Activity Center
By Jean Hilde

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a gathering place that could be the "heart" of our south-end neighborhoods?

A pool and community center where neighbors could come together, in turn giving more cohesion, safety and a sense of community to us all?

Well, Rep. Cindy Ryu has generously offered the opportunity to apply for a community grant that would give us the ability to create such a place on the Fircrest property!

A refurbished pool and activities building would provide countless opportunities for south-end neighbors as well as for Fircrest residents, from swim lessons to water therapy, from cooking classes and catering for neighborhood groups to theater and athletic events, from book clubs and language classes to game nights and cultural events, from senior activities to teen and children's programs.

Adding a pea-patch and outdoor concert area on the lawn near the activities building would give neighbors the opportunity to garden, to picnic while listening to music, and to otherwise get fresh air and exercise.

We south-end residents currently have no communal gathering space to speak of. Many of us do not have the financial ability, the time, the transportation to travel to other City of Shoreline resources, most of which are in the north and west. Our neighborhoods are rich in diversity but financially not so much. We need our own community center and that's exactly what Rep. Ryu's grant could provide!

We will be writing and submitting the community grant application this coming week. The more community support we can show, the better our chances of the application being approved and funded.

If you'd like to help create a gathering place in the heart of Shoreline's southern neighborhoods, feel free to use the draft letter of support here for ideas for your own letter.

Please email your letter for inclusion with the grant application materials we will submit to Rep. Ryu this coming week.

Thanks, all! Together we can make wonderful things happen!



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Future use of Fircrest facilities - presentation Wednesday evening from DSHS

Monday, November 28, 2016

Fircrest Activity Center
Residents are invited to come hear about the proposed master plan for the Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center (aka Fircrest School.)

After previewing the draft plan with a smaller group of neighborhood representatives in early November, Casey Moore, DSHS Project Manager, would now like to present it to the wider community.

DSHS is the Department of Social and Health Services, the state agency in charge of Fircrest.

Although this meeting isn't meant to be a workshop, there will be time for questions and answers.

Casey's presentation will be on Wednesday, November 30 from 6:00 to 8:00pm in the gym at Fircrest in the recreation and pool building.

Enter the Fircrest property at NE 155th Street, off 15th NE, turn left, then look for the rec building on the hill to your right.

Questions? Contact Jean Hilde



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Join community members who want to reopen pool and activity center at Fircrest

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Swimming pool at Fircrest is currently closed

Would you like to see a community recreation center open for the Shoreline community?

Join a group of concerned community members who have been working for some time to reopen the pool and activity center on the campus of Fircrest  to benefit the whole community including the residents of Fircrest.

The closed activity center contains two pools, a gym with bleachers, a performance stage, several meeting rooms, a kitchen and banquet room and outside of the center is a large natural space that would be a fantastic garden area.

The agenda of the meeting will include discussion of our objectives, review some previous master planning ideas and will be open for general comments, questions, interests and concerns.

The open meeting will be held April 13th from 7- 9pm at the Fircrest Activities building, Fircrest Campus, 15230 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155.

Directions: The entrance to Fircrest is where 155th meets 15th Ave NE, enter the campus, make a sharp left and then the first right. The Activity Center is on the hill, there is parking there in front of the building.



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Reminder: Upcoming meeting at Fircrest to open the Rec Center

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Activity building at Fircrest

We will be having a meeting at the Fircrest Recreation Building regarding how to achieve the opening of the facilities at the Recreation Building to the public.

These include the extensive pools, the meeting rooms, the gym and stage, and the kitchen activity room. For too long this remarkable asset has been closed, we hope to organize a movement of those interested in opening this resource to the community.

Thursday, March 3, from 7-8:30pm at the Fircrest RHC Activities (Recreation) Building, 15230 15th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155.

Directions: Enter Fircrest campus where 155th street intersects 15th Ave NE, turn left and then right, the building is on top of the small hill. There is parking in front.



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Working to open the Fircrest Recreation Building for the community

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Fircrest Activity Center

By Denny Sargent

There is an amazing resource in our Shoreline community that is in limbo and a number of us in the community are seeking to revitalize it and reopen this possible community center, including meeting rooms, a kitchen and beautiful pools that could become an important resource for all of us, including Fircrest residents. Closed due to budget issues, we are seeking to reopen and renew this recreation building.

A recent tour of the Fircrest Recreation (or Activity) Building was a huge success. Over 32 people attended to take a peek around what is inside this gem of a building which is such a potential community asset for us all in Shoreline. For those of you who were not able to attend, here is a synopsis. Please keep in mind that there will likely be opportunities to view the building in the future.

The vast building holds the following rooms which we all saw; A huge space containing 2 pools and 2 large dressing room and support areas.

These pools are also equipped for people with all kinds of handicaps and that is a unique fixture. The pool area has a beautiful wall of windows as well.

There is an activity room, currently used by Fircrest residents, with a full kitchen and dining area. There are a number of empty offices and meeting rooms and a large gym with pull-out bleachers that can fit hundreds and a hidden full stage that opens up when in use for entertainment.

About the building are open, rolling fields with full sun just waiting for a p-patch or other gardens!

There are a number of other features but those are the main ones.

We had a wonderful and exhaustive and inspiring tour with frequent explanations by Jeff Fleshner, The Superintendent of Fircrest RHC and we all left feeling that this was a resource 'in limbo' due to funding cuts that would very much benefit the whole community for decades to come.

There will be an open meeting for interested people from the community on March the 3rd from 7-8:30 pm  at the Fircrest Recreation (Activity)  Building, just show up. the address is: Fircrest School RHC, 15230 15th NE, Shoreline 98155.

To get to Fircrest Activity Building, drive through the main entrance (off 15th ave NE, where 155th St hits it) take a left and it is the first building on the right, up on a small hill. Everyone interested is welcomed to join us, see you there!



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Public invited to a tour of Fircrest

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Fircrest Activities Building

The public is invited for a tour of The Fircrest activities building. Jeff Flesner, the new Superintendent at Fircrest will be showing us what is inside this gem of a building, and answering any questions we may have about being able to use it.

Inside will be a rare chance to see the basketball court, gym, stage, bleachers, meeting rooms, kitchen, banquet room, and the two swimming pools (currently closed).

A large field is next to the building

Also, next to the Activities building is a very large field that could make a beautiful garden.

February 9th at 4:00pm - Meet in front of the activity building.

Directions to the Fircrest activities building: go straight through the main gate of Fircrest, take a sharp left and the activities building is on the right.

FIRCREST RHC, 15230 15th NE, Shoreline 98155.



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Another Seahawk commercial with a Shoreline connection

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

By Rebecca Sargent

Seahawks fans -- have you seen the Powerade commercial featuring Jimmy Graham, tight end for the Seattle Seahawks? Do you know where it was filmed?


In the Activities Building at Fircrest School in Shoreline! Did you notice the awesome Gym with bleachers and the ramp in the hallway? The ramp leads to the now closed swimming pools. One of the pools is nine feet deep and the other one is a shallow pool that used to be used for hydrotherapy and for those who were learning how to swim.

Also, in the Activities Building there is a work out room, a stage, meeting rooms and offices, and an industrial kitchen complete with a banquet room. Of course it is all handicapped accessible.

Unfortunately the Activities Building is now closed because of state budget cuts, and only the gym is opened for the residents to use on a limited bases. It would be wonderful if the Activities Building were to reopen again including the pools, so all of us in Shoreline could once again enjoy this hidden gem.

Tours of the inside of Activities Building will be happening soon. Watch this space for details.



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What is the whistle at noon?

Friday, February 22, 2013

Katharine K sent in a question and asked if we could find the answer:

I was born and raised on 20th Ave in Shoreline, near the South Woods, and I have a question about a neighborhood curiosity that I was hoping someone could answer. As long as I can remember, every Wednesday at noon, there is a loud horn/train whistle/siren that blasts a few times. All I can think is that it is some emergency warning system that is tested each week, but no one I talk to has any clue what it is. It seems to be coming from the direction of Hamlin park or Fircrest.


For this, we went to Patricia Hale, who knows All Things Ridgecrest. We thought she might have some information from across the street in Briarcrest, and she did:

Harkens back to the days of the Civil Air Patrol - and the Early Warning system for Disasters.  
When I was growing up in Walla Walla - (number of years ago will not be disclosed)
we had a siren located a few blocks from our grade school that ran a test every Wednesday at noon. 
Kind of like the current day "this is a test, if there would have been a real emergency, you would have been instructed...." 
What we hear locally emanates from the Fircrest property. The buildings there are heated with steam from the plant located right there on the grounds. The noise is a Steam Whistle that is tested every Wednesday at noon. 
It is a hold-over from the Navy Hospital which was located there during the War years from 1942-47. They would have had the steam whistle as part of their warning system in case of attack. 
If you ever hear the whistle at any time other than Wednesday at noon, I suggest you duck, cover and hold!

Thanks to Katharine for the great question and Patty for the informative answer!


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Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth at Fircrest March 29, all welcome

Friday, March 23, 2012

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Dedication of Jacqueline C. MacRae Therapy Garden Thursday, 10 am

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

click to enlarge

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Public Health Labs: master plan for growth at Fircrest

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Public Health Labs. Photo by Steven H. Robinson
By Donn Moyor, Communications Office, Washington Dept of Health

In late 2010, the Shoreline City Council approved the Master Plan for the State Public Health Labs at Fircrest on 15th NE in Shoreline in the Briarcrest Neighborhood.

The council’s approval was a big step for the Department of Health and its three year work to develop a 20-year plan for the Public Health Laboratories on the Fircrest campus. The master plan allows us to meet agency needs to keep up with workload and better serve the city and the state.

Agency staff members, community leaders, City of Shoreline staff members, other state agencies and consultants worked on the plan. We defined the agency’s 20-year needs and worked with community leaders to make sure our plans fit with their long-range goals. We sought community input that was incorporated into the final planning document. Community members have shown support for the master plan.

The agency studied current needs and forecast its space needs for the next 20 years. It consulted with public health systems from across the country several times and met with a community group to incorporate local needs. The final approved plan represents a long-range compass to guide agency work and facility needs at the Shoreline campus:

The plan is a 20 year roadmap for the Department of Health, Public Health Laboratories, agency consolidation, and future space needs. It’s a conceptual plan that defines space needs over the next two decades. It allows accurate planning and budgeting to meet future building needs.

Artist's rendition of completed building. Courtesy State DOH.
  •  Additional space that’s adequate for the growing workload in the labs will enhance the existing safe environment for employees and community.
  • Future growth needs for the agency are identified and incorporated into the plan. Space needs for current activities are identified and included. The plan anticipates adapting to the changing technologies that require adequate space. It includes long-range consolidation of other agency facilities in King County to reduce overall long-term operating cost.
  • Over the 20 year planning horizon, it includes building additional laboratory space (23,000 square ft); additional office, mechanical, meeting, and support space (22,000 square ft); administrative offices to consolidate Kent and other King County offices (25,000 square ft). It’s a total of 90,000 square ft added over 20 years.
  • We estimate about 190 additional employees will be relocated from other offices over the next 20 years; this will have the added economic benefits of additional wages and sales taxes from employee base and agency work.
  • The plan addresses community and city needs for zoning, economic development, and open space. It takes into consideration the management needs of the City of Shoreline. It improves access to the property given new streets and future city plans. The campus plan also links with Fircrest and City of Shoreline community trails and open spaces.
 See story on building construction.

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School District supports Senate bill to end school-age placements at Fircrest

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Shoreline School District is supporting a bill in the Washington State Senate that children in the state’s care should be served in residential settings near their families, friends, and schools, not in institutions, including the Fircrest School in Shoreline.

Senate Bill 5132 would change state law to prohibit children under the age of 21 from being placed in Residential Habilitation Centers (RHC) like Fircrest.

"The continuation of the current state policy to segregate disabled children in the RHCs, of which the overwhelming majority are sent to Fircrest School in Shoreline, is bad for children and for all communities in Washington," Shoreline Superintendent Sue Walker told the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee at a public hearing on the bill Monday.

The District agrees with Governor Chris Gregoire's belief that when students must be served outside the home, it is critical that they be placed in their home communities close to their schools, families, and friends. Currently, only 1 of the 24 student residents at Fircrest has family residing within the Shoreline School District, the remaining 23 come from other communities.

Despite the Governor's pronouncements and clear written directives, the number of school-aged children placed at the Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center (RHC) continues to grow. Since 2005, the population has grown from one child to 24 at Fircrest. Since spring of 2010, six school-aged clients have moved into Fircrest RHC.

The majority of students currently enrolled are designated by Fircrest as "permanent placements," and one of these children is only 10 years old. Nearly every one of the "short-term stay" students has been there longer than 90 days.
"Closing the Frances Haddon Morgan Center in Bremerton or other RHCs will only exacerbate the problem of the continued institutionalization of children at Fircrest. Senate Bill 5132 will stop this trend," Superintendent Walker said.
The state's educational funding formula for Fircrest RHC students does not reimburse the Shoreline School District or our community for the actual costs associated with the program.

The result is that the Shoreline School District is held responsible for providing education to all students in the least restrictive environment without adequate financial resources and infrastructure to do so.

"This creates an unfair burden on the citizens of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park by requiring that local levy dollars be used to supplement the costs of educating residents of Fircrest," Walker said.

Given the estimated number of institutionalized students at Fircrest for 2010-2011, Shoreline's out-of-pocket expenses for the school year will be approximately $200,000.

"Moving school-aged residents out of Fircrest will not magically solve funding issues for the education of students with disabilities, but it will distribute the costs more equitably across the state, rather than burdening one particular community, such as Shoreline," Walker said.
--from Shoreline School District
 

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