[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6307312,"mediaKeyId","2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13","parentId",2433597,"title","Covington Youth Council reviews events, park cleanup and school facility requests; council offers support","audioSeconds",209,"startMs",160000,"endMs",369000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13&start=160&end=369","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13/thumbnail_160000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6307312/Covington/King-County/Washington/Covington-Youth-Council-reviews-events-park-cleanup-and-school-facility-requests-council-offers-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307312-4b9064b82ae8006c792843cc3f7e5030/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981026&Signature=lWxvN6ssG6wr5rMIPS4SdsGHhFLYlt97GgKXpt4BEd6M-fBOMgB71abDz7To3l0ucCTH5YVzDYCjeVQztfEhIkCzrQraMQxDUzmHMMQXUbXc8Py9qv~svwbLyZT5ux4GCFe2U5eEntxNP7UmYETfQpAxDt6bH8761ksEu7TGrr9ybgVQHEGKhbarCzrwlTUpyGGZBRuq4qKaFKZlUf52DPNhUKp4y4JfSJJw1VieEO10U64PAwW3D8tKyKl6nsYsBTNF1hK6fHffS-~v2FRGlY0Q0JNORq5RReNCP1mdnpiQwWPdhNRBno8DtcZXVbBaGfR9VhcWCfuyTw0OrOPREA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Covington City, Washington","date","2025-02-26T20:10:23Z","article","Members of the Covington Youth Council presented a recap of recent activities and a list of items they want the city and district to consider. Recent events included trunk-or-treat appearances (students described dressing as the Scooby-Doo “Mystery Machine”), a community road cleanup near Covington Community Park on or about November 6, a tree-lighting event, and a letter-to-Santa program the council said ran without returned mail.

Planned activities include a student art show scheduled for March, during which student artwork will be displayed in local businesses. The youth council also reported travel to a regional leadership conference (Olympiad for LAAC) in February where members attended workshops on lobbying and bill writing.

Students raised school-facilities concerns: Kentwood’s gym lacks sound panels used in other schools, making assemblies hard to hear, and several speakers described damaged and unsanitary bathroom stalls, which has discouraged use and created potential health issues. The youth council also raised a long-running suggestion to rename a school driveway or corridor and reported ASB-funded improvements such as a large mural installed in a hallway.

City councilors encouraged the youth council to document requests and said they would bring several topics — gym acoustics, bathroom maintenance and student-art partnerships with local businesses — to the school board. Council members also offered to attend student advisory or senate meetings to listen and to support student-led proposals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Covington City Council Special Meeting - February 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The youth council summarized recent and planned activities — trunk-or-treat events, a community park cleanup, letters to Santa and an upcoming student art show — and raised facility concerns including gym acoustics and bathroom conditions at local high schools.","taxTitle","Covington, King County, Washington","taxId",71066,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6307316,"Students urge more in-person mental-health support and raise stress from AP course pressure",94,1781000,1875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13&start=1781&end=1875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13/thumbnail_1781000.jpg","/articles/6307316/Covington/King-County/Washington/Students-urge-more-in-person-mental-health-support-and-raise-stress-from-AP-course-pressure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307316-e54ce66a7740ba4d5333d582c968a7f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981026&Signature=DWzFBGXSm9EoQt7Vd6kVlhNiUBT73vq163cBlG6BNH2C7Q~qst2KBCu41sWC0JTXNKLfrVwfSdKLqstsxeshqrwX-co7oDCA~mIDOjAxijC9ZM-fznfJj~UXNtCT8EzJsu8RvyjG-2JodGrhPlQTzfbM3bKsv7VRhEcC8s8wRB0cv9zp5L~QbEq9ndeqJ860bZ1YkUqawk68Rwt17zQsHJS-f~nkIN08H7Mk~XynddPnaVeOgNp93HanLBResFFPcwTylM2lj4zQ0r1rJ3PX8cQIcguxeJqD5VL8c3CsBlVq0qXifaiOICMa7RB8AiwFo2GS9ELTTRTqJSTz-wKD8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Youth council members told Covington city officials that mental-health resources at high schools have been reduced in recent years, with on-campus therapists replaced by online services that many students find less effective. Students said limited in-person counseling contributes to stress and reduces their capacity to do schoolwork.

Several students also described academic pressure to enroll in many Advanced Placement (AP) courses. One student said a culture of “take as many APs as you can” normalizes overload and increases stress, and recommended clearer guidance on course load, alternatives such as Running Start, and improved counseling to match students with appropriate class plans.

City leaders suggested several actions the youth council could request from the district: restore or increase on-campus counseling availability, consider in-person speaker events (a former NBA player with a mental-health message was proposed), and better communicate supports to students who do not attend assemblies. Students and councilors said turnout for assemblies can be low and that targeted outreach — including peer-to-peer programs — might improve reach.

Council members said they would bring these concerns to the school board and explore whether the district can provide more in-person supports or partner with community mental-health providers to expand on-campus capacity.","Youth council members said district mental-health services shifted from on-campus therapists to online providers, leaving some students without adequate support; they also described pressure to take many AP classes and recommended targeted support and speaker events.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6307321,"Youth council cites lockdowns and weapon incidents at Kent-area schools; council seeks better communication during events",1439,1281000,2720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13&start=1281&end=2720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13/thumbnail_1281000.jpg","/articles/6307321/Covington/King-County/Washington/Youth-council-cites-lockdowns-and-weapon-incidents-at-Kent-area-schools-council-seeks-better-communication-during-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307321-35caf6a4913ebde54f6fdc54aaa98ab5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981026&Signature=HupnXZ23YBvWckQj5liRYZ56O2DdSwNebDVPpeDMV1cjHlVwUdH9FZroi0PULaJsFns~LNrWY0V8ZFImXvrbyyNAZZ1~cvh4a3JHcM4EtpExQwsshDRHm-4IyNkrB2k3L1xGC0wXrtA0LNBzZJYHqWwQqpgWF4~FUA33wvZuaGM5aAbI-pHWg420G4JCJyj6twHym5S~UvkYoBBRbgHh9DnGzIMlCSbQ~aJpl4UbvCl7zbm7AlD4iRwmzCagrO5h1vzBLM64mSCMwxCw48feX6KeYacE-AEoTGgp9AeWk-r1bC09JLUcChSo5c-HpoRQCPPrzrvNx6YRB7wXxLHJ5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Youth council members told Covington city leaders they have experienced multiple lockdowns at area high schools and raised concerns about communication and safety. Students described a recent incident after a Kent Ridge basketball game when someone fired a shot into the air and said weapons have appeared on campus on multiple occasions.

Students said lockdown announcements are often vague and that parents and students receive little real-time information while they are asked to shelter in place. Several students asked for more frequent messages to parents and students during an event so families know whether the situation is contained and how long the disruption will last. One council speaker said the district’s practice of limiting detail during active incidents adds to student and parent stress.

City leaders acknowledged the need to hear the police perspective before proposing specific policy changes. Council members said they would relay students’ concerns to the school board and noted that, in a past incident at Kent Lake, responding agencies from multiple jurisdictions attended and the city’s account was that the weapon was off-campus and not loaded. City staff and councilors recommended more coordination among schools, law enforcement and parents to improve messaging during critical incidents.","Youth council members described recent lockdowns, an incident after a Kent Ridge basketball game where a shot was fired into the air, and repeated reports that weapons have been brought to campus. Students asked for clearer, more frequent communication during lockdowns and better follow-up after incidents.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6307325,"Students report widespread vaping, classroom use at Covington high schools; council to raise issue with school board",1551,818000,2369000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13&start=818&end=2369","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2433597-3aa4b044dc129b30ab047756d1a03a13/thumbnail_818000.jpg","/articles/6307325/Covington/King-County/Washington/Students-report-widespread-vaping-classroom-use-at-Covington-high-schools-council-to-raise-issue-with-school-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307325-48f5f5752b080749552e30b1863b31fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981026&Signature=CUYE1Q37HmFkpQUzhhert83EHndB71ar7nENvCEoe5fQ45kDqueGCGCiut0t9Ar1sIH22zGbiMmg9iV9cXNsSFoflbiv-NkXp1yfL7YAVB2k2pwGO29gqM9bn6igIuIQ0s9eTaTTvP3hL0GFc2dJmAE4laXE8PzXyyhT~fAxjHon1auL71WNNGR0-oiilICAJWmBKusz3NXkpFjnjKDDv1Dvl~d4PwxobJphH5u~L106WYWm0U2QuKfvuuyZEAPpgqmHd9ruC1VCPJyzKElcLn7oS2BvmTorh37sDosZymKihE4WyWijpYj-eiqna5TA3fLmU9WotkD4JI6Q6qc4BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Covington City Council members and members of the Covington Youth Council discussed widespread vaping and other substance use at local high schools during a joint study session, with students describing regular use in bathrooms, in classrooms and under desks and saying current school measures have not stopped the behavior.

Students said vaping is common and sometimes occurs in plain sight during class, and that bathroom closures and limited open facilities have made the problem harder to manage. One student said school bathrooms have become “a place like, bring your own weed” where groups meet; others described seeing students use devices under desks and in hallways. Youth council members reported that past attempts to detect use — including smoke alarms — were ineffective because vaping does not produce the same signatures as cigarette smoke.

The discussion highlighted three practical consequences: disruption to learning when use occurs in class, health issues when students avoid bathrooms, and uneven enforcement because hall-pass systems and digital pass tools are not always enforced by staff. Council members said they would raise the problem with the school board and encouraged the youth council to coordinate with student governments at other high schools to present a unified set of concerns.

Council members and staff said searching students at random raises constitutional concerns and is unlikely to be adopted as a district-wide practice. Students and councilors discussed alternatives the district might pursue — including stepped-up monitoring of bathrooms during passing periods, revisiting where cameras are placed in buildings (with legal and privacy limits), and better coordination between administrators and student leaders to set expectations and measures that would reduce use during school hours.

City officials encouraged youth leaders to collect specific metrics the district could act on — for example, counts of incidents by school and by location — and said the council would ask the school board for clarity about enforcement practices, disciplinary consequences and any pilot programs the district might consider. Several council members offered to attend upcoming student advisory or senate meetings to listen and bring student concerns to the board.","Youth council members told the Covington City Council that vaping and other substance use are occurring in classrooms and school bathrooms, that some school deterrents have been ineffective, and that students want the city to press the school board for stronger responses and clearer communication.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Covington Youth Council reviews events, park cleanup and school facility requests; council offers support

Students urge more in-person mental-health support and raise stress from AP course pressure

Youth council cites lockdowns and weapon incidents at Kent-area schools; council seeks better communication during events

Students report widespread vaping, classroom use at Covington high schools; council to raise issue with school board