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Updates on the efforts to save Cispus in Olympia and Tumwater

• Published August 19, 2009

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The separate parent groups in the Olympia and Tumwater districts to save the districts' outdoor schools received encouragement in the past few weeks. Read all the details in Thursday's Olympian, but here's the nitty gritty:

1) Olympia parents learned that 2009 fifth-grade trip cost about $21,000 less than in previous years, because the district was able to save money on transportation costs. That means, instead of having to raise $70,000, they'll have to raise $49,000. The $150 student fee for participants will still be necessary, though.

2) Tumwater parents and district officials discussed a proposal to be brought before the school board next Thursday (Aug. 27), that would allow the parents to raise the money for the sixth-grade trip, instead of the trip being cut altogether. The board has yet to make the decision about whether the program continues.

Like any modern cause, both efforts now have Facebook pages:

- Save Outdoor Schools Olympia

- Save Cispus for Thurston County Kids! (This is the Tumwater effort.)

-- Venice Buhain, Olympian education reporter