As promised, deputy Hearing Examiner Susan Drummond has issued her ruling today on the second Alki Elementary rebuild appeal, a challenge to the city decision allowing less parking than zoning requires. This time, Drummond has dismissed the appeal. We recapped the backstory here; in short, Seattle Public Schools originally proposed building the new school with no parking, though zoning required 48; the city approved that, but in response to an appeal of that approval, Drummond told the district and city to revisit the parking situation. The district came up with a new plan for 15 spaces, the city approved that too, an appeal was filed, but Drummond’s ruling today says 15 spaces enough. Her decision concludes:

… The District substantiated that the anticipated parking demand can be accommodated on site with spillover parking on the street within 800 feet of the site, while still allowing adequate on-street parking capacity. The expert testimony supporting the approach was credible. The District’s experts arrived at similar if not the same conclusions and substantiated those conclusions. As District briefing noted, opposing testimony included irreconcilable or unsupportable conclusions, and did not meet the burden of proof required to reverse the Department’s decision. The School District and Department took the parking concerns seriously and balanced the issue against educational needs to ensure the code criteria were addressed. The Department’s decision approving the parking departure should be upheld.

The appellants now have three weeks to request judicial review of the decision. We’ll be asking if they intend to do that. Construction of the school – at the site where the old Alki Elementary was demolished after last school year – is still awaiting building permits that can’t be issued until the case is closed.

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Monday (July 1) is the day that Deputy Hearing Examiner Susan Drummond is expected to issue her ruling in the second appeal of a proposed zoning exception for the new Alki Elementary School. Thursday was the deadline she gave to the three parties in the case – the nearby residents who filed the appeal, Seattle Public Schools, and the city Department of Construction and Inspections – to file their closing statements, and all three did. You might recall that the only issue is whether SPS will be allowed to build the expanded new school with less parking than city zoning rules require. The rules require 48 spaces; the district originally sought to rebuild with no offstreet parking; a separate group of area residents appealed that and other zoning exceptions the city granted. Last August, Drummond ruled in their favor regarding the parking issue, ordering the district and city to go back to the drawing board on that. (Other exception appeals were either dismissed or settled.) The district subsequently revised the design to create 15 spaces on the southwest side of the campus; the city said OK, and then this appeal was filed.

The case was argued in a three-day hearing we covered in late May and early June (here’s our report on Day 1, our report on Day 2, and our report on Day 3), and now the ruling is awaited. The closing arguments are all in the case file – you can download and read the appellants’ argument here, the district’s argument here, and the city’s brief argument here.

Depending on what Drummond rules, a subsequent court challenge is possible; that was the first action the district took after the previous ruling, but a judge threw it out because it wasn’t a land-use decision, it was just an admonition to revisit the issue. Meantime, Alki Elementary spent the just-concluded school year in temporary quarters at the former Schmitz Park Elementary and will be there at least two more years. The school’s enrollment last year was ~271 (100 under the old Alki’s capacity), and the new school is planned for up to double that, counting two preschool classes expected also to be housed on the campus.

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Their state-championship season is over and the school year is over, but the West Seattle High School baseball program just racked up more honors. Cindy Lockwood sent the report and photos:

West Seattle coaching staff Dylan McLauchlin, Tyler Haggett, and Mike Fahy, with players Caden Fahy and Tristian Buehring, were invited to coach and play at the 2024 WIAA Baseball All-State Games this past weekend in Yakima.

At an awards banquet highlighting player and coach achievements during the 2024 season, Coach Dylan McLauchlin received the WIAA 3A Coach of the Year Award and player Caden Fahy won the WIAA-3A Player of the Year Award.

Congratulations to Coach Dylan and Caden.

WS Players also invited to the All-State Games but unable to attend were Miles Chandler, Bobby Trigg, Matthew Henning.

WSHS won the state 3A championship May 25 in Pasco, beating Mount Vernon, as reported here.

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What you see in the foreground of that photo is new netting for a play structure at Highland Park Elementary. You won’t see it there today – because somebody stole it between 6 pm last night and 6 am today. HPE’s Patti Bunting explains, “Someone cut the lock off the gate and dragged the netting off the playground using some sort of cart.” And that wouldn’t have been easy – she says the plastic-fiber rope is “so heavy the installation company was planning on using their front loader to move it.” That installation WAS supposed to happen within days. If you see the stolen netting, please contact the school – plbunting@seattleschools.org – we’ll add the police-report number when it’s available.

ADDED THURSDAY: The stolen netting is worth $17,000. Police report number is 24-933987.

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Beyond that, he lists possible policy changes that “may include”:

-Increasing SPS security and neighborhood safety organization patrols around our buildings.
-Wearing identification badges on campus.
-Requiring clear backpacks.
-Closing campuses for lunch.

Dr. Jones says he will be talking with “regional and building leaders about the needs of their school communities” before any decisions are made. He also mentioned the SPS Safe Schools Hotline 206-252-0510 that “can be used 24/7 to report any threats to our schools.” Chief Sealth IHS administration said some safety changes were made there after Mobarak Adam’s death, as detailed at a lightly attended safety forum in April.

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… While the rescheduled [board] meeting will occur on June 26, this Regular School Board Meeting will not include a proposed “school closure list.”

Instead, the presentation will focus on the criteria guiding our decisions, such as budget and enrollment data, building condition assessments, program considerations, and community input.

We’ve heard from our community. Families and staff want to understand our planning process and react to proposals. The end of the school year and summer is not an ideal time for community engagement. Over the summer, my team will work hard to evaluate and consider the feedback we have heard and refine the plan that will be presented to our board.

Reports will resume with our School Board and community in September. Our board will be voting on the well-resourced schools plan before winter break in December 2024.

We have received strong participation and valuable feedback during our community meetings. Our community cares deeply about our schools.

It is crucial to ensure any steps we take are in the best interest of our students and families. Therefore, we will take more time this summer to thoroughly consider your input before announcing school consolidations.

You can read the full update here (it follows an update on school-security concerns).

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This summer, 51 students from West Seattle High School will be studying abroad for 3-4 weeks with CIEE, the Council for International Educational Exchange, a nonprofit organization which coordinates high school and college international exchanges.

86% of these students are traveling with some kind of scholarship, either merit or need-based. West Seattle High School is a Global Navigator School with CIEE, which means that students at the school automatically qualify for at least $25,000 in scholarships toward program fees. This year, WSHS students earned $56,310 in scholarships. Students at West Seattle High have earned over $300,000 in scholarships since 2018, with 196 total students going abroad.

Students are participating in two types of programs. Language and Culture Programs involve studying French, Spanish, Italian, or Arabic in France, Spain, Argentina, Italy, or Morocco. Topic programs include art, creative writing, government, wildlife conservation, leadership and service, or engineering and innovation in Scotland, England, Portugal, Germany, Costa Rica, Botswana, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ghana, Australia, the Netherlands, or Czechia.

We very much appreciate the support of the teachers, parents and community members of these students, encouraging them to apply and to put their best foot forward. These students and their support networks are helping to make West Seattle a more globally minded community.

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Hope Lutheran School said goodbye on Friday, June 14, to the last class of 8th graders before the middle school moves north. The students were honored and celebrated during the school’s annual graduation ceremony, in front of a packed house of family and friends.

There were 15 graduates in the class, who will be moving on to high school in the fall.  According to principal Kristen Okabayashi, the highest number will attend West Seattle High School, followed closely by Kennedy Catholic High School. Besides those two schools, students are each going to a variety of schools including Seattle Prep, Raisbeck Aviation, Maritime and Holy Names. 

Co-valedictorians were Coco Alba and Tobi Kunkel, and the co-winners of the “Eagle Award” (voted on by classmates, for citizenship and character) were Tobi Kunkel and Isaac Valgora. 

This year’s class was the final group to graduate from the current Hope campus, because middle-school classes will be moving to the school’s new north campus at the former Seattle Lutheran High School building at 4100 SW Genesee, starting in Fall 2024 (WSB photos from Hope’s recent open house are here, and prospective families can contact the school here).

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South Seattle College celebrated the Class of 2024 on the evening of June 21 with a commencement ceremony at T-Mobile Park. The ceremony brought together graduates from South Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and North Seattle College – all part of the Seattle Colleges District. 

679 graduates from SSC were recognized for their achievement of earning a degree or certificate. 

(Photos courtesy South Seattle College)

SSC Acting President Sayumi Irey addressed graduates at the event, saying, “You are resilient, you are determined, you are amazing and here you are: a college graduate more than ready to write your next chapter and make your mark. Congratulations!”

Owen Heit was selected as SSC’s 2024 commencement speaker and graduated with an associate degree in pre-nursing with goals to serve as a pioneer for change in the health-care industry.

“Whether it is the exceptional professors, the eager staff seeking out passionate students, or the diverse and dedicated student body, there are many moving parts at South Seattle College that have brought us students to this day …” Heit said. “So, to every student here today preparing to cross this stage, congratulations on completing this crucial milestone in your life.”

81 SSC graduates were part of Seattle Promise, a college tuition and success program launched by Seattle Colleges, Seattle Public Schools and the City of Seattle that funds free tuition up to two years at any of the Seattle Colleges for all graduating seniors attending Seattle public high schools.

South’s 679 graduates collectively earned over 900 degrees and certificates (many students graduate with multiple certificates). Awards include bachelor of applied science degrees for those furthering their expertise and earning potential, college transfer degrees for those planning to attend a four-year university as their next step, career training degrees and certificates for those seeking immediate employment, and high school completion awards.

Of Seattle Colleges graduates this year, 40 percent are first-generation college students.

Summer classes at SSC start Monday – registration is still open.

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Another after-school celebration on this last day of the school year – on SW Lander in the block on the south side of Lafayette Elementary, volunteers and local businesses teamed up to help kids learn about street safety. That included a giveaway of 25 bicycle helmets:

Volunteers helped fit them:

The businesses who partnered in the event included Alki Bike and Board, whose proprietor Stu Hennessey was there to help:

While school safety is important everywhere, Lafayette is the only elementary school in West Seattle that’s on a major street in the middle of a business district.

P.S. Other Admiral businesses contributing to the celebration included Bebop Waffle Shop, Menchie’s Admiral, and Good Society.

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This was the last day of the school year for pretty much everyone who wasn’t already out of school. That included Seattle Public Schools students – and some had special afterschool celebrations, including Gatewood Elementary‘s traditional plunge at Alki Beach. Thanks to the parent volunteer who sent the pic!

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Before the school year ended, Madison Middle School celebrated its championship winners during lunchtime on Thursday. Above are members of the district-champion volleyball team, as announced onstage by Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary:

Then it was time to cheer members of Madison’s district-champion boys’ soccer team:

As reported here, both teams won their championships a month ago, both vs. Robert Eagle Staff Middle School.

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By the time West Seattle High School‘s Class of 2024 tossed their caps in the air, the sun had set and the moon shone over Memorial Stadium downtown, following an hour-and-a-half ceremony launching more than 300 grads into the rest of their lives. ASB president Ruby Athan was the first of four student speakers; she spoke of learning to let things go, even as she also urged her classmates to take a moment to pause and appreciate who was surrounding them, one last time. Staff speaker Paul Savino provided comic relief, explaining, “If you can make somebody laugh, you got ’em … it’s a mutually disarming technique.” He and others made mention of the Class of 2024 entering high school in mid-pandemic. The first of two “Lessons of Life” student speakers, Ryan Whitney, talked about “the power of focus” and urged classmates to congratulate themselves because they “crushed high school.” Co-speaker Abdi Abdirahman declared, “We came as kittens and left as Wildcats!” Here’s our video of those first four speakers:

The class had nine valedictorians, and one spoke, Andy Hoff, also giving a nod to “the importance of focus,” specifically finding the “one thing that brings you fulfillment.”

The other eight valedictorians are Payson Gutt, Kamil Ignacio, Clay Kuran, Benjamin Lewis, Nina Lovre, Jackie Martin, Leah Morgan, and Sonya Purcell. After the speakers and a musical performance, WSHS principal Brian Vance presented the class to School Board director Gina Topp, who had joined him in the ceremony-opening processional:

The principal observed, “What a ride this has been,” and assured the new grads, “You’re ready for whatever lies ahead.”

ADDED: Here’s the district video of the WSHS ceremony:

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Chief Sealth International High School‘s Class of 2024 is celebrating their graduation after this evening’s ceremony at Memorial Stadium downtown – with abundant exuberance, including the grad shown above, carthwheeling from stage to seat after diploma acceptance.

And of course, the nearly 300 grads had their cap-toss moments later:

After Emma Charles – a fifth-great-granddaughter of the school’s namesake Chief Sealth – presented the land acknowledgment, principal Ray Morales told the grads he is looking forward to “being witness to all of your greatness.” Student speaker Jerome Quiambao noted that the class began their high-school years in the heart of the pandemic, and for a while only knew each other as initials on a screen. His speech captured the unique ambience of this moment in young adults’ lives: “The future beckons while the past lingers in our minds.”
Staff speaker Maha Giundi, who teaches Culinary Arts, urged the grads to “carry forth the spirit of pride” and to stay hopeful. (added) Our video of the speakers begins with the principal:

And tonight brought a first for one of the district reps present at the ceremony: The Chief Sealth Class of ’24 was the first class that Seattle Public Schools Board director Gina Topp of West Seattle formally accepted on the district’s behalf, since she took office less than a year ago.

This year’s valedictorian was Dan Nguyen; salutatorian was Joy Ohta.

ADDED 11:14 PM: We’ve added our video of the speakers above. And here’s the district video of the entire ceremony:

The just-over-an-hour graduation begins just before 4 minutes in, with student musicians playing “Pomp and Circumstance” for the processional entrance.

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