West Seattle, Washington
10 Monday
It’s a sweet tradition for the Madison Middle School PTSA – Krispy Kreme donut sales for Valentine’s Day. So they’re doing it again this year.
Grab a Valentine’s Day donut and support the Madison Middle School PTSA – because nothing says ‘love’ like a donut for a good cause! All proceeds go to our school fund, so it’s a win-win. Orders must be placed here by midnight on February 10: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WPN9W53LMNY46 Pick up donuts on Valentine’s Day (2/14) before school from 8:00-9:00 AM.
Photos by Dave Gershgorn for West Seattle Blog
(Musicians Fin McGinty, Loch Liddell, Ana Geraghty play while dancers including Abu Abdirahman, Xen Grey, Theo Mohundro perform)
This was the second Lunar New Year that West Seattle High School‘s AAPI Club and Chinese Program invited the community to a big party. Tonight’s celebration started with performances in the WSHS Theater:
(Ribbon dancer Indigo Ewing, with musicians Jettson Stone on Gu Zheng, left, and Henry Oprinsky on Pi Pa)
(Martial-arts demonstration by Ambrose Pho-Tung from Evergreen Tang Soo Do)
Then it was on to the Commons for food and drink:
Games too:
And a picture-perfect photo booth:
This was the second of our area’s three big Lunar New Year events to which community members were invited – the third one is tomorrow at the Seattle Chinese Garden.
(“Live” SDOT camera looking east at 35th/Roxbury)
(Most-recent update 9:41 am, Parks changes, Center for Active Living closure) Welcome to Thursday, February 6! Some snow’s on the ground again this morning, so that’s brought school changes, and we start our morning report with those:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Remote learning again today, but on a regular schedule:
Due to snow and hazardous road conditions, all Seattle Public Schools will be in remote instruction today. Buildings will be closed, and there will be no in-person instruction. Remote instruction will operate on a regular school schedule. Families should expect instructions from your student’s school. Please ensure their SPS electronic device is prepped and ready for learning. Morning and afternoon activities are canceled, as well as all athletic events.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL: 2-hour late start, doors open 10:15 am, classes start 10;30 am, no morning bus service.
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: 10 am start.
HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL: 2-hour late start.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: 10:30 am start.
HOLY ROSARY: 2-hour late start, doors open 10:15 am.
HOLY FAMILY: 2-hour late start, doors open 9:50 am.
SUMMIT ATLAS: 2-hour late start – doors open 10:20 am, classes start 10:30 am.
(updated 7:57 am) TILDEN SCHOOL: Change in plan – closed today.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Late start again today – 10 am.
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2-hour late start.
VASHON ISLAND SD: 1.5-hour late start.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC HS: 2-hour late start – classes start 10 am.
Please text/call 206-293-6302 with any other school changes – we’ll keep adding.
Also this morning:
WEATHER INFO
The Winter Weather Advisory, with the possibility of more snow, continues until 10 am today … The Cold Weather Advisory alert, for nighttime temperatures possibly into the low 20s, will be in effect 10 pm tonight until 10 am Friday.
TRANSIT INFO
Metro – Check metrowinter.com for changes in our area – as of 6 am, no major routing changes here. …. (Updated 6:54 am) Route 50 is routed off SW Genesee/Delridge because of “road conditions,” so if that’s your bus, check for alerts.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
ALSO OF NOTE
-SDOT’s winter-response map
(updated 7:08 am) -SPU’s solid-waste pickups are CANCELED today – here’s the latest info
(updated 7:08 am) –Seattle Public Library branches are opening late – details here
(added 9:41 am) -Seattle Parks changes, mostly late starts – details here
(added 9:41 am) –Center for Active Living closed, Jazz Night canceled
Any other weather-related info? Text/voice 206-293-6302, or if not urgent, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!
(“Live” SDOT camera image near Louisa Boren STEM K-8)
After some snowfall these past few hours, we’ve got news of school changes for today (Wednesday, February 5), and are updating as we get more:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Remote instruction today, 2-hour late start. Here’s the full announcement for SPS:
Due to snow and hazardous road conditions, all schools will be in remote instruction today, Feb. 5, with a two-hour delay. Buildings will be closed, and there will be no in-person instruction. This includes preschool and Head Start. (PreK and Head Start will not have remote learning). Schools will end at the standard early release time. Families should expect instructions from your student’s school. Please ensure their SPS electronic device is prepped and ready for learning. Morning and afternoon activities are canceled, as well as all athletic events.
(updated 6:08 am) VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:26 am) HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: All schools closed today.
(added 5:39 am) SUMMIT ATLAS: Closed today.
(added 6:23 am) HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:43 am) TILDEN SCHOOL: Closed today.
(updated 8:05 am) SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Plan changed – closed today.
(added 5:48 am) HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) HOLY FAMILY BILINGUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) KENNEDY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 5:58 am) EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 6:10 am) OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Closed today, no EDC/ELC.
(added 6:11 am) WESTSIDE SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added 8:05 am) BRIDGE SCHOOL COOPERATIVE ELEMENTARY: Closed today; community meeting canceled.
School changes can be texted/called to us at 206-293-6302.
Other snow-related updates:
WEATHER INFO
Winter Weather Advisory now in effect until 10 am Thursday. Up to two inches of snow; temperatures in the 30s.
TRANSIT INFO
Metro – Check metrowinter.com for changes in our area; all buses in East King County zone are now on snow routing.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
ALSO OF NOTE: SDOT’s winter-response map
We already have word of some school changes for Tuesday because of the potentially snowy weather, so we’ll start the list here and update it with whatever else we hear.
HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL: 2-hour late start Tuesday. No morning, ESC, or half-day preschool; school will start at 10:30 am.
VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: 1.5-hour late start Tuesday; see district website pop-up for other effects.
KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL: 2-hour late start (10 am); see district website pop-up for details.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Late start of 10 am for Tuesday. All classes and activities before 10 am are canceled.
.HOLY FAMILY: 2-hour late start
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2 hours late.
Others? Please text or call 206-293-6302, or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The second wave of snow showers was even shorter than the first, but some nearby areas are experiencing – and/or expecting – weather wintry enough that they’ve announced school changes for Monday. Here’s what we have so far:
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district that includes White Center and points south will start 2 hours late on Monday. Full details here.
VASHON ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district with hundreds of students from West Seattle will start 1 1/2 hours late on Monday.
SUMMIT ATLAS: We haven’t reached the school to confirm this yet but a parent says the charter middle/high school in Arbor Heights is starting 2 hours late on Monday.
(added) KENNEDY HS: Also starting 2 hours late.
(added) HOLY FAMILY BILINGUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL: Closed today.
(added) SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Just received at 5 pm:
South Seattle College Alert: Due to winter weather, all classes and activities starting at 6 PM or later on Monday, February 3 are cancelled. We will also have a late start of 10 AM on Tuesday, February 4. All classes and activities prior to 10AM are cancelled.
Got a school change or closure? Please text or call us, 206-293-6302.
West Seattle families and students are back from their trip to Olympia for Thursday’s Day of Advocacy for education funding, part of the “Billion-Dollar Bake Sale” campaign. We asked a local leader, Gatewood Elementary parent/advocate Megan Fisher, how it went and whether she could share photos – here’s her report:
The Billion Dollar Bake Sale in Olympia was a huge success. We had about 400 people down at the Tivoli Fountain on the Capitol Campus rallying for public education funding, we heard from many speakers at the rally, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, who reminded the crowd that it is the Legislature’s constitutional duty to fully fund public schools and we are underfunding K-12 education each year by $4 Billion. We heard from educators, students, school board directors, city council people, and the president of the WEA (Washington Education Association).
We had representation from many West Seattle Schools including an incredible amount of Gatewood Elementary parents and students and parents and students from Genesee Hill Elementary School, Pathfinder K-8, Lafayette Elementary, and West Seattle Elementary were represented from West Seattle.
Gatewood Elementary also sent their 5th graders down on a field trip with Principal Kyna Hogg and it was an incredibly invigorating day for advocacy. The students on the field trip and the parents and students who came down from Gatewood got to meet with Representative Joe Fitzgibbon and Representative Brianna Thomas in the rotunda of the capitol building – the “Gatewood Gator Chant” could be heard echoing through the rotunda of the capitol building – it was a really magical moment! “We’re Gatewood Gators through and through, we’re safe and kind in all we do, we’re responsible, you know it’s true, we’re Gatewood Gators through and through, CHOMP, CHOMP CHOMP!!” in addition to chanting “no more crumbs, fund our schools!” ]
The Senate passed three bills yesterday related to funding education that are on their way to the Ways and Means Committee for approval now and it seems like public support for education funding is proving to be successful!
The organizers of the statewide Billion-Dollar Bake Sale campaign were impressed with the incredible showing of support from the West Seattle community.
By Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Around 200 West Seattle parents and community members attended a discussion about cell phones, social media and mental health on Tuesday night at Gatewood Elementary.
Much of this discussion was inspired by Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation.” The event aimed to kickstart a community conversation focused on supporting the mental health and development of West Seattle’s children as they navigate the challenges posed by modern technology.
West Seattle is joining other communities across the state in scrutinizing phones in schools and their impact. Vashon Island’s McMurray Middle School recently implemented a “phones away for the day” policy; Chief Sealth International High School was a trailblazer in this in fall 2023.
“Away for the Day,” created by the team behind the Screenagers documentary series, encourages phone-free schools after research studies linked phone proximity to reduced attention, mental health struggles and more. Speakers at the event highlighted HB 1122, a bill in the 2025 legislative session aimed at restricting mobile devices for public school students, as one to watch and support.
Caitlyn McGuire, a longtime public-school teacher and Gatewood parent, shared a story about a couple of students who were so worried about taking their masks off at lunch that they wouldn’t eat. They feared classmates would see their true appearances since they had created avatars on social media. This concern reflects a broader issue McGuire highlighted: the growing mental-health challenges among youth using social media.
“In the fall of 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Surgeon General declared a national emergency in child mental health,” McGuire said. “We know that our teenagers are spending more time on social media than any other activity. We also know that in recent years, we’ve seen soaring rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidality among youth.”
McGuire discussed how social media algorithms are designed to be addictive, tapping into the novelty, emotion, and reward centers of the brain, which particularly appeal to teens who have not yet fully developed their frontal lobes.
“Kids feel bad, they don’t want to be up late on their phones and tablets,” McGuire said. “They do the same things that we do, saying, ‘Okay, I’m going to get off soon. I’m going to get off.’”
McGuire emphasized that parents, schools, and government need to intervene to help teens set healthy boundaries with technology.
The connection between social media and eating disorders was also discussed, highlighted by a video, “The Cost of Beauty: A Dove Film,” (eating disorder trigger warning) which moved many in the audience to tears.
Megan Fisher, a Gatewood Elementary parent and mental-health therapist, emphasized that parents must allow their children to grow independently, noting that children face too much protection in the real world and not enough in the virtual world.
She referenced the Let Grow Project, which encourages kids to try new things on their own — like climbing trees, running errands, and cooking — to foster independence. McGuire stressed that it is essential that kids get play-based childhood, not a phone-based one.
“Let’s give our kids what they truly need: a childhood filled with play, connection and freedom from constant digital pressures,” Fisher said.
Presenters encouraged parents to sign the nationwide “Wait Until 8th” pledge, which advocates delaying kids from getting a smartphone until 8th grade. The pledge also connects families with others who are actively supporting the cause, fostering solidarity. Once 10 families from your child’s grade and school sign the pledge, it becomes active.
Several ideas and solutions were presented during the event, including:
-Instead of giving kids a smartphone, consider a “Tin Can” — a landline phone that connects via Wi-Fi and only allows calls from programmed numbers, created by a local West Seattle parent.
-Consider a smartwatch or a more basic flip phone.
-Wait until the end of 8th grade to give kids a cell phone, and until they are 16 to allow social media account(s).
-Be mindful of your own phone habits, as children often model their behavior after adults.
-Have open conversations with your children about why waiting to give them phones and social media protects their mental health. Create clear guidelines, like no phones until after 8th grade, while also acknowledging their feelings.
-Focus on encouraging activities away from the phone, like sports, spending time with friends and exploring new hobbies.
The meeting was recorded and may be available upon request. Contact gatewood.pta.advocacy@gmail.com for more information.
Early planning is under way for this milestone reunion we were asked to tell you about, because they’re trying to reach as many class members as they can. Sent by Donna:
The graduating class of 1965 will be gathering for a 60th reunion on September 8, 2025 at Salty’s on 1936 Harbor Avenue SW in Seattle. We will have a luncheon from noon to 4 pm. The cost is $95. There are funds available to support a fellow graduate who might need financial assistance. Please let us know if you are interested in attending by February 12, 2025. Casual attire, guests of graduates are welcome. There will be “no pay” at the door availability. If our graduates are interested in attending, they can email us at: Sealth1965reunioncommittee@gmail.com
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This Thursday, education advocates of all ages – students, parents, grandparents, other community advocates – will bring the “Billion-Dollar Bake Sale” to Olympia, hoping to convince legislators to increase funding for public schools, to save them from budget-slashing.
Last Thursday, a prelude to that journey brought dozens of community members to the West Seattle High School Theater for a lesson in “Understanding Our School Funding Crisis and Doing Something About It.”
PTSA presidents Holly Rikhof of WSHS and Michelle Riggen-Ransom of Chief Sealth International HS introduced the event; their organizations co-presented it. PTSAs are keenly aware of what it takes to fund schools, Riggen-Ransom observed; their organizations and counterparts raise $4 million for Seattle Public Schools every year for needs that the basic funding doesn’t cover.
Here’s what that goes for – Riggen-Ransom said they even had a request last year to fund a wheelchair. “We’re doing a lot more with a lot less.”:
Rikhof said that aside from that fundraising, “advocacy is the mission of the PTSA. … We’re fighting for kids. It’s our job.” And if you don’t have a PTSA, “you lose your voice.” Together, the organizations comprise a “collective voice.” They then made way for the voices of their guest speakers.
Thanks for all the updates since we first published a list last week, after learning that Seattle Public Schools does not have a central page on its website this year for a comprehensive list of school tours/open houses. Throughout school-enrollment season, we’ve listed open houses and tours – for all types of schools – in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, but some happen in the morning, before our daily front-page event-reminder list, so here’s an updated list of what’s yet to come (minus the previously listed events that have already happened):
*Lafayette Elementary tour/open house tomorrow (Tuesday, January 28)
*West Seattle Elementary has three open houses coming up, starting tomorrow (Tuesday, January 28)
*West Seattle High School‘s open house for incoming students is set for this Thursday, January 30
*Denny International Middle School also has a open house this Thursday, 5 pm January 30
*Fairmount Park Elementary has tours on January 30 and February 25
*Sanislo Elementary has tours January 30 and February 4
*Concord International Elementary in South Park has an open house on February 6
*Roxhill Elementary has a tour February 6
*Madison Middle School‘s open house for incoming 6th graders is on February 6
*Louisa Boren STEM K-8 has eight events ahead on February 6, 11, and 13, all listed on this RSVP form
*Gatewood Elementary has morning and evening tours on February 12
Also:
*SPS says “many” (not all) schools will be represented at its Admissions Fair at district HQ on February 1
ANY OTHER EVENTS? If your school has an open house/tour event coming up but you haven’t sent us info for our calendar, it’s not too late – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you’ve been to the West Seattle Farmers Market today, you might have seen the Billion-Dollar Bake Sale crew tabling. As we’ve been reporting, that’s part of an advocacy campaign for public-school funding at the Legislature. In particular, they’re looking ahead to two events this week – Pathfinder K-8 parent and local advocate Kaitlin Murdock sent this preview:
I’m a Pathfinder Parent who, along with the Lafayette PTSA, reached out to Postcards4Democracy to ask them to help us send postcards to our 34th LD legislators asking them to fully fund public education.
They graciously agreed to help with our cause. This Tuesday, 10:30 am-12 pm, we will meet at C&P [5612 California SW] so each constituent can send a (provided) postcard to each of our 3 state legislators: House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, Representative Brianna Thomas, and Senator Emily Alvarado. Postcards filled out during this event will be hand delivered to Olympia on January 30th when taxpayers from all over the state converge on Olympia for the Billion Dollar Bake Sale Rally 10-11 am in Tivoli Square. Postcards and pens will be provided, generously donated by the Lafayette PTA.
We encourage everyone who can attend to join us for this joint postcard event in support of the bedrock of our communities: our public schools. Critical reforms are needed at the state level, as the majority of our revenue comes from Washington State directly. In addition, the portion that comes from Seattle levies (on the Feb 11th ballot), is capped, leaving us unable to raise local funds to fill funding gaps in special education services, transportation,materials, supplies, and operating costs. If our state doesn’t make key changes, Seattle Public Schools will be facing drastic cuts, with a $94M budget deficit. We want to make sure that these cuts do not result in closing schools, cutting teachers, or a prolonged teachers’ strike that delays the start of school next fall.
For those unable to join us for Tuesday’s event, or Thursday in Olympia, there are still plenty of opportunities to have your voice heard: send an email to our legislators, or “sign in” to register your opinion on bills as they move through committee (receive updates from: scptsa.org/2025-legislative-session). The next opportunity to gather in community in Olympia is February 17th.
Thank you to our community in advance; public education is the bedrock of our communities, our democracy, and our workforce, in addition to being the greatest opportunity for our most underserved children to have a strong start in life.
Some of this also was discussed at the local PTSA-led “teach-in” event at West Seattle High School this past Thursday night; we covered that and will publish our report either tonight or tomorrow.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
South Seattle College‘s president says she is not interested in having her college continue as “one of West Seattle’s best-kept secrets.”
Dr. Monica Brown‘s speech to the Rotary Club of West Seattle on Tuesday was, as she explained, part of a campaign to get out into the community and spread the word about the college she’s been leading for almost half a year. “173 days,” she declared with a smile.
We start with our video of her full speech (the cash handover at the start was a donation to the Rotary Foundation’s “Happy Bucks” fund):
Dr. Brown talked with us about her background when we interviewed her in the fall, so we won’t recap too much of that. She is the eighth permanent president of SSC since it opened in 1969. She came here after more than 20 years at Montgomery College in the Washington, D.C., area. She told the Rotarians she had no idea her “life’s work” would someday take her across the country to Seattle.
At the time Dr. Brown was hired, Seattle Colleges chancellor (and former SSC president) Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap was hiring presidents for all three of the system’s schools. “That seemed bizarre but was actually brilliant … she wanted to create a cohort of three to work together to lead the (system) … as an educator, I love cohorts … as a student, I did well in cohort models.”
One of the lessons she’s learned in the past five-plus months is that SSC is not very well-known. Dr. Brown insists that she’s “not interested in South being the best-kept secret in West Seattle” – among other reasons, its work deserves to be better-known, she said. “The work we do helps position students for success, their families for success, and ultimately it supports the community and economic development.”
Plus, it has a beautiful 63-acre campus on a hill, she noted, issuing another invitation for everyone to come visit.
What else they should know, she told the club, is that “student success is not only about what happens in the classroom”: Students have “many needs,” particularly since the pandemic, “greater basic needs, greater mental-health needs,” even food needs – these are all needs that can get in the way of learning if they go unmet, and Dr. Brown said the same trends have been seen nationally.
She spoke enthusiastically about the “opportunities” at SSC, especially in the “skilled trades” like aviation maintenance, diesel/heavy equipment, landscape and horticulture, and various apprenticeships. She also had praise for the school’s “wonderful <strong>Wine Academy.” And South has more-traditional academic programs as well, such as transfer programs that send students to schools such as UW to complete their four-year degrees. Some have even transferred to her former school, Georgetown University, she noted with extra pride. Dr. Brown touted the high success rate of students transferring to four-year programs from colleges like hers. And the success can start even earlier – South serves high-school students, she reminded attendees, with the Running Start program, currently serving more than 400 students – by the time those students graduate from high school, they already have an associate’s degree from SSC too.
Dr. Brown then offered to answer questions. Asked for more info about the student population (more than 4,000 as of fall), she said the average age is 28. Is the Seattle Chinese Garden part of the school? No, it’s a “separate entity,” though it’s adjacent to the north edge of campus. SSC administrative-services vice president Hip Nguyen added that the Astra Lumina light show at the garden is in its second season, continuing into March, and attracted 120,000 visitors its first year. That helps raise awareness about South, he said.
Then Dr. Brown had a question of her own, about how the Rotary would like to connect with her school – “it’s why I’m getting out in the community, to meet people, to think about ways we can support West Seattle,” and about ways the community can support SSC students. Just before her speech, Rotary leaders had mentioned a long past history of close ties between the club and the school, with some SSC presidents having held membership in the club. Could Dr. Brown commit to having a campus rep join the club? She countered by again inviting Rotary leaders to come to the campus, suggesting a meeting, lunch, and conversation about partnership opportunities.
She then was presented with gifts – a book of photos by world-renowned West Seattle photographer Art Wolfe, and a miniature Peace Pole.
NEXT WEEK: At the noon Tuesday (January 28) lunch meeting, Seattle entrepreneur and former NBA player James Donaldson will be guest speaker. Contact the club if you’re interested in attending. (They had three visitors this week, one of whom mentioned hearing about the club on WSB.
By Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
We’re continuing our look at what’s on the February 11 ballots that King County Elections mailed out today. Last night we reported on Seattle Propositions 1A and 1B, funding for “social housing”; tonight, we’ll look at the two levy votes for Seattle Public Schools.
Proposition 1: Replacement for Educational Programs and Operations Levy
Seattle Public Schools is asking voters to approve a $747 million three-year operations levy to replace the current levy, which expires in 2025. The expiring levy collected about $244 million annually, while the proposed levy would collect more—$250 million in 2026, $249 million in 2027, and $248 million in 2028.
The proposed levy would fund programs not fully covered by state funding, including salaries, classroom supplies, special education, bilingual education, student transportation, maintenance, and extracurricular activities like arts and sports. Without a replacement, these services could face cuts.
Seattle Public Schools has relied on operations levies for decades to fill gaps left by state funding, especially in areas like special education, bilingual programs, and extracurricular activities. Seattle voters have consistently approved these levies. Rising costs have led the district to adjust levy requests to meet ongoing needs.
The levy would be funded through property taxes, with property owners in the district paying an estimated $0.78 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2026, $0.75 in 2027, and $0.72 in 2028. For example, the owner of a home valued at $700,000 would pay approximately $546 in 2026. These rates would be adjusted based on actual property values at the time of collection.
All taxable properties within the Seattle Public Schools district boundaries would contribute to this levy if it is approved by voters. This includes residential, commercial, and other property types subject to property taxes.
Schools First and other supporters submitted a statement in favor, writing: “This levy benefits every school in every part of Seattle … If the Operations Levy is not renewed, the district will have to make deep cuts. Teachers and instructional assistants will be laid off, and valuable programs that support students will be cut back or eliminated.”
No statements were submitted in opposition.
Proposition 2: Building Excellence Program: Capital Levy (BEX VI)
The district is asking voters to approve a $1.8 billion, six-year capital levy to fund the Building Excellence VI (BEX VI) Program, replacing an expiring measure. The levy is designed to fund safety upgrades, renovations, and technology needs across the district.
If approved, the levy would generate $300 million annually from 2026 to 2031. Property owners would pay an estimated $0.93 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2026, with rates decreasing to $0.79 in 2031 as property values rise. For example, the owner of a $600,000 home would pay approximately $558 in the first year.
Supporters emphasize this is not a new tax but a continuation of the current levy, though the total amount collected annually would increase slightly from the previous levy’s $270 million per year to meet rising costs.
The BEX VI levy would fund retrofitting school buildings for earthquake safety, upgrading fire alarms and security systems, replacing roofs and mechanical systems, making energy efficiency improvements, and renovating or replacing up to five schools. It also provides 90% of the district’s technology budget, which includes student computers and staff training. Its biggest West Seattle project would be an addition at Chief Sealth International High School for Career and Technical Education.
Supporters of the levy, including King County Executive Dow Constantine, argue it is essential to maintaining safe and modern learning environments. “This levy helps make sure our students are safe and our schools well maintained,” they wrote. “Every student and every school benefits!”
Opposition was submitted by Chris Jackins, a longtime critic of district spending. Jackins argued the levy prioritizes large school projects and could lead to consolidations or closures. He also proposed shrinking the levy to reduce taxes and setting aside funds to generate interest for the district’s operating budget.
Supporters have dismissed these claims, asserting there is no language in the proposal to close or consolidate schools. Instead, they argue the levy focuses on maintaining and modernizing existing facilities. “Prop. 2 maintains, rebuilds, and replaces aging school buildings, roofs, HVAC systems, technology, and security systems districtwide,” they wrote in a rebuttal.
State Senator Javier Valdez, a Democrat representing the 46th Legislative District in north Seattle, is a supporter of the levy and wrote, “All Seattle kids, regardless of zip code, deserve safe and healthy schools and up-to-date technology. Let’s continue investing in their future success.”
For both propositions, voters will simply choose “yes” or “no” to indicate their approval or rejection.
Currently, there is no direct alternative to these levies for funding the programs, safety upgrades and technology needs of Seattle Public Schools. The state’s funding formula does not fully cover these expenses, and the district relies heavily on voter-approved levies to bridge the gap. Without these levies, the district would likely need to make significant cuts or seek other funding sources
Election Day is February 11. Ballots must be postmarked by that date or dropped off at a ballot drop box (West Seattle has four) by 8 pm.
Register to vote, if you have not already. Online and mail registrations must be received by February 3 to vote in the election. Or register to vote in person by 8 pm on Election Day.
Throughout school-enrollment season, we’ve listed open houses and tours – for all types of schools – in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. But some happen first thing in the morning, too early for our daily front-page event-reminder list, so we’re publishing this note about some upcoming events:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: This year the district website does not have its usual page with a master list of open houses and tours; we’ve heard from a few schools, and added their events to our calendar – up next, a Roxhill Elementary tour and Highland Park Elementary tour/open house, both this Thursday night. Also, West Seattle Elementary has three open houses coming up, starting next Tuesday. Otherwise, you’ll have to directly contact a school in which you’re interested, and find out their plan. SPS does say “many” (not all) schools will be represented at its Admissions Fair at district HQ on February 1. … Also of note, West Seattle High School‘s open house for incoming students is set for January 30. … (Added Wednesday) Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School both have open houses before month’s end too, CSIHS at 6 pm Thursday, DIMS at 5 pm January 30. …Also (thanks to everyone who continues to send additions), Louisa Boren STEM K-8 has eight events ahead on February 6, 11, and 13, all listed on this RSVP form. … Also, Pathfinder K-8 has an open house Thursday night and tours Friday morning. … Gatewood Elementary has morning and evening tours on February 12 …Fairmount Park Elementary has tours on January 30 and February 25 … (added Saturday) Concord International Elementary in South Park has an open house on February 6 ….
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS: All three of our area’s Catholic Schools, which all run through 8th grade, are having open houses this Sunday (scroll down this page for info on all three) – Holy Family Bilingual, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Holy Rosary.
PRESCHOOLS: Alki Co-op Preschool is moving to a new location this fall, and having an open house there tomorrow … ARK Preschool in Arbor Heights has an open house planned for February 8.
ANY OTHER EVENTS? If your school has an open house/tour event coming up but you haven’t sent us info for our calendar, it’s not too late – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Early success for Madison Middle School‘s new robotics team! Proud parent Shawna Fukano sent the report and photos:
The Madison Middle School Madbots are headed to the FIRST Lego League Western Washington Championship after finishing in the top six of 24 teams at the semifinals this weekend. The team has a lot to be proud of so far in their inaugural year. Their Innovation Project on autonomous underwater vehicles placed 2nd at their first competition, securing them a spot in the semifinals.
At the semifinals, they placed 2nd in the Core Values category and 3rd in the robot games, where the robot they designed and coded had 2 minutes 30 seconds to complete as many missions as possible. Congratulations, Madbots!
The team is coached by science teacher Emma Mann and parent Steve Loeppky. Championship competition is scheduled for February 2.
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
MLK Day is a popular date to showcase high-school basketball in Seattle and throughout Washington. This afternoon, the West Seattle High School boys team matched up with Class 4A Kentridge High School in the MLK Day Classic Tournament at Seattle Pacific University.
The game started with cold shooting from both teams, with the first quarter ending with the Kentridge Chargers leading 10-9. In the second quarter, West Seattle found a groove by cutting down on turnovers and hitting key shots.
The Wildcats led by 5 at the half, 28-23. Halftime included a brief presentation on Dr. King’s legacy with a reminder to fans to consider how we can put hope into action to make the world a better place.
After the half, the lead seesawed back and forth for much of the third and fourth quarters. During a late game timeout, Wildcats Coach Fred Wilson exhorted his team to play with energy and pound the ball inside on offense. The team responded and with less than a minute to go, Wes Armstrong drove to the bucket, was fouled, and made a key free throw that gave the Wildcats a 3-point lead. West Seattle prevailed by a final score of 51-48. Duncan Monnin led with 13 points, followed by Alex Pierce and Tyce Sayles with 9 each.
No rest for the Wildcat boys – next game is at 7:30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, January 21), at Eastside Catholic.
In our coverage of last Wednesday’s Morgan Community Association meeting, we mentioned a Gatewood Elementary PTA member’s presentation about local advocacy with the State Legislature regarding school funding. Here’s the official announcement of an event this Thursday night:
Understanding Our School Funding Crisis and Doing Something About It!
Organized by West Seattle High School PTSA and Chief Sealth International High School PTSAThursday, January 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California Ave. SW)The WSHS PTSA and Chief Sealth PTSA invite the community to a Public School Funding Teach-In and Advocacy Training on January 23 in the WSHS theater.
The event will feature presentations and a Q&A session with Mary Fertakis, Vice Chair of the Washington State Board of Education; Oliver Miska, founder of the People’s Big Five; Robert Cruickshank, of Washington’s Paramount Duty.
The event is also an opportunity for you to take action in support of ample funding of basic education in Washington and to enjoy a Billion Dollar Bake Sale!
Child care is available for potty-trained kiddos. Please RSVP, here!
Questions? Email legislative@wshsptsa.org
Those are some of the 27 bags of clothing donated to family-shelter provider Mary’s Place this morning by organizers of last night’s Thrift Share event at Chief Sealth International High School. The items that went not only to the shelter but to students and their families resulted from a two-part donation drive at the school, mentioned in our seasonal-giving updates and Holiday Guide. Michelle Riggen-Ransom from the CSIHS PTSA sent the photos and this followup with words of gratitude:
Wanted to give a shout-out to the counselors and staff at Chief Sealth High School, who organized the first Pop-Up Thrift Share at the school last night. The event was open to all students and their families in the Denny and Sealth communities, and over two hundred folks over the course of the evening came through to pick up some new-to-them clothing and shoes. Special thanks to Shanyn Gilio-Tenan for an awesome job coordinating, and to our community members who stepped up with donations to make this such a successful event for our students and their families!
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Wednesday night was a big night for high school wrestling in West Seattle, as four Metro League rivals took to the mats at the Chief Sealth International High School gym. For this mid-season tournament, Chief Sealth and West Seattle each matched up against O’Dea and Nathan Hale high schools. The individual matches were intense and exciting as the teams start the home stretch toward the state tournament in late February.
Chief Sealth started off the evening on a high note, crushing the O’Dea Fighting Irish 53-14. This was a satisfying victory over a team that has given Sealth trouble in the past. West Seattle battled hard against O’Dea but came up short 30-56. Nathan Hale did not field enough wrestlers for the results to be official, but both West Seattle and Sealth handily defeated the Raiders wrestlers.
Sealth coach Maurice Dolberry said his team is peaking just at the right moment. He said the boys’ team has the talent and drive to achieve the school’s best ever showing at the state tournament. Girls’ wrestling is one of the fastest-growing high school sports, and the Sealth girls are poised to do well at State too.
West Seattle coach Shon Sweet said that his team wrestled really well, and he expects to have a handful of wrestlers that make the state tournament. Sweet is working on growing the West Seattle team and says, “Wrestling is for everyone. No matter your size or body type, whether you’re a boy or girl, there’s a place for you on the team.” That spirit of inclusion was fully evident at the tournament, with boys and girls from lightweight to heavyweight cheering each other on from the sidelines.
This event presented by West Seattle schools’ PTAs/PTSAs has been in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar a while, but we heard more about it from an attendee at tonight’s Morgan Community Association meeting:
At first glance, that might sound like another stern lecture – “get your kid off their phone” – but Megan from the Gatewood Elementary PTA explained there’s more of a peninsula-wide movement going on, not just focused on reducing screen time, but also talking about “playborhoods” for kids – encouraging getting them out to play as was more common a couple generations ago. First step, though, come to the 6:30 pm discussion on Tuesday, January 28th at Gatewood (4320 SW Myrtle) – it’s free, and you can RSVP here. (Megan promises it will be “amazing.”) Child care will be available – and by the way, they’re also looking for volunteers to help with that – gatewood.pta.advocacy@gmail.com to volunteer and/or ask questions.
(As for the rest of the Morgan meeting, we’ll have the full report tomorrow.)
As of Saturday afternoon, signage was already out for the new “School Street” partial closure of 45th Avenue SW in front of Madison Middle School, which officially starts tomorrow and will be in effect 7 am-5 pm on weekdays per SDOT. We checked it out after a tip from a nearby resident; this sign on the northbound side of the street at SW Spokane is matched by one in the distance at the start of the southbound side at SW Hinds. Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary Jr. reminded the school community in this email on Thursday. As the SDOT program page and the signage both note, the “closure” exception includes drivers who live on the street and drivers making deliveries on the street. Other “School Streets” around the city include SW Dakota in front of Genesee Hill Elementary.
As we first reported last month, 45th SW in front of Madison Middle School will become a “School Street” – closed to through traffic – 7 am-5 pm on school days starting Monday (January 13). Today, Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary Jr. sent the following reminder to Madison families, several of whom forwarded it to us with the suggestion that the wider community be reminded too:
Dear Madison Parents, and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you all well in the New Year. I am writing to you today to share more about the safety street closure on 45th Avenue SW between Hinds and Spokane that will begin next week. This street closure will reduce the likelihood of accidents and encourage alternative forms of transportation. As a school principal, the safety and well-being of our students are always my top priority, and I believe this closure will help foster a safer, healthier, and more sustainable environment for everyone in our community.
Traffic congestion around school zones is a major concern, particularly during the busy drop-off and pick-up times. Unfortunately, this heavy traffic can increase the likelihood of accidents, particularly involving pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. By temporarily closing off certain streets during peak hours, we can reduce congestion and provide a safer, less stressful space for our students to walk, bike, or scooter to and from school. There have been too many “near misses” in crosswalks, illegal U-turns, and high-speed drivers around the school in recent months and we are grateful to the City of Seattle for taking this proactive step with us.
Additionally, we hope this will encourage families to explore alternative forms of transportation. Walking, biking, public transit, or carpooling can not only reduce traffic but also promote physical activity and environmental responsibility. These options offer great benefits to both the health of our students and the overall well-being of our community. Please remember we have the covered bicycle and scooter parking off the North parking lot for student and staff use. If driving is the only option for you, we encourage dropping students off at least one block from the school to alleviate congestion during this transition on neighboring streets. Any students or families needing ADA accessibility can be accommodated in the safety zone.
This safety street closure is not just about reducing risk; it’s about fostering a culture of safety, wellness, and sustainability. By taking proactive steps now, we can create a safer and more positive school environment for our children and set an example for other communities to follow.
I understand that change can sometimes be challenging, but I truly believe this is an important step toward a safer future for our students. I encourage you to support this initiative, and I am available to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to making our school and community a better place.
Here’s the official SDOT flyer about the change. When we asked SDOT last month about the process for approving School Streets, they replied, “School Streets are requested by schools and reviewed and approved by SDOT as long as they meet the criteria (more detail on the criteria on the webpage).
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