BELLEVUE, Wash. – At a time when schools across Washington and the nation are facing difficult budget realities, the Bellevue School
District (BSD) is celebrating the crucial role of the Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) in ensuring all 20,000+ District students have the
resources they need to thrive from preschool to graduation.

The newly released 2024–2025 Impact Report shows how Bellevue Schools Foundation funding is transforming classrooms, supporting
teachers, and ensuring equity across Bellevue.

• 7,013 students received mental health screenings; 80% report improved coping skills.
• 100% of transitional kindergarten students met or exceeded expectations in the areas of social-emotional and literacy.
• 39 teachers achieved or renewed National Board Certification, making BSD one of only four districts in the nation with over 40% of teachers
nationally certified.

Meeting the Mental Health Crisis Head-On
According to the CDC, persistent sadness and suicidal thoughts among youth have risen by 40% in the past decade. With BSF’s support,
BSD responded with screenings, interventions, and therapy for thousands of students. An alarming trend tracked closely by the District is the
percentage of students who report signs of anxiety and depression prior to entering middle school. Approximately 17% of students at the
elementary level were reported to show signs of anxiety and depression.“This work isn’t just numbers — it’s lives,” said Dr. Aramaki, Bellevue School District Superintendent. “In a time of financial challenge, the

Bellevue Schools Foundation ensures our students are seen, supported, and given hope.”

Preparing Students for the Future of AI
The foundation and district partnerships with Amazon Future Engineers, Microsoft, and Code.org are making computer science accessible
to every student. A kindergartener at Ardmore Elementary shared, “I love Computer Science because I can build anything.” Notably, students
who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM and Computer Science (girls and students of color) continue to improve in their dispositions
toward the field with 97% of students in 8th grade reporting that they believe anyone who practices can learn to code and improve in computer
science.

A Legacy of Support and Partner in Recovery
As BSD works toward financial recovery and navigates necessary budget cuts, BSF remains a vital partner in sustaining programs that might
otherwise disappear. Established in 1979, Bellevue Schools Foundation is the first foundation dedicated to supporting public K-12 initiatives in Washington state.
Since its inception, over $40M has been donated from individuals, corporations, and institutions committed to providing students in Bellevue
the education they deserve. From preschool tuition payments for families who can’t afford enrollment otherwise, to advanced teacher training,
BSF steps in and up to ensure that Washington state students are not left behind. While Bellevue ranks #4 in the nation for its quality of life, school districts in Washington state receive insufficient funding to support its public schools. The state ranks #32 in the nation in per pupil
spending as a percentage of taxpayer income, and Washington ranks well below the national average for investment in K-12 education as a
percentage of Gross State Product (the state’s output) at 3.11%. While advocacy efforts to address the public-school funding dilemma are
ongoing, including a convening for all Washington superintendents which is partially funded by BSF, students and teachers need funding
now. Bellevue Schools Foundation will be providing Bellevue School District with $1,150,000 in funding for the 2025-2026 school year.
Bellevue Schools Foundation Executive Director, Juliet Buder, shares, “If student needs are growing as public funding is dwindling, providing a
high-quality public education across Washington appears to be an impossible challenge to solve at first glance. But our Impact Report offers an
inspiring view of the future in which Bellevue Schools Foundation can leverage individual philanthropy and corporate partnerships to create the
educational opportunities all students deserve.”

GET INVOLVED
For more details or to support this work, visit bellevueschoolsfoundation.org.
The Bellevue School District, with over 20,000 students and 28 schools, is a diverse and dynamic district in East King County, Washington.
Its mission is “To serve each and every student academically, socially, and emotionally through a rigorous and relevant education that is
innovative and individualized. As a learning community that values one another’s humanity, we provide courageous support for an equitable and
exceptional education for all students.”

Spokane, Washington – United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that Charles Michael McClain, age 40, of Spokane, Washington was sentenced on firearm and drug trafficking charges. McClain was found guilty on May 6, 2025, following a jury trial. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced McClain to 20 years in federal prison.

Based on court documents and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, in early 2024, the Quad Cities Drug Task Force developed information that McClain was supplying illegal drugs, including fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine, to dealers in the Clarkston, Washington, area.

On May 6, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at McClain’s apartment on Riverton Avenue in Spokane. Agents located various drug paraphernalia, baggies, methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, and 359 fentanyl pills. Agents also located a firearm under McClain’s pillow and approximately $18,000 in the apartment. On scene, McClain told agents he had purchased approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills and 10 ounces of fentanyl powder every month for about a year. On May 6^th, the day of the warrant execution, McClain had planned on making another purchase using some of the cash found in his apartment.

McClain been previously convicted in Washington state court of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, for which he was sentenced to 84 months in state custody.

U.S. Attorney Serrano said fighting the drug epidemic is an important part of building a safe and strong foundation for Eastern Washington, “Deadly drugs claim more victims every day, including here in Eastern Washington. We are prioritizing the prosecution of these cases and working with our law enforcement partners to vigorously disrupt the sources of drugs in our communities, keeping these dangerous substances out of the hands of drug traffickers and out of our communities.”

“Drug trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms are a deadly combination that puts out communities at extreme risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City Federal Bureau of Investigation. “When agencies work together, we can successfully put drug traffickers out of business and in prison.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Quad Cities Drug Task Force. The Quad Cities Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdiction task force involving the numerous law enforcement agencies including the Lewiston Idaho Police Department, Clarkston Washington Police Department, and the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca R. Perez.

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