Chinook Middle School parents urged Highline Schools board members on June 13 to continue programs to foster parent and community involvement in schools.

Due to proposed budget cuts, a community liaison position at the SeaTac school has been eliminated.

Chinook already faces advanced sanctions from the federal Leave No Child Behind act because of poor student scores on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).

Principal Todd Moorhead is moving to the Puget Sound Skills Center, formerly the SeaTac Occupational Skills Center, as assistant principal in September.

Chinook parent Shelley Murray told board members that over the past four years a model parent/community involvement program has been created.

"Chinook Middle School is now known as a place where parents participate and community partnerships were formed to work in cooperation," Murray said.

Successful examples include student-led conferences, monthly cross-cultural events, a Bite of Chinook potluck, formation of the Parent Ambassador Program, and outreach to specific parent groups and languages.

She noted it usually takes three to five years to effectively create change.

"If the district really wants change, now is the time to step up and enforce what has begun as a grass root effort by one community," Murray declared.

She requested formation of a high-school area position to coordinate community collaboration, part-time coordinators at each school and additional funding support.

Murray also stressed the need for language translators, noting English is a second language for about half the students and their families at Chinook.

Brandon Darbro, president of Chinook's Parents Ambassadors program, added, "We are afraid if we lose the liaison position, we could lose momentum."

Board member Phyllis Byers said she wished the community involvement program had been operating when her child attended Chinook.

Board members also heard about the district's plans for summer school.

Superintendent John Welch said 4,000 of the district's 18,000 students have been approached about enrolling in summer sessions.

Summer school coordinator Patty Spangler said previous sessions had focused on allowing students to make up credits for courses failed.

However, the current summer school is more geared to helping students pass all sections of the WASL. Students may retake the test in August.

The district will offer "enrichment" programs for elementary and middle school students in arts and science.

Band for fifth-through eighth-graders will also be offered.

Students who have not completed their mandatory senior project will be helped during summer, Spangler added.

In other business, board members recognized 32 district retirees, the Mt. Rainier High Wind Ensemble, the Aviation High robotics team and Welch for his support of the district's alternative Big Picture High.