Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

7a

BRIEFING ITEM

Date of Meeting

February 11, 2020

DATE: January, 31, 2020

In late 2018, Commissioner Calkins initiated an ongoing dialogue with a diverse group of tribal,

community, labor, education and industry leaders from the Seattle area to discuss how to

empower young people to succeed in the climate-adaptive, new-economy, maritime jobs in the

region. In July of 2019, the Port engaged consultant services to create a strategic action plan,

generate significant stakeholder engagement, and produce a final case statement to outline the

feasibility of a public secondary education institution and/or programs in the Seattle area

focused on maritime education. This presentation will share the results of the final case

statement that includes support to transition the maritime and ocean sciences initiative from a

port driven effort to a community driven effort.

• Dr. Diane DeBacker, Chief Academic Officer, Seattle Public Schools

• Sarah Scherer, Executive Director, Seattle Maritime Academy (now with City of Seattle)

• Paulina Lopez, Executive Director, Duwamish River Clean Up Coalition/TAG

• Joshua Berger, Executive Director, Maritime Blue

• Ali Vekich, Washington Area District Council, ILWU

• Marie Kurose, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Development Council of King County

• Adrienne Hampton, Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellow, Seattle Aquarium

• Gilda Wheeler, Senior Program Director, Washington STEM

• Angie Mason Smith, Core Plus Project Coordinator, Office of the Superintendent of

Template revised September 22, 2016.

The recommendations in the case statement were also informed by a stakeholder summit, held

on September 25, 2019 and attended by over 80 participants, two study tours to NYC and Port

Townsend, and conversations with students, business and labor leaders, educators and non-

profit agencies and legislators.

THE ROLE OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE

The Port has exercised civic leadership as a maritime anchor institution to facilitate efforts to

convene regional stakeholders and identify maritime workforce gaps and education

The development of a maritime and ocean sciences high school will require the explicit desire

and leadership of at least one school district, explicit support from the Office of Superintendent

of Public schools, industry expertise, and funding.

Using $100,000 secured during the Port of Seattle 2020 budget development process, the Port

will execute a contract for consultant services to continue the facilitation of coordination with

school districts, the development of a workplan and other duties to support the transition of

work to a school district or a non-profit organization. A contract will also be executed for

community outreach services.

economies. The Port of Seattle’s $100,000 budget allocation will facilitate the successful

GROWING SUPPORT

The Port of Seattle has a long history of interest and action in supporting workforce

development efforts in port-related activities. The Port’s mission to achieve economic

development includes both the generation of quality, living-wage jobs and ensuring a stable,

well-trained and diverse workforce to fill them. The Port has worked to integrate its efforts with

regional stakeholders and use its influence to increase the capacity and efficiency of the

regional maritime workforce development system.

Template revised September 22, 2016.

In November 2019, the Northwest Maritime Center, NWMC, demonstrated its strong support

for a Maritime High School and MAC to serve traditionally underserved youth in Seattle would

directly address both the Maritime Blue and Career Connect Washington State legislative

initiatives. NWMC was not awarded a grant, but is considering a resubmittal in the future.

On February 3, 2020, Rep. Jesse Johnson and Sen. Hasegawa submitted a budget proviso

requesting $250,000 to support the design and planning of a maritime and ocean sciences high

school. Funds would go to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to align school

design.

On February 6, 2020, Commissioner Calkins met with the superintendents of Highline and

considered at the February 25th commission meeting. The motion will facilitate efforts to

convene regional stakeholders, with an emphasis on South King County communities and

school districts, maritime education non-profit organizations, labor and industry, and aligned

government agencies, in pursuit of the mission and vision, and guided by the principles

identified in “A Changing Tide.”

The Port will execute two contracts for community outreach and plan development services to

support the transfer of effort from the Port to a school district or a non-profit organization.

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING

(1) Presentation slides