Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8b
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
May 23, 2023
DATE : May 17, 2023
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Tiffany Sevilla, Workforce Development Program Manager and Data Analyst
SUBJECT: Interlocal Agreement with Highline Public Schools, Maritime High School
Amount of this request:
$250,000
Total requested project cost:
$250,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to sign an Interlocal Agreement
(ILA) with Highline Public Schools, Maritime High School, in the form attached, to support the
work of instructional design plans demonstrating a maritime-focused curriculum. The ILA will
facilitate the transfer of Port of Seattle funds to Highline Public Schools, as authorized in the 2023
budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Maritime High School (“MHS”) launched in the Fall of 2021. The school is in South King County
and operated by the Highline Public Schools District (“HSD”). MHS includes curricula focused on
Port-related industries, including maritime and green jobs; and it is designed to expose students
to the educational and employment opportunities provided by the region’s robust maritime
industry, and to develop and sustain a workforce that mirrors the diversity of the residents of
South King County. HSD provides partnership and support for King County students through the
efforts of the MHS and provides project-based learning opportunities with an emphasis on port-
related industries. Per the ILA, funds from the Port will support the work of instructional design
plans demonstrating a maritime-focused curriculum. The HSD will provide the following:
• Demographics of students outreached and in program (all reports disaggregated by race,
gender, zip code).
• Lessons learned and student testimonials.
• Any other tangible benefits of the program.
• Instructional plans demonstrating Maritime focus of curriculum.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8b Page 2 of 5
Meeting Date: May 23, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
JUSTIFICATION
The Executive Director included $250,000 in the Commission authorized 2023 budget to support
the development and implementation of high school credit earning, and project-based learning
opportunities to be administered by HSD. The school is located in South King County and
operated by HSD and includes curricula focused on port-related industries, including maritime
and green jobs. The allocated funding aligns with the Port’s Workforce Development Policy
Directive, in particular the youth career connected learning priorities, the Duwamish Valley
Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive and the Workforce Development Strategic
Plan.
Diversity in Contracting
No goal has been established as this is an interlocal agreement for a specific school.
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.
In 2021, HSD 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. HSD also assembled an Advisory Board representing industry, education,
community and government stakeholders to provide ongoing project advisement. The school is
temporarily located at the Olympic Interim site, 615 S. 200th St., Des Moines, WA 98198. The
School District 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, and
received unanimous approval from the Washington State Board of Education for a traditional
credit waiver necessary to support a true project-based learning experience.
In the 2022-2023, Maritime High School enrolled 80 students.
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.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8b Page 3 of 5
Meeting Date: May 23, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
• 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.
The HSD shall provide partnership and support for King County students through the efforts of
the MHS and to provide project-based learning opportunities with an emphasis on port-related
industries.
Scope of Work
Instructional Design
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
will focus on the design of a series of integrated projects to strengthen the current 9th and
10th grade curriculum and develop the 11th and 12th grade curriculum 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 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, such as operating vessels, mastering maritime concepts and terminology,
developing advocacy skills and understanding relevant policy development,
understanding environmental impact and mitigation, and learning maritime construction
skills.
• Development of systems to support students to attain maritime-related certifications.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8b Page 4 of 5
Meeting Date: May 23, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Community Engagement
Short and long-term strategies to engage community partners to support access to the school
will be advanced. Ongoing recognition of the Port of Seattle’s support of Maritime High School
will take place during activities. 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:
• Implement plans for mentorship programming to connect students to industry and
community professionals.
• Increase 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.
Increase Visibility of Maritime Careers
Develop communication protocols and partnerships that support regional awareness of
maritime education and careers. Efforts will include the following:
• Include information on broader maritime education opportunities to students and
stakeholders. students, teachers and families.
• Amplify maritime educational opportunities offered by MHS industry partners.
Family and Student Engagement
To ensure families and students are fully engaged with the continued 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:
• Support 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.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8b Page 5 of 5
Meeting Date: May 23, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Schedule
Activity
2023 Quarter 2
2023 Quarter 4
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
No other alternatives are considered as this is an interlocal agreement with a specific school.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The total estimated services will not exceed $250,000 from the tax levy.
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
The Executive Director included $250,000 in the Commission authorized 2023 budget.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Interlocal Agreement
(2) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
April 2021 – The Commission authorized an Interlocal Agreement with Highline Public
Schools, Maritime High School
March 2022 – The Commission authorized an Interlocal Agreement with Highline Public
Schools, Maritime High School