IN OTHER NEWS

Federal Way School District officials are hopeful that no one will lose their job as a result of next year’s budget, said chief financial officer Sally McLean.

Federal Way School District

budget update for 2008-2009

Federal Way School District officials are hopeful that no one will lose their job as a result of next year’s budget, said chief financial officer Sally McLean.

The 2008-2009 school year budget was balanced by using $1.6 million set aside in the previous year’s budget for the following year.

Next year’s budget has fewer hours for para-educators, but the reduction may come from employees retiring or leaving, and not from next year’s staff. District officials will work to move employees to other positions within the district to avoid staff cuts.

Administration will know for sure whether positions will be cut in mid-July.

St. Francis Hospital will close Mental health unit

St. Francis Hospital will close its voluntary admit mental health unit next spring. The unit currently has 10 beds and has an average daily occupancy of seven patients.

The mental health program will be consolidated with the program at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, said Gale Robinette. spokesman for Franciscan Health System, which operates both hospitals.

The program at St. Joseph will be expanded and will serve patients in a more centralized location, Robinette said. The change will improve staff efficiency and allow for the development of more specialized care and programs.

Emergency health care system improves communication

Hospitals in King County are improving coordination to get people the care they need in an emergency.

KCHealthTrac is a new Web-based software system that tracks emergency department status and hospital bed availability on a daily basis, enhancing health care providers’ ability to manage patient intake, according to a news release by the King County Healthcare Coalition. During a large-scale disaster, the system will also act as a central clearinghouse for managing medical resources across the region, the release stated.

Summer food program

The Federal Way School District will sponsor the Simplified Summer Food Program for Children this summer. Meals will be provided at no charge for children 18 years old and younger. Meals will be served at the following locations during the following dates.

Adelaide: 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 23-July 31

Camelot Square: Noon to 12:30 p.m., 3 to 3:30 p.m. June 17-July 10

Decatur: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 18-21

Enterprise: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. June 23-July 31

Federal Way High School: 10:30 a.m. to noon June 23-31 and 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 18-21

Illahee: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 21-26

Kilo: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 21-26

Lakota: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 21-26

Mark Twain: 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 23-July 31

Meredith Hill: 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 23-July 31

Mirror Lake: 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 23-July 31

Olympic View: 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 23-July 31

Sacajawea: 9:30 to 11 a.m. Aug. 21-26

Saghalie: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 21-26

Sequoyah: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 21-26

Silver Lake: 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 23-July 31

Star Lake: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. June 23-July 31

Sunnycrest: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. July 9-31

Thomas Jefferson: 8 to 9:30 a.m. June 16-July 11 and Aug. 21-26, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 16-July 11 and Aug. 21-26 and 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 18-21

Todd Beamer: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Aug. 18-21

Totem: 9:30 to 11 a.m. Aug. 21-26

Westway: Noon to 12:30 p.m. and 3 to 3:30 p.m. June 17-July 10

Wildwood: 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 23-July 31.