Sup not happy that no one is listening

By Joyce Edie
for Mattawa Area News

Mattawa Area News/STPNS

July 17, 2008

MATTAWA, Washington (STPNS) -- Gary Greene is getting a bit upset over something. Actually, he's on the verge of getting mad.

No one will listen to some news that he thinks is pretty great. In fact, in the education community, it should be one of the top headlines in the state, he thinks.

One hundred percent of the Wahluke High School seniors passed the WASL requirements. All 79 of them.

"Bellevue is thrilled with 91 percent. Mercer Island has 93 percent. I can't get anyone to listen to me that we had 100 percent," said the Wahluke superintendent.

When he says no one, he mostly means daily newspapers who he said blasts Wahluke in the headlines every chance they get.

"We get drilled on the 4th and 7th grade tests and how low they are. When we do our job and get all the kids to graduate I can't get it into the news. No one will even return my calls," he said.

Gary was at a conference recently and he took the news to the education head. He let State Superintendent Terry Bergeson know about his district.

"My high school principal and staff need some accolades about this," he said.

So here goes. Of the 79 graduates 59 passed the WASL test outright. Sixteen did a Collection of Evidence portfolio to prove they know the material and four others took the special needs tests given for those who need it.

Those three categories are nothing special to Wahluke. Every other school has those same three options and as far as Gary knows, no other school in the state had 100 percent passing. Unless, he said, there is some other person out there just as frustrated as he is about no one paying attention.

He's going to keep trying to get some good press. But even if he can't, he's mighty proud of his seniors and staff. This was the first class that was required to pass the WASL to graduate.



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