West Seattle, Washington
25 Sunday
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.
South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) has a new permanent president on the way. a year and a half after Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap moved up to become interim (then permanent) Seattle Colleges chancellor. Here’s the announcement from SSC:
Dr. Monica Brown, a higher education leader with over 18 years of progressive leadership experience, has been named South Seattle College’s next permanent president. After a nationwide search, Dr. Brown was named to the position by Seattle Colleges Chancellor Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap and will start on Aug. 1, 2024. Dr. Sayumi Irey, who led SSC as acting president over the past academic year, will return to her role as vice president of instruction on Aug. 1.
“Dr. Brown is a dedicated leader and comes ready to deeply engage in the work we have begun to evolve into an anti-racist college, and address issues of equity in all areas of the college community,” Chancellor Rimando-Chareunsap said. “I know she is looking forward to get to know the South community and our region.”
“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to join the Seattle Colleges family,” Dr. Brown said. “I look forward to being part of a community of educators and learners who are passionate about student success. Anticipating my arrival at South Seattle College, I am excited to collaborate with the exceptional faculty and staff to propel our equity initiatives and achieve our student success objectives. Together, we will continue to create a vibrant and inclusive college experience – one that empowers every student to thrive academically, socially and personally. My commitment is to ensure that South Seattle College remains a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging.”
Dr. Brown brings nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience in the community college environment and eight years at the senior level to her new role at SSC. She has worked at four-year and two-year institutions with diverse student, faculty, and staff populations. Her eclectic background derives from her experiences in academic affairs, continuing education and student affairs.
In 2003, she started her tenure at Montgomery College, a multi-campus institution in the suburbs of Washington, DC, with a diverse population of 43,000 credit and non-credit students representing more than 155 nations, where she most recently served as the senior vice president for student affairs.
Dr. Brown earned a doctorate in higher education administration from Morgan State University, a master of arts in counseling from Trinity College, and a bachelor of arts from Georgetown University.
She will become South Seattle College’s eighth permanent president since the college opened in 1969.
SSC is about to celebrate this year’s graduating class – the commencement ceremony for all Seattle Colleges is set for 5 pm this Friday at T-Mobile Park.
It’s been a tradition at Denny International Middle School for more than a decade – the 8th-grade Poetry Slam – and more than 60 poets participated this year, reading poems to an audience at the school last night. First they heard from Denny alum Arthur Clemens, now headed for college, who didn’t get to participate in the Poetry Slam when he was an 8th grader – in 2020:
The Slam is scored, and Arthur was one of the Denny-alum panelists, along with Alex Casamalhuapa and Burk Popelka:
Some poems were collaborations – like this group’s ode to a curb, as explained in an introduction by teacher Colin Slingsby:
Others were individual work – here’s Zoe Plummer, with her poem about beauty:
Here’s Yunis Mohamed:
Parker Wahl:
The evening included guest poet Hannah Park, a Tacoma teacher, introduced by Denny principal Mary Ingraham and teacher Gillian Dockins:
Emcees were Danifah Da and Bruno Diaz Jimenez:
And in our videos, you might have heard a bit of the work of DJ Sureal:
Before the performances, attendees enjoyed dinner:
Poetry teachers not mentioned above included Elisa Yzaguirre, Andrea Chomey, Emily Neeleman, Wilma Champion, and Liz Barry. Congratulations to all the poets and educators!
(WSB photo, CSIHS graduation 2022)
One week from tonight, graduation ceremonies will be held for the Class of 2024 from Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School. Again this year, Seattle Public Schools has scheduled both ceremonies for Memorial Stadium downtown (401 5th Ave. N.) – CSIHS at 5 pm, WSHS at 8 pm. (The graduations are expected to be streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel, too.)
It’s also graduation season for colleges and universities, and that means a new round of celebrations for alums from both schools from just a few years ago, as they complete their degrees. One proud parent of a WSHS graduate emailed us to share the news that his daughter had graduated as college valedictorian. We featured Keaton Dickinson here in her junior year when she won a city essay contest. Here’s what dad Corey Dickinson tells us:
Keaton has been a lifelong West Seattle resident and product of Seattle Public Schools. She developed her love of learning at Schmitz Park Elementary School (now Genesee Hill Elementary) from the incredible teachers, staff, and administrators. She continued on through Madison Middle School and onto West Seattle High School, where she graduated in 2020. At West Seattle High School, Keaton benefited from the many great instructors who guided and prepped her for college. Keaton took advantage of the AP classes offered, formed a Gun Violence Prevention club, registered 500 first-time voters, testified before the Washington State Senate regarding gun violence prevention, and helped get gun safety initiatives on the Washington State ballot and ultimately passed.
Keaton continued her education at the University of Southern California, where she was named Valedictorian of the School of Public Policy. On May 10th, Keaton delivered an inspiring and heartfelt Valedictorian speech in front of a crowd of 6,000 graduates and guests in the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Below is her speech.
What’s next for Keaton? Corey tells us she “is looking at opportunities in affordable housing.” Congratulations to all 2024 grads – high schools and colleges!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With tonight’s school-board meeting canceled, will June 26 be the date Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brent Jones brings his closure/consolidation to the board – and the community?
Our area’s school-board director Gina Topp told her community-conversation meeting Saturday that it’s her best current guess. As for why tonight’s meeting was called off – she said she wasn’t sure, but speculated the plan just wasn’t ready yet.
The impending plan was a major topic at Topp’s gathering, which ultimately filled the meeting room at High Point Library with about 30 people. She opened with an overview of what’s happening in the district: Next month, the board has to pass the budget for next school year; in her view, they’ve balanced the budget in “awful ways” but “looked continually outward” to change “the way we do business” to address costs. She reminded those gathered that the closure/consolidation plan (aka “a system of well-resourced schools”) wouldn’t take effect until the 2025-2026 school year, so it won’t be factoring into next year’s budget. She said that in the interest of being “open and transparent,” she needed to be clear that she doesn’t have any more information about the possible closures than the public has, but if they “move forward,” she wants to see:
Out of the WSB inbox, sent by Malia, who asked us to share this with you:
West Seattle HS is having a night at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, June 12th. We have a special link to buy tickets at a discounted rate. Here is the poster. We’d love to get the West Seattle community out for this! Deadline to get the tickets is tonight at 10 pm!
The Wednesday game is vs. the Chicago White Sox and starts at 6:40 pm. The M’s currently lead their division by five games!
When we told you a month ago about West Seattle filmmaker Francine Strickwerda‘s award-winning film “Ultimate Citizens“ screening at SIFF, the showings were only scheduled off-peninsula. But now you have a chance to see it at Admiral Theater (2343 California SW) – thanks to a local school team! The screening is 6:30 pm this Wednesday (June 12). It’s organized by Lafayette Elementary‘s first-ever Ultimate Frisbee team, in partnership with the filmmaker. From the announcement:
ULTIMATE CITIZENS is the story of Mr. Jamshid, a Seattle primary school counselor who uses the sport of Ultimate Frisbee to help immigrant and refugee children find belonging on their way to compete in the world’s largest youth tournament. Please join us for a special screening of this inspiring and award-winning documentary, fresh from the Seattle International Film Festival. Filmmaker Q&A to follow the screening. Bring your family, your Ultimate Frisbee team, or your school class! Tickets are $10.
One showing only – buy your ticket(s) by going here.
Congratulations to eight more headed-for-college student-athletes! The report and photo are from West Seattle High School athletic director Corey Sorenson:
We had our Spring Senior Signing Day for West Seattle High School the other day. In photo, left to right:
Marisela Giomi – Competitive Cheer: Northern Arizona University
Carmen Cruz – Women’s Basketball: University of Puget Sound
Aleister Alfstad – Men’s Soccer: Lewis & Clark College
Devon Ghali – Men’s Soccer: Lakeland University
Nate Schiavo – Men’s Basketball: Grays Harbor College
Milo Stover – Men’s Golf: Bellevue College
Sabin Tomlinson – Men’s Baseball: Long Beach City College
John Langen – Men’s Baseball: Wenatchee Valley College
(Recent ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ production, photo by Kent Cohen)
Before we get to today’s happenings, in case you haven’t already seen this one in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, it’s your next chance to support student theater. With budget cuts, Chief Sealth International High School Drama has to raise money to carry on, so a fun(draiser)’s coming up a week from tomorrow:
SUPPORT CHIEF SEALTH HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA!
Saturday, June 15, 2024 – 2:00-5:00 pm – “Behind the Curtain” theatre tour, performances, food, and art-sale fundraiser
Featuring over 90 pieces of art (paintings, drawings and collages on paper) for sale by noted California artist Barbara Embree
Full theater tour including backstage, Little Theater, and tech/costume room (where YOU can sign The Wall that students have been signing since the ’60s!), no-extra-charge raffle of art piece and gift certificate to local restaurants, live music AND a performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s (Hamilton) wonderful and provocative 15-minute musical “21 Chump Street” in the Little Theater at 3:30 pm
Come and support Sealth Drama and let us take you on a dramatic journey you won’t forget!
$20 Sealth Family Members (current students and family members) $35 Everyone Elsebayfestsealththeatrecompany.ludus.com
If you can’t attend but would like to donate, you can use the same website! Just click the “Donate” tab on the green menu bar at the top of the page. And Thank You!
Amid everything else going on, with the school-closure proposal still pending, Seattle Public Schools is also updating its “strategic plan,” and the School Board has a survey going in relation to that. The original deadline was tomorrow; today the district announced it’s added another week, so you can answer the survey through Friday, June 14. It includes these five open-ended questions:
-How should we be able to describe a graduate of Seattle Public Schools?
-What should students in Seattle Public Schools know and be able to do?
-What does equity in education mean to you, and how should we measure it?
-What’s good about SPS or something working well for students that we should keep doing?
-What is something that needs improvement in SPS to better support positive student outcomes?
You’ll find links to the survey here, in six languages.
11:25 AM: After the recent round of community meetings – including the one we covered last Saturday – the next step in Seattle Public Schools‘ plan to close some elementary schools is for superintendent Dr. Brent Jones to propose which ones. That’s supposed to happen sometime this month; the exact date for an announcement hasn’t been set yet, though a “Well-Resourced Schools Update” is on the agenda for the board meeting next Monday (June 10). In the meantime, a citywide opposition group is leading a letterwriting campaign, and rallying option schools too, as district leaders have said – as reported in our Saturday story – that those are also “on the table.” Option schools include K-8s; West Seattle has two, Pathfinder on Pigeon Point and Louisa Boren STEM in Delridge. The Pathfinder PTSA sent us this, from the citywide group All Together for Seattle Schools:
At last week’s SPS school closure and consolidation plan meetings, parents asked high-ranking district officials what the plan is for option schools and alternative programs. The responses received has given us a high degree of confidence that SPS plans to eliminate most or all option K-5 and K-8 programs in schools. While SPS has not addressed this publicly, we are proactively making it known to SPS leadership that this would be a mistake. Option schools and alternative programs (all of them! including dual language and highly capable cohort) promote positive academic outcomes for their students, help create an environment that sparks innovation in learning, and given their waitlists, could actually increase SPS enrollment. Canceling such esteemed school and program options is short-sighted, non-inclusive, and costly, and will impact all families/students.
Now is the time for all of our schools to consider aligning together in coalition to stop this action. … What parents/caregivers can do now:
-Write to the superintendent and school board. Tell them why we need to support diverse learning options in our school district. Use this sample email and include a story about your own experience showing why you think alternatives help students learn and thrive in school.
-Reach out to all the parents and community members that you know who care about this issue and ask them to do the same. Consider organizing your own school community to educate them about what is happening.
Contact All Together for Seattle Schools to get involved in this citywide effort to avoid a massive mistake around school consolidation.
As reiterated in the recent community meetings, SPS leaders say closures starting in 2025-2026 – which they believe could save up to $2 million per closed school – are unavoidable to help address a $105 million budget deficit. If you want to talk about this with our area’s school-board rep – or anything else SPS-related – West Seattle/South Park board director Gina Topp‘s next community-conversation meeting is this Saturday (June 8), 1 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
5:55 PM: Just checked the SPS website again, and since we last looked this morning, next Monday’s board meeting has been canceled, aside from a closed-doors special session dealing with a personnel issue.
We reported earlier this spring on the Chief Sealth International High School PTSA accepting applications for its first-ever scholarships – and now they’ve been awarded! Here’s the PTSA’s announcement following its last meeting of this school year:
The PTSA is pleased to announce that four Chief Sealth seniors were awarded the first ever PTSA Senior Scholarships. Thanks to the generosity of community donors and a contribution from the Friends of Sealth alumni club, each recipient received an award in the amount of $1,000 to be applied to their continuing education. The four seniors receiving awards are Isabel Lyshol; Joy Ohta; Cas Oliver; and Ruben Rodriguez-Mireles.
Awards were presented by PTSA Scholarship Chair Maria Doucettperry at the final PTSA meeting of the year on June 4th, which was held at the Chief Sealth library. Pictured above left to right are Maria Doucettperry, award recipient Joy Ohta, award recipient Ruben Rodriguez-Mireles, Chief Sealth principal Ray Morales with Isabel Lyshol’s award (whose mother officially accepted the award), and Chief Sealth counselor Krista Rillo on behalf of Cas Oliver.
We will be compiling all entrants’ ideas from their essays on ways in which the Chief Sealth experience can be improved and will present to the school for consideration and implementation. There were truly some powerful suggestions across the applications and we were very proud to see the creativity and thoughtfulness these students brought to their entries.
Congratulations to the winners and best wishes to all of our graduating seniors for their future endeavors!
The Chief Sealth Class of 2024 graduates June 18, 5 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown (followed at 8 pm by their West Seattle High School counterparts).
(Alki Elementary project rendering showing ‘atrium’ that appellant called into question)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“There’s been a lot of testimony, but a lot of it’s pretty repetitive.”
That’s how deputy hearing examiner Susan Drummond assessed the three-day hearing on the Alki Elementary rebuild zoning-exception appeal, as she explained to the lawyers for both sides post-testimony why she expected she would need only a few days to make a decision, once they filed their closing statements.
Indeed, the third and final day of testimony – one day longer than originally expected – went back over many of the points already made, such as transportation consultants’ disagreement over parking conditions in the school’s neighborhood and how they would be affected if and when the new school operated at its full capacity, with 500+ students, 40+ preschoolers, and up to 75 staff members, compared to the current 271 students and 30+ staffers.
What’s at issue is whether Seattle Public Schools will be granted one more zoning exception – in addition to those it’s already been granted – to allow fewer offstreet parking spaces than the 48 required by zoning. The district now proposes 15, after its original plan for 0 was challenged successfully by other appellants. Drummond also heard, and ruled in, that appeal, which had a one-day hearing last July to consider the challenges to seven zoning exceptions.
Our coverage of the first day (Tuesday, May 28) is here; the second day (Thursday, May 30) is here. Day 3 (Monday, June 3) began with the main appellant:
Nine days after winning the state baseball championship in Pasco, West Seattle High School players and coaches basked in applause in their own gym tonight, with family, friends, and fans there to cheer them:
Tonight’s celebration included proclamations – one from one of WSHS’s best-known alums, King County Executive Dow Constantine (Class of 1980), saying “West Seattle couldn’t be more proud to call you their own”:
His proclamation declared today “West Seattle High School Baseball Day” in King County. The city had a proclamation too, brought by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka:
Saka and Mayor Bruce Harrell proclaimed this “West Seattle High School Baseball Championship Day,” and Saka urged the champs to show gratitude to everyone who’s helped them along the way. That’s exactly what player Caden Fahy did during his turn at the microphone, as well as marveling, “We did it!”
And more gratitude from player Matthew Henning, who declared, “This victory is as much yours as it is ours”:
And a mound of acknowledgments from head coach Dylan Mclauchlin, including warm words for those who had been mentoring his players all the way back in youth baseball:
This was the third consecutive year the Wildcats had reached the final four at the state 3A baseball tournament. As the coach noted, their road to the state championship was an eight-game winning streak, starting with their last regular-season game and continuing through the Metro League and state tournaments.
(Past and future Alki Elementary site, WSB photo from last week)
Our full recap won’t be ready until later, but for those following the situation, we want to let you know right now that the Alki Elementary rebuild appeal hearing has just wrapped up after a third day of testimony. All three days, two lawyers representing the district and one representing the appellant have made their cases before Deputy Hearing Examiner Susan Drummond in the Seattle Municipal Tower hearing room downtown, with a city Department of Construction and Inspections planner also at the table (she finally got a brief chance to speak today). The only issue to be decided is whether to uphold the city’s decision to grant a zoning exception to Seattle Public Schools for building the new, expanded Alki Elementary (capacity 500+, up from the current 370, 100 more than current enrollment) with fewer offstreet-parking spaces than the 48 required – the district originally proposed zero, the city said OK, nearby residents successfully appealed, the district drew up a new plan with 15 spaces, the city said OK again, and another group of residents appealed. It was agreed when testimony concluded a short time ago that both sides will present their closing statements in writing (20 pages max) by June 27, and Drummond expects to issue her ruling on July 1. Building permits can’t be issued until this is resolved; the old school was demolished shortly after last school year, and some other site-prep work has been allowed. Here’s our recap of the first day of testimony last Tuesday; here’s our recap of Day 2 last Thursday; our report on today’s testimony will be ready tonight or tomorrow.
(Rendering of new Alki Elementary entrance on north side of school)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Testimony in the second Alki Elementary School rebuild appeal hearing is extending to a third day, though two days originally were expected to be enough.
That was the decision at the end of the second full day of testimony before city deputy hearing examiner Susan Drummond. She will decide whether to uphold the city’s decision to allow Seattle Public Schools to build the new, larger Alki Elementary with fewer parking spaces than zoning requires. The original design had no offstreet parking spaces, though 48 would be needed to comply with zoning. Nearby residents successfully appealed the city’s approval of the no-parking plan (as well as other “zoning departures” which were upheld). The district then proposed a new design with 15 spaces; the city approved it; a different group of nearby residents filed an appeal. That’s what’s being considered now. Here’s our report on the first day of testimony last Tuesday; here’s what happened on day 2, last Thursday:
DISTRICT WITNESS – PRIMARY ARCHITECT: The day began with the district’s main lawyer Katie Kendall of McCullough Hill questioning project architect Rebecca Hutchinson of Mahlum. Her testimony began with scene-setting regarding the new school’s north-facing entrance and the district’s agreement with Seattle Parks about joint use of the space between the school and the playground on the south side of Alki Playfield. That paved space was used for parking outside school hours but won’t be available for that use in the new campus design.
Hutchinson discussed other features of the new school, basically explaining why the district feels it’s needed, because of “educational deficiencies” of the old (now-demolished) Alki Elementary. Some of its features weren’t routinely part of school design decades ago – like “learning commons” spaces, “open spaces shared by a group of classrooms … for addressing a diversity of needs and diversity of teaching styles,” and enclosed small-group spaces.
Establishing that the new school’s footprint isn’t much bigger than the old one – 29,000 sf vs. 27,300 sf – Kendall asked what is absolutely necessary on the ground floor of an elementary school. Hutchinson said administration, kindergarten and early-learning facilities, the dining commons, delivery/unloading since the district brings prepared food to schools, music room/stage, the mechanical/electrical room. In fact, she said, they didn’t have enough room for everything they needed, so they removed two child-care classrooms, possible because neighboring Alki Community Center has been providing child care anyway. “Is there anything else SPS could remove without negatively affecting educational goals?” Kendall asked. The architect said no. Why did they request the zoning exception for parking? Hutchinson said 48 spaces would take up half the buildable area, so “a school would not be feasible on this site.”
One more event from Saturday – an open house that provided a look inside the new Hope Lutheran Middle School, the former Seattle Lutheran High School campus on the north end of The Junction (4100 SW Genesee). Admissions director Sally Heit explained that they’ve done a lot of work in recent months to get ready to start classes there this fall – including making the spaces lighter and brighter. That includes new LED lighting and new paint.
There’s a new science lab:
A greenhouse:
An art room:
And even amid all that lighting – the school has an old-school darkroom:
They’re scheduling tours for prospective families – you can contact the school here.
(SPS video of Saturday’s meeting)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
By the end of this month, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones will release his proposal for how to close part of a $100 million-plus budget gap by closing/consolidating ~20 elementary schools starting in fall 2025.
This morning, he and other district officials tried to make the case for that forthcoming plan during the third in a series of four community meetings, held in the commons at Chief Sealth International High School.
Though the first of this round of meetings was reported to have been contentious, this one only had one outburst, when an attendee yelled out that Dr. Jones should more aggressively push lawmakers to fix the persistent education-funding shortfall. Also of note, though the meetings were held regionally, there was almost nothing West Seattle-specific this morning, except for the question “Why build a new Alki Elementary when schools (will likely be) closing?”
District chief of staff Bev Redmond opened the meeting by saying the process under way is about “making Seattle Public Schools stronger for years to come.” She handed the microphone over to Dr. Jones, who said the “multi-step process” – which has already unfolded over months before even getting to a list of specific schools is about “getting from instability to stability.” The latter referred primarily to finances, he added, blaming factors from “budgets not fully funded” to inflation to enrollment decline, and saying other districts are experiencing similar problems.
A recap of the budget woes started with a note that “school consolidations” were mentioned as “a potential fiscal stabilization strategy” as early as January 2023. Jones said the balanced budget plan would be presented to the board this month. “We’re at a decision point” – and he contended that keeping all schools open would lead to staff cuts and class-size increases, as well as re-negotiating contracts and cutting or eliminating a variety of programs including athletics and preschool. Closures/consolidations would avoid all that, he said.
Another slide went on to contend that “stability” would lead to “sustainability” for multiple services and programs.
Right now SPS has 48,000 students. 23,000 are K-5 students in 70 schools. The new plan would put them in 50 sites “evenly distributed, about 10 per region” starting in 2025-26. The resulting system would among other things “efficiently utilize building capacity.”
The new model “will have fewer buildings” with “more students but will not be overcrowded,” and “schools not in use will be secured and repurposed until needed again.” Jones promised, “We’re not going to sell off our schools.”
He recapped the summary of feedback from last year’s meetings, which asked attendees what they thought “a well-resourced school” should have. Some current schools might seem well-resourced but “they’re not well-resourced with stable funding” – the resources might be thanks to ‘generous donors,” for example.
He showed a slide breaking down the typical resources for elementaries of various sizes – one with 515 students would have three to five teachers per grade level while 165-student schools might have 1 or 2 teachers per grade level. (The chart still notably shows only 2 days per week with a nurse, even for the largest schools.)
“Too many schools that serve our youngest scholars are under-enrolled,” another slide declared.
Regarding how they’re deciding which schools to propose for closure/consolidation: “We have several scenarios that we’re working on right now,” Jones said, adding that what will be presented to the School Board later this month will be a “preliminary recommendation.” Public review would ensue June-November, including “site hearings.”
Yes, it’ll be disruptive, but teachers and administrators will get through – Dr. Jones told an anecdote he’s reported to have shared at other versions of this meeting, about changing schools multiple times as a child. “I’m inviting you all to come on this journey with us.” He insisted there’s no other option – “if there was (another) way, we would have already put it on the table.”
After his ~20-minute presentation, it was time for a “lightly facilitated” table discussion. People were invited to write questions on cards and said they would be taken to a panel.
The table we observed was facilitated by assistant superintendent Ted Howard, who said he’s the district’s “chief accountability officer.” (Previously, his experience included 16 years as principal of Garfield High School.) Rather than launching into Q/A, though, he launched into a speech to the table. In it, he continued trying to make the case for closures/consolidations. First he noted in speaking to the table that “schools are being asked to do a lot more” and said this is an “exciting” opportunity for community members to respond to the question of “what would you like to see” in schools. He said it’s a “deep” conversation – that schools have never been fully funded. Yes, McCleary helped, but school funding, he said, is hindered by a “cap” on how much levies can raise. He told the table that they can go online to look up the funding provided to their individual schools of interest. If smaller schools aren’t generating enough funding to support what they need to do, supplementary funding has to be taken from larger schools to keep those smaller ones open. He said the idea of restructuring SPS actually dates back to 1990, “when Gary Locke [then governor] said Seattle Public Schools needs to restructure.” Then he went through what the district already has done to try to achieve fiscal stability – again under the constrictions of what the state allows them to do.
“How does closing a school actually save money?” one participant asked. Personnel cuts, Howard said, and “mothballing” the buildings. He said the projection is that they can save half a million to $2 million per building. OK, said another participant, even at $2 million per school, that’s $40 million savings, but the deficit is $105 million, so what else will be done? Miscellaneous savings, Howard said, but the attendee pressed the point. It’s all “a moving target.” Eventually “will we lose some middle schools? Possibly. Will we lose some high schools? Possibly.” Another attendee asked about option (K-8) schools – she knew of one with a 60-student waitlist. Their fate depends on what the “needs and wants” identified by the community are. Another attendee questioned the plan to just “mothball” the closed schools – what about using them to generate income? she asked. They’re not looking at that, yet, Howard said.
Contiuing on that topic, one attendee wondered how the district is going to deal with “the blight” of closed buildings and how it’s going to “protect” the community. Howard said that would be a question for chief operating officer Fred Podesta.
Who makes the final decision? The board. The superintendent’s plan is “just a proposal,” Howard emphasized. Their final vote would be in October. “At the end of this they could say ‘we’re not doing it’,” he added. He also noted that the funding issue is ultimately up to state legislators – and their funding decisions can ultimately affect a lot of societal issues.
Some of what was discussed at our table was repeated when everyone reconvened into an audience as a panel of district officials sat at the front of the room and answered written questions. From left in the photo above are Podesta, Dr. Jones, assistant superintendent of finance Dr. Kurt Buttleman, central region executive director of schools Dr. James Mercer, executive operations director Dr. Marni Campbell.
The first question read included a plea: “Please make a plan to build something better.” Dr. Jones replied, “That’s the intent of this effort. … This is about the students’ experience … that’s a change for us … our new governance policy has the board focused on student outcomes.” He insisted “we’re putting the students’ experience first and foremost in how we make decisions.”
QUESTION: Will we get any transparency in what other options have been considered outside of closing and consolidating schools? Dr. Jones said they’d looked at other things and concluded no other “comprehensive option” but did not describe what else they’d looked at. “We believe in this,” he said. “This is frankly our best thinking.” Dr. Buttleman said an FAQ on the district website had more details on what else could save money “around class sizes and other options.”
QUESTION: Will the district show detailed analysis of how these savings would be ahieved, or is it just through staffing savings? Dr. Buttleman said that when Dr. Jones’s proposal is presented, it’ll have specifics on how much would save per school. He said some info had been added to the website last night. He added that about two-thirds of building savings would be maintenance, utilities, food services, etc.
QUESTION: What will happen with schools that are closing and what are the conditions of the closing schools? Podesta replied that building conditions are (part of how they’re making decisions) – some are in bad condition or they’re small buildings. He said there’ll be a short-term plan and long-term plan – former will keep all the buildings, an interim use will be identified – “we’ll maintain all the buildings, maintain all the grounds, we understand (many are community recreation spots)” – fields are in demand. “We’ll assess each site and see if we need long term to keep in our inventory and (what’s the highest best use) … if we need to bring more schools (back) online in the future” although they feel they’ll still have room for growth after closures because the schools would only be 85% used.
QUESTION: How did option schools factor in? Dr. Campbell said, “They are part of the consideration.” – “Do you see that as a good consideration or a bad consideration?” calls out one guy – “They are on the table,” she reiterated.
QUESTION: What can the school board do with the plan? They can amend the plan or reject the plan, says Dr. Jones.
QUESTION: Will each student get (support staff)? Buttleman said the Weighted Staffing Standards drive that – it would be “coming out of their work as to how the new staffing would look. … Some schools would have a fulltime nurse but not all schools.” Jones added, “This whole plan is predicated on having adequate support for our students.”
QUESTION: What does “inclusive learning” look like? Campbell defined that as appropriate staffing and facilities. She said collaboration between staff is important.
QUESTION: After school closures, will the budget be rebalanced? If not, what’s the next plan? No, it will not be balanced, replied Jones, “but we’ll be in a stronger position.” More cuts are likely. “We’ll probably have about a $40 million gap still, going into 2025-26” and they’d be working with the Legislature.
QUESTION: Why are we building a new school, Alki Elementary, when we are closing schools? Podesta said, “We need to consider building conditions … SPS, if we pursue this proposal, will still be operating 50 elementary schools … we need to have the capacity so that this level of service can be supported in all neighborhoods.”
QUESTION: Are you considering consolidating middle and high schools? Jones replied, “Maybe years down the road, but this is enough for us to do right now.” Campbell added, “We’re right-sizing the elementary level of our district (and that might help the balancing of middle schools).”
QUESTION: Now we know multilingual teaching is an asset. How will SPS continue supporting dual-language programming? Campbell agreed it’s an asset: “We’ll continue to have dual language programming through our district. We’re looking at spaces where it’s not accessible to our heritage speakers, so in our new system, we’re making sure it’s built into the design of our system.” Dr. Jones added that racial equity/analysis is built into everything – “we do this, ongoing.”
QUESTION: What engagement if any has there been with state legislators? Dr. Jones said they meet with a state legislative delegation. “Our legislative delegation has been responsive … but we need you all to speak boldly (to them) about what SPS needs … if (school closures) is not an alarm going off, I don’t know what is.” Talk to them about ensuring that “basic education is funded,” he added. “Our legislators are listening to us,” but “we probably need to push even harder.” At that point someone shouted, “are you willing to do that publicly?” and another person shouted “Tax the rich!” Dr. Jones said he would lobby. That’s not enough, someone called out, saying Jones should call a news conference and make demands. Dr. Jones said, “I don’t know about ‘tax the rich’ and all that” and the attendee retorted, “It’s either tax the rich or tax working-class people.” Buttleman interjected that “engagement is happening” – he is meeting with legislators too.
QUESTION: What if the next levies don’t pass – will there be additional onsolidation? Jones said they’re not taking passage for granted but we are not factoring in a levy failure either: “That would be devastating to us. It’s essential for us.” Levy passage is part of “stability,” he added. “We have to pass our levies just to keep the lights on.”
QUESTION: Elaborate on how equity lens toolkit is being used to shape these decisions. Jones said “that’s happening across the board.” He acknowledges that the district’s been asked to “show your work” and says they’ll try harder to do that. Campbell said smaller schools are already feeling pain (of resource shortages) before any closures, so that needs to be considered. They have to do a demographic impact analysis of any changes. If they discovered a disproportionate impact on students of color or furthest from educational justice, “we have moved off that.”
QUESTION: Transportation plan? That will follow any finalized closure list.
QUESTION: New boundaries? Campbell said that when they have a “possible plan,” they’ll have an “address lookup” online.
At that point, with a few minutes left in the meeting’s planned hour-and-a-half window, Dr. Jones asked attendees if the questions they’d been answering are the ones attendees wanted to have answered. No objections. He invited a few more questions, at which point a child ran up and presented him with one.
QUESTION: What’s a real life example of a well resourced school? Jones said, “I don’t know if we have a single well-resourced school but we want a system of them.”
To the question of how people could help in the decisionmaking process, Podesta said they would appreciate feedback on the previously presented ‘guiding principles” that they’re using to “refine and finalize” a recommendation.
Most of the participating administrators were seen lingering to talk one-on-one with attendees.
WHAT’S NEXT: The last meeting in this series will be online, Tuesday (June 4) at 6 pm, with the link to appear on this page sometime Monday. The date for Dr. Jones’s presentation of recommendations has not been announced beyond repeated promises that it’ll happen sometime this month. The board has one regular meeting scheduled this month, on June 10. … Also of note, if you want to talk with the school board director for West Seattle/South Park about this or any other topic, Gina Topp‘s next community meeting is next Saturday, June 8, 1 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
Gatewood Elementary is one of the places to be on this busy Saturday – they’re welcoming everyone to this year’s Gator Fair – lots of fun and games:
Other community groups are participating too – the Morgan Community Association is there to remind everyone about the Morgan Junction Community Festival two weeks from today:
The Gator Fair is on until 2:30 pm, at the Gatewood Elementary playground, 4320 SW Myrtle!
Just days after the West Seattle High School baseball team won the 3A state championship (WSB coverage here), one of its seniors has received Athlete of the Week honors from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Here’s how WIAA announced it:
CADEN FAHY – WEST SEATTLE BASEBALL (SR)
(Photo by Joe Christian for WSB, from WSHS state semifinal victory over Eastside Catholic)
West Seattle senior Caden Fahy earned first-team All-Metro League honors this past week. Fahy helped the Wildcats win the Metro Championship and come out victorious in their first two games of the 3A State Baseball Championships. Over the past three games, throughout the Metro Championship and two games at State, Fahy had 11 at-bats, coming away with two singles, four doubles, and four runs. He also took the mound at the end of his last game, earning a save and helping his team move on to the 3A Semifinal game.
The Wildcats went on to win that game and last Saturday’s championship game vs. Mount Vernon. As noted here earlier this week, a community celebration for the champs is planned Monday (June 3), 5 pm, at the WSHS gym (3000 California SW).
(WSB photo, Alki Elementary site at 3010 59th SW)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the second time in 10 months, a city hearing examiner is presiding over proceedings that will determine what’s next for the rebuild and expansion of Alki Elementary School.
Again this time, that hearing examiner is Susan Drummond, whose decision last summer left the door open for what’s happening now.
The backstory: Last year, four nearby residents appealed the city decision to approve nine zoning exceptions (“departures”) that Seattle Public Schools had sought for constructing the school with a taller building and higher student capacity. Through a ruling and a settlement, that all ended with just one appeal granted – the one challenging the departure that would allow the new school to be devoid of offstreet parking (as first revealed two years ago). Drummond told the district and the city Department of Construction and Inspections to “revisit” the issue. Rather than doing so immediately after that ruling, the district tried – and failed – to get a judge to throw it out. After that, it proposed a new plan with 15 offstreet parking spots. The city said OK. A different group of nearby residents appealed that, under the name Friends for a Safe Alki Community. And now, it’s all back before Drummond, who heard the first of at least two days of testimony Tuesday in the examiner’s hearing room at the city Municipal Tower downtown. We attended in person and plan to return for the next day of testimony on Thursday. No surprises, but here’s how it went:
(Saturday photo by Joe Christian for WSB)
In case you missed the holiday weekend’s biggest story – the West Seattle High School baseball team won the state championship on Saturday night (WSB coverage here). The game was played in Pasco, so not many West Seattle fans could be there to cheer for them, but you’ll get a chance to help celebrate the championship – WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson tells WSB the date is set for a community celebration, 5 pm in the school gym next Monday (June 3). Stand by for more details.
One year after the former Seattle Lutheran High School was taken over by Hope Lutheran (WSB sponsor) as its future middle-school campus, they’re ready to show it off. In case you haven’t already seen it in our Event Calendar, here’s the announcement for Saturday’s open house:
Hope Lutheran School is hosting an Open House, June 1, 2024 from 10 am to 12 pm at their newly purchased north campus (4100 SW Genesee St, formerly Seattle Lutheran High School), which will soon be the new home of Hope Middle School. The property was purchased in June 2023 and has been undergoing renovations in preparation for welcoming students to their first day of school September 3, 2024.
Freshly refurbished classrooms as well as a science lab and art room will be open to the community to tour, and Hope School staff will be onsite to answer questions and talk about the upcoming fall. Applications are still being accepted for grades 6-8 and prospective families can learn more about the preschool through grade 8 school through this link.
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