West Seattle, Washington
29 Wednesday
Two West Seattle coffee notes percolating today:
FIRST CHICKEN, THEN COFFEE: Welcome the new spinoff from Harry’s Chicken Joint in north Morgan Junction – call it Harry’s Coffee Joint, though it’s really Catherine and Jared’s coffee joint – there they are above, Catherine Cougan, daughter of Chicken Joint founder Bruce Cougan, and Jared Harkness. They’re in soft-open mode right now on the south side of Harry’s, with free samples, and then officially opening 7 am-2 pm weekdays starting next Monday. They’re roasting their own coffee except for the espresso blend (Vashon); they’re also baking their own goodies, including the bursting-with-blueberries scones we saw while visiting a little while ago. It’s a cozy spot, as is the chicken side, but stools are on order, Catherine tells us, and you can sit over in the chicken space says the Coffee Joint – his daughter’s enterprise – officially opens next week, with espresso and treats, and will be open 7 am-2 pm, while the chicken hours continue at 4 pm-8 pm. This is all going on at 6032 California SW.
FRESHY’S EXPANDS DOWNTOWN: If you work downtown and need coffee .. you’ll soon have a new West Seattle-rooted shop to patronize: Freshy’s Coffee, which has been in The Admiral District for 10 years now, is opening a second location at 1099 Stewart St., Suite 102. “Hoping for a soft opening in October,” they say via Instagram.
The rain falling right now reminds us of what’s coming up Sunday afternoon in the Sunrise Heights and Westwood neighborhoods – the King County Wastewater Treatment Division‘s celebration of the completion of the Barton Combined Sewer Overflow Control project. 15 blocks now have roadside raingardens after two seasons of construction; a ceremonial ribbon-cutting is planned at 1 pm Sunday at 32nd SW and SW Kenyon, and then from 1:30-4 pm, tours will be offered of “three recently planted blocks.” It’s also a chance to get updated information about the project, including the ongoing RainWise program, offering incentives for people in the target area to install rain gardens and/or cisterns. This project has been much-discussed, going all the way back to early meetings six years ago, so now that it’s done – whether you’re coming to the celebration or not – the county’s offering a survey for feedback – find it here.
(Added: Thursday morning photo by Jeremiah Holt)
Looking ahead to the rest of today/tonight – lots going on in West Seattle! From our calendar:
‘SCHOOL’S BACK IN SESSION’ GROUP RUN: New free group run starting at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 10 am each Thursday – details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
DELRIDGE GROCERY FARM STAND FINALE: 4-7 pm, it’s your last chance this summer (yes, it’s technically summer for a few more days!) to buy farm-fresh produce from the Delridge Grocery Cooperative (WSB sponsor) at its weekly farm stand. (5455 Delridge Way SW)
SW ADMIRAL WAY SAFETY PROJECT: 6:15-7:45 pm, SDOT hosts an “open house” at Hiawatha Community Center (with a presentation scheduled around 6:45 pm) about the revised version of its plan for Admiral Way between the business district and the beach. (2700 California SW)
6058 35TH SW @ DESIGN REVIEW BOARD: The mixed-use building proposed for 35th SW & SW Graham in High Point goes back before the Southwest Design Review Board tonight at 6:30 at the Sisson Building (home of the Senior Center). The project, now dubbed “Upton Flats,” is currently described as a “4-story structure containing 89 residential units, 8,500 sq. ft. of office space and 1,500 sq. ft. of retail space located at ground level (with) surface parking for 98 vehicles.” This is a second round of Early Design Guidance; see the city report on the first one, in June, here; see the new design “packet” here; meeting will include a public-comment period. (SW Oregon & California SW)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC, the council’s monthly meeting includes a presentation about the SolTerra project Perch planned for 1250 Alki SW (first reported here in May, and scheduled for its first Design Review meeting next month – see the “design packet” here). All welcome. (6115 SW Hinds)
‘UNPLUGGED’: 7 pm open-microphone event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
FIRST CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 LOCAL FACEOFF POST-PRIMARY: 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge, City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) candidates Lisa Herbold and Shannon Braddock will have their first local faceoff since the August primary. It’s presented by Town Hall, which requests RSVP but, we are assured, will not require it for admission (that does guarantee you a seat, though). Details here; your WSB editor is among the moderators. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
BELLY DANCE SHOWCASE: 7:30 pm at The Skylark in North Delridge, the monthly Alauda belly-dance showcase is free and all-ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
THAT’S NOT EVEN EVERYTHING … go browse our complete calendar to see it all (and to peek at the days/weeks ahead).
In the middle of a building boom, the city is making/considering changes in some of its processes and programs – including the only one that guarantees public meetings about some development projects. Two notes this morning about how you can get involved:
BREAKING UP DPD: As first announced in June, the city plans to separate the current Department of Planning and Development functions into two new divisions. This morning’s Land Use Information Bulletin includes the official notice of an October 20th public hearing at City Hall about the proposed change:
(This would) reorganize the Department of Planning and Development into two separate departments: (1) the Office of Planning and Community Development; (2) and the Department of Construction and Inspections. This Bill clarifies responsibilities for planning, permitting and enforcement activities between the two departments.
Part of the news in that is the name “Department of Construction and Inspections,” which was still TBA when the breakup announcement was made in June. The October 20th hearing is at 5:30 pm, with speaker signups an hour earlier.
DESIGN REVIEW CHANGES: For an even-longer time, the city’s been reviewing the Design Review program, which has for years been the only means by which public community-based meetings have been required for some development projects. The next step before potential changes is a set of open houses, one for the north part of the city and one for the south. The latter is the closest to West Seattle, set for September 29, 6–7:30 pm at Columbia City Library, 4721 Rainier Ave. South. (Thanks to Deb Barker, a former Southwest Design Review Board member, for calling our attention to that so we could make sure you knew.)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:37 AM: Eight days later than originally scheduled, Seattle Public Schools start classes today. West Seattle is home to 16 of them; the times when you’ll see the flashing school-zone beacons are listed here (for all schools in the district). Four school zones now have speed-enforcement cameras – Louisa Boren K-8 STEM/interim Arbor Heights Elementary on Delridge; Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School, which has been in session for two weeks, on Roxbury; and Gatewood Elementary, on Fauntleroy Way.
ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: With rain last night and more on the way later this morning, you might not encounter crews this morning, but remember for starters that the Roxbury and 35th SW projects are now under way, so if you’re driving Roxbury between 17th and 35th and/or 35th between Holly and Roxbury for the first time in a while because of school (or some other reason), be aware that the lane configurations have changed – primarily one lane each way with a center turn lane.
7:18 AM: If you use northbound I-5 through downtown, there might be some backup through the commute because of a lane closure at Mercer related to repairs from an early-morning crash.
7:20 AM: Crash reported at California/Charlestown and SFD is en route to check out a 17-year-old boy for possible injuries.
(Added above – photo from Bryce – thank you. The crash is in the outside northbound lane just north of Charlestown.)
7:29 AM: **Transit notes** – commenters say the first Route 57 and a Route 21 bus have been no-shows this morning. We haven’t seen any text or tweet alerts from Metro.
8:10 AM: The aforementioned left-lane closure on NB I-5 at Mercer downtown continues, with a miles-long backup reported.
9:11 AM: Texter says a broken-down vehicle is in the left lane near the crest of the high bridge, no emergency vehicles on scene, leading to trouble not just because of the blocked lane but because of vehicles diverting at the last minute.
10:35 AM: Have been in the thick of this for the past hour and a third; headed out after the last update with an hour to make it to the UW for a presentation at a student-journalism conference. Instead, by 10:20, we were still on the bridge; called to say we’d never make it, and now we’re in a parking spot downtown updating before heading back to the bridge and home base. The stall turned out to be a collision; it was cleared by about 9:50 – we only saw the police lights in the distance – but the gridlock had started at Alaska/Fauntleroy and continued eastward. I-5 in the distance was sluggish too. If you have been waiting to leave, things might be a bit better now – once we got onto 99, it was slow until the Viaduct rise, and then finally everybody was up to 30 mph.
10:41 AM: WSDOT has tweeted that the NB I-5 lane is finally open again:
The left lane of NB I-5 at Mercer Street has reopened after an earlier collision.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) September 17, 2015
11:14 AM: Just came across the bridge westbound. Eastbound is STILL jammed, from Nucor eastward. And northbound 99 doesn’t look much better than it did when we were on it last hour.
6:24 PM: Crash at Olson/Myers – don’t know about the traffic effects, but be careful in that area.
(WSB photos)
“Both teams played their hearts out!” So said West Seattle High School volleyball head coach Staci Stringer after her team hosted their crosstown rivals from Chief Sealth International High School on Wednesday night.
WSHS took the match in three games – 25-21, 25-15, 25-14.
This was the third match of the season for both teams.
Next up for the Wildcats – they’re playing at also-undefeated Ballard, 7 pm Friday night, in a game that could determine division leadership. The Seahawks, coached by Lorna Considine, play at home at 7 on Friday, hosting Franklin.
Thanks to Lynda B for texting the photo this evening – first we’ve heard that Seattle Parks is planning to remove the “love locks” that have turned up on the fence at Duwamish Head. They’re a tradition in some spots around the world – even other spots in the city – but we’ve only noticed them here relatively recently. The sign says they’ll be removed on Friday, so if you have one you’d like to retrieve (and you didn’t throw away the key!), better go get it. We’ll check with Parks tomorrow to find out why they’ve decided to remove the love locks.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Crime trends and self-protection were on the agenda as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council returned from summer break.
Last night’s meeting started with Southwest Precinct Captain Pierre Davis briefing those in attendance. “The summer was … the summer. In West Seattle, it’s typical for us to have a riproaring summer, but it wasn’t out of control.” He talked about the importance of the recently developed “microcommunity” policing plans, and the importance of feedback on them.
It’s been five months since Capt. Davis returned to West Seattle as precinct commander; he noted that some categories of crime were spiking back then, but they’ve been “strateg(izing)” how to fight them, and have had success. For one, he said, they’ve put together what is in effect “a posse to go out and hunt our bad guys … (those responsible) for auto thefts, burglaries, other crimes that have plagued neighborhoods.”
(WSB photo, taken from behind the protection-zone tape)
Walking on the Lincoln Park shore this afternoon, on our way to meet an interview subject, we happened onto an unexpected sight – this harbor-seal pup on the beach. Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network‘s first responder Lynn Shimamoto was already there and marking off an area to keep it safe from people and other animals. On our way back from our (unrelated) interview, we stopped to talk with Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey, who said it’s continued to be a slow season for pup sightings otherwise, as noted on their Blubberblog website (where you’ll likely see a post later about today’s visit, which came four days after a brief sighting nearby). Most likely, Robin said, today’s pup was already weaned, as most pups are born in July or August and now past the time they stay with their moms. One telltale sign: Like this one, the weaned pups aren’t very plump, as they are learning how to hunt for themselves. This means it’s even more important they get space to rest, because if they’re spooked, they’ll burn more of what little stored fat they have as they scoot back into the water to find safety. If you see a seal or other marine mammal on a local store, call Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-SEAL.
P.S. For tracking purposes, pups protected by Seal Sitters often are given names. Lynn told us passersby from Wales suggested “Cariad,” which means “sweetheart” in Welsh.
Metro has just announced details of its next “service change,” scheduled to take effect on September 26th (one week from Saturday). You can see all the changes here; here are the area routes we see listed (please let us know if we’re missing one), plus a big change for holiday service, with several local routes involved:
ROUTE 21
Route 21 daytime and evening service frequency will also improve to every 15 minutes on Sunday as all southbound Route 5 trips will be connected to Route 21 operating to Westwood Village and all northbound Route 21 trips with be connected to Route 5 operating to Shoreline CC.
ROUTE 113
Route 113 to Shorewood will start from the bus stop on 2nd Ave just south of Bell St. It will no longer serve the bus stop eastbound on Blanchard St just east of 1st Ave.
CHANGE IN HOLIDAY SERVICE
Beginning Saturday, Sept 26, reduced weekday schedules will be eliminated on the following routes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 50, 56, 60, 64, 70, 76, 77, 124, 131 and 132. These routes will operate regular weekday service on holidays.
If you’d rather scroll through a text list of all the changes around the region, find it here.
3:52 PM: With peak pm drive time approaching, you might need to know this: Northbound 4th Avenue S. is closed in the stadium zone because of a crash at Edgar Martinez Way. This is also affecting buses – Route 21, for example, is routed off 4th in the area. The crash involved a motorcyclist who has “significant injuries,” says SPD, after the rider hit a pole; all are advised to avoid 4th TFN.
4:18 PM: Another crash, this one on SB 35th just south of Trenton. A damaged pickup truck is blocking the southbound lane – no emergency vehicles on scene; drivers are using the center turn lane to get around it.
4:31 PM: We’re just back from the 35th crash scene and now hearing via the scanner that police have arrived and are calling for a tow.
6:07 PM: We went through 35th/Trenton about half an hour ago and the scene there was clear.
6:40 PM: SDOT says 4th Avenue South is now open again.
Though November might seem far away, the city’s earthquake-preparedness presentations tend to fill up fast, so we’re sharing word of this one in case you want to sign up:
Are you prepared for the next big earthquake and other disasters Seattle could face? Attend a presentation at one of the below library branches to hear from local emergency management experts about what you can do to get prepared. Learn about the City’s new emergency alert and notification system – AlertSeattle – and bring questions to ask the City’s hazard specialist during an open Q&A session.
Wed. November 4, 2015
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Southwest Library BranchRegister for a class by emailing your name and the presentation you plan to attend to snap@seattle.gov
Just announced via SPD Blotter – Bill Schrier, the West Seattleite who served as the city’s Chief Technology Officer until 2012, is back with the city, at least temporarily, as interim Chief Information Officer for Seattle Police. From the announcement:
As CIO, Schrier will lead the department’s efforts to bolster SPD’s information technology programs and services. He will be a part of the leadership team that will continue to fulfill Mayor Ed Murray and Chief Kathleen O’Toole’s vision that the SPD should be “second to none” when it comes to how the Department uses technology to support its officers and provides for the safety and security of the Seattle community.
As we noted when Schrier left his previous city role, much of the information we report here comes from government data – so these types of roles in particular are vital to increased transparency. We have long asked in particular for more police-report narratives to be made available, and more often – right now, only a tiny percentage of them get published online, and only in a few crime categories, because they generally have to be redacted by hand first, and that is labor-intensive. They’ve been working on ways to automate that process (as well as the much-more-publicized process of making body-cam video available), so we’re hopeful of a breakthrough. Back to today’s announcement: Schrier succeeds Greg Russell, a former Amazon exec, who left the CIO job after less than a year.
Every year as far as we can remember, the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools visits a few local campuses on the first day of school. SPS announced today that Dr. Larry Nyland will visit two schools here in the district’s Southwest Region tomorrow – Chief Sealth International High School students as their day begins around 8:40 am, and Concord International (Elementary) School students as their day begins around 9:30 am. (This might bring morning-TV-newscast crews to Sealth ahead of the superintendent’s visit, so if you see TV trucks/cameras there first thing tomorrow, you’ll know why.)
What’s up this afternoon/evening:
MEETUP AT OFFICE JUNCTION: Noon-1:15 pm – get out of your home office, away from the coffee-shop table, go meet other at-home workers, entrepreneurs, etc., at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – bring your lunch and be ready for inspiration and/or good conversation. (6030 California SW)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: 4-7 pm – third-to-last week – info here! (32nd SW & SW Juneau)
VOLLEYBALL RIVALRY: 7 pm at West Seattle High School, the WSHS Wildcats volleyball team (photo above is courtesy of head coach Staci Stringer) host the Chief Sealth IHS Seahawks, and everyone’s invited! (3000 California SW)
WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: The second year of the series begins tonight at
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. All welcome. Especially local youth – who are invited to be part of the City Council budgeting process this year, which City Councilmember Nick Licata will discuss, as noted in agenda highlights below as shared by neighborhood district coordinator Kerry Wade:
7:05 p.m. Welcome & Introductions – All
7:15 p.m. Update on Delridge Action Plan – David W. Goldberg (DPD)
7:35 p.m. Participatory Budgeting Discussion – Councilmember Nick Licata
8:25 p.m. DNDC Member Additional Updates & Announcements – All
(4408 Delridge Way SW)
34TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: 7 pm monthly meeting at the American Legion Hall in The Triangle. Agenda (see it here) includes endorsement discussion and new voter-identification software. (37th SW & SW Alaska)
(WSB photo from November 2014)
Last November, we reported on Puget Soundkeeper Alliance‘s project to track what happens to salmon in Longfellow Creek – which has much more of a toxic-runoff problem than West Seattle’s other urban salmon creek in Fauntleroy. This year, we have advance word that they’re looking for volunteer help, with an orientation event coming up in two weeks, so this is your chance to get involved:
Join Soundkeeper as we investigate the health of our local salmon runs at Longfellow Creek this fall! Volunteers will assess the effects of urban runoff on wildlife by conducting a pre-spawn mortality survey of Coho salmon. Volunteers needed for weekly surveys from October to early December.
Volunteer Orientation in West Seattle:
Thursday, October 1, 2015
6 pm-7:30 pm
Chaco Canyon Café
3770 SW Alaska St.RSVP to michelle@pugetsoundkeeper.org
As Soundkeeper noted in this update last year, federal scientists have discovered a pre-spawn death rate of up to 80 percent in urban creeks – compared to one percent in rural creeks. The results of this work, including what you can do as a volunteer, will help support more cleanups, education, and enforcement to help clear the waters and save salmon.
This Saturday, three independent local businesses are teaming up for the first-ever West Seattle Gear Grab. Reid Curry, manager of Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor), calls it “a GIANT year-end clearance sale on outdoor gear,” featuring EWA as well as West Seattle Cyclery and Mountain to Sound Outfitters. Curry adds, “While this is in essence a giant parking lot sale, it is also an unprecedented partnership between three of the premier outdoor retailers in West Seattle…establishing West Seattle as an up and coming destination for a variety of specialty outdoor stores and representing the strong and ever growing community of outdoor enthusiasts in West Seattle.” It’s happening on Saturday (September 19th) from 10 am to 4 pm at the north end of The Junction’s parking lot along 42nd SW south of SW Oregon, right across from EWA’s shop. From the announcement:
If your thing is catching sea run cutthroats off Lincoln Park, cycle commuting to get your workout in as you slog through the work week, or SUPing and kayaking with resident harbor seals off Duwamish Head, or heading up to ski and snowboard in the Cascades, this is an event not to miss. … We will be clearing out our storage spaces, back shops, and selling demo gear to get ready for the upcoming winter season and keep the retail wheels rolling. … Deals will be had, and this event will occur rain or shine. So come out and celebrate the amazing area we live in, and support your local specialty shops which call the Junction and Triangle neighborhoods of West Seattle home. Then cruise on down to check out the amazing grub and suds right in The Junction; what a cool way to spend the afternoon in one of the best neighborhoods in Seattle.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Another no-incident morning commute so far in this area.
SCHOOLS & SCHOOL ZONES: As a result of developments yesterday, Seattle Public Schools will open tomorrow (Thursday, September 17th). So that’s when to expect school buses, families dropping off kids, people walking and biking, etc. And as noted here last night, West Seattle will have a fourth speed-enforcement camera, on Delridge Way by Louisa Boren K-8 STEM/interim Arbor Heights Elementary.
RECHANNELIZATION REMINDER: Work continued last night on Roxbury (which is being rechannelized between 35th and 17th) and 35th (between Roxbury and Willow). Other changes are planned on both in addition to the restriping.
48TH & 49TH SW: The Seattle Public Utilities sewer-repair projects are under way or getting under way – the work on 48th at Edmunds is expected to last all week; work on 49th SW in Seaview could start as soon as today.
ADDED 8:10 AM – NEW WATER TAXI, CLOSER LOOK: As we’ve mentioned, the new West Seattle Water Taxi, M/V Doc Maynard, has arrived in Seattle and is on test runs, prior to its dedication Friday, though it won’t be on the WS run for another month or so (it’ll be filling in on the Vashon run while its twin M/V Sally Fox goes in for maintenance). Thanks to those who’ve sent more photos – starting with this one from Mike. We hadn’t seen the skyline detail before:
Here’s a full-length look, also at Seacrest, from Lise Thivierge:
The Friday dedication is on the downtown waterfront but you can ride the current Water Taxi to and from the event as space permits, per King County’s announcement (starting with the Seacrest departure at 10:45 am).
We don’t often hear about two motorcycle thefts in one day – but here’s the second reader report we’ve received today. From Alicia:
Sometime between Monday at 11:00 pm and Tuesday at 2:00 pm our motorcycle was stolen out of our backyard, near 17th and Trenton, close to Westwood Village. It is a 2007 Yamaha YZF-R6, license plate number 8C5298, gray/blue in color. Please contact Alicia if found at 425-891-6248 or at aliciawimmer@hotmail.com
Motor-vehicle theft – which includes motorcycles – is holding steady in our area, neither increasing nor decreasing, the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council was told tonight – our report from that meeting is coming up.
So now that we know Seattle Public Schools will start classes on Thursday … one reminder: There’s a new speed-ticket camera zone in West Seattle, on Delridge Way SW by the home of Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and interim home of Arbor Heights Elementary.
Before the strike pushed back the start date, we had been trying to get specifics from SDOT verifying the grace period when only warnings would be handed out, as was done when the new cameras on Roxbury were put in last year, but never received an answer (we’ll be checking again tomorrow). In June, they said it would be a 30-day grace period starting September 9th, which of course was supposed to be the first day of school.
This makes four speed-ticket-camera zones in West Seattle – the other three are along Fauntleroy Way SW near Gatewood Elementary and along SW Roxbury by Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School. The times when beacons are supposed to be flashing at those schools and others in West Seattle (plus the rest of the city) are listed on this SDOT document; for a map showing only the schools with speed-enforcement cameras here and around the city, go here.
4 PM: We’re at the IAM Local 751 Hall in South Park, where Seattle Education Association leaders and building (individual schools) reps are meeting to decide whether to suspend the strike pending a membership vote on the tentative contract agreement reached early this morning. A few minutes ago, SEA spokesperson Rich Wood emerged to tell us and other media that it’s likely to be at least half an hour – 4:30 or so – before they have something to announce. The results of this meeting will determine whether school does or does not start on Thursday (Wednesday’s already been ruled out by the district). Updates to come.
4:39 PM UPDATE: We’re still waiting. While what’s happening in the meeting isn’t audible outside, aside from bursts of applause now and then, we did hear that lots of questions were being asked. (4:44 pm – Right after we wrote that, Wood came out to tell us exactly that – it’s still going to be a while longer as 15 or so people are still in line to ask questions, plus there are people standing by to offer pros and cons. “They’re very thorough – they’re educators,” he noted.)
(Added: WSB photo inside meeting room, once media was allowed in as participants departed)
5:57 PM UPDATE: It’s a little chaotic in here but word is they voted to END THE STRIKE.
6:16 PM UPDATE: Bargainers just finished their media briefing (updated – hi-res video replacing low-res version).
Technically, this vote was to SUSPEND the strike. It’s not formally over until membership vote, which we’re told will be Sunday. But school WILL start Thursday, both the union AND district now say. Adding contract details that we have heard here (and from printed copy we’ve procured):
*30 “equity teams” – 10 schools the first year, 10 more the second year, 10 more the third year.
*Also re: equity: “Partnership Committee between SPS, SEA, and community reps to eliminate disproportionate discipline”
*SEA and SPS will determine how the lost days are made up
*Compensation – same raises for certificated, SAEOPs, paraprofessionals
-3.0% raise now, with 3% added state COLA
-2.0% raise in 2016, with 1.8% added state COLA
-4.5% raise in 2017
*Recess, as previously reported, at least 30 minutes per day “during the student instructional day”
*Calendar: Full midwinter break every year, school starts first Wednesday in September, “rules to develop calendar in any year so staff and families can plan ahead”
*Re: testing, “no more Seattle student growth rating … evaluation language updated … SEA and SPS agree to jointly petition (state) regarding use of focused scores”
ADDED 7:15 PM: Other key points:
Student day increase beginning in 2017-18: “Student day is extended 20 minutes each day, within the 7.5 hour teacher workday; students are released one hour early (or arrive one hour late) once per week. Net increase in student instructional time, 22-25 minutes per week. Building Leadership Teams still set the school schedule just as they do now.
Pay for longer student day: 100 minutes – 60 paid as collaboration, 15-18 paid as prep, 13.3 paid as tech, 10 paid as .5% of 3rd year raise.
Special Education: Special Ed preschool ratio lowered to 10:1:2, Distinct (social/emotional) classrooms lowered to 7:1:2, Special Ed Task Force will review special ed coasts; savings will be redirected to reduce employee workloads. Special Ed Team to decide on Instructional Assistant deployment when students are grouped across classrooms in a building.
ESA Caseloads: Enforceable caseload ratios for the first time.
The list continues – we’re still looking for an electronic version of the toplines so we can just link.
9:03 PM: See comments for a few other quotes from the printed summary. Also a note: Teachers will be back on campus tomorrow, to get ready for the start of classes Thursday.
(Photo by Carolyn Newman)
With three days to go until the ceremony dedicating West Seattle’s new Water Taxi, the M/V Doc Maynard, it’s already out and about testing the waters following its arrival in Elliott Bay at the end of last week. And the county says the entire Water Taxi fleet is or has already gone green:
What could be better than commuting across Puget Sound in a water taxi and bypassing all that traffic? Now there’s yet another reason to appreciate the ride – in addition to fighting congestion, these King County water taxis are doing their part to combat greenhouse gas emissions by switching to the use of biodiesel fuel.
“Using homegrown biodiesel, our water taxis have some of the cleanest-burning engines around,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “The use of biodiesel on the newest member of our fleet, the Sally Fox, will reduce particulates in the air and prevent more than 140 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.”
In line with the biodiesel initiative, the County’s Marine Division has earned membership in the Passenger Vessel Association’s Green WATERS Program – a national volunteer effort that encourages environmental responsibility and action to reduce the environmental impacts of marine operations.
The Sally Fox, soon to be joined by a second new vessel, the Doc Maynard, has a host of green features that include:
· Operating on a locally-sourced 10 percent biodiesel blend, which reduces our dependence on fossil fuel.
· Engines that operate more cleanly and emit less particulate matter.
· The addition of high-efficiency heating systems, LED lights, and recycling stations to help reduce waste.
· Expanded capacity for bicycles. The new vessels can accommodate 26 bicycles on every trip.When the County’s third vessel, The Spirit of Kingston, has its annual maintenance this fall, fuel tanks will be cleaned readying the vessel to burn biodiesel.
ORIGINAL TUESDAY REPORT: Be on the lookout for two extinguishers like that – stolen from the Seattle Fire Department in West Seattle today, according to SFD Lt. Sue Stangl:
Fire Engine 32 from West Seattle’s largest fire station had two firefighting extinguishers stolen early this morning while they were on a medical incident near the intersection of Alaska and California. … It would be great to be able to retrieve them, not to mention that stealing from the people that are in place to help anyone in need is in poor taste.
Call 911 if you have any info. (Station 32, by the way, is in its interim location on 40th north of Edmunds while an all-new station is being built at its permanent site.)
FRIDAY NIGHT: We have word the fire extinguishers were returned – with a note of apology.
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