White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Because of last night’s windstorm, all Highline Public Schools are closed today.

FIRST REPORT, 3:33 PM: No school again Wednesday for Highline Public Schools students, as the district struggles to recover from technology trouble still described only as “unauthorized activity”:

All Schools Closed Wednesday, September 11

All schools will remain closed on Wednesday, September 11. All school activities, athletics and meetings are canceled. Central office is open. …

Our investigation into unauthorized activity on certain systems on our network is ongoing. As a precaution, we have taken certain systems offline which are important for the safe operation of our schools.

We know this is difficult for students, families, staff and our district as a whole. However, we are actively working around the clock to bring the relevant systems back online quickly and securely so that we can open schools again. We will keep you informed with updates as soon as they become available.

Student safety and well-being remains a top priority. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

The full announcement is here.

7:48 PM: Tonight, the district announced it expects to be able to reopen schools Thursday. Here’s the plan for that day:

Family & Staff Information for Re-opening
We have taken steps to allow us to restore certain segments of our digital network in a secure manner.

Grades K-12: All schools will be open on Thursday, September 12 for students for grades K-12.
Preschool: The first day of school for preschool students will be Monday, September 16.
No School: As shared previously, schools are closed tomorrow, Wednesday, September 11.

Athletics & Activities Information
Athletics will resume on September 12. School clubs and activities will resume on a case-by-case basis, determined by school leaders. We’re working with our before- and after-school providers—please look for communication from your provider about programming.

Internet Access
Internet access in our schools will not be available when we return to school. We are working on identifying a plan for Highline Virtual Academy and the Highline Virtual Elementary program, whose educational programming relies on virtual learning.

Questions & Answers
Schools will look different when we return. We know you may have questions. We are working on a list of frequently asked questions and answers to post on our website. We will share a link with you tomorrow.

Incident Update
The investigation is still ongoing. We want to be clear, this incident involved our digital network, and not the physical safety of our facilities. Student safety measures remain in place. We will provide updates related to the incident as they become available.

Staff Instructions for September 11 & More
To prepare for the re-opening, certificated staff have the option to work for two hours on an extra service contract on Wednesday, September 11 to plan for revised instruction. Please communicate to your supervisor if you plan to work. PCT time on Friday will be dedicated to team planning.

School and department administrators will follow up with school-specific and department-specific information, including instructional guidance, regarding the reopening. If you cannot access this information via email, call your school or department after 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

We are asking staff to continue not using their district-issued computer and laptop until further notice.

Thank You!
We know the school closures this week have been difficult for students, families, staff and our district as a whole. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

We are excited to welcome all students and staff back to school on Thursday.

Highline Public Schools has announced its schools will remain closed for a second day tomorrow:

All schools will remain closed on Tuesday, September 10. All school activities, athletics and meetings are canceled. Central office will be open.

Our investigation into unauthorized activity on our technology systems is ongoing, and critical systems are still offline.

The message sent to Highline staffers, as forwarded to us, also says “We have not seen evidence of staff, family, or student information compromised.” The district so far is not commenting on the nature of the “unauthorized activity,” first disclosed on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for the tips. Highline Public Schools has announced that a technology problem will close all its schools tomorrow (Monday, September 9) though some staffers are still expected to come to work. Here’s the full announcement from the district’s website:

All schools are closed on Monday, September 9. All school activities, athletics and meetings are canceled, including the vaccine clinic. Central office is open.

We have detected unauthorized activity on our technology systems and have taken immediate action to isolate critical systems. We are working closely with third-party, state and federal partners to safely restore and test our systems.

We understand this comes as an unexpected disruption, particularly on the eve of the first day of kindergarten for many of our families. We recognize the burden this decision places on both families and staff, but student safety is our top priority, and we cannot have school without these critical systems in place. …

School and central office administrators are expected to report to work. Central office administrators may be deployed to schools if needed.

The investigation is ongoing. We will notify staff and families by 2:00 p.m. on Monday if this disruption impacts schools on Tuesday.

Highline just started its 2024-2025 year this past week.

Good luck to all the families with kids entering/returning to Highline Public Schools this year! It’s the first day of classes for 1st through 12th graders in the district. Here’s the district’s start-of-school message to families.

Highline Public Schools says vandal(s) have struck at the Evergreen High School construction site, but the district hopes it won’t be a setback to the schedule. Here’s the news release the district sent Friday:

The construction site for the new Evergreen High School facility was vandalized on May 31. A water hose was inserted into duct work, flooding a significant portion of the structure. Insulation and drywall sustained water damage. Clean-up started immediately after the damage was discovered.

Contractors are assessing the extent of the damage and any impact to the construction schedule. More information is anticipated in a couple of weeks.

Insurance coverage will minimize the financial impact to the district for clean-up, mitigation, and reconstruction costs. The contractor is taking additional security measures.

The general contractor, Cornerstone GCI, says they will do their best to complete the project on time. This will depend on the extent of the damage. The facility is scheduled to open for students in September 2025.

The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

Safety concerns? Here’s a chance to talk about them with community leaders. Announced by Highline Public Schools:

Highline Public Schools Board Director Stephanie Tidholm is hosting a community event for families and students in the White Center community to talk about and address safety in the community. The event will be co-facilitated by community leaders, including Aaron Garcia, Long Phan, and others.

Families and students who live in the White Center community are invited and encouraged to bring their questions and ideas about safety in the community.

Coming Together to Address Community Safety
Date: Tuesday, May 28
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location: Evergreen High School Library
Address: 830 SW 116th Street

Spanish, Somali and Vietnamese interpreters will be available.

The parent-support organization for CHOICE Academy, which is open to students from around the Highline district, is expressing appreciation for a donation from an area business, as well as continuing fundraising for an end-of-school-year initiative, and asked us to publish this:

CHOICE Academy Parent Support Organization, an organization of parents fiscally sponsored by the Highline Schools Foundation, is partnering with Azteca Mexican Restaurants to donate T-shirts to students for Field Day, the last day of the school year.

Azteca Mexican Restaurants, with locations in Tukwila and Burien, has made a donation in support of the purchase, with both locations’ separate ownerships showing support for the school’s initiative.

CHOICE Academy is a small school with around 180 students for grades 6-12, which offers a smaller educational environment with more flexibility. It has won several awards for academic excellence and has stand-out test scores for the district. The CHOICE Academy Parent Support Organization aims to provide some extras for the students and support the teachers and staff.

“The PSO fell into dormancy over the pandemic, but we’ve managed to get back up and running and the parents have come through on a number of occasions to help with events. It was quite a struggle to revive the organization, which is one reason why it’s so heartening to see community support like this,” said Beth Quittman, the President of CHOICE Academy Parent Support Organization.

The PSO is selling Butter Braids, a frozen filled pastry, to raise the remaining funds needed for the project. Supporters who wish to take part in the fundraiser can do so online (here) and pick up their purchases on May 26 or donate their purchases to local homeless shelter Mary’s Place.

Azteca Mexican Restaurants, a locally owned business with its Burien headquarters building located right next to the school district headquarters, is happy to show their support for the school’s initiative. Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner, and Azteca Mexican Restaurants is the perfect place to celebrate while showing appreciation for their community spirit.

(Rendering by Bassetti Architects)

Construction is close to beginning on White Center’s new Evergreen High School. The ceremonial groundbreaking has been announced by Highline Public Schools:

In November 2022, our community invested in building a new Evergreen High School. You’re invited to attend the historic groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, May 19, at 3:15 p.m.

Following the groundbreaking, all are invited to a celebration with the Evergreen design review committee members. Learn more about the school design, construction materials and the phased construction plan.

Evergreen High School Groundbreaking Ceremony
Friday, May 19
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
Northeast corner of the school campus, near the softball and baseball fields

Design Review Committee Celebration & Construction Information
Friday, May 19
3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
Cafeteria

Location
Evergreen High School
830 SW 116th Street

A bit of snow on the ground in some areas, so Highline Public Schools are starting two hours late.

(Rendering by Bassetti Architects)

School resumes Tuesday, and the Highline Public Schools Board meets on Wednesday. The agenda for the 6 pm meeting includes two introduction items related to construction contracts for the Evergreen High School project. The biggest is the motion regarding the major construction contract; the full details are not yet available – the text of the motion to be introduced says the district received three bids, and that the motion will be updated with the name of the chosen contractor before the final vote. Wednesday’s meeting will be held at the Central Office Building, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW; you’ll also have the option of watching online here.

With more snow expected overnight – and/or icy streets – Highline Public Schools has decided to start late Thursday. Here’s the full announcement:

Due to weather and road conditions, all schools are on a two-hour delay on Thursday, December 1, 2022, including Virtual Elementary and Virtual Academy. Buses will stop at regular stops–two hours later than normal.

There will be no breakfast, no morning or afternoon classes for preschool and ECEAP, and no morning classes for PSSC. Afternoon classes for PSSC will be on time. All before school programs are canceled, including clubs, activities and in-school daycare. No transportation will be provided to schools outside of our district.

Schools will dismiss at regular times.

Continue to monitor our website for updates. Please stay safe and warm.

STAFF INSTRUCTIONS
Staff are expected to report to work as close to on time as possible. Please use your judgement on whether it is safe for you to travel to work. See an outline of expectations for employees for inclement weather on the Staff Hub.

As part of the latest round of community outreach, Highline Public Schools reps will be at Dubsea Coffee in Greenbridge on Saturday to talk about the upcoming bond vote and the Evergreen High School plan that’s part of what the bond measure would pay for, if passed in November. Just drop in with your questions and/or comments between noon and 2 pm Saturday (September 24th) at 9910 8th SW.

The first day of school for Highline Public Schools is a little more than a week away – Thursday, September 1st. The district announced today that all students get free meals this year:

Research has shown there is a crucial relationship between nutrition and academic performance. This year, all Highline Public Schools students will be able to eat healthy, kid-friendly meals at school at no cost.

Highline Public Schools has been approved for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program as part of the National School Lunch Program for School Year 2022-23. Under this provision, all enrolled students on campus can receive a no-cost breakfast and lunch each school day.

Highline participates in Farm to School by promoting and serving locally grown foods. This exposes students to a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms and growers.

Highline is one of four school districts in Washington State awarded a Team Nutrition grant to develop new recipes. Staff have worked on recipes for fruit leather, salmon tacos, black bean and cheese pupusas, and huckleberry cornmeal muffins.

Highline menus are planned by a registered dietitian to meet USDA specifications based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

“We’re looking forward to creating some delicious recipes and menus this school year. We’re grateful that every child will be able to eat a balanced breakfast and lunch that will fuel their mind and body for a day of learning,” says Lisa Johnson, Director of Nutrition Services. “No-cost meals allow all students to try new foods and eat together while providing convenience to families.”

Even though meals are at no cost for everyone, some families may be asked to complete an income survey to access other discounts and benefits. Income data allows Highline to maintain state and federal school funding. Highline will share a link to the survey this fall with families. Completing the survey is simple and confidential. There are no citizenship requirements for participation in federal Child Nutrition Programs, and immigration status is not requested or disclosed.

(Highline Public Schools photo – from left, board members Joe Van, Angelica Alvarez, Azeb Hagos. Aaron Garcia

Highline School Board members hope you’ll support a bond measure they’ve sent to the November ballot, to pay for projects including a new Evergreen High School. Here’s the announcement:

The Highline School Board voted unanimously to place the next school bond on November 8 election ballots as recommended by the volunteer-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC).

The construction bond would pay to rebuild two high schools and a middle school plus fund critical capital needs and improvement projects across the district.

Voters must approve a capital construction bond by 60 percent for the funding measure to pass. If approved, here is the estimated timeline:

Rebuild Evergreen High School — open in fall 2025
Rebuild Tyee High School — open in fall 2025
Rebuild Pacific Middle School — open in fall 2027

Three new schools built with funding from the previous 2016 bond were completed on time and under budget, continuing Highline’s 20-year track record of on-time, on-budget construction.

The district decided to run a bond now for these reasons:

Previous school bonds replaced aging schools for students in Des Moines and Burien. The 2022 bond would replace aging schools in SeaTac and White Center so students across our district have safe and modern places to learn.

The designs for new schools at Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific were funded by the 2016 bond.

This funding measure would not raise the current tax rate due to expiring taxes.

The 2016 bond projects were completed $10 million under budget—this savings is being applied to the costs of the 2022 projects, decreasing the cost to taxpayers.

Approval of this bond would trigger $34 million in additional funding. The funds would come from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port of Seattle for noise mitigation, and from the state School Construction Assistance Program.

Capped Bond Amount
The bond would raise $518,397,000. The district can only collect that amount and not more. If property values go up more than projected, the tax percentage rate goes down per $1,000 of value.

Critical Capital Improvements Fund Included in Bond
The $17 million fund for critical capital needs and improvements in the November 2022 bond includes roofing, painting, emergency repairs and other improvements districtwide like replacing the Sylvester Middle School dirt field with synthetic turf.

More details and answers to questions are available on Highline’s 2022 Bond website: highlineschools.org/bond.

The state and county indoor-masking requirements end for most establishments and venues after tomorrow. So here’s what the Highline Public Schools policy will be, as announced today:

On Tuesday, the Washington Department of Health (DOH) issued updated guidance for COVID safety in schools. These changes reflect declining COVID case rates and hospitalizations in King County and Washington state.

As we have since the beginning of the pandemic, we will continue to follow DOH guidance. Here are some key points in the updated guidance, effective Monday, March 14:

-Masks: Masks are no longer required for staff, students and visitors in schools in most circumstances. Some staff and students may choose to continue to wear masks. Masks provide an additional layer of protection and are especially important for those who are or who live with someone at higher risk for severe COVID disease.
-Quarantine: Students and staff who are exposed to COVID are encouraged to get tested and monitor for symptoms. They are not required to quarantine unless they show symptoms.
-Positive COVID cases: If you test positive, you must stay at home (isolate) for at least 5 days. You can return to school if you test negative on or after day 5, are fever-free for 24 hours, and have resolving symptoms. Masking is strongly recommended upon return through day 10. If you do not test, you must isolate for a full 10 days.

Keeping our staff and students safe and healthy is our priority. Highline will continue to follow all DOH requirements and maintain current safety practices, including:

-Stay home when sick: If you have symptoms, stay home and get tested.
-Care rooms: Schools will continue to isolate students with symptoms in a care room until they can be picked up. PPE is required in care rooms and nurse clinics.
-Positive case notification: We will continue sending notifications of positive COVID cases.
-COVID testing: We will continue to provide access to COVID testing.
-Staff vaccination: Staff must be vaccinated for COVID unless they have an exemption. Boosters are not required.
-Student vaccination: We strongly encourage all students over age 5 to be vaccinated. We will continue to host vaccination clinics for students. Please visit our vaccination web page for vaccination opportunities.
-Ventilation: We continue to maintain upgraded ventilation systems.
-Physical distancing: We will maintain distancing to the extent possible.
-PPE: We will continue to provide appropriate PPE to staff and students

We recognize that while other safety measures remain in place, going to optional masks is a significant shift. We will respect each individual’s decision on masks. A mask or lack thereof will not limit a student’s participation in school, although masks may be required in some specific situations like athletics and instrumental music.

Please remember that if you want your student to wear a mask, they will be responsible for keeping their mask on. Staff will not be expected to remind students to put on or pull up their masks.

We know students will have a range of questions and reactions, from excitement to worry. We have developed class lessons to help students navigate this change.

We also encourage you to talk with your student. Here are some key points to discuss:

There are many reasons why someone may choose to wear or not wear a mask. We should not judge or question another person’s choice. We are still in this pandemic together. It is important to show concern and kindness to one another. Schools will not tolerate harassment of any student over masks or anything else. Encourage your student to tell an adult if they witness or experience mistreatment or bullying.

As we have learned over the past two years, circumstances can change unexpectedly. Public health leaders may reinstate masking or other measures if cases or hospitalizations increase. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your principal.

To the north, Seattle Public Schools also will make masks optional as of Monday.

Who will lead Highline Public Schools when Dr. Susan Enfield leaves as superintendent? The district has announced three finalists, and town halls next week during which you’ll hear from them, one finalist at a time. Here’s the announcement:

The Highline Public Schools Board of Directors named three finalists for the position of superintendent of Highline Public Schools, following a community engagement process.

The finalists are:

Dr. Concie Pedroza
Dr. Keisha Scarlett
Dr. Ivan Duran

“Through our community process, Highline Public Schools community members laid out high expectations for our next superintendent,” said School Board President Aaron Garcia. “These highly qualified candidates are a result of that community process and each of them reflects the qualifications and characteristics our constituents told us they value.”

Dr. Concie Pedroza began her career as a classroom teacher and later served as an elementary, K-8 and high school principal. She currently serves as the associate superintendent in Seattle Public Schools, the largest district in Washington state, overseeing schools, academics, student services and African American male achievement.

Dr. Keisha Scarlett is chief academic officer for Seattle Public Schools and formerly served as chief of equity, partnerships, and engagement. Dr. Scarlett has dedicated her career to advocating for academic opportunities and environments that tap into students’ inherent brilliance, particularly those furthest from educational justice.

Dr. Ivan Duran is a proud product of public education. An early passion for reading and learning sparked his interest in being an educator. He has served more than 30 years in public education and is currently chief of acceleration and recovery for the Renton School District. From 2017 to 2021, Dr. Duran was superintendent of the Bellevue School District.

To read more about the finalists, visit the Highline website at: highlineschools.org/finalists

Next week, the finalists will each spend a day in Highline where they will tour schools and meet with students, a few stakeholder groups and school board members. Each day will end in a virtual town hall. At the end of each town hall, the community will immediately have an opportunity to provide feedback on the finalists through an online form.

Town Hall with Dr. Concie Pedroza
Monday, February 14
6:15-7:00 p.m.

Town Hall with Dr. Keisha Scarlett
Tuesday, February 15
6:15-7:00 p.m.

Town Hall with Dr. Ivan Duran
Thursday, February 17
6:15-7:00 p.m.

The questions to be asked of the candidates at the town halls are pre-selected. Some of the questions were generated through a community-wide ThoughtExchange. Student moderators will emcee the town halls and ask the questions.

To watch the town hall, visit the Highline website at: highlineschools.org/townhalls

To provide feedback on the finalists, visit the Highline website at: highlineschools.org/feedback

The School Board anticipates appointing a superintendent following the finalists visits. The new superintendent will begin on July 1, 2022.

Highline Public Schools is offering COVID-19 vaccination and testing around the district this week. Here are the White Center times, dates, locations:

TESTING: From the full list – Evergreen High School (830 SW 116th), 3-4:30 pm Tuesday (January 4th). According to the district, “Testing is available to students, families, household members, and staff.”

VACCINATION: From the full list – Cascade Middle School (11212 10th SW), 9-11 am Saturday (January 8th). HPS students only. According to the district, “Vaccines will be available first-come, first-serve. No registration is required ahead of time.”

It’s graduation season, and Evergreen High School‘s Class of 2021 will celebrate with a ceremony on Saturday (June 12th). It’s set for 6 pm at Highline Memorial Stadium; a shuttle for grads who need a ride there will leave EHS at 4:30 pm. See the full list of Highline Public Schools graduations here.

If you’re a Highline Public Schools family, the district is asking for your decision for next school year – in-person or remote learning. They’ve set Thursday (May 27th) as the decision deadline. You can go here to make your choice; for more info on the 2021-2022 plan, go here.