Q: Mr. Federal Way, I want your opinion about our schools and their desire to “lead the pack” in our state. We know that this is not always the case with Federal Way Public Schools. One example is the lack of working technology in our schools. I have heard from many in the district for many years that the amount of computers that don’t work is horrendous. These are computers that our students are supposed to be using for typing classes, for state testing or even class projects. In one example, an overloaded “Computer Applications” class, the teacher has 40 students and only 19 working computers. How are our students supposed to learn anything if they have to sit in the back of the class and do nothing? And the teachers that are required to teach these classes are constantly trying to fight for the broken computers to be fixed, to no avail. I thought we voted for a technology levy a few years back? What happened to that money? Yes, “Computers on Wheels” or COWS were purchased, but why not fix the broken computers? And even with the COWS, there is still not enough computers. And with state testing coming up, all the available computers will be used for that for about four weeks — what are teachers and kids supposed to do during those class times with no computers?

It is frustrating to see and hear this from so many staff and students. They feel like the district doesn’t care. What are your thoughts?

A: Mr. Federal Way is going to side with the school district on this one. Yes, they make bold statements about “leading the pack” but what school district doesn’t? Here’s the deal: Voters approved a $25 million replacement technology levy in 2010, which supports the needs of students and staff. This levy also pays for their network, Wi-Fi and software licenses as well as computers, tablets and printers.

According to the school district, 20 percent of staff’s devices are replaced each year and money from the levy is also spent on student devices within the schools.

The levy called for $1.8 million for the first two years and then $4.4 million after that. Quite frankly, Federal Wayans can only give so much. It’s important for students to have working computers but there was life before the Internet and people walked away from high school to go on to do great things. Intelligence, innovation and hard work isn’t some html code to be downloaded into our student’s brains. Mr. Federal Way fully recognizes the value of up-to-date technologies but these are only tools, not crutches, for learning.

District officials have also taken funds from their own budget to help solve this growing demand for technologies in school. In the last two budget cycles, the district has allotted an additional $400,000 to extend technology funding.

“Our students must be adept in a technology-rich world — the district is mandated to deliver technology curriculum and to also utilize technology for assessment,” said Ann Cook, the district spokeswoman. “The cart or Computers on Wheels allows teachers to put technology where it is needed and when it is needed.”

Cook said schools do have the ability to retain computers that have, in theory, been replaced and are no longer under warranty or contract. So, give them some slack or take out your checkbook.

Q: Mr. Federal Way, this city will lose another major employer — MorphoTrak — this December. This announcement came soon after Weyerhaeuser gave that grave news that they too were leaving this city. Why is the city allowing this to happen?

A: Well, if the Mirror was invited to the company’s grand opening to begin with, maybe things would be different.

But the company did indeed say they would shutter their Federal Way facility, impacting 95 employees. MorphoTrak owners, like Weyerhaeuser, are restructuring their company. The mayor even met with the MorphoTrak’s president and CEO who told him she appreciated the city’s supportive business environment. Ultimately, their decision was driven by “larger economic factors” in their company. Mr. Federal Way thinks those reasons are sound but the cold hard truth is that Federal Way is simply not an “it” place. This city is still not “on the map” and here’s why: Federal Way is not a place where young entrepreneurs can come to make a lot of money. The Eastside and Seattle are. Not only do they have Microsoft, Amazon and a Google campus, they have a sense of identity.

City officials are still working on that identity with its economic development strategy. Mr. Federal Way applauses that effort but it’s not there yet. Mr. Federal Way thinks the city needs to take a deeper look into what makes a city attractive for growth, and not in terms of attractive permitting processes or purely economic strategies. Look at the people who are here and the people who should be here for the city to transform into a regional game-changer. Yes, Town Center is a concept that could work but it’s not there yet.

Mr. Federal Way is certainly not suggesting we should throw out the citizens who are here and get new ones. But it is a problem for the economy when more than half of all students in the district have free or reduced lunch. It’s an issue when there’s more low-income housing than ever and there is not a balance of rich to poor. Economic Development Director Tim Johnson said it last month: Only 25 percent of the city’s residents have a college degree and 16 percent are in poverty. Mr. Federal Way estimates much more than 16 percent of families are struggling financially. The city has a good start with that draft plan, but it’s just that — a plan. It’s time to see some action.

Q: Mr. Federal Way, what are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

A: None of your business.

Got a question for Mr. Federal Way? Email mrfederalway@federalwaymirror.com.