By David Miller
It was a week defined by the distinct sounds of Mercer Island life: the splash of a diver breaking the surface at Mary Wayte Pool, the quiet scratch of pens on ballots, and the somber, necessary words of history being spoken aloud in the library. As mid-February settled over the island, bringing its familiar gray skies and brisk winds, the community found itself looking simultaneously forward and backward. We looked forward to state championships and the financial security of our schools, while casting a difficult but essential gaze back at the injustices of World War II and the more recent, troubling gaps in how our state handles educator misconduct. It was a week that reminded us that a community is built not just on its victories, but on its willingness to fund its future and face its past.
Islanders Make Waves: Swim and Dive Team Heads to State
The air at Mary Wayte Pool is often thick with humidity and anticipation, but this past week, it was charged with the electricity of championship aspirations. The Mercer Island High School boys swim and dive team delivered a commanding performance at the 3A Sea-King District Championships on February 13 and 14, securing a third-place team finish and punching multiple tickets to the upcoming state competition.
Connor Carson dominated the diving board, taking first place in 1-meter diving with a score of 483.70. In the lanes, Luke Dunn proved to be a force of nature, capturing gold in two grueling events: the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:51.84, and the 500 freestyle, clocking in at 4:31.51. These first-place finishes anchored a team effort that saw contributions from across the roster.
The depth of the Islanders was on full display beyond the top of the podium. Zizi Song sprinted to a fifth-place finish in the 50 freestyle, while Alex Jack and Brendan Sung took fifth in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke, respectively. The relay teams performed admirably, with all three relays making the podium. The 400 free relay team of Dunn, Song, Andrew Wang, and Alex Xia secured third place, while the 200 medley and 200 free relays both touched the wall in fourth.
The diving well was particularly fruitful for Mercer Island. Behind Carson's victory, Asher Weeks took second place, Shane Kornblum took third, and Keith Chung finished seventh. This performance followed a fourth-place team finish at the 3A KingCo championships a week prior, where Carson also took top honors.
Now, the focus shifts south. The athletes are tapering and preparing for the 3A state championship meet, scheduled for February 20-21 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. For a program with a storied history, this group of athletes has ensured that the legacy continues, carrying the hopes of the island with them to the biggest stage of the season.
Reported by Mercer Island Reporter and mihs.mercerislandschools.org
A Resounding 'Yes': Voters Approve School Levy
While students were competing in the pool, the broader community was making a decisive statement about the value of education on Mercer Island. In the February 10 special election, voters overwhelmingly approved the Mercer Island School District's replacement Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy. Early returns on election night showed the measure passing with approximately 73% of the vote, a landslide victory that signals deep community trust in the district's direction.
The levy is far more than a bureaucratic line item. It accounts for roughly 16% of the district's annual operating budget, bridging the gap between what the state of Washington provides for "basic education" and the actual cost of running a high-performing district.
With the passage of Proposition No. 1, the district is authorized to collect taxes providing up to $16 million in 2027, scaling up to $19 million by 2030. For the average homeowner with a property assessed at $2.2 million, this translates to a tax increase of about $27.50 per month starting in 2027.
The funds secured this week ensure the continuation of services that families might otherwise take for granted. The levy supports the seven-period day at the high school, allowing for a breadth of electives that enrich the curriculum. It funds smaller class sizes across K-12, reading specialists in elementary schools, and essential roles like paraeducators and psychologists. The levy also sustains over 50 athletic teams at the high school and 16 at the middle school. In a time of economic uncertainty, the island's voters have chosen to double down on their most precious asset: the next generation.
Reported by Mercer Island Reporter, mihs.mercerislandschools.org, and mihs.mercerislandschools.org
Shadows of Minidoka: Confronting a Painful History
In a poignant counterpoint to the week's current events, the community gathered to listen to a voice from the past that resonated deeply with the present. Judy Kusakabe, who was born while her family was incarcerated during World War II, brought her story to the Mercer Island Library in a program titled "Behind the Barbed Wire." The event, a collaboration between the library, the Mercer Island Historical Society, and the high school's Education Coalition for Asian American Representation (ECAAR), offered a stark reminder of the fragility of civil liberties.
Kusakabe's narrative is one of survival amidst betrayal. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, her family was among the 120,000 Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes. Before being sent to the Minidoka War Relocation Center in Idaho, her family lived in a "tiny barrack under the ferris wheel" at the Puyallup assembly center, known euphemistically as Camp Harmony. Kusakabe noted that they were arguably the "lucky ones," as others were forced to live in horse stalls.
The event was not merely a history lecture. It was an intergenerational dialogue. Members of the ECAAR club from Mercer Island High School facilitated a discussion with Kusakabe, connecting her experiences to modern-day contexts. Students James Young, Vinh Luu, Han Sun, Riddhi Bukka, and Kim Tran helped steer the conversation toward the culture of silence that often followed the incarceration and the eventual political fight for the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which issued reparations and a formal apology.
For the students, hearing Kusakabe—whose mother was pregnant with her behind barbed wire—transformed textbook history into living memory. The ECAAR club plans to continue this educational work, inviting the community to their upcoming annual night market on February 28 to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander culture, ensuring that resilience and joy are part of the story, too.
Reported by Mercer Island Reporter
Systemic Silence: Report Highlights Gaps in Teacher Misconduct Tracking
A sobering investigative report published this week cast a spotlight on a systemic failure that has touched schools across Washington, including Mercer Island. An analysis by InvestigateWest revealed that nearly half of the teachers in the state's misconduct database who lost their licenses had "voluntarily surrendered" them. This legal maneuver often allows case files to remain hidden from the public eye, creating a transparency gap that can leave parents and communities in the dark about who is teaching their children.
When a teacher voluntarily surrenders their license, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is not required to open a formal investigation unless a superintendent files a specific complaint. These files are not easily accessible on the public-facing database, requiring public records requests to uncover. This "black box" approach has drawn criticism from advocates who argue it prioritizes the reputations of adults over the safety of students.
Locally, the report detailed the case of former Mercer Island High School English teacher Eric Ayrault. According to school records obtained by investigators, Ayrault was under investigation in 2018 regarding professional boundaries after students documented alleged inappropriate behavior. He resigned the same day the district's legal counsel concluded the investigation "without a finding." He subsequently went on to teach in other states.
The report also touched on the cases of former teachers Gary "Chris" Twombley and Curtis Johnston, noting that Twombley voluntarily surrendered his license after being placed on administrative leave. The investigation illustrates the tension between union protections, district liability, and student safety, raising difficult questions about how "passing the trash"—allowing educators to resign quietly to avoid scandal—persists despite laws designed to prevent it. For Mercer Island parents, the report is a jarring reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for stronger statewide accountability measures.
Reported by Mercer Island Reporter
News in Brief
City Governance and Services The machinery of local government continued to turn this week, albeit with some pauses. The City announced the cancellation of the Arts Council meeting originally scheduled for February 18, as well as the Planning Commission meeting for February 25. Meanwhile, the city is actively soliciting resident feedback through a survey focused on services and facilities planning, a step as the island maps out its infrastructure needs for the coming decade. Reported by mercerisland.gov and Mercer Island Reporter
High Marks for Island Schools In a validation of the community's investment, Mercer Island School District was ranked as the number two school district in Washington State by Niche.com. The ranking considers a variety of factors including academic performance, teacher quality, and student life. This accolade comes just as the district celebrates the success of its arts programs, with MIHS band students securing places at the Eastshore Solo and Ensemble Contest, further cementing the district's reputation in both STEM and the arts. Reported by patch.com and mihs.mercerislandschools.org
Community Events Looking ahead, Island Books is preparing to host a Local Author Festival on March 1, continuing the island's strong tradition of literary support. Additionally, the community is gearing up for Black History Month celebrations, with various events planned to honor the contributions and history of Black Americans. Reported by Mercer Island Reporter