West Seattle schools: 3 more portables headed for Schmitz Park

West Seattle’s most populous elementary school, Schmitz Park, is getting three more portables for the coming school year, and Seattle Public Schools says they’ll be delivered later this week. One single portable classroom, transported in two sections, is scheduled to arrive around 4:30 am Friday (July 17th); the next day, Saturday around 5:30 am, two single portable classrooms, moved in four sections, are due. SPS says they’re coming from Olympic Hills Elementary in the north end and the route/date/time are all determined by SDOT for city streets, WSDOT for the I-5 portion of the move. You’ll see “No Parking” signs placed today where they’ll be needed.

According to the most-recent enrollment projections we found online, SPE is expecting 642 students this fall; that’s up more than 30 from last year and just a few under the capacity for which its new campus is being built on Genesee Hill (scheduled to open in fall 2016). Meantime, SPS also says portables will be moved to Pathfinder K-8 and West Seattle Elementary next month – more on that when it gets closer.

Huindekmi July 14, 2015 (10:21 am)

How is this possible? Housing in West Seattle is not affordable for families! The mayor told me so yesterday. So, where are all these kids coming from? They must be bussing in from Tukwilla.

Clueless in ws July 14, 2015 (10:55 am)

So true H. No one can afford to live here. Yeah right… Schools are at double capacity due to immaculate conception.

The school building was originally built for about 300 students. K – 5, 25 kids per class, 2 classes per grade. One bathroom now shared by 600+. Imagine if that were an adults scenario at work? !

New school at just under capacity before it’s even opened? Way to go SPS and City if Seattle!

Paul July 14, 2015 (11:39 am)

@huindekmi – too funny. this is what happens when spin (the mayors announcement) meets reality (families are moving to west Seattle). The real subtext is that the mayor was suggesting the “right” famines are not moving to or staying in Seattle.

West Seattle since 1979 July 14, 2015 (1:51 pm)

Some people are able to afford the rents or to buy houses here. Many aren’t.

Just One Schmitz Park Advocate July 14, 2015 (2:19 pm)

So grateful that we have room to place portable classrooms to fit all our children, in a community we love.

So grateful that we have had a heritage campus next to one of the most under-appreciated parks in Seattle, with a teeny view of the mountains.

So grateful that we have a staff that care about our children’s learning, and work so hard at it, even while the noise of nay-sayers is loud around the periphery.

So grateful for the families and parents that bring excitement and caring to our larger Schmitz Park family.

So grateful that we have a new school being built on a lovely spot in the center of our neighborhood.

So grateful that we will eventually have enough school properties to serve all the West Seattle kids.

Even more grateful that we have great school communities for every child in West Seattle.

Alki Girl July 14, 2015 (2:20 pm)

There are more students in portables then in the school it self. Seems odd

JayDee July 14, 2015 (4:37 pm)

As someone without kids, who’s taxes support Seattle Schools, is it true that 600+ kids have to share the bathrooms intended for 300? Seem odd that OSHA or L&I doesn’t mandate support facilities if this is the case.

Community Member July 14, 2015 (6:11 pm)

@JayDee – I don’t know about these portables, but when my kids attended Pathfinder housed at the Gennesee Hill school, there were restroom facilities in the portables.

cptnbly July 14, 2015 (8:12 pm)

There are not bathrooms in the portables. Does anyone know what will become of Schmitz Park Elementary after Genesee is opened?

Mike July 14, 2015 (11:30 pm)

cptnbly, by agreement the district can only use that property for use of a school. It’s uncertain the exact use as of now when the new school opens or if they’ll let it rot like they did the old Genesee one that they’re building the new on in place of. If they choose to let it rot, they’ll get to deal with my cranky old man mentality and a lawyer.

SoLackluster July 15, 2015 (5:59 am)

Will SPS let EC Hughes sit vacant until tax dollars are used to pay exorbitant fees to reopen it? It’s available this school year and no plan has been presented.

…

There are not bathrooms in the portables. A steep stair climb is involved in going to the bathroom for students and teachers in Gatewood’s portable.

…

The Genesee Hill Schmitz site does not include enough classrooms to accommodate the incoming student population — it is likely both Schmitz school sites will *have* to remain open.

….

Our children and our community deserve better. Demand long term planning instead of bandaids. schoolboard@seattleschools.org

…

Remember to vote in August — the West Seattle School Board Position is on the ballot.

Kate July 15, 2015 (9:57 am)

I’m a students at that school and it’s too busy we have to miss out on fun events because of the portables

Huindekmi July 15, 2015 (11:24 am)

Some of the buildings at E.C. Hughes (the ones that formerly housed the Westside School preschool classes) will be used by the YMCA preschool program starting next month. The Y will occupy two buildings on the campus. I’m unsure whether SPS has a plan for the main building yet.

Westside moves to their own building this fall.

WSB July 15, 2015 (11:42 am)

Hughes is going to be an emergency/interim building. Which Boren had been – but K-5 STEM is expanding to K-8 STEM, so when Arbor Heights goes to its new school in a year, the district will need someplace for displaced (temporarily or longterm) schools to go. As for Schmitz Park’s current building, at one point there was talk of it being an early-learning center, and then suddenly, that started to ebb. I have to check in with the district to see if it’s still deciding.

SoLackluster July 16, 2015 (11:00 am)

With *seventeen* portables on site at Schmitz, overflowing classrooms at schools all over West Seattle, burgeoning preschool populations, and I-1351 passing, it seems there are plenty of “displaced” students in need of a permanent school building.

Designating EC Hughes as an interim/emergency site is bureaucratic cop out.

Thank you for keeping the community informed, Tracy/WSB!

Schmitz mom July 17, 2015 (9:07 pm)

There is a set of restrooms for kindergarteners plus a wheelchair accessible one, a set for adults, and the main set of restrooms. It works ok. I can’t believe they are fitting more portables, but they really haven’t had much choice but to adapt until the new school is finished. They’ve done an amazing job, considering.

Sorry, comment time is over.