Governor visits Dimmitt Middle School to promote federal grant interest

Gov. Christine Gregoire toured Dimmitt Middle School Tuesday to promote the state's qualifications for $100 to $200 million in federal grant money.

Dimmitt was selected for the tour because of the Renton School District's collaborative and systematic model for helping struggling schools, Gregoire said. "This whole district is taking up the challenge."

Dimmitt, an ethnically diverse school in Skyway, is faced with numerous challenges, including heavy administrative turnover and historically low state achievement scores.

However, Gregoire was impressed by the knowledge of the sixth-grade math students she visited.

"I say explain to me what you're doing, and they can," she said.

This wouldn't have been the case three years ago, said superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel.

"I am truly honored to have Renton selected as an example for showing the federal government a systematic approach that is effectively improving student achievement," Heuschel said.

The systematic approach is holistic, both changing curriculum and helping better equip teachers. It also focuses on administrative changes.

"We're miles ahead of where we used to be," Hesuchel said.

Caught in the hallway during a passing period, middle schoolers surrounded Gregoire, looking for handshakes and a little fame.

The district is one of a few that have been able to gather more diagnostic data about students because of special support from the Summit Initiative, a state grant program.

Most districts and the state have only been able to rate student and school success by the standardized achievement exams.

"We need more diagnostic data," said Randy Dorn, state superintendent of public instruction, who also went on the tour.

Having those assessments written into law is important for the application process.

The federal grant competition is offering $4.35 billion.

Gregoire admitted that Washington likely won't make the first round of grants, but she is optimistic about the second round.

"I can't tell you what state has any chance in the first round," she said.

Right now the grant competition is emphasizing the importance of charter schools, which are innovative, publicly funded and privately run schools.

Washington state doesn't have charter schools. Legislation was passed, but the public voted it down with Referendum 55 in 2004.

In a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Gregoire spent time trying to convince Arne Duncan, Barack Obama's secretary of education, that the charter school expectation isn't flexible enough, she said.

"If it's about the spirit of innovation," she said, then schools like Dimmitt and Aviation High School meet that standard.

Contact Renton Reporter Staff Writer Celeste Gracey at cgracey@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5052.

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