Seattle Schools This Week

 Update:  there are some interesting items on Wednesday's Board agenda.  For example:

• Engaging Families for High School grant-funded project - anyone?
  

• Approval of four separate successor collective bargaining agreements between Seattle Public Schools and International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 609 for September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2020 - for intro and action.  Again, Intro and Action on the same night should be for emergencies.  I'm assuming the negotiations have been going on for some time so where's the fire?

• Seattle Teacher Residency Program Funding opens a pdf file opens a pdf file (Exec, March 15, for approval) Approval of this item would provide authority for the Superintendent to dedicate $251,000 for the purposes of the Seattle Teacher Residency (STR) Program in the 2018-2019 school year
  
  This residency program seems to be doing very well and keeping teachers at Title One schools.  A good investment, it would seem.

• Intro -
  Approval of Information Technology Advisory Committee opens a pdf file opens a pdf file (Exec, March 15, for consideration) Approval of this item would authorize and approve the charge of the Information Technology Advisory Committee.  This also sounds like a good idea but I hope there are people who care about data privacy on this committee.  Tech and privacy go hand in hand.

• Creation of Playground Redevelopment Fund opens a pdf file opens a pdf file  (Ops, March 8, for consideration) Approval of this item would request the funding of a Playground Redevelopment Project to pay for playground installations and improvements in the amount of $1,000,000.   Also a good idea that is long overdue.

• Intro -
  Purchase of Student and Staff Computers for new BEX IV Schools, BTA Projects, K-3 Class Size Reduction and Enrollment Growth Capacity Classrooms Opening Summer 2018 opens a pdf file opens a pdf file (Ops, March 8, for consideration) Approval of this item would approve the purchase of Student and Staff computers for a total amount not-to-exceed $1,200,000 for levy projects and the needed Enrollment Growth Classrooms and K-3 Class Size Reduction Classrooms opening Summer 2018.  Know what I hate?  I hate BARs that are hard to read and understand their purpose and seem like a bit of a slush fund for other TBA projects.  No.

•  Intro - BEX IV: Authorization of Settlement Change Order No. 25 to Contract P5034 with Lydig Construction Company for the Cascadia Elementary School, Licton Springs K-8 School and Robert Eagle Staff Middle School (formerly Wilson Pacific) project opens a pdf file opens a pdf file  (Ops, March 8, for consideration) Approval of this item would allow the efficient and timely payment of the completed work to most of the subcontractors, thereby decreasing the risk of potential future claims against the district. Change Order No. 25 is in the amount of $933,778.00, plus Washington State sales tax.  Know what else I hate to see? Capital projects that have 24 change orders (including one in March 2018) costing over $4.5M.  If I am reading correctly, the district is settling out to pay just under $1M.  

But the Board agenda item that made my jaw drop was this one:


Termination of Ground Lease at the Lake City School opens a pdf file opens a pdf file  (Ops, March 8, for consideration) Approval of this item would approve early termination of the Lease with Lake City Professional Building, LLC in the payment amount of $6,193,000 for the Lake City School to provide for increased flexibility to meet capacity needs of Seattle Public Schools (SPS).

While the District does not have an immediate need for the property, this lease buyback provides greater long-term flexibility.

The Lake City Professional Center is a 2.68-acre or 116,927-square-foot site that is owned by the District. The District entered into Fifty-year Ground Lease with Two Additional Twenty-year extensions with Lake City Professional Building, LLC in 1986, a 90-year agreement to reach conclusion in 2076. This agreement allowed Lake City Professional Building, LLC to improve and construct what was necessary to turn the location into a professional center.

This Board Action Report seeks approval to seek early termination of the Lease with Lake City Professional Building, LLC for the Lake City School to provide for increased flexibility to meet capacity needs of Seattle Public Schools (SPS). SPS would take over management of current building rental agreements and start receiving that rental income.

Fiscal impact to this action will be the payment of up to $6,193,000 for the lease buyback out of the Capital Fund. The amount Lake City Professional Building, LLC is requiring for the purchase is higher than the appraisal completed in 2016 due to the market increase and requirements for termination written into the Lease agreement.

Including annual operating costs, it is estimated the District will receive $690,600 in net tenant revenue per year ($940,000 less estimated annual operating costs) after the purchase. The total cost of the real property is expected to be offset by lease revenue received directly by SPS instead of Lake City Professional Building, LLC within a 9 to 10-year period. SPS is not anticipating the need for this facility within the next 7 to 10 year period.


Readers may not know but it had been suggested by members of the public - years ago - to do this action.  The answer was no, it would cost too much to break the lease.  Well, I guess push came to shove.

And the district entered into a 90-year agreement? I think I know what former legal counsel probably negotiated that one.


I do find that last sentence about "receiving that rental income" an odd one.

Lastly, we've heard the "we'll save money and make money" story before from the district. I'm not buying it this time.  That's $6M+ out of capital dollars for this.

end of update


A very busy week in the district.

Tuesday, March 20th
Seattle Special Education PTA meeting, JSCEE, 7-9 pm

Wednesday, March 21st
Board meeting, starting at 4:15 pm at JSCEE.  Agenda.

I'll just note that the interviews for semi-finalists for the superintendent job start the next day.  Wonder if any people in the audience at the meeting might be possible candidates?

Thursday, March 22nd
The Board will be interviewing semi-finalist candidates for superintendent from 8:30-3:00 pm at South Seattle Community College.  These sessions are not open to the public.

Friday, March 23rd
The Board will be interviewing semi-finalist candidates for superintendent from 8:30-3:00 pm at South Seattle Community College.  These sessions are not open to the public.

Saturday, March 24th 
Community meetings with directors
Patu - at Raconteur from 9:30 am-11:00 am
Burke - at Greenwood Public Library from 10 am to noon
Pinkham - at Northgate Public Library from 3 pm to 4:30 pm

I note - still no community meeting from Director DeWolf.

Of interest: 

Summer Learning Opportunities
A compilation of district resources and program offerings. In addition, please check with the front office of your student's school for information about summer learning opportunities.

Port of Seattle Internships
Not yet posted but this is the page to check if your student in interested.

The Port offers internships for graduate, undergraduate and high school students in various fields of study including but not limited to: Accounting, Auditing, Construction Management, Engineering, Environmental, Finance & Budget, Human Resources, Marketing, and Planning.

The Port of Seattle is accepting applications for our internship program through April 2018. ​New college internship opportunities are posted each week. High school internship applications will open mid-March.