Dunn delivers van into “working retirement” in Maple Valley

A recently “retired” King County employee started its new career with Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn delivering a surplus Metro Vanpool van to the Tahoma School District’s Student Transition Program.

January 26, 2019 2:20 pm
Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly, Councilmember Reagan Dunn, Tahoma High School students, teacher Heidi Melcher, teacher Therese Miller and Tahoma High School Assistant Principal Kara Runge. Submitted photo
Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly, Councilmember Reagan Dunn, Tahoma High School students, teacher Heidi Melcher, teacher Therese Miller and Tahoma High School Assistant Principal Kara Runge. Submitted photo

The following is a press release from the King County Council.

A recently “retired” King County employee started its new career with Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn delivering a surplus Metro Vanpool van to the Tahoma School District’s Student Transition Program.

“The mission of Tahoma’s Student Transition Program is very important,” Dunn said. “It is my honor to present these well-deserving students with a retired Metro Van.”

Tahoma School District’s Student Transition Program serves approximately twenty students over the age of 18 with various disabilities. Instructors work with students on developing job skills and workplace behaviors. The skills they learn are fostered through real world experiences by interacting and connecting with their community.

Instructors will use the van to take students to local places of employment, social outings, and more. For students who are not able to drive, or fully access public transit, the van will provide additional access to real world experiences.

“We’ll be using this van to take our students on community outings and to programs that develop job skills,” said Theresa Miller, a teacher with the transition program. “We’re very excited to have the opportunity to do this, since we couldn’t without the van.”

“We are extremely grateful for this donation,” said Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly. “Tahoma School District’s Student Transition Program will make great use of this van thanks to Councilmember Dunn.”

The vanpool program consists of donating Metro vans which have reached the end of their county service life to local governments and community programs to provide transportation assistance for low-income, elderly or young people or people with disabilities.

The vanpool program provides mobility for a diverse array of King County residents, supports the positive work of various local organizations, and relieves traffic congestion by reducing the need for single-occupancy vehicles.

Interested organizations can contact Councilmember Dunn at 206-477-1009 or reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov for more information on applying for a vehicle.