Substitute bus driver for ISD arrested for child pornography
May 11, 2012
UPDATED — 2:30 p.m. May 11, 2012
Federal agents arrested a substitute bus driver for the Issaquah School District for child pornography possession Thursday.
In the course of the investigation, security officials told district officials no evidence exists to believe any inappropriate or illegal activities occurred as the driver — identified as Carnation resident Andrew Bernard Rekdahl in court documents — worked for the district.
Parents are encouraged to email the district at DriverConcerns@issaquah.wednet.edu if they have concerns after speaking with their children. Rasmussen said in a statement that parents have been calling for details about specific routes the driver covered during his time with the district. A list of those routes should be available on the district website this afternoon.
Prosecutors charged charged Rekdahl with possession and distribution of child pornography.
“This is obviously a very serious charge, and our first priority is making sure that he acted as a professional at all times while driving for us,” Superintendent Steve Rasmussen said in a statement released early Friday afternoon.
Prosecutors said Rekdahl shared explicit images and videos of boys online.
In customary procedure, the Issaquah district cleared the substitute driver through mandatory state and federal background checks before he started driving in November. Both background checks accurately showed a clean record.
The district never received complaints or concerns about the driver during his short employment.
Parents, students encouraged to apply for high school schedule committee
May 10, 2012
NEW — 3:20 p.m. May 10, 2012
As the next major step to align each of the three high schools schedules in the Issaquah School District, administrators encourage parents and students to become involved with the Liberty High School Schedule Committee that will be formed this month.
The parent and student application and a timeline of the project are available online now.
Applications are due to Kathy Schroeder in Liberty’s main office by May 18, and parents of Maywood Middle School and Liberty students are especially encouraged to apply.
The school will continue with the same eight-period schedule for the 2012-13 school year. Issaquah and Skyline high schools have a six-period daily schedule in place, while Liberty has eight.
Neighbor reports suspicious women in China Creek area to police
May 8, 2012
A Newcastle woman took this picture of two women suspected in a home burglary in the China Creek neighborhood around 12 p.m. May 8.
UPDATED — 3:30 p.m. May 9, 2012
An alert neighbor spotted a suspicious truck and two women she did not recognize at her neighbor’s house around 12 p.m. May 8 in the China Falls neighborhood, according to a release from Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine.
The neighbor reported that she saw the women leave the house carrying items and called 911 and took photographs.
Residents are encouraged to call Newcastle Police at 649-4444 if they recognize them or had any contact with them this morning.
