Mercer Island City Council Partners with the School District to maintain excellence

The Mercer Island school community represents a significant portion of our Island — with 4,300 students and nearly 6,500 associated parents. Our district funding per student ranks 145th out of 296 in Washington State. Given state-mandated limits to funding, it is imperative that we receive assistance from the city council. Fortunately, our Mercer Island City Council supports our schools by funding:

– Safe Routes to Schools: The City invests approximately $100k every two years in promote Safe Routes to Schools, including the installation of crosswalks and sidewalks and creation of walking paths that are separated from the street.

– Mental Health Counselors: MIYFS counselors are based onsite at each public school on Mercer Island, providing: counseling services for children, adolescents and their families; classroom presentations; and group activities. At the high school and middle school substance abuse services include prevention, education, intervention and assessment and referral.

– Provide Offset for Pool Operating Costs: The City of Mercer Island contributes approximately $120k per year to the School District for the operational and maintenance costs of Mary Wayte Pool.

– Field Maintenance: Maintenance and use of sports fields