Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
10a
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
April 13, 2021
DATE : March 26, 2021
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: LeeAnne Schirato, Commission Specialist
SUBJECT: Interlocal Agreement with Highline Public Schools, Maritime High School
Amount of this request:
$125,000
Total estimated project cost:
$125,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to sign an Interlocal Agreement
(ILA) with Highline Public Schools, Maritime High School, substantially in the form attached,
with minor changes to be approved by legal counsel, as appropriate. The ILA will facilitate the
transfer of Port of Seattle funds to Highline Public Schools as authorized in the 2021 budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Per the interlocal agreement, Highline Public Schools (HPS) will create instructional design plans
demonstrating a maritime-focused curriculum. HPS will also provide a six-month report and a
final report to include community engagement, partnership development, family and student
engagement, demographics, number of students trained, recruited, and any other tangible
benefits of the program.
Highline Public School staff estimates the total Highline Public Schools contribution for this
project is about $345,000. So far Highline Public School staff has given in-kind staff time of
approximately $125,000, in spring 2021. During the 2021-2022 school year, Highline Public
School will spend at least $500,000 for the basic operations of the school, with about $200,000
dedicated to this project and $20,000 for in-kind use of facilities.
Instructional Design Plans
Extensive work will take place to develop the overall academic program for Maritime High
School. This work will encompass addressing all components necessary to graduate from high
school, as well as incorporating maritime content throughout. The instructional design work
from now through December 2021 will focus on the design of a series of integrated projects
and include the following:
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a__ Page 2 of 6
April 13, 2021
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
•
Alignment of meaningful and relevant projects to academic standards and specific
competencies and standards related to maritime.
•
Development of culturally-responsive assessments of student learning, including structures
for sharing learning in multiple modalities.
•
Design of support structures for student success in accessing academic, including specific
maritime-related learning.
•
Creation and curation of lessons, units and materials to support meaningful, real-world and
engaging content to support learning across academic areas integrated with maritime
content.
JUSTIFICATION
The Executive Director included $125,000 in the Commission authorized 2021 budget to
support the development and implementation of high school credit earning, project-based
learning opportunities to be administered by HPS. The school will be located in South King
County and operated by HPS and will include curricula focused on port-related industries,
including maritime and green jobs. The allocated funding aligns with the Port’s Workforce
Development Policy Directive and Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy
Directive.
DETAILS
In September 2019, the Port of Seattle convened a Maritime Secondary Education Summit to
discuss how to design educational programs that will foster student interest and passion for the
maritime industry and ocean sciences, close workforce skill gaps and support environmental
sustainability.
In early 2020, Seattle Public Schools, Highline Public Schools, Federal Way Public Schools and
the Tukwila School District leaders convened to explore and identify the district that would
serve as the leading educational entity for this project, with a clear and indisputable choice in
Highline Public Schools. This past fall, HPS took the next step in this project by establishing a
taskforce of Highline staff to move the project forward, guided by a design team of industry
partners and a broader advisory team to inform the work. HPS also assembled an Advisory
Board representing industry, education, community and government stakeholders to provide
ongoing project advisement. Since then, HPS has also:
• Identified the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (DRCC) to serve as a community
engagement liaison and provide invaluable insight and perspective into the diverse
Duwamish Valley communities.
• Contracted with Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC) to provide direction and guidance
related to maritime education and critical fundraising support.
• Selected Tremain Holloway as the founding principal.
• Received enrollment applications from 41 interested freshmen students.
• Received unanimous approval from the Washington State Board of Education for a
traditional credit waiver necessary to support a true project-based learning experience.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a__ Page 3 of 6
April 13, 2021
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
•
Announced that the school will launch in September 2021.
The school will be temporarily located at the Olympic Interim site, 615 S 200th St, Des Moines,
WA 98198. It will also provide regular onsite learning opportunities in South Park and along the
Duwamish River.
The school is designed to:
• Expose students to the educational and employment opportunities provided by the
region’s robust maritime industry.
• Develop and sustain a workforce that mirrors the diversity of the residents of South
King County.
• Explore the region’s extensive maritime history.
• Include a focus on environmental stewardship, with a recognition that clean
waterways, such as the Duwamish River, are a necessary element of the maritime
and green jobs industries.
• Build on the District’s existing commitment to the industry and an expertise with the
subject matter, as evidenced by the Marine Science Technology program at the
Puget Sound Skills Center.
• Build on the Port’s commitment to the Duwamish Valley through community
collaboration and targeted outreach.
• Be open to students who reside within the District and students who live within the
Puget Sound region, including communities adjacent to the Duwamish River, who
are interested in the maritime and green jobs industries.
HPS will support King County students through the efforts of the Maritime High School and
provide project-based learning opportunities with an emphasis on port-related industries. The
following sections outline the upcoming body of work for the Maritime High School, including,
but not limited to, the Port/Highline ILA:
Instructional Design Plans (subject of the ILA)
Extensive work will take place to develop the overall academic program for Maritime High
School. This work will encompass addressing all components necessary to graduate from
high school, as well as incorporating maritime content throughout. The instructional design
work from now through December 2021 will focus on the design of a series of integrated
projects and include the following:
•
Alignment of meaningful and relevant projects to academic standards and specific
competencies and standards related to maritime.
•
Development of culturally-responsive assessments of student learning, including
structures for sharing learning in a multiple modalities.
•
Design of support structures for student success in accessing academic, including
specific maritime-related learning.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a__ Page 4 of 6
April 13, 2021
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
•
Creation and curation of lessons, units and materials to support meaningful, real-
world and engaging content to support learning across academic areas integrated
with maritime content.
Community Engagement
Short- and long-term strategies will be developed to engage a community partners to
support access to the school. Activities will include the following:
•
Innovative events to share information about the school and solicit input for ongoing
development of the overall program.
•
Social media presences to sustain ongoing interest in and support of the school.
•
Newsletter publication to share information with stakeholders to nurture and grow
support of the school.
•
Meeting and networking with community groups supporting the school.
Partnership Development
In order to engage students in hands-on and relevant learning, relationships will be
developed with partners to build and deepen learning experiences. Specifically, the
following will take place:
• Develop plans for mentorship programming to connect students to industry and
community professionals.
• Build opportunities for extended learning at industry and community sites aligned
with standards and maritime competencies.
• Sustain relationships to ensure high quality engagement of partners to inform
ongoing development of academic programming to be informed by current and
future needs in maritime sector employment.
Family and Student Engagement
To ensure families and students are fully engaged with the development and operation of
the school, extensive work will take place to ensure multiple opportunities to provide input
on programming, as well as general events to ensure families are fully knowledgeable about
the school program, and the full range of employment in the maritime sector. Specifically,
the school will:
• Establish a student structure to provide input on the overall design of the school, as
well incorporating student interests into learning.
• Provide multiple venues for families to provide input, including live meetings and
asynchronous platforms for feedback.
• Host events for families to connect with industry and community partners to learn
about the full range of maritime careers.
Staff development
Long-term sustainability of the school relies on strong staff development. To support this,
significant effort will be invested in staff development, including:
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a__ Page 5 of 6
April 13, 2021
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
• Instructional coaching of staff on project-based learning, with a specific focus on
connecting to maritime careers.
• Increasing and developing staff’s knowledge of maritime careers and related
competencies.
• Developing and supporting staff capacity to build authentic and meaningful
relationships with maritime-focused partners.
Schedule
Milestone Payment
Schedule
demonstrating Maritime
focus of curriculum.
Six Month Report to include
community engagement,
partnership development,
family & student
engagement, and
demographics and number of
students trained, recruited,
and any other tangible
$62,500
June 15, 2021
community engagement,
partnership development,
family & student
engagement, and
demographics and number of
students trained, recruited,
and any other tangible
$62,500
December 15, 2021
$125,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a__ Page 6 of 6
April 13, 2021
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The total estimated services will not exceed $125,000, from the tax levy, to be paid during the
2020-21 year (the June payment) and the 21-22 school year (the December payment).
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Interlocal Agreement for Partnership and Cooperation between Highline Public Schools
and the Port of Seattle.
(2) Exhibit A, Deliverables and Payment
(3) Presentation
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
N/A