News stories about Fircrest School

Fircrest School has been in the news repeatedly. Stories have focused on residents, their families and guardians; on political developments; and on physical features of the school such as the healing garden. For a selection, check the following links.

NOTE 1: Stories may not be available online indefinitely. If a link no longer works, please email Friends of Fircrest. We will remove a dead link, but will continue to list the story. Check your library for a paper or microfilm copy.

NOTE 2: Some sites may require you to register (free) before you can view links to archived stories.

NOTE 3: While these links all relate to Fircrest, the views expressed are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of Friends of Fircrest.

NOTE 4: Friends of Fircrest has issued a number of press releases. These are available for download from the link further down this page.

Fircrest Residents & Families

Lawsuit against DSHS cites transfer trauma
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), April 21, 2006.

State sued over Fircrest transfers
by Maureen O'Hagan, Seattle Times, April 13, 2006.

Guardians of disabled residents sue state over forced moves
by Rachel la Corte, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 12, 2006.
Also see a similar report by KOMO TV.

Life Inside (A story about Fircrest resident Terry Hamley)
by Kimburly Ervin, Real Change (Seattle), August 24, 2005.

Fircrest admission is a sign of hope
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), July 1, 2005.

Fircrest opens doors
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), June 24, 2005.

Fight goes on for the cause of disabled - Lakeland advocates relieved Fircrest spared. by Rebecca Nappi, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane), April 20, 2005.

Fircrest School supporters organize candlelight vigil
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), September 17, 2004.

Parents fear loss of home for disabled
by Charlene Koski, Seattle Times, September 12, 2004.

Fircrest School moves forward on closure
by Sharon Michael, The Olympian (Olympia, WA), July 27, 2004.

Supporters of disabled protest move of loved ones
by Linda Brill, King 5 TV News, July 6, 2004.

State hears complaints about Fircrest downsizing
by Rebecca Cook (AP), Longview Daily News, July 6, 2004.

"They're Moving Them Out Like Cattle" (A report on the pro-Fircrest rally)
by Matt Markovich, KOMO 4 TV News, April 3, 2004.

We are saddened that the moves will proceed
by Bryan Johnson, KOMO 4 News, Seattle, February 25, 2004.

Fircrest residents sue state to keep school for disabled open
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 18, 2003.

Fircrest closure would put vulnerable lives at risk
by James R. Hardman, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 17, 2003.

Fircrest residents caught in political debate
by Angela Galloway, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 12, 2003.

Fircrest School Developments

A step back for the disabled, by Kate Riley, Seattle Times Editorial, April 30, 2007. See also the Letter in response by Theresa Anderson, WA State Coordinator, Voice of the Retarded (VOR).

Disabled youths again being sent to institution, by Maureen O'Hagan, Seattle Times, April 22, 2007. See also the Letter in response by Jim Hardman, President, Friends of Fircrest. And see letters on the same topic in The Enterprise by Saskia Davis and Maria Walsh.

Fircrest too valuable to close
By Alene Brede, Guest Columnist, The Seattle Times, November 28, 2005.

Council concerns Fircrest supporters. People appointed are not representative of institutions, some say.
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), September 30, 2005.

Picket line drawn at Fircrest School. Union, supporters protest staff layoff.
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), September 2, 2005.

The Downside of Downsizing - Fircrest employees protest in order to save jobs
by Kimburly Ervin, Real Change (Seattle), September 1, 2005 (No longer online).

Wait for work done by advisory panel before more Fircrest moves.
The Enterprise (Shoreline), August 12, 2005.

Staff cuts set for Fircrest
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), August 5, 2005.

Fircrest’s program does integration
by Maureen Durkan, Letters to the Editor, The Everett Herald, July 28, 2005.
(A response to an op ed by Sean Barrett that expressed a viewpoint opposed to Fircrest School)

Examine all the facts and keep Fircrest open
By Maureen Durkan, Guest Columnist, The Seattle Times, July 15, 2005. Please note, in Maureen’s column, the $143 cost per day for a Residential Habiliatation Center (RHC) is an average net amount based on costs at the 5 existing RHCs. This figure is reached subject to the Federal Match and a Cost Detail formula designed by DSHS & Centers for Medicaid & Medicares Services (CMS).

State group home must remain open
by Chris Melton, Letters to the Editor, The Enterprise (Shoreline), July 8, 2005.

Fircrest: A time for broad review
unsigned editorial, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 5, 2005.

Close Fircrest, spread the savings
unsigned editorial, The Seattle Times, June 22, 2005.
(Expresses a viewpoint opposed to Fircrest School)

Fircrest phaseout halted for study
by Jonathan Martin, The Seattle Times, June 20, 2005.

Fircrest possibly funded - Governor's budget could halt transfers
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), April 1, 2005.

Fircrest lawsuit dismissed, but plaintiffs appeal. Plaintiffs hope process will now move more quickly
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), February 18, 2005.

DSHS completes a stage in Fircrest downsizing
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 7, 2005.

Kagi won't set hearing on bill to close Fircrest
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), January 30, 2005.

New DSHS report indicates community placement is cheaper. Fircrest supporters say the new study is flawed and inaccurate
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), October 01, 2004.

Fircrest School to vacate a skilled-nursing wing
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 30, 2004.

DSHS makes rule permanent, saying no moving consent needed
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), July 30, 2004.

Group blasts new Fircrest report – changes in final version suggest a cover-up, some say
by Lewis Kamb, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 30, 2004.

Feds rule against Fircrest forced moves by DSHS
by Karin Czulik, King 5 TV, June 29, 2004.

Downsizing of Community Use of Fircrest Facilities

In hot water. Arthritis class may end due to new contract, by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), November 25, 2005.

Fircrest Campus

World War II-era buildings soon MIA - Buildings on Fircrest School campus targeted for demolition, by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), May 13, 2005. (Includes much early history of the Fircrest site.)

Drawn together: In Fircrest's Healing Garden, compassion blooms, by Valerie Easton, Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Times Magazine, March 14, 2004.

Project would transform Fircrest
by John Iwasaki, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 7, 2003.

New garden a positive step for Fircrest
by Regina Hackett, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 12, 2003.

Empty field blooms into healing garden
by Sarah Anne Wright, Seattle Times, June 12, 2003.

Some Older News stories about Fircrest School

NOTE 1: Stories may not be available online indefinitely. If a link no longer works, please email Friends of Fircrest. We will remove a dead link, but will continue to list the story. Check your library for a paper or microfilm copy.

NOTE 2: Some sites (e.g. the Seattle Times) may require you to register (free) before you can view links to archived stories.

NOTE 3: While these links all relate to Fircrest, the views expressed are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of Friends of Fircrest.

The Jabberwonk (Letter to the Editor)
by Judi Gibbs, Seattle Times, July 5, 2004.

Fircrest supporters take to the streets. Union members, resident advocates, march in Shoreline
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), May 21, 2004.

Fircrest-closure protesters and city gear up for march. Event turnout may force closure of 15^th Avenue
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), May 14, 2004.

Federal Review may end 15 years of no admissions to Fircrest
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), April 16, 2004.

Judge in Fircrest case says 'No' to visiting state facility
by Brooke Fisher, The Enterprise (Shoreline), April 2, 2004.

Judge rules that bill to downsize Fircrest was legal
by Associated Press, The Daily News, Longview, WA, March 3, 2004.

Ruling upsets Fircrest backers
by Chris McGann, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 3, 2004.

Fircrest ruling coming Tuesday
by Chris McGann, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 28, 2004.

Everybody has their perception (The reporter reflects on “hate mail” received after writing about the Fircrest moves)
by Brooke Fisher , The Enterprise (Shoreline), February 27, 2004.

DSHS to move 4 clients from Fircrest today
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 24, 2004.

Judge blocks transfer of residents from Fircrest
by Angela Galloway, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 22, 2004.

State will close two Fircrest units
by Angela Galloway, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 6, 2004.

Preliminary Transition Plan, Planning for the Downsizing and Closure of Fircrest School. Report to the Legislature by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), 2378 kB pdf file, 107 pages, January 2004. [Even though the legislature has rejected every bill that called for closing Fircrest, the DSHS has pressed on with its own agenda.]

Innovative, irreplaceable Fircrest School must stay open (no longer online)
by Representative Maralyn Chase, Tacoma News Tribune, January 22, 2004.

Residential Habilitation Center Consolidation & Fircrest Downsizing
Information page on the Web site of DSHS, dated October 22, 2003.

DSHS To Ensure Client Health And Safety During Fircrest Downsizing
(News release) DSHS, September 24, 2003.

Families of Fircrest concerned over possible closure by state
by Pamela Brice , The Enterprise (Shoreline), December 06, 2002.