The Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center started in the 1960s as the state's first multi-district high school vocational program.

But Highline district officials think the center's name has become as dated as such '60s expressions as "groovy" and "far out."

So school board members voted April 18 to change the center's name to Puget Sound Skills Center. The switch is effective May 1.

Several things were wrong with the old name, principal Sue Shields told board members.

First, the Sea-Tac center at 18010 Eighth Ave. S. is located in Burien, not at Sea-Tac International Airport or in the city of SeaTac. And it enrolls students from Fife to Seattle.

Also, while the term "occupational" was in vogue 40 years ago, all the center's programs now lead to college credits or national certification, Shields noted.

During a year and a half process, 300 new names were considered.

Superintendent John Welch also announced that Todd Moorhead, currently principal at SeaTac's Chinook Middle School, will become the center's new vice principal on July 1.

In other business, security director Tony Zeman updated board members on the district's emergency preparedness in the wake of last week's shootings at Virginia Tech.

He said the district has a security hotline that anyone can call with an anonymous tip.

The phone number is 206-433-2566.

The phone is answered Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. At other times, callers can leave a voice message. Messages are checked frequently, according to Zeman.

Based on hotline tips, security officers have intercepted some students this year who were bringing weapons to school, he added.

Zeman urged students to talk to "whoever they feel comfortable with," such as security officers, school resource officers, principals or teachers if they are concerned about safety.

Each school is equipped with a disaster kit that contains three days of food, he also reported.

A bond passed by voters in 2006 provided funding for surveillance cameras, fencing and enhanced lighting at some schools.

Board members also heard complaints from Mt. Rainier High parents and students about the school's small learning communities.

The district is switching to the small communities within its high schools to provide more personal contact between students and teachers. Students have classes with the same classmates and teachers.

Student Bertha Vo from Tukwila said she chose to attend Mt. Rainier instead of Foster High, but complained that her teachers don't assign enough work and she is often bored in class.

Parent Mary Zaches said the learning communities "are not working. Mt. Rainier needs to go back to a traditional high school."

She said teachers do not stay in the academies, business people are not involved in mentoring students and students have problems signing up for desired electives.

Zaches also charged the teachers instruct to the level of the lowest-achieving students.

Karen Cody, the Des Moines school's Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) president, emphasized that parents like Mt. Rainier's teachers and staff.

"Our objections are not personal," she added.

Moira Carr Bradshaw, a PTSA member, said she is concerned about academic rigor in the mixed-ability classes. She added that the classes are not preparing students for more challenging 11th- and 12th-grade classes.

Sandy Fry, a parent representative on the small learning communities council, said the council is working on ways to improve communication between parents and school staff.

These include a principal's newsletter, community meetings, and a written parent survey.

Board members also approved a 25-cent increase in lunch prices and a five-cent increase in milk prices in September.

New prices are $2 for elementary lunch, $2.25 for middle school and high school lunch, 40 cents for reduced-price lunch, $2.75 for adult lunch without milk and 40 cents for milk.