BEX/Facilities Master Plan Task Force (Part 1)

Part One of this thread series will cover the Facilities Master Plan TAsk Force.

The district's Facilities Master Plan Task Force is winding up its work this week.  I was very pleased with the make-up of the group which included the very wonky Kellie LaRue and the extraordinary mind that is Meg Diaz in addition to others.

Below are their first recommendations (which do not seem to have changed from what is being presented tomorrow).  Their final recommendations start on page 5 of this document.

To note, I have rarely seen a group in such agreement, given the number of votes that were unanimous.

Here are their overarching recommendations released on August 13th:

• Recommend negotiations with the City of Seattle to extend Landmark status beyond 25 years for schools, passed 13-0 with one abstention  

• There is an equity issue that impacts building in the South East, passed 13-0 with one abstention  

• On a short timeline, we need more community input on the development of a South East interim site, passed 13-0 with one abstention

• We need an interim site in the South East, passed 13-0 with one abstention

• Add rough timeline to proposed projects to aid clarity in comparisons to capacity needs, passed 13-0 with one abstention

• We want transparency in how we handle transitions in the facilities master plan with relation to identifying options and interim site,  passed 13-0 with one abstention

• Add “as of” date for data and footnotes for major changes (e.g., Magnolia school re-opening, BTA IV funding, and legislative funding, etc.) , passed 13-0 with one abstention
• From a facilities and equity perspective there should be a professional staff analysis of the South East schools that includes but is not limited to: why students are not attending. passed 13-0 with one abstention

• Develop a “dashboard” index where it is easy to compare all the schools in one place, showing enrollment and condition status with proposed solutions, passed 13-0
• In the face of demand, consider adding portables at Options Schools, passed 12-1 

• In order to be transparent, when replacing a school, the facilities master plan should include a transition narrative for housing students at an interim site, using consistent naming conventions- passed 13-0 with one abstention 

Elementary School Recommendations

• The rebuilding of Wing Luke will affect Maple and Van Asselt, impacting the Mercer service area in addition to the Aki Kurose Service Area. Add this information to the Mercer and Aki Service area narrative. Passed 11-2 with one abstention.
• An equity lens using Free and Reduced Lunch status should be applied when considering pre-school placement, passed 12-1 with one abstention 
• Add E.C. Hughes to the Denny Service Area and change the naming to Roxhill at E.C. Hughes, passed 13-0 with one abstention

Middle School Recommendations

• Each Middle School service area should have a footnote about which Options or K-8 schools are being included for enrollment and capacity calculations, passed 13-0 with one abstention
• Consider swapping Catherine Blaine and McClure because of site constraints, in order to add elementary capacity in Queen Anne and increase middle school capacity at McClure, passed 13-0 with one abstention 
• Cost compare building an addition vs building a new middle school, in the Madison service area, passed 10-3, with one abstention 

High School Recommendations 

• Renovation or replacement of Rainier Beach High School is a top priority, passed 13-0 with one abstention  

As previously mentioned, since meeting time was not sufficient to allow for completion of the High School and Scoring Criteria recommendations, a survey is being conducted, requesting feedback on the following draft recommendations the FMPTF developed in prior meetings:

Draft High School Recommendations:

• With a rebuild/renovation of Rainier Beach High School ensure rigorous educational program offerings, add educational program attractions.
• How should SPS address projected over-capacity of high schools in the North End of the District? 
• Note the importance of identifying an Elementary and Middle School feeder plan that would support a new Downtown High School. 
• Note the importance of providing an analysis of private and charter school capture rates and determine if data could inform a new High School.