Background on TIP
TIP came about when a parent in the district saw that our middle schools were still using TRS-80's in 1990. The school district had just got a technology levee passed and the district was going to split the money between the school to buy some VCR's, TV's, and maybe a computer of two. Well, the parent, Mike Bookey,thought he should either do something about it or just shut-up. He decided to do something. He went to the school board and presented his idea. They liked it, but they were wondering if they had enough money. It cost millions of dollars to install a network like what Mr. Bookey was envisioning. Mr. Bookey, then suggested something that would change my life, and many other lives of students in the Issaquah district. He said why not use the students? 100 Years-ago they were very useful. They help in the chores around the farm or house. They had jobs. But with the Industrial Revolution the teenagers we put on shelves and were not thought of as useful until they graduate, and maybe go to college. The district gave it a go. Mr. Bookey then went to Issaquah H.S. to recruit people, he also stopped by Liberty H.S. He had a much better turnout at Liberty, so they decided to make Liberty the TIP headquarters. We soon started having meetings every Wednesday after school, when the professionals would come to the school and talk to us about their products. The teachers and students then talked it over and decided what software and hardware to go with. It was the job of the students to set up the computers when they came to the school and teach the teachers how to use the computers. This was quite the role reversal, when you have half the teachers in the high school in your class! The school district also made a deal with the company that would be in charge of wiring Liberty. They made the company have students help do the wiring and drops, so they (the students) could go out and do the other buildings in the district. So after Liberty was wired, it was the job of the students to wire the other buildings. Think of all the money that saved the district, and think of what the students learned. TIP changed me in many ways. I really started liking school. I would get to school about 45 minutes before it started and would be there 2 hours after the last bell rang. I would spend the time I was there (at school) in the TIP room. I was the Service Manager for TIP while I was at Liberty. This is where I would learn things about computers, help people who would call us up on the phone, and sometimes work on homework from another class. TIP helped to get me different summer jobs. I also received a volunteer award from a group called DOVIA.
I had a teacher named Mr. Thuot. He is a pilot and in 1991 he took some students on a flight around the Puget Sound region. When we were in the air, I took several pictures, but the only one that I had access to was the one of us over the Maplewood Gold Course. This is in Renton, WA. The major hiway next to the golf course in SR 169, also known as the Maple Vally hiway. There is also a river that flows by the golf course. That is the Cedar river. It flows into Lake Washington.
