The 2024 Huling Bowl crosstown-competition football game is in the books, and this year at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, Chief Sealth International High School is going home with the trophy. On Friday night, the Seahawks won the annual faceoff with West Seattle High School, 24-7. Often the pageantry and energy is more fun than the football; tonight, the stands were packed:

Chief Sealth, Friday night’s home team at NCSWAC – where both teams play their home games – ran onto the field through a “Best in the West” banner:

Both schools’ bands played, including a drumline battle:

As for the football, things were kind of slow in the first half. On Sealth’s first major drive, they had to settle for a field goal, kicked by #34, junior Ogi Petronijevic, with 5:49 left in the first quarter:

Wildcats’ #13, junior LJ Moody, had an impressive series of runs after that, but West Seattle’s move down the field ended with Sealth’s #21, junior Marshawn Tovia-Ford, sacking West Seattle’s #12, sophomore Desmond Parkinson. The Seahawks carried their momentum into the second quarter, with #23, junior Xander Gomez, scoring a touchdown at 9:00.

The kick was good and Sealth was up 10-0. Less than three minutes later, the Wildcats nabbed their only TD of the gae, by #23, senior Myles Mutchler.

#34, junior Scott Bremen, got the extra point, and that was the end of West Seattle’s scoring for the game. Their next drive was thwarted by a penalty – announced as offensive pass interference – that set them back to 1st and 25. After Sealth took over the ball a few minutes later, defensive pass interference was called. 10-7 was still the score at halftime. The Seahawks added two touchdowns in the faster-moving second half, #12, junior MJ Filitaula, at 5:13 in the third quarter:

In the fourth quarter, WSHS made some progress with 6-plus minutes to go, when a comeback from a 10-point deficit wouldn’t have been implausible, but then Sealth’s #21 intercepted a pass and ran in the last TD, late in the game:

Big change from last year’s down-to-the-wire WSHS victory. The victory brings Sealth this year’s bragging rights and custody of the trophy, walked out by athletic directors Ernest Policarpio of CSIHS and Corey Sorenson of WSHS:

The celebration afterward brought parents and fans to the sidelines for photo ops:

Winning coach Daron Camacho was all smiles:

Sightings earlier:

Above is a group of Sealth alums including members of the Huling family, for which the annual game is named (see our 2012 report for the backstory). Below, the schools’ principals, Ray Morales and Brian Vance:

NEXT GAMES: Both teams play at NCSWAC again next Friday night (September 27), but not against each other. West Seattle (0-3) plays Lincoln at 4:30 pm Friday; Chief Sealth (3-0) plays Ingraham at 7:30 pm.

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(District video of Wednesday night’s board meeting)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Seattle Public Schools Board directors stopped short of telling Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones to throw out the two closure-plan options he unveiled last week and start over – but at times during their meeting tonight, that seemed like a possibility.

West Seattle/South Park director Gina Topp even tried to propose a resolution asking him to promptly draw up a third option that would close only a handful of schools, but she was ultimately dissuaded, with questions about whether that was appropriate without advance public notice.

The board’s mostly critical words about the “Well-Resourced Schools” plan, meant to shrink the SPS system in hopes of covering up to a third of a nearly $100 million budget gap, followed a presentation by district executives, primarily Dr. Jones and Dr. Marni Campbell, who’s in charge of the plan. (Here’s the slide deck, which also attempted to address some of the concerns/questions they said they’d been receiving.)

The most common concerns were that the plan so far didn’t show a clear path to improved student outcomes – something that is supposed to be driving everything the board does – and isn’t backed up by all the details families need to know about exactly how their children’s educational needs will be met if their school closes or is affected by closures,
Campbell said teams would be formed to plan a “caring transition” for students displaced by closures.

Board director Brandon Hersey insisted, “It has to all come back to the goals.”

The “goals” seemed rooted in numbers as much as anything, based on Campbell’s example of how they arrived at one scenario for this area: The Southwest region is projected to have about 4,500 students, and that means it needs 10 (elementary/K-8) schools instead of 13, Sanislo Elementary, while beloved as Campbell acknowledged, not only wasn’t big enough to be one of those 10 schools, it also was in fairly bad shape. “It’s not so much about wanting to close (a certain school), but, which 10 schoools would better serve the comunity?”

Director Michelle Sarju then offered a concern that other directors shared: How are they possibly going to work through this in just three months, and vote by year’s end? This challenge had been rolling down the track for a long time, as Dr. Jones’ presentation of specific closure proposals was originally expected months ago. She stated flatly that she isn’t sure they can “get this done” in the compressed time frame.

Director Joe Mizrahi pointed out one major missing detail – what would the policy be for kids who want to be allowed to stay at their current school, if it stays open but their attendance-area assignment changes? (Hersey suggested they look at how it’s been done in other districts that have gone through closures.)

That’s when Topp tried to make her motion, observing that so far, “we have to bring community with us, and I don’t think we’ve brought community with us.” She wanted to suggest that the superintendent come up with an Option C closing “four to six schools.” The discussion that ensued over the proper way to bring up a motion at one point suggested a special meeting might be needed; some tension flashed between Topp and board president Liza Rankin over whether Topp would have to find a way to bring forth a proposal whether Rankin would let her or not. (The president insisted she wouldn’t stop Topp from making a motion, though at this meeting, ultimately none was made.)

Director Evan Briggs declared the superintendent’s proposal a “shell … a skeleton” and said some of its explanations seemed like empty “words on a page.”

President Rankin then voiced sharp concerns of her own, declaring the proposals “sheer disruption” for families. In the original timeline, they would have had summer workshops and other additional opportunities to work with community members on planning, but now, “five community meetings are not enough.” And she said the “academic team” should have been at the table, not just the district’s top administrators. Rankin too said she didn’t believe they could work out all the details suitably by December.

Campbell tried to point to some of the data that had been asked about, and said other information would be available next month. Jones then tried to be pragmatic, warning that the work would “take time … if we’re not there yet, we’re not there yet … we’ve done a lot of work, but if we need to do more work …”

Mizrahi echoed Topp’s call for a scaled-down proposal, but again, no motion was brought forward. And Sarju voiced concern that “we’re leaving here without an answer for families,” repeating the time-frame concern, “Here we are trying to crunch into three months what we had nine months to do … this has been an anxiety-producing exercise.”

Briggs then suggested they should “be free to go home now and leave it to staff to figure out what to do next.” Ostensibly that’ll happen before the board’s next meeting, October 9. In the meantime, Topp’s next community conversation and the West Seattle regional community meeting on the closure proposals are both scheduled for one week from tonight – she’ll be at the Admiral (West Seattle) Library, 2306 42nd SW, 5-6 pm September 25, and then the district meeting is at 6:30 pm at Genesee Hill Elementary (5013 SW Dakota).

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Chanting “keep schools open” and “fund our schools,” hundreds of people of all ages rallied outside Seattle Public Schools headquarters in SODO this afternoon, before the school board meeting with an update on the newly proposed school-closure options. The district faces a budget shortfall of almost $100 million, and is looking at closures to cover up to a third of that. Two of the West Seattle schools facing possible closure were amply represented in the crowd:

The “Option A“ proposal, which would close 21 schools citywide for an estimated savings of $31.5 million, would close Lafayette and Sanislo Elementaries and Boren STEM K-8, as well as changing Pathfinder from a K-8 option school to a regular elementary school. The “Option B“ proposal, which would close 17 schools for an estimated savingd of $25.5 million, would close Boren and Sanislo. The rally, organized by the All Together for Seattle Schools coalition, was intended to focus on two points – prevent closures, and enable that by convincing legislators to “amply” fund schools. Speakers included Lafayette parent Brooke Fox, contending – as did other speakers – that the closure plan would result in the opposite of the “well-resourced schools” district administrators say would remain:

Other speakers included former School Board director Vivian Song, who said she would vote against closures if she were still on the board, and 43rd Legislative District State House Rep. candidate Shaun Scott, who said legislators must fully fund education and could do so by closing “corporate loopholes.” After a few more speakers, many attendees went into the building for the board meeting, chanting as they entered:

As we publish this, the board meeting continues and they’re discussing the closure proposals. No vote scheduled tonight; next major development is regional community meeting, with West Seattle’s meeting set for 6:30 pm Wednesday, September 25, preceded by local board rep Gina Topp’s community meeting 5-6 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW). We’ll have a separate report later about tonight’s meeting. (Added: Find that here.)

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‘SAVE OUR STEM’ RALLY: That flyer is being circulated on behalf of Louisa Boren STEM K-8, the Delridge option school that is on both of the proposed closure-option lists. The rally is just before tomorrow’s school board meeting, 3:45 pm Wednesday outside district HQ, the John Stanford Center, at 3rd and Lander in SODO. Organizers ask supporters to bring signs with the SAVE OUR STEM message. (9:30 pm update – As noted in comments as well as at a neighborhood-group meeting we attended tonight, Lafayette, which is on one of the possible-closure lists, is organizing too, and closure opponents have set up this website.)

BOARD MEETING: The school board then meets at 4:15 pm tomorrow inside the Stanford Center. The agenda has a long list of people signed up for the public-comment period (116 just on the waitlist!), as well as business items including an update on the closure proposal (aka “well-resourced schools”). The agenda item for that includes this summary of what’s currently under consideration.

‘ALL TOGETHER FOR SEATTLE SCHOOLS‘: This group is organizing citywide to oppose closures. A West Seattle parent who went to an off-peninsula organizing meeting over the weekend shared a photo and notes:

All Together for Seattle Schools identified two essential paths to save our schools:

1. Say NO to the School District DRAFT
-Oppose budget cuts and school closures.
-Our steadfast goal is to maintain great community schools for all children without compromise.

2. Take Legislative Action
-We are mobilizing to demand fully funded schools from representatives, candidates and more.
-Applying pressure on the legislature to secure full funding for our schools is imperative.

Key Points:

Current Situation: Closing schools will address only $31 million of a daunting $91 million deficit. The remaining $60 million will need to be cut from the schools that remain open, leading to under-resourced schools, potential teacher layoffs and no guarantee of support for the influx of students moving from closed schools.

Funding Trends: Pre-pandemic, Washington State dedicated 50% of its budget to funding schools. That figure has now decreased to 42%. We must urge legislators to restore full funding.

Timing: The school district is set to vote on school closures this fall, with closures to take effect within a year. The state legislative session begins in January, with budget approval expected by spring. The school district is moving too soon to apply pressure in Olympia.

Community Mobilization:

All Together for Seattle Schools aims to sidestep the efforts to pit schools against each other and instead unify all communities.
-Highlight stories from families, especially those who struggle to attend board meetings and require vital services.
-Distribute fliers outside schools, at farmers markets, and local sports events.
-Network with sympathetic public figures, board members, and local political candidates.
-Involve local businesses that will be affected by reduced community foot traffic.
-Organize families willing to speak to the media.
-Advocate through letters to school boards and state legislators.
-Foster hope and belief that collective action can save our schools.

They’re looking for volunteers to help with all of the above; here’s their contact form.

UPDATE – COMMUNITY-MEETING DATES: The district has yet to send out its promised list of upcoming community meetings on the closure proposals (according to West Seattle’s school board director Gina Topp, 6:30 pm September 25 is the tentative time for this area’s meeting). 9:30 pm update – Thanks to the parent who forwarded what the district sent parents but has not yet posted online nor sent to the media. Here are two meeting times of potential interest to people here:

Online: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., Zoom Meeting (Families and staff will soon receive the Zoom meeting link, and the link will be posted on our website.)
Southwest Region: Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m. Genesee Hill Elementary, 5013 SW Dakota St.

(back to original) After those meetings, Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones is expected to settle on a final proposal next month, followed by hearings at schools proposed for closure, and final board action by year’s end.

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Last Thursday, thanks to a reader tip, we reported on a new all-way-stop intersection at 49th/Spokane, near the former Schmitz Park Elementary (current temporary home to Alki Elementary), and promised to follow up with SDOT to find out if anything else is planned in the area. Today we got the reply – three intersections in all:

We’re adding all-way stops and painting all legs of the crosswalks at the following three intersections around Schmitz Park Elementary School:

50th Ave SW & SW Spokane St
49th Ave SW & SW Spokane St
49th Ave SW & SW Hinds St

We went to see if the other two had been installed yet. Short answer, no – 49th/Hinds currently has one crosswalk and east-west stop signs but not north/south; 50th/Spokane, right by the campus, is a “T” intersection that has one crosswalk. No installation date for the rest of the work was provided. This is one of the current Safe Routes to School projects, which have also included new stops and speed cushions by Gatewood Elementary.

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Friday brought ample reasons for Chief Sealth International High School supporters to cheer, as the Seahawks’ second game of the season ended as their second win of the season, 29-7 over Franklin HS at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. Three CSIHS seniors contributed touchdowns in the first half – #0 Xavier Nguyen, #8 Seth Clark, and #14 Laith Nelson.

Next Friday, head coach Daron Camacho‘s Seahawks are the home team vs. West Seattle in the annual crosstown Huling Bowl clash.

The game’s at 6 pm Friday at NCSWAC (2801 SW Thistle).

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The “Neon Night” theme in the stands at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex lent a little brightness to a Friday night that ended with West Seattle High School losing their second football game of the year, despite being ahead 13-0 over visiting Interlake HS at halftime.

The halftime lead followed touchdowns by #5, junior Miles Guidry, and #13, junior LJ Moody:

Interlake outscored WSHS 21-6 in the second half, and that resulted in the final score, Interlake 21, West Seattle 19.

Next week, head coach Anthony Stordahl and his Wildcats (0-2) face the crosstown competitors of Chief Sealth International HS (2-0) in the annual Huling Bowl, 6 pm Friday (September 20).

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Thanks for the texted tips and photo. SDOT has installed more school-zone traffic calming, this time adding an all-way stop at 49th SW and SW Spokane, near the former Schmitz Park Elementary (currently in its second of three years as temporary home to Alki Elementary). Tipsters thought we’d want to let you know, as this might take some people by surprise. We found it mentioned as a “current project” on the same SDOT webpage where we found a mention of the speed cushions installed last week on California SW near Gatewood Elementary. The mention says simply, “Install all way stops near Schmitz Park – SPS interim site (expected in 2024 or 2025).” We’ll check again with SDOT on any others with imminent installation.

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Like many districts, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is facing declining enrollment and budget challenges. As a result, many of our schools are struggling to provide the resources our students deserve. To address this, we are working to ensure our schools are the right size and have the resources needed for preschool through 5th-grade students to succeed.

We are considering two plan options:

Proposed Option A: Operates 52 attendance-area elementary schools. This option closes 21 elementary and K-8 schools. [Saves $31 million]

Proposed Option B: Operates 56 schools, including attendance-area elementary and one K-8 school per region. This option closes 17 schools. [Saves $25.5 million]

On our website, you can explore the details of each plan, including which schools are being considered for consolidation in each region.

Here’s how Option A would affect West Seattle/South Park:

Southwest and West Seattle: Option A

Southwest Operating Schools:​ ​Alki, Genesee Hill, Fairmount Park, Pathfinder, Gatewood, West Seattle, Roxhill, Highland Park, Concord, Arbor Heights​

Closing:​ Lafayette​, Boren STEM K-8​, Sanislo​

School Type Changes: Pathfinder K-8 becomes an attendance area K-5 school

Here’s how Option B would affect West Seattle/South Park:

Southwest and West Seattle Option B

Southwest Schools that Remain Open: Alki, Genesee Hill, Fairmount Park, Lafayette, Pathfinder K-8 (option), Gatewood, West Seattle Elementary, Roxhill, Highland Park, Concord, Arbor Heights​

Closing:​ Louisa Boren K-8, Sanislo

The links to each option take you to pages that also include draft maps of how boundaries would be revised as a result. Meantime, the district stresses that these are draft plans, not final

WHAT’S NEXT: The district’s announcement lists these dates:

Sept. 24: Online information sessions to provide an overview of both options.

Sept. 25-Oct. 8: In-person meetings in each region for families, staff, and community. Separate SPS staff meetings will also be held.

Mid to Late October: Superintendent announces the preliminary recommendation.

November: Public hearings on each proposed school closure.

December: Final School Board vote before winter break.

We’re now reading through the rest of the new online “hub” to look for other details such as where students from the schools considered for closure would be moved to.

ADDED 5:35 PM: Here are the draft maps showing the elementary “attendance areas” that would be the result of each option – first, the Option A map (including an attendance area for Pathfinder if it became a regular neighborhood elementary):

Second, the Option B map:

If you are a Seattle Public Schools elementary family, even if your school is not on either possible closure list, it’s important that you browse the “live” maps (both linked above) – because there are attendance area changes proposed for other schools, too. Click and zoom way in on the striped areas to see what’s proposed (or if you’re just interested in your specific address, use the search tool provided for that).

ADDED 9:40 PM: In addition to the upcoming meetings and hearings (dates TBA), you can send feedback via this form. The next School Board meeting, 4:15 pm September 18, also will have the usual public-comment period.

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Last night the varsity WSHS volleyball team won their season opener against Roosevelt in an away game [3-1]. Our first home game is this Thursday. We play against Lakeside in our gym. Game starts around 7 pm and follows the JV game (starts at 5:30 pm).

Thursday’s theme is beach, so we welcome everyone to root on the Wildcats in their best beach attire.

The school is at 3000 California SW; the gym is on the southwest side of campus. Here’s the home schedule for the full season.

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Got a middle- or high-school student in your household who would be interested in volunteer hours? The Gatewood Elementary PTSA is offering this opportunity:

Gatewood Elementary is hosting its Annual Gatewood Gator Spirit Fair on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., and is looking for volunteers to help run carnival games and hand out free hot dogs and cotton candy. Rain or shine.

Volunteer shift is: 4 – 7:30 pm
** We will work with all time schedules if there is a conflict. **

Contact: Sign up here. (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B48A8A629A1F4C34-51155075-gator#/)
Email GatewoodGatorFair@gmail.com for more information

School address: 4320 SW Myrtle Street, Seattle. Parking in the neighborhood

Public transportation: Rapid Ride C line stop is Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Myrtle St.

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This was the first week of classes at Hope Lutheran‘s new middle-school campus on the north edge of The Junction – the 2/3-acre campus at 4100 SW Genesee that was Seattle Lutheran High School for 44 years, until 2022. This morning, “Hope North” was officially dedicated after a procession from the main Hope Lutheran church/school campus a block south.

Hope’s senior pastor Peter Mueller first spoke to congregants and school families on the church’s main steps, recalling the almost four-year odyssey to reach this point, and the continuing capital campaign to help with the $1.6 million purchase and renovation costs. Likening it to the biblical journey of Joshua – he had everyone walk to the newly opened school, singing along the way.

Then outside the “Hope North” gym, after an invocation from the pastor and words from 15th-year Hope principal Kristen Okabayashi about the “amazing journey,” student body president Benjamin cut the ribbon:

For a look inside some of the 14 newly reopened classrooms, see this WSB story from an open house back in June.

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The West Seattle High School football season started with the usual exuberance Thursday, as the team burst onto the field at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex flying both a Wildcat flag and American flag, ready to face their visitors from Bainbridge HS. The weather was perfect; supporters were in the stands:

And a sizable cheer team was there to lend their support.

The first quarter was more about defense than offense – a busy night for #13, junior LJ Moody, started with an early stop.

Midway through the quarter, the Spartans were first to score, with a field goal. Late in the quarter, the Wildcats got closer to the end zone than they’d made it previously, thanks in part to a big carry by #2, senior Sam Turner:

But time ran out and the 1st ended with the score still Bainbridge 3, WSHS 0. Head coach Anthony Stordahl‘s team got their one and only touchdown in the second quarter.

Credit that to #12, sophomore Desmond Parkinson:

#34, junior kicker Scott Bremen, got the extra point:

And that gave West Seattle the edge at halftime, 7-3. But they lost the lead with 5:56 left in the third quarter, when Bainbridge got a TD (though the Wildcats kept the Spartans from scoring the point after), followed by another less than half a minute later. Bainbridge added one more midway through the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats just couldn’t get a comeback going; final score was Bainbridge 23, West Seattle 7.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Wildcats host Interlake, 7:30 pm Friday, September 13, at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.

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