(WSB file photo of Madison’s east-facing gym exterior, where the sign would go)
One month ago today, we reported that the city had approved the four-year-old proposal for a 30-square-foot electronic sign outside the Madison Middle School gym. A group of neighbors has appealed the decision, and tomorrow, they go downtown for a conference with the city’s Hearing Examiner, to prepare for a full hearing in July. We talked with one of the neighbors, Claudia Ludwig, who explained why they’re challenging the decision:

The neighbors have “three main issues,” she explained. First one is the process – since the sign requires a zoning “departure,” a special committee had to be formed to consider it, and Ludwig says she and others who participated didn’t realize it would only meet once but did realize, she said, “the decision had already been made” in favor of the sign. (The official notice for the public meeting last June was headlined “First Public Meeting”; the original 2009 notice seeking volunteers for the committee mentioned “meetings.”)

Second, she says, are the safety considerations – the intersection within view of the sign, 45th and Spokane, has had crashes blamed on “distraction” even without an illuminated sign, and the block by the school has many children.

Third, she says, is an inaccurate statement in the decision contending that neighbors’ concerns were “mitigated.”

Those who sought out the sign, including the school’s PTSA, say it’s to increase communication; a commenter explained further, following our story last month:

If the electronic sign is not approved, then a regular sign will be placed on the outside of the gym wall and no special permitting is needed for that one. Neither sign will block anyone’s view. It’s sad the it has taken this long for something so simple to happen, but that is not the fault of the PTSA at Madison, but rather the permitting of the City of Seattle. To the immediate neighbors of Madison, I truly believe this sign is not going to be the eyesore you think it will be. Quite honestly, having it turned off at night will make it less visible, rather than a regular sign which will display its message 24/7. I would think it would be helpful to neighbors to know of upcoming events like open houses, music programs & science night. If not for a chance for the community to engage in such events, at least for a heads up that street parking will be congested. Yes, there are multiple ways for Madison to communicate with families and this is just another route. We all have our best modes of communicating and this sign is meant to alert/remind the greater community and students, who are not checking our website daily. We also want to use this sign to shout out our children’s successes. Honestly, an old fashioned sign is more work and a waste of valuable staff time to manage. And no, there will not be advertising or video.

Ludwig says she is a teacher and has worked in a school with an electronic sign, and sees no proof that it will increase communication.

She also contends that the world of communication has changed since Madison parents raised $15,000 for the illuminated sign more than four years ago, and also secured a city grant. Many more people use electronic media, including social media, to communicate, she contends, and it’s easier to get messages out.

The process dragged on, documents say, because there was some expectation the city sign code was changing – but it didn’t, so the process re-started, and finally led to the decision announced last month. Ludwig says this is the first such sign allowed in a neighborhood that wasn’t part of a school remodel. And yes, having a view of an illuminated sign is a concern for them too: “We have all remodeled our houses, and put a lot of effort into our neighborhood. For years, we’re going to walk out and see this thing. It’s a frustrating and emotional process.”

As of right now, the full hearing on the appeal is scheduled for July 31st. Ludwig says anyone interested in being part of the process can contact her at ludwig.cm@gmail.com. We’ll be following up after tomorrow’s pre-hearing to see what’s next.

Thanks to Sally Heit from Hope Lutheran School for sharing the photo from a Thursday morning surprise in honor of the end of the school year. She says the 130 flamingos that surprised arrivals that day were from Westside Flockers.

Congratulations to this year’s West Seattle 8th graders as they move on to high school! Denny International Middle School‘s promotion ceremony was last night, according to principal Jeff Clark, who shared the photo and this report:

The staff at Denny International Middle School were very proud to promote our eighth-grade scholars last night. The ceremony was filled with inspirational student speeches, fantastic music, and awards celebrating terrific academic accomplishments, community-building and school spirit. The auditorium was packed with families and friends — we are all very proud of our kids! Thank you to everyone who helped to make it such a memorable event!

277 eighth-graders in all – good luck to them in high school! Speaking of which, we covered all four of this year’s local high-school graduations – you’ll find the links in the “Big Stories” list on the WSB sidebar.

Our area’s 2013 high-school graduations wrapped up Wednesday night with the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2013 ceremony at Southwest Athletic Complex, right across the street from the school.

That’s Seattle Public Schools Superintendent José Banda, concluding his first year on the job, helping send off Sealth’s more than 250 graduates. In the stands, celebratory signs included this beyond-life-size photo:

And graduation night didn’t just mean farewell for the students – longtime assistant principal Lupe Barnes is retiring:

According to the program, this year’s Sealth grads were awarded more than 400 scholarships.

Congratulations to the more than 240 members of the West Seattle High School Class of 2013, now on to their post-high-school lives after Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony at Southwest Athletic Complex. And congratulations, too, to the adults who helped them along their way:

On behalf of the district, West Seattle’s school-board member Marty McLaren accepted the class:

According to the Westside Weekly newsletter, this year’s graduating class had a record number of scholarships and awards (listed here):

While seniors finished classes last Friday, this coming Friday is the final day of school for everybody else.

From five 17-year-olds to one 62-year-old, 864 people received degrees or certificates in today’s South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) graduation ceremony. SSCC’s communications director Kevin Maloney says Benaroya Hall downtown was packed for the big event this afternoon, and shared the photo. Their commencement speaker was Geo Quibuyen from the hip-hop group the Blue Scholars, the Town Hall Seattle artist-in-residence for the past three months. Congratulations, graduates!

P.S. Coverage coming up later from tonight’s two high-school graduations.

“I MADE IT,” proclaimed the art atop the cap of one grad-to-be tonight as The Hall at Fauntleroy hosted the Middle College High School-High Point Center Class of 2013′s graduation tonight.

21 students comprise this year’s graduating class – here they are, making their entrance:

This is the first class to graduate since the southern branch of Middle College High School moved into its new High Point quarters, chosen after it lost its longtime home at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) this time last year. As recently announced on the MCHS-HPC website, the school has extended its High Point lease for another year.

This was the first of our area’s three Seattle Public Schools graduations in two nights; tomorrow night, Southwest Athletic Complex in Westwood will be the site of the graduations for both West Seattle High School (5 pm) and Chief Sealth International High School (7:30 pm). Our area’s lone private high school, Seattle Lutheran, gave its 33-member Class of 2013 their sendoff last Friday (WSB coverage here).

West Seattle’s first school-zone speeding-ticket camera, on Fauntleroy Way near Gatewood Elementary, will likely be joined by two others. In the final week of the school year, Mayor McGinn has just announced five more proposed camera locations around the city, “based on an analysis of documented speeding problems that showed these schools would receive the greatest speed reduction and safety benefit from automated speed enforcement” per the official announcement. Two would be on SW Roxbury: Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School. (They’re shown in red on our Google Map above, while Gatewood is shown in blue.) If the City Council approves funding, these and three other cameras would likely be installed early next year, according to the news release from the mayor’s office, which also says that the “four existing school zone camera locations have seen an average reduction of 16 percent in citations for speeding, from the week of December 10 to the week of April 22. … 96 percent of those who received a citation and paid it did not get another citation.” Seattle Police activated the Gatewood camera last November.

For WSHS Graduates and families: The WSHS music department will be offering concessions before and during the graduation ceremony on Wednesday June 12th. We will have hot dogs, chips, snacks and beverages. We also have a limited number of flower and candy leis to purchase for the graduates. Flower leis are $25 and candy leis are $10. All proceeds will go directly to the WSHS music program.

The WSHS ceremony is at 5 pm Wednesday (June 12th), Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). Our full list of local graduation ceremony dates/times/places is here.

The graduations have begun! The first high-school commencement ceremony in West Seattle this year was Friday night at Seattle Lutheran High School. The Saints’ 33rd graduating class also numbered 33; family and friends gathered in the Menashe Family Gym on campus for the ceremony; we photographed them outside, just before their grand entrance. Video too:

Co-valedictorians this year were Jihyun Lee and Madison Jones; 17 – more than half – graduated with honors. The rest of West Seattle’s graduations are next week, all on our quick-reference list.

At tonight’s West Seattle High School All-School Reunion, hundreds of alumni were on hand from nine decades. But the spotlight shone brightest on the Class of 1963, celebrating its golden anniversary. While we were there, class members were posing for photos grouped by the elementaries they had attended – as you’ve probably guessed from the sign, the people in our picture had gone to nearby Lafayette Elementary. All around the WSHS Commons, where the Class of ’63 met, there were displays with historical photos:

Other classes met in various locations around the school, before attendees gathered in the theater for the program to announce scholarships and Hall of Fame inductions. Outside, for the first few hours, the traditional display of classic cars, like this gleaming Ford Mustang:

Thanks to reunion chair Jim Biava of the WSHS Alumni Association for sharing this electronic copy of the program – it includes the names of tonight’s honorees. Keep a eye on the association’s new website for future alumni events.

Today brings the second ribbon-cutting in two days involving South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – but this one wasn’t AT the college; instead, it happened a few miles north at Vigor Shipyard, where the new Harbor Island Training Center has just been dedicated. It includes a computer lab, classroom space, and industrial training floor, and its purpose, as explained in the announcement, is to provide students with the industrial skills they need to get family-wage jobs at the region’s industrial manufacturers.” Those jobs are available – but companies such as Vigor have trouble finding skilled workers to fill them, so this will help “bridge that disconnect,” as Vigor’s senior VP of HR Sue Haley puts it. SSCC already had welding and manufacturing programs, so the partnership made perfect sense. Vigor Industrial CEO Frank Foti and SSCC president Gary Oertli were among those who spoke:

Other local leaders on hand included City Council President Sally Clark and State House Transportation Committee Chair Judy Clibborn, in the photo below with SSCC president Oertli:

Enrollment information and other details about the new training center can be found on this SSCC webpage.

Big event tonight at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – the photo and update are from SSCC communications director Kevin Maloney:

SSCC President Gary Oertli (center) cut the ribbon to officially open the new home for South’s Northwest Wine Academy. The new building will be open to the public for tastings tomorrow from 2-8 PM for tastings that will include NWWA’s 2013 Spring release. From left to right: NWWA Instructor Regina Daigneault, President Gary Oertli, and NWWA faculty member Peter Boss.

The building is on the east side of SSCC’s north parking lot.

As we wrap up the school year and begin planning for next year, I am writing to you with a sense of pride and a heavy heart. I write to you with a sense of pride because of all the incredible programs, students, staff, and community that belong to Chief Sealth International. I write to you with a heavy heart because I have decided not to return to Chief Sealth as your Principal.

In my two years as your Principal, I have been extremely proud of how we have grown as a community, flourished as learners, and strengthened each and every program at Sealth — ensuring academic and emotional success for ALL students. In my time at Sealth, I have enjoyed the incredible diversity, remarkable teaching, and the overall commitment and dedication to the students who walk through our doors each and every day. It has been an honor and privilege to work with the staff, students, and community.

I can assure you that I will remain committed to Sealth and will work diligently with Carmela Dellino, Executive Director of Schools for West Seattle, to ensure a successful transition for your next Principal. Ms. Dellino will be working with the staff and community to gather feedback and input into the qualities and characteristics for your next Principal.

I want to thank the students of Sealth for their passion for learning and commitment to changing the world, the Sealth staff for creating opportunities for ALL of our students to find success, and the Sealth community for their dedication and support. You have provided me with passion and inspiration, for that I am grateful.

Kinsey’s predecessor as Chief Sealth principal, John Boyd, was at the school for seven years. District spokesperson Teresa Wippel tells WSB that there is not an interim principal waiting in the wings for a quick announcement – “we will be looking for someone.”

SIDE NOTE: Other West Seattle public schools changing principals for next year include Madison Middle School (here’s our story from earlier this week), Sanislo Elementary (here’s our story from April), and Lafayette Elementary (here’s our story from April). We’ve also reported on an independent-school change – Our Lady of Guadalupe (here’s our story from April),

(WSB photo from June 2012 West Seattle High School graduation @ Memorial Stadium)
From the “in case you wondered” file – it’s almost graduation time! And this year, graduating seniors and their families from local schools will not have to make the trek downtown. Here’s the schedule:

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: 7:30 pm this Friday (June 7), at Menashe Gym on campus (41st/Genesee)

MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL @ HIGH POINT: 7 pm next Tuesday (June 11th), at The Hall at Fauntleroy. (9131 California SW)

SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 2:30 pm next Wednesday (June 12th), at Benaroya Hall downtown (200 University St.)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: 5 pm next Wednesday (June 12th), at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: 7:30 pm next Wednesday (June 12th), at Southwest Athletic Complex.

**The full Seattle Public Schools graduation schedule is here.

**Grad-to-be in Highline Public Schools next door? Here’s that schedule.

**Wondering about Vashon Island High School? 2 pm Saturday, June 15th, at the school.