West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
(WSB photo of Katie Bubalo, 2018)
Thanks to the Summit Atlas parent who tipped us to a sudden change at West Seattle’s only charter school. Its founding principal Katie Bubalo, who most recently held the title of high-school executive director at Summit Atlas, which also serves middle-school grades at its Arbor Heights campus. California-headquartered Summit Public Schools confirmed to WSB that this is the letter sent last night to families by Summit’s senior director of schools Malia Burns:
We are reaching out to share with you the news that Ms. Bubalo will be stepping down as executive director of Summit Atlas High School. We are grateful for her service to our community and wish her well in her future endeavors.
We’ve heard you and will want to make sure that you have a strong voice in the selection of the school’s next leader. We will be holding two listening sessions to gather input from our families, teachers, and students about the characteristics they are looking for in a school leader. Together, we will create a school culture that reflects our shared values of inclusiveness and collaboration guided by a strong leader at the helm.
We are committed to making the transition a seamless one. I am pleased to announce that Andrea Klein, Summit Atlas Middle School’s Executive Director, will serve as interim executive director of Summit Atlas High School while we search for a permanent replacement. She is very knowledgeable of our school community, dedicated to ensuring students’ success, and has a track record of gaining the trust and respect of families and faculty. Kristina Brawley, our Dean of Culture and Instruction, will continue in her leadership role. She has been an incredible asset to the community since joining this fall. She will partner with Andrea to ensure continuity for students, faculty, and families. I will also be available to support you through the transition.
The listening sessions will take place on Thursday, January 16 at 3 p.m. and Tuesday, January 21 at 7:30 a.m. at Summit Atlas. We hope you will choose to attend the listening sessions and share your thoughts because they will be critical in shaping the future leadership of the school.
Throughout this process, we are steadfast in our commitment to maintaining our focus on students and families and ensuring a seamless transition. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at mburns@summitps.org, Andrea at aklein@summitps.org, or Kristina at kbrawley@summitps.org.
Summit Atlas High School is a wonderful school with an even brighter future. I am proud of the hard work and unwavering dedication of our teachers, students, and families. I’m confident that we will see strong success for our students through the remainder of the school year.
The parent who tipped us to Bubalo’s departure called it a firing and said Bubalo was popular with students, who were writing protest letters to the Summit board and sharing stories today. We asked Summit for comment and their reply was to send us a copy of the letter. The school is in its third year of classes, having opened in August 2017 with sixth and ninth grades, adding grades each year and now up to sixth through eleventh. While charter schools’ operations are publicly funded, their buildings generally are not; a nonprofit footed the multimillion-dollar bill for buying the former church/supermarket site at 9601 35th SW and remodeling/expanding its building to house the school.
As we head into midweek, it’s usually the busy time for community meetings, but we have word this afternoon of two changes due to the potential for snow tonight:
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: The every-other-month meeting scheduled for tonight is postponed, according to ANA president David Hancock. No new date yet – we’ll publish a revised announcement when that happens.
DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: This meeting planned for Wednesday night is canceled, according to chair Mat McBride, to avoid the possible need for a last-minute cancellation. Next meeting is expected to happen February 19th.
1:34 PM: Two notes for tonight, with more snow forecast (right now we’re getting a snow shower mixed with sunshine):
SEATTLE PARKS: Facilities are closing early – from the announcement:
All Seattle Parks and Recreation evening programs cancelled and recreation facilities closed after 6 p.m. today: Due to freezing temperatures, icy road conditions, and the forecast for additional snow this evening, Seattle Parks and Recreation is cancelling all evening programs after 6 p.m. today (Jan. 14) at all recreation facilities, including at community centers and pools. All recreation facilities will be closed after 6 p.m. today for the safety of community members and staff. We will assess the weather in the morning and make a determination on tomorrow’s conditions based on our Snow Procedures.
Matt Richardson from Southwest Pool tells WSB, “Participants for pre-registered programs will be issued a credit on their account for the missed class.”
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district says this announcement already has been sent to all families:
Tonight, another wave of snow and cold temperatures is projected to hit our region. Due to the forecast, the Athletic Dept., has approved cancelling ALL athletic events.
All after-school events are also cancelled, including those that don’t require transportation. Childcare providers will continue to communicate any changes in regularly scheduled hours directly to families.
The district’s Special Education Resource Fair and the Board’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee are also cancelled.
The cancellations include basketball that had been scheduled at Chief Sealth IHS.
3:10 PM: South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) advisory: “Due to inclement weather, campuses will close at 4:30 p.m. today, 1/14. All classes and activities after 4:30 p.m. are canceled.”
10:31 AM: Above, hit “play” for the live stream (update: archived video) of Mayor Jenny Durkan and city department leaders (plus Metro and WSDOT) offering updates on how city services are responding to the weather. Here’s a multi-department info roundup sent a short time ago. Toplines to come.
10:55 AM: Transportation officials spoke first. Rodney Maxie of SDOT said they had 70 people out all night and if the next wave of snow warrants it, they have “contractors” they can call in too. He says even if the north end bears the brunt of it as was the case in the previous wave of snow, they will still keep crews here – near the city’s highest elevation in High Point – ready to respond. He also said they have mode-specific teams addressing specifics. Metro’s Terry White said they expect to have all buses on snow routes by this afternoon/evening, and that they will have to pull articulated buses when that happens.
City Light’s Debra Smith reminded everyone to charge device and have batteries on hand, since wind is in the forecast as well as snow. If there are outages, SCL crews work to restore the lines that will get the most people reconnected. SPU’s Jeff Fowler reiterated what was announced earlier and included in our running coverage – some customers will be skipped today (if you are, keep your carts out for potential pickup tomorrow).
11:01 AM: The briefing’s over. We’re substituting a screengrab atop this story where the live video was, and will add the archived video when it’s available.
1:51 PM: That video is now added above.
When Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners meet today as managing members of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, they will get a progress report on the Terminal 5 modernization project in West Seattle.
Documents for the meeting (above, or here in PDF) reveal that part of the work hit a snag – pile-driving for slope stabilization had to be put on hold for almost two months. The briefing document says the problem was that wooden piles were snapping against “larger than documented riprap.” This was discovered within two weeks of the start of pile-driving in September; it was suspended in mid-October when they “determined that incremental adjustments would not work.” Within a month, the summary continues, they had a solution: to “replace 14” timber piles with 20” steel piles,” which also meant 40 percent fewer piles. They resumed pile-driving on December 5th. The document does not mention whether or how that’ll add to the cost, but there’s a significant schedule effect: “The first in-water work window will end February 15, 2020, and we are requesting an extension from the regulatory agency due to the in-water work delay.” The duration of the extension won’t be known until next month. As for what led to the pile problem, the slide deck prepared for the meeting elaborates: “As-builts and specs (were) not available and underwater investigation (2014) looked at a small sample.”
Overall, the summary says “T5 Berth Modernization Program is meeting major milestones, on schedule and budget.” Another note of interest: The “quiet zone” (to reduce train-horn noise) is at 90 percent design, with a “stakeholder meeting” expected before spring. Today’s meeting, meantime, is at 11:30 am in Tacoma and will be streamed here; see location and other info on the agenda.
(TUESDAY SCHOOL INFO: Changes are ALL LISTED HERE)
5:35 AM: Good morning. A bit more snow overnight – the National Weather Service has extended the Winter Weather Advisory and has a new alert starting tonight for even more possible. Here are our infolinks:
SCHOOL CHANGES: Listed here, including Seattle Public Schools‘ 2-hour delay
METRO CHANGES: None in our area so far, but here’s the systemwide list
SDOT WINTER WEATHER MAP: See treated/plowed streets here
SDOT TRAVELERS’ MAP: The map we regularly feature with cameras, alerts
OUR TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Cameras particularly relevant to WS and vicinity
FORECAST INFO: National Weather Service topline – advisory until 10 am, new alert for tonight
WARMING CENTER: In West Seattle, go to American Legion Post 160
Got info? Text/call 206-293-6302. More updates throughout the morning.
5:42 AM: Just dispatched, car stuck with dead battery on Admiral onramp to eastbound West Seattle Bridge.
6:12 AM: SDOT reports a stalled vehicle on the Delridge onramp to EB bridge. Also note, we’re continuing to add school delays and other changes at the link in our list – 15 schools/districts on the list now.
6:27 AM: Neighborcare Health‘s High Point clinic is opening late today, 10 am. If and when we get more than a few non-school delays during inclement weather, we’ll start a separate list, but for now, we’ll mention in-stream like this.
6:45 AM: Just dispatched – stalled vehicle at High Point Drive and Juneau. … If you use Recology (which has some business customers around here, we believe), note that they’re expecting service delays today around King County.
6:55 AM: One of the schools on our list has just had a big change in plan – big enough we’re mentioning it here too – Kennedy Catholic HS (in Burien, but with more than a few students from West Seattle) is now CLOSED for the day.
7:27 PM: Via Twitter, Emma mentions that the 21X in Arbor Heights seems to be off-schedule. If you missed this story Monday, Metro’s reminders and updates noted that some routes – like that one – are affected by conditions elsewhere in th city.
7:47 AM: Another major school change to the south … Highline Public Schools (White Center and points south) are now CLOSED for the day, so we’ve updated our list again.
8:07 AM: Just in – SPU texted to say that some West Seattle (and other) areas with Tuesday pickup will be delayed a day. The text points to the SPU website, which says:
Unsafe, icy roads are impacting residential garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste collection today in specific areas. SPU contractors will run partial residential solid waste routes today, servicing residential areas where street conditions provide safe access. Most business and multifamily routes are running on normal schedule today.
Scheduled Tuesday residential customers in the Fauntleroy and Delridge areas in SW Seattle and Ballard area in NW Seattle will not be serviced today due to icy and unsafe streets. Other potentially impacted areas may also include some steep blocks in Queen Anne, Magnolia, Maple Leaf and Wedgewood areas. Customers not serviced today will be delayed until tomorrow, Wednesday, to provide safe access
And of course, that too COULD be iffy – IF the potential additional snow arrives.
8:38 AM: Police are being dispatched to a report of a driver hitting a mother and child at 41st/Admiral. No serious injury reported.
8:43 AM: If you haven’t been out yet, our photo is a reminder of the difference between side streets (not plowed or de-iced) and arterials:
9:16 AM: The mayor and various city-department reps are having another briefing this morning, at 10:15 am. We’re told Seattle Channel will stream it.
9:58 AM: Crash reported in the 2900 block of SW Avalon Way; police are headed there.
2:51 PM NOTE: We’re posting major updates separately this afternoon – awaiting the next forecast update; we’ve already published cancellation announcement for this afternoon/evening from Seattle Parks and Seattle Public Schools.
(updated 7:56 am) Here’s what we have for Tuesday school changes so far:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2 hours late, transportation on snow routes, no AM preschool.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: 10 am start.
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER: 2 hours late
HOPE LUTHERAN: 2-hour late start, no morning extended care, no morning-only preschool
EXPLORER WEST MS: 10 am start
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: 2 hours late, zero-period Spanish and morning EDC canceled
HOLY ROSARY: 2 hours late, no morning BASE, no AM preschool
HOLY FAMILY: 2 hours late (school starts 10 am, BASS starts 9 am)
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HS: Late start, 10:45 am
COMETA PLAYSCHOOL: 9 am start
(7:55 am update) BRIGHT HORIZONS-WEST SEATTLE: *New plan – open 10 am-3 pm*
WESTSIDE SCHOOL: 2 hours late (Middle School at 10:15, K-4 at 10:30, PS & PK at 10:45); no bus service or Before Care EDP
COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF WEST SEATTLE: 2-hour delay; “half-day kids are welcome to join us today for the full afternoon”
THE COVE SCHOOL: Normal start time
Outside West Seattle:
VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: 2.5 hours late.
(7:47 am update) HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: **Closed**
(6:53 am update) KENNEDY CATHOLIC HS: **Closed**
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY: Opening at 10:30 am
HAMLIN ROBINSON SCHOOL: Closed today
We’ll continue adding as we get announcements – 206-293-6302, text or voice – thanks!
Police are at and around the South Delridge 7-11, looking for a robber. According to radio dispatch, the robber was armed with a handgun and got away with cash. The preliminary description broadcast so far: Black, male, 5’10”, thin, black clothing, masked, last seen leaving on foot northbound on 20th SW. A K-9 team is joining the search. We’ll update if we hear anything more.
11:23 PM: Even with SDOT crews out on the arterials, be aware that Tuesday morning’s danger is going to be in getting to those de-iced (etc.) streets. Shown above is a non-arterial street up here (east of Lincoln Park, ~300 elevation) that had a slick coating of light snow by late evening, and the temperature’s below freezing, so untreated streets/sidewalks will be like this. Meantime, the National Weather Service has extended its Winter Weather Advisory alert again, this time until 7 am. It warns of the possibility of “additional snow accumulations of up to two inches.”
ADDED 4:17 AM TUESDAY: Now the Winter Weather Advisory has been extended to 10 am, and a new Winter Storm Watch will be in effect 6 pm tonight through 7 am Wednesday.
(WSB photo)
That temporary signage is up outside what was the CityMD urgent-care clinic at The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW). When it opened a little over two years ago, the clinic signage described New York-founded CityMD as “a partner of CHI Franciscan,” but now the CityMD name has vanished and the clinic is operating solely under Franciscan’s name. We hadn’t heard until a patient tipped us about concerns raised by a recent visit, including staff changes and a lack of phone and printer. Subsequently checking to see if the company had announced any recent changes, we discovered this (Tacoma) News-Tribune story reporting CityMD’s departure from the metro area, as well as its merger last August with a much-larger health-care entity. With another Franciscan clinic barely a block away, we asked the organization if they intend to keep this one open. Through a spokesperson, we received this reply attributed to communications/government affairs vice president Cary Evans: “Our West Seattle urgent care location continues to provide high-quality, convenient urgent care services to the community. The location now operates as Franciscan Urgent Care as we align and unify our services.” The change comes just months after another urgent-care chain expanded into the Junction/Triangle area – ZOOM+care opened last year at 4012 SW Alaska.
7:54 PM: Thanks to Keri for the tip. The Vashon Island School District is the first in our area to announce a planned change for tomorrow, a 2.5-hour late start. If any other districts or individual students make announcements tonight, we’ll add them to this story; otherwise, we’ll start publishing early-morniing coverage at 4 am again tomorrow (which is when Seattle Public Schools plans to again make its decision).
9:01 PM: South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) has announced it will start at 10 am Tuesday; anything scheduled for an earlier start is canceled.
Thanks to all the schools that notified us directly today – best way to do that is voice or text, 206-293-6302.
ADDED EARLY TUESDAY: We will not be updating this any longer – the new list is here.
With intermittent snow showers expected to continue this evening, and temperatures dropping into the 20s, transportation could be affected tonight and tomorrow in a variety of ways. Slick/icy roads, for one, and transit, for another. Metro‘s latest updates (see them all here) include this reminder that your route might be affected even in a non-snowy area:
As roadway conditions vary throughout the county, some riders may find that their route is on snow route or delayed despite a visual absence of snow. Some Metro routes are connected and operate in a loop across the region, spanning areas with no snow and areas with much snow. For example, Route 5, which starts in Shoreline and today traveled through snow, connects to Route 21, which extends to West Seattle, an area that didn’t see much snow. Other routes contain hills or icy road conditions, challenges that aren’t apparent to all bus stops on the route but may result in delays to the entire route.
If buses go on snow routes, you’ll find yours on the route’s timetable here. Metro’s winter-weather information is headquartered here;
(WSB photos)
With no official city “warming center” in West Seattle so far, despite this week’s below-normal temperatures, American Legion Post 160 has stepped up to fill a void. Says Post 160 commander Keith Hughes, “We don’t have cots, blankets, or pillows, but we have a warm, dry building with restroom and coffee. We will stay open 24 hours if the need is here.”
Post 160 is at 3618 SW Alaska in The Triangle (here’s a map). They want to circulate the word as widely as possible, so: “Please ask your churches and other social organization to post a notice on their doors. If you see people on benches, in doorways, etc. please stop and tell them we are open for them.”
City Council president Lorena González and husband Cameron Williams have added a new member to their West Seattle Junction household: Nadia Luciana González-Williams, born Friday at Swedish-First Hill. Both are “healthy and healing well,” according to the announcement published on the city website. The announcement points out that, among her other firsts, González is also “the first to serve as both Council President and a parent to a newborn.” She holds citywide Position 9 and plans to be on leave for 12 weeks.
(Photo via seattle.gov)
(Photo sent by Al)
11:59 AM: The National Weather Service‘s Winter Weather Advisory alert for our area, originally expiring at 8 am, is extended until 10 tonight. The NWS says you’re likely to see more snow showers, with “additional light accumulations of less than one inch.”
1:23 PM: We’re in the middle of a relatively long-running snow shower right now.
4:22 PM: As showers continue, the advisory has been extended until midnight.
Tuesday night, you’re invited to the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s next meeting. The announcement (which you might already have seen in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar):
The Admiral Neighborhood Association’s next meeting is coming up on Tuesday, January 14th from 6:30-8:30pm.
Location: Admiral Congregational UCC, 4320 SW Hill St.
At this month’s meeting:
1. 2020 Census Information and Recruitment; and
2. Admiral Neighborhood 2019 Survey Results.Come and meet your neighbors and discuss issues and events in our area!
Though the Admiral area saw snow overnight, car prowlers didn’t seem to care. We have two reader reports from that area:
MULTIPLE CARS PROWLED: A texter reports, “There was a string of car prowls on 41st Ave SW, just south of the high school early this am. Several locks were hollowed out.”
SUNGLASSES STOLEN: From Rachael – “My husband;s car was rifled through last night. We live on Ferry Avenue a few doors down from the fire station in North Admiral. He apparently left it unlocked and the only thing they stole was his prescription sunglasses.”
(MONDAY SCHOOL INFO: Changes are ALL LISTED HERE)
5 AM: The few hours of snowfall we got overnight was heaviest in Alki/Admiral (as shown here); further south, some (like here in Upper Fauntleroy) got just a dusting. So effects vary widely. Here are our infolinks:
SCHOOL CHANGES: Listed here, including Seattle Public Schools‘ 2-hour delay
METRO CHANGES: None in our area right now, but here’s the systemwide list
SDOT WINTER WEATHER MAP: See treated/plowed streets here
SDOT TRAVELERS’ MAP: The map we regularly feature
OUR TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Cameras particularly relevant to WS and vicinity
FORECAST INFO: National Weather Service topline – advisory until 8 am
Got info? Text/call 206-293-6302. More updates throughout the morning.
7:07 AM: The forecast warned more showers are possible – and we’re seeing one right now.
7:51 AM: That’s over. Thanks to everyone sharing commute stories in comments – though much of our area is mostly unaffected, there are spillover effects from snowfall elsewhere. And though the current advisory is about to expire, the temperatures have dropped and are expected to stay cold all week.
11:50 AM: The Winter Weather Advisory alert has been extended until 10 tonight, with intermittent snow showers expected to continue.
4:04 AM: Decision’s in from Seattle Public Schools: 2-hour delay and snow routes, plus no morning half-day preschool. We’ll add word of any other school changes here.
4:24 AM: Also 2 hours delayed: Fauntleroy Children’s Center.
5:09 AM: South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) will start at 10 am (anything scheduled to start sooner is canceled).
ADDED: Holy Rosary, 2 hours late, no AM preschool, no AM BASE
Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2 hours late, no zero-period Spanish or AM EDC
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor), 10 am start
Holy Family, 2-hour delay; school starts @ 10, BASS @ 9
Seattle Lutheran High School, 10:45 am start
Hope Lutheran, 2-hour delay, no AM extended care or morning-only preschool
Cometa Playschool, classes start 9 am
Community School of West Seattle, 11 am start, no half-day preschool
Summit Atlas – 2-hour delay
Westside School (WSB sponsor) – REGULAR SCHEDULE
Outside WS – Seattle University is starting at 10:30 am
University of Washington (Seattle) is starting at 9:30 am
Other changes? Call/text us – 206-293-6302
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
10:07 PM: As of the top of the hour, no snow sightings in West Seattle – mostly overcast, upper 30s. But as the photos show, the clouds that have dropped snow on points north of the city were visible from here before nightfall:
(Photo by Trileigh Tucker)
Both the National Weather Service (see this tweet) and weather analyst Cliff Mass (see his update) say the convergence zone is “sliding south.” The Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 6 am, and we’ll be on watch through the night.
10:41 PM: Thanks for the comments, tweets, and texts – snow sightings in north West Seattle.
11:07 PM: More reports – it’s continuing to spread southward.
11:38 PM: Car tops are now frosted up here over Lincoln Park.
12:35 AM: Still very light, and no accumulation beyond the car dusting.
4 AM: Some areas got notable snow – like Alki (Robert Spears‘ photo, above, taken just before 1 am, and this one from Pelicans south of Alki Point) –
… and others did not, like here in Upper Fauntleroy, where the car-top dusting is where it stopped. We’ll be launching morning coverage soon; for starters, Seattle Public Schools has announced a 2-hour delay (school changes are here).
(WSB photo, December 2019)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A briefing about the proposal to move the Harbor Avenue “Stone House” to Alki Beach filled the gallery at the Board of Park Commissioners‘ January meeting.
No vote was taken – the board is advisory only – but commissioners heard from a Parks staffer as well as, during the meeting’s public comment period, supporters – and one opponent – of the idea.
Backstory: The 80+-year-old house at 1123 Harbor SW is best known for its exterior of beach rocks, scavenged by the family that built it. Preservationists have tried for many years to secure its future but its owners finally sold the site – and adjacent buildings – to developers who plan a condo project. As reported here last year, its new owners have agreed to donate the building if it can be moved off their site. Preservation supporters say they could move it to an interim site while details are worked out with Parks for a permanent site, potentially adjacent to the Alki Bathhouse.
That was noted by Max Jacobs from Parks’ Property and Acquisitions as he opened the briefing at Thursday night’s meeting.
He mentioned that the interim-site plan means they’re not in a do-or-die situation. He also stressed that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society would pay to move it and to pay for whatever upgrades the building needs.
No snow yet, but it’s been breezy, with “king tides,” and late today, we got two separate reports of debris washed up at Constellation Park south of Alki Point. The photo above is from Chaucer, who says, “An expensive-looking floating platform bigger than a queen size mattress has washed ashore at Charles Richey Sr Viewpoint.” The photo below is also from Constellation Park, sent by Chemine, who reports: “There is a large chunk of styrofoam attached to concrete that is washed up on the beach. … It is eroding and distributing pieces of styrofoam all over the beach.”
This comes wtth high “king tides” – nearly 13 feet tomorrow just after 7 am. Here’s what you can do about major beach debris. For Seattle Parks beaches, you can notify Parks for starters – the 24-hour maintenance-request line is 206-684-7250. As mentioned in our coverage of a beach cleanup last year, you also can report beach debris via the MyCaast app.
3:23 PM: The National Weather Service has just downgraded the alert level to a Winter Weather Advisory, in effect from now until 6 am Monday, for the purple areas on the map above (which is from the NWS’s regional home page). As you’ve probably noticed, it’s sunny and in the 40s right now (though Snohomish County, for example, is seeing snow). The advisory says that’s expected to change: “Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches.” Here’s the updated forecast.
4:53 PM: Metro has sent a news release with reminders that distlll to this:
What’s different this year, what’s new?
Easier-to-find snow bus route information at MetroWinter.com
New printed snow brochures in English and Spanish
More bus routes added to the Emergency Snow Network, totaling about 65 core bus routes, DART routes and chained shuttles
7:02 PM: “Just in case” news releases keep coming in. Seattle Public Schools says if anything happens requiring changes, they’ll make a decision by 3:45 am.
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