183_-_2021-8-26_Todd_StartzelFrom:Todd R. Startzel
To:Lori Barlow
Subject:Painted Hills Developement
Date:Thursday, August 26, 2021 10:24:11 PM[EXTERNAL] This email originated outside the City of Spokane Valley. Always use caution when openingattachments or clicking links.
Ms. Barlow – I am opposed to a 550 plus residential development because there has been no
assessment of the impact on the local schools, nor proposed solutions to the negative impact on the
local schools by adding a large number of additional students. I have resided on Horizon Hill Ln.
since 2004. I drive all around the valley and the streets in and around the schools. Both my children
attended the newly constructed University High School. From the day it first opened, the school was
horrible over-crowded. Auxiliary class rooms were installed the FIRST year because of over-
crowding and exist today. Students did not and still do not use lockers to store books, etc. The
reason: due to over-crowding, students do not have sufficient time to navigate the crowd of kids
jamming the hallways to get to a locker and swap out books or other materials needed for the next
class. The students carry all their books, lunch, etc. in their backpacks. A 550 plus residential
development will only exacerbate the problem.
Washington state governments have a legal obligation, as affirmed by the Washington State
Supreme Court in the case of McCleary v. State, 173 Wn. 2nd 477, 269 P. 3rd 227 (2012), “to make
ample provision for the education of children…” The “paramount duty” the court noted, was not
only a funding decision but also other education reforms, including class size limitations; student-
teacher ratios and adequacy of space. The duty imposed on the state passes onto local counties,
cities and school boards. The proposed developed, given the current size, does NOT take into
consideration the impact on the local school and in my view, violate the McCeary court’s decision
mandate to place public education at the forefront of consideration. University High School does
NOT have the space for more students. Any number of studies have confirm excessive class size
negatively impacts the education experience— that is, a vast amount of research has confirmed
without dispute that students in smaller class size perform better on all subjects and better on
assessment tests. Increasing the class size therefore does not comply with the McCleary decision.
The impact on the schools discussed above does not even address the on-going pandemic. There is
no light at the end of the tunnel thus far. The trend line is not favorable and no one can predict the
pandemic will be under control by the time home construction begins. Excessive class size therefore
increases the health risk for all students, faculty and staff.
Todd R. Startzel
Kirkpatrick & Startzel, P.S.
108 N. Washington St., Ste. 201|Spokane, WA 99201
P 509.455.3647|F 509.624.2081|www.ks-lawyers.com
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