Lacey City Council and the North Thurston Public Schools Board of Directors held a joint special meeting on Tuesday, May 21 at the school district administrative offices. The leaders sat intermingled and heard presentations on projects relevant to both.
The Compassionate Community Project recognized its City of Lacey Culture of Kindness Spotlight recipient, the Fred U. Harris Masonic Lodge #70. According to the city’s website, “The Compassionate Lacey Campaign is a collaborative partnership with the City of Lacey, North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS), and the Lacey South Sound Chamber.
Community Relations Specialist Jenny Bauersfeld presented the award from the city. She also reminded everyone that the city and lodge’s annual Juneteenth celebration and picnic is coming soon. It takes place on the third Saturday in June, (this year, June 15), and the lodge provides free meals. It will happen from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Regional Athletic Complex, 8345 Steilacoom Rd. SE in Lacey.
NTPS also has a Culture of Kindness initiative, and Executive Director of Communications Amy Blondin spoke about it. Each month, the district recognizes a member of the schools community who promotes kindness and compassion.
“For every nine or 10 we highlight, there are hundreds more we could have recognized,” she noted. This school year, NTPS has aimed big in its kindness goal: it is seeking to log 100,000 acts of kindness district wide.
Providing an update on the Young Child and Family Center were NTPS Assistant Superintendent (and incoming superintendent) Troy Oliver and Lacey Assistant City Manager Shannon Kelly-Fong. In addition to the schools and the city, Thurston Economic Development Council and the South Sound YMCA also partner with the project.
The center will provide a preschool, early learning resources, and a family education facility. “The Young Child and Family Center will be located at Marvin Road and Martin Way, next to Nisqually Middle School. The district-owned property previously housed Nisqually Ballpark,” according to the project web page.
It will also provide recreational facilities to the community, especially indoor play space and indoor and outdoor aquatic recreational opportunities. As part of its Comprehensive Plan 2023-29, Lacey Parks, Culture and Recreation sought public input on needed recreational offerings, and the response focused planners’ attention on these amenities, along with more trails and athletic fields, Kelly-Fong explained.
A brochure providing information about the planned facility indicates that it will include numerous amenities.
The building’s specs include a 45,000 sq. ft. Early Learning Center, 25,000 sq. ft. public use space, and 23 classrooms.
Sadie Siglin, who -- in addition to her role as a management analyst for the city -- heads up the Lacey Youth Council (LYC), presented an update on this student leadership group. LYC is currently accepting applications for 2024-25.
The program includes not only public school students, but also private school and homeschool students in Lacey. The group meets twice per month on its own and once a year with Lacey City Council, Siglin explained.
Mayor Andy Ryder noted that this joint meeting took place the previous week. See related story. He added that LYC members would like council members to come to their schools and report to their peers what is going on in the city government.
Siglin noted that she went to St. John Paul II High School with the school’s LYC member and spoke this academic year.
LYC networks with the Lakewood Youth Council, with members visiting each others’ meetings and sharing information, according to Siglin. For more about the Lacey Youth Council, its activities, and structure, visit the LYC website.
In the meeting’s closing remarks, both School Board President Gretchen Maliska and Mayor Ryder expressed thanks to retiring superintendent Dr. Debra Clemens. On behalf of the city council, the mayor presented a gift to Clemens.
Ryder also mentioned the reason for the joint meetings, that they began to work together on an issue that both schools and the city faced. He also spoke of the importance of the two bodies working together.
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