MEMORANDUM

Item No. 10a_attach2

Meeting Date: April 13, 2021

To: Port Commissioners

From: Commission Specialist

CC: Barb Wilson, Aaron Pritchard, Bookda Gheisar

Date: July 21, 2020

Re: Highline School District Workforce Development – Maritime & Environmental Mitigation

Summary: On December 10, 2019, the Port of Seattle Commission established the Duwamish

Valley Community Benefits Commitment to guide the implementation of the Duwamish Valley

Community Equity Program and on March 10, 2020, the Commission passed a motion in

support of the recommendations in “A Changing Tide” that align with the Port’s goal to “use

our influence as an institution to promote workforce development.

This request will support the development and implementation of high school credit earning,

project-based learning opportunities for careers in maritime and environmental conservation at

the T-117 project site. The pilot program, to commence in the fall of 2021, will be developed

and implemented by the Highline School District, in collaboration with the Port Community

Action Team, (PCAT) and the Duwamish Valley Clean Up Coalition – TAC. The pilot program will

deliver on the Port’s commitment to the Duwamish Valley by:

1. Creating community and port capacity building for ongoing collaboration

a. Through funding for staff to support events and networking with community and

industry partners, this collaboration will grow and create new and deeper

relationships; this includes education to build awareness and advocacy for

getting local youth engaged in learning about maritime industries

2. Supporting Healthy Environments & Communities

a. Through funding for events to facilitate the convening partners, a greater sense

of community will be built to sustain a healthier community responding to

community needs for education (related to the goal below)

b. Through funding for short-term events and activities for youth, a broad base of

interest will be built to engage students in the school that will be established

eventually, planting the seeds for a strong community-based school

3. Creating Economic Prosperity in Place

a. See above. Funded activities will launch students on a pathway to fully engage in

existing opportunities to access living wage opportunities and launch into

careers that will develop new economic opportunities and benefit the region.

Port Goal:

1. Become a Model for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – Through this goal the Port of Seattle

will ensure that equity is at the core of all our work and the principles the Port embodies.

Internal and external programs, structures, and practices will be viewed and reviewed

through an equity lens.

a. By providing funding to support strong coordination of programming, strong

community leaders will be recognized and fully engaged to ensure authentic multi-

MEMORANDUM

Item No. 10a_attach2

Meeting Date: April 13, 2021

directional dialogue to engage the full community in an equitable process to develop

a strong community-based school

2. Be the greenest, and most energy-efficient port in North America

a. By funding events supporting initial curriculum design, energy-efficiency will be

featured prominently to develop future maritime innovators to continue leading to

become the greenest port

Budget Request: $125,000 to support the development and implementation of high school

credit earning, project-based learning opportunities for careers in maritime and environmental

conservation.

Identified Risks: The COVID 19 pandemic has forced schools throughout our region to end in-

person learning and exacerbated the skills gap in the maritime workforce as older workers

retire and newer workers are unable to access training opportunities. At the same time, school

districts are open to innovations in education and new partners in workforce development. The

Port has a short window to participate with local education leaders in the development of new

models of education that draw students closer to workplace opportunities. As one local expert

stated, “Education is never going to look the same.”

The limited duration of the T117 project requires inclusion in the 2021 budget, or the

opportunity to facilitate workforce training at this location will be lost. In addition, the co-

location of the Port construction management office and the program in the heart of South

Park is a unique opportunity to provide greater benefit to the Duwamish Valley community.

Primary Commission Sponsor: Commissioner Calkins

Commission Sponsor: Commissioner Cho

☐ Concur with no comment

☐ Concur with comment:

[Add comment]

☐ Non concur with comment:

[Add comment]

ELT Sponsor: [Add ELT member]

☐ Concur and already included in my division’s 2021 budget

☐ Concur and recommend adding to my division’s 2021 budget

MEMORANDUM

Item No. 10a_attach2

Meeting Date: April 13, 2021

☐ Concur and recommend not including in my division’s budget. Defer to Executive