Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 11, 2004
Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Gov. Gary Locke Tours Digital Learning Commons Program at North Kitsap High School
Gov. Gary Locke today got a first-hand look at how the Washington Digital Learning Commons project is working at North Kitsap High School. Locke toured the school during a visit to the Kitsap Peninsula.
North Kitsap is one of approximately 17 schools across the state participating in a two-year proof-of-concept phase, to field test and evaluate the Digital Learning Commons. Locke discussed the program today with the school’s students, teachers, administrators and parents to see what was working and what could be improved.
Locke announced the creation of the Digital Learning Commons last year, based on the recommendation of the state’s Digital Learning Task Force, formed by the governor in 2002.
“Times are changing, and we must change with them,” Locke said. “Our students deserve the best education possible to prepare them for the high-tech, global economy that awaits them after graduation. The Digital Learning Commons will help them do that.”
The Digital Learning Commons is said to be the first high-tech learning tool of its kind in the nation. The Web-based portal is designed to improve education in Washington by delivering high-quality digital resources, learning tools and online courses to all students, teachers and parents in the state – regardless of location, background or school district resources. The goal is to connect all middle and high schools in the state in the next five years.
“The Digital Learning Commons will open worlds of knowledge for our children,” Locke said. We’ve already seen students in Forks learning Japanese, and high school students in Bellevue able to talk to Nez Perce tribal elders in Pullman.”
Approximately 40 North Kitsap students were enrolled in the Digital Learning Commons last semester, and some 50 students have enrolled this semester, selecting courses like “American Foreign Policy” and “Honors Folklore” in addition to core and advanced courses in the sciences, mathematics and foreign languages.
Private foundations will partner with the state during the next two fiscal years to create a new nonprofit organization to build, run and evaluate the Digital Learning Commons. With anticipated foundation grants of $3 million, the state share of the $5 million budget will be approximately 40 percent of the total.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Foundations have committed funds to the Digital Learning Commons project.
The Digital Learning Commons builds on the success of the K-20 Network, run by the state Department of Information Services. The K-20 Network is a high-speed telecommunications network providing Internet access and live videoconferencing capabilities to the state’s public school districts, higher education institutions and public libraries. Because of this network, students throughout the state in all geographic regions have access to the Internet.
For more information about the Washington Digital Learning Commons, visit http://depts.washington.edu/lcommons/.
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Related links: www.governor.wa.gov
Editor’s Note: Attached are lists of the Washington schools participating in the Digital Learning Commons “proof of concept” phase and the Digital Learning Commons Board of Directors.
Pilot Schools of the Washington Digital Learning Commons
Aberdeen
Harbor High School
Ed Liedtke
Principal
360.538.2189
eliedtke@asd5.org
Martin W. Kay
Superintendent
360.538.2002
mkay@asd5.org
Aberdeen High School
Justin Smith
Principal
360.538.2040
jsmith@asd5.org
Aberdeen Home-Link
Tita Mallory
Curriculum Director
360.538.2036
tmallory@asd5.org
Bridgeport
Bridgeport High School
Eugene Schmidt
Principal
509.686.9501
gschmidt@bridgeport.wednet.edu
Steve Pointer
Superintendent
509.686.8770
spointer@bridgeport.wednet.edu
Forks
Forks High School
Donald L. Young
Principal
360.374.6262
dyou@mail.wavcc.org
Frank Walter
Superintendent
360.374.6262
fwalter@mail.wavcc.org
Quileute Tribal School
Frank Hanson
Superintendent
360.374.5700
fhanson618@aol.com
Oakesdale
Oakesdale High School
Lisa Holmes
Principal
509.285.5281
lholmes@oakesdale.wednet.edu
Steve A. Deal
Superintendent
509.285.5296
sdeal@oakesdale.wednet.edu
Omak
Omak High School
Omak Alternative High School
Ron DeHaan
Principal
509.826.5150
rodehaan@omaksd.wednet.edu
Bob Risinger
Superintendent
509.826.7681
risinger@omak.wednet.edu
Paschal Sherman Indian School
Joe Martinez
Principal
509.422.7590
jmartinez@psis.bia.edu
Debbie Simpson
Superintendent
509.826.2097
debbiesimpson45@hotmail.com
Poulsbo
North Kitsap High School
David Andersen
Principal
360.779.4408
anderd@nksd.wednet.edu
Eugene Medina
Superintendent
360.779.8702
gmedina@nksd.wednet.edu
North Kitsap Parent Assisted Learning
(PAL) Program
George Ramsey
Teacher
360.598.8538
gramsey@nksd.wednet.edu
North Kitsap Spectrum
Chris Wendelyn
Principal
360.297.2131 x233
chrisw@nksd.wednet.edu
Suquamish Tribal Education
Jerome Jainga
Director
360.3945210
jjainga@suquamish.nsn.us
Toppenish
Toppenish High School
Ardith Hammack
Principal
509.865.8030
ahammack@toppenish.wednet.edu
Steve Myers
Superintendent
509.865.8155
smyers@toppenish.wednet.edu
Tukwila
Foster High School
Gary Moed
Principal
206.901.7905
moedg@tukwila.wednet.edu
Michael Silver
Superintendent
206.901.8000
silverm@tukwila.wednet.edu
Washington State School for the Blind
Dean Stenehjem
Superintendent
360-696-6321
dean.stenehmem@wssb.wa.gov
Craig Meador
Principal
360-696-6321
craig.meador@wssb.wa.gov