10:57 PM: Just in, school will start tomorrow for Seattle Public Schools first through twelfth graders. From the district:

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is pleased to announce that the 2026-27 school year will begin as scheduled on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The first day of school for preschool and kindergarten students will be on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

This news follows a tentative agreement reached between SPS and the Seattle Education Association (SEA) on a contract to replace the one that expired on Aug. 31. SPS and SEA have been engaged in negotiations throughout the summer and worked diligently to reach an agreement that supports students, staff, and school communities.

We know the uncertainty surrounding the start of the school year has been difficult for our students, families, and staff. We appreciate your patience and understanding as both parties worked through the bargaining process.

While there were two sides at the bargaining table, we share a common goal: ensuring every Seattle Public Schools student receives a high-quality education in a supportive learning environment. We are grateful for the efforts of everyone involved in reaching this tentative agreement and making it possible for students to begin school on time.

Additional information about the tentative agreement and bargaining process is available on the district’s Collective Bargaining Updates webpage.

11:07 PM: The SEA version of the announcement adds:

The tentative agreement remains subject to ratification by both parties. The Seattle Education Association membership and the Seattle School Board must each convene to consider and vote on the agreement. Dates and details for the ratification process will be announced as soon as possible.

Earlier:

9:43 PM: Just in from Seattle Public Schools – posted moments ago: “Sept. 1, 9:30 p.m. update: Seattle Public Schools (SPS) and the Seattle Education Association (SEA) continue to engage in productive negotiations, and progress is being made. Both sides remain hard at work and are getting very close as discussions continue. We expect to provide another update within the next hour.” (We’ll add that to this post as soon as we get it.)

10:48 PM: No update yet.

Going on 9 pm, and no definitive word yet on whether Seattle Public Schools will open on schedule tomorrow. In case they don’t, some resource plans already have been announced – here’s what we know so far (and we’ll add anything more we get):

CITY ANNOUNCES RECREATION, FOOD PLANS: This long list from the mayor’s office includes some locations of local note.

FAMILY ‘COWORKING CAMP’: Announced by Kinship Collaborative, this offering if there’s a strike:

Co-Working Camp at Peace Lutheran by Kinship Collaborative
A place for families to work, play, connect, and belong while school is out.

During the Seattle educator strike, Kinship Collaborative is partnering with Peace Lutheran Church to create Co-Working Camp, a welcoming daytime gathering space for school-aged kids and their caregivers.

Weekdays during the educator strike, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM, Peace Lutheran Church in West Seattle

Bring your laptop, your kids, some snacks, and whatever you need to make the day work. Caregivers can settle in and get some work done while kids spend time together with opportunities for art, games, movement, reading, creative projects, and plenty of choice and downtime.

Co-Working Camp is intentionally queer-affirming and neurodivergent-affirming. We know unexpected school closures can be especially disruptive for kids who depend on predictable routines, specialized supports, or affirming communities. We want families to have somewhere they know they can show up as they are and belong.

All families are welcome who are committed to helping us create a space where queer, trans, neurodivergent, and disabled kids and families are fully welcomed and celebrated.

This is a community gathering, not drop-off childcare. A caregiver must remain onsite and is responsible for supervising and meeting the needs of their child. Kinship will help hold the space, offer activities, and create opportunities for kids and caregivers to connect.

We’re creating Co-Working Camp as one small way our community can care for families while families support Seattle educators. Come for the morning. Come for a few hours. Bring what you need. We’ll make it through together.

forms.gle/LTj4qa8eNkS1dRbT7

Peace Lutheran is on the northeast corner of 39th SW and SW Thistle.

MODE TO OFFER DROP-IN CAMPS: Mode Music and Performing Arts in North Delridge plans to offer drop-in camps if there’s a strike.

–

5:11 PM: We’re outside district HQ, where negotiations continue inside, and teachers are gathering for a rally, 14 or so hours before what’ll either be the first day of school or first day of a strike. Signs are being picked up in case of the latter.

We talked with one local teacher, Sam from Pathfinder K-8, who expressed ‘cautious optimism’; updates to come, including the district’s promised 5:30ish update.

5:28 PM: The speeches have begun. Emcee says ‘we’re here for a fair contract.’ These are rabble-rousing speeches, no talk yet of progress or optimism. First speaker is Katie Garrow of MLK Labor, with a message of labor solidarity.

5:34 PM: next speakers are two union bargaining team members. … One was speaking when the rest of the team made a surprise guest appearance behind her. The speaker said they’re trying to make lemonade.

5:45 PM: County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda is giving the most fiery speech so far. ‘We can do better, we must do better’ than having a ‘broke’ district in a city and state with so much private wealth.

5:54 PM: State legislator Gerry Pollet is telling the teachers that the Legislature failed them and that more needs to be done to appropriately fund public education. … The district’s promised 5:30 pm update is simply: “Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association continue to engage in positive and productive negotiations.”

6:15 PM: The speeches continue. A woman who’s both an educator and the mom of a son with autism who is entering Chief Sealth IHS and attended other WS public schools said that current special education is working “so why take it away?”

6:31 PM: They’re ending by practicing strike chants just in case. And the emcee notes that if there’s a strike, the day begins with a picket captain meeting at 7 am. Some info’s coming in about family resources if needed, and we’ll have a story on that once back at HQ.

7:33 PM: Here’s the district’s latest update:

Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m. update: Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association remain hard at work. Negotiations continue to move in a very positive direction. Thank you for your patience. We look forward to providing another update soon. Please stay tuned.

8:42 PM: Since we posted that, they’ve edited the second-to-last sentence of the 7:30 pm update to be “We look forward to providing another update at 9:30 p.m.”

<small>(Added: SPS video of superintendent’s Tuesday briefing)

3:01 PM: SPS superintendent Ben Shuldiner is just about to begin his briefing on the teacher contract situation. You can watch live here. We’ll be publishing toplines as it goes.

3:04 PM: The superintendent begins by saying talks overnight continued until 1:30 am and says they’re in talks right now and he is impressed by the progress and collaboration “in a very positive direction.” He says he feels optimistic and will provide updates every two hours. He says they’re still going through key issues but reiterates that he feels optimistic and “we’ll do everything we can to open up schools,” which he’s still hoping can happen tomorrow. His message to families: “We are making our decisions with you in mind” and is aware of family logistics so if they have to, they will provide “support” at campuses tomorrow, such as meals. “We are always hoping for the best …. but we have plans” if needed.

3:09 PM: First question, what time would he “call it” and say OK, we have to go to Plan B? The superintendent said he’s “thinking of it like Snow Days … we hope to have an answer way before midnight.” He hopes by by 10 pm.

3:11 PM: What progress is being made? Shuldiner won’t get into specifics but says the back and forth has “been moving at such a quick speed” which he interprets as wanting “to get this done …so we can open up schools.”

3:13 PM: He says they’ll release an FAQ shortly about backup plans and the “community partners” he mentioned yesterday are those that already have individual relationships with schools…. The union is reported to have made a special-education proposal, one report says, so how is that working? Shuldiner again says he’s not getting into specifics but “it does feel like we’re really making some progress.” He also was heartened by the SEA statement. early this morning also saying they were making progress. What other topics are the focus? He had said earlier that it was special education and salary, and reiterates the latter. … Asked again about what time they could wait till before having to make a call on school tomorrow, he said that could be as late as 5 am, “when the buses run.”

3:18 AM: “If a decision is made, you’ll hear it from the rooftops,” he says, promising they’d get info out every way possible. After this briefing, he says, they hope 5:30 pm would be their next update (then 7:30, 9:30, etc.). If school does not start, food would still be available at campuses 9 am-1 pm – breakfast and lunch in one “to-go bag.” (No paperwork required.) If you’re not sure about whether your school’s regular child-care would be opened, call the school now and ask he recommends. … Asked what else he has to say to parents, he thanks them for their patience and says they’re taking every moment they can to be sure it’s done right.

3:24 PM: How will the communications be delivered to “families with language barriers”? Shuldiner apologizes that they haven’t done the best on that but the communication staff is working on it … Chief of staff Bev Redmond says translation will be done in a variety of ways for the messages as they go out via district platforms, social media, robocalls, etc. … Asked about how the mediator has affected the negotiations, he says they’ve been “very helpful.” … Has the school board given direction on how these talks should proceed? He says the board has “empowered” him to “get a deal done … and keep the lights on.” … Have they provided any guidance “in the past few days?” He again declines to mention specifics.

3:32 PM: How is the district’s budget gap affecting the talks? “It’s the sword of Damocles that hangs over us all,” Shuldiner replied. Then he said he has to get back to the bargaining table, and ended the briefing.

BOTTOM LINE: They’re still talking and the district will provide updates every two hours. If no agreement, he’ll wait as long as possible before declaring “no school” – very late tonight or even early tomorrow.

P.S. We’ll publish all the updates too, and are also watching the union’s online channels for any word from them.

1:53 AM: With Seattle Public Schools still scheduled to start Wednesday unless there’s a strike, the Seattle Education Association sent this update minutes ago:

SEA members want to be back with our students on Wednesday. Our Bargaining Team worked past 1 am to get closer to the agreement our students need. We feel we made promising progress today and will return to the table this morning (Tuesday). SEA members will rally today, Tuesday, at 5 pm at the John Stanford Center to call for a student-focused contract NOW.

This statement comes 10 hours after Superintendent Ben Shuldiner‘s media briefing, which we covered here.

11:31 AM: The district has announced another 3 pm media briefing, and this time announced a streaming link in advance. We will also live-chronicle the briefing.

(Added: WSB photos)

3:04 PM: We’re at Seattle Public Schools HQ in SODO, where district superintendent Ben Shuldiner‘s media briefing is starting, two days before the scheduled start of school, which is in question because the district and its educators’ union haven’t yet reached a contract agreement. We’ll update with toplines as this continues.

Shuldiner says he’s glad that educators are in schools today, getting ready for the start of school, which he says “is the only thing I care about.” He says the talks are difficult because “We’re broke.” He says he’d love to “give money …to everyone,” if he had one. He says both sides are meeting right now, with the mediator present.

If a strike is called, though, “we are prepared,” and there will be meals available for kids, nonprofits that operate in schools will be able to operate, and they might have some “programming” for kids. But he say his “hope” is that school will still start on Wednesday.

On specific issues, he starts with special education, and says that it’s become a “place, not a service,” and he says that has to change. He said it’s “OK” that “folks didn’t like” the district’s first version of special education changes, and says they’ve made changes since then. They want to “try different ideas,” he said, and to “negotiat(e)” them.

He says things have “gotten better” since the mediation began. “We are working, we are working on negotiation, we are working on getting schools open on time. “Please know that negotiations are going on.”

First question: When did the talks resume, with the mediator? On Sunday, he said.

Second: Is the district opening childcare options if there’s a strike? “We are working on partners we already have to see what we can do about that.”

Third: Elaborate on the special-education proposal. He says it was intended as “rebalancing” so that students who need more support have more staff to provide it. He says they’re on “version 4” of the special education proposal.

Fourth: When was the first special education proposal made? A few weeks ago. Is changing special education a must? Yes, because it’s “so important for our children.” But it doesn’t necessarily have to happen immediately, he said. So now they’re trying to figure out if they can “create something now with a larger road map.” He said they “talked a lot about it” last night.

Fifth: What’s your confidence level that school will start Wednesday? He’s hopeful. He’s meeting with principals tonight. He suggests families take questions to their schools.

Sixth: We asked when tomorrow they’d make a call about whether there’ll be school on Wednesday. He said that’s up to the union – whether they decide to call a strike, and he suggested they wouldn’t announce there’s no school Wednesday unless the union says they’re striking. (So right now, there’s no particular deadline for making that call.)

Seventh question is about money, and he repeated “We’re broke” and that they don’t want to have to cut some other place to move money to an area.

Eighth question was about the stated hope of offering special education as a neighborhood-school model so that “students don’t have to move from school to school to school.”

Ninth question was different interpretations of the potential special education changes – staff cuts or not? He says it’s “complicated,” and there certainly is a way to view it that would make it look like cuts. “We’re not trying to balance the books on the backs of our children.” He says “version 4” … “changes the ratios, changes the model.”

Tenth question, what kind of pay increase? Shuldiner says the district has 8.8 percent over three years on the table, and isn’t going to say where the union is countering on that – “I think they’re working on that upstairs right now.” What’s the median teacher salary? He offers to get the reporter who asked the question info on that.

Eleventh question is about how inflation is affecting the wage offer – he elaborates that the offer is a “minimum” of 8.8 percent over three years. “This is not a pass-through,” he says, regarding state funding and the formulas. “We get about two-thirds of what the state gives us,” he explains, because Seattle is “super-expensive.”

Twelfth question was why SPS finally went public with its proposals – definitely because of the union’s public discussion, he said. Would he want negotiation to be that way? Maybe if it’s collaborative, going “super-public” could be a good thing.

Thirteenth question – is there an updated budget deficit number? Depends on what’s in the contract they work out. But next year, if changes aren’t made, “we’re insolvent.”

Fourteenth question – what does the mediator do? Goes from one side to next to “move the needle forward.”

Fifteenth question was a request to explain the salary “steps.”

Sixteenth question – how will athletics work if there’s a strike? Probably “won’t be able to do it” if union-member employees don’t show up, though he’s heard some may have ways around that.

3:04 PM NOTE: We recorded this all on video – it ran a bit longer than half an hour) and will add that when back at HQ. The district YouTube channel should have it too. Bottom line: Mediated talks are continuing right now.

5:21 PM: Our unedited video of the briefing and Q&A, with district Chief of Staff Bev Redmond introducing the superintendent:

No deal yet for Seattle Public Schools and its teachers (etc.) union Seattle Education Association. As we reported early today, talks broke down Saturday night. But tonight, in a lengthy message to families detailing the district’s side of the story, first-year superintendent Ben Shuldiner said a federal mediator’s been called in, at the district’s request. He says that’s because the union made an offer that the district felt met the definition of “regressive bargaining,” which is why the district left the table and called for a mediator.”We are very hopeful that with mediation now, we will be able to get to a deal before the start of school,” Shuldiner writes, though neither side has said when/if negotiations will resume. We mentioned in the update early today that the district plans daily media updates starting Monday, and the first one is set for 3 pm at district HQ in SODO.

We’ve been checking the calendars for local independent and parochial schools, as well as the adjacent districts that draw some students from West Seattle.

Starting tomorrow (Monday, August 31):

Holy Rosary Catholic School
Vashon Island School District

Starting Wednesday, September 2

Westside School (WSB sponsor)
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
Tilden School (WSB sponsor)
Hope Lutheran School
Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School

Starting Thursday, September 3

Highline Public Schools

Starting Tuesday, September 8

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School

Starting Wednesday, September 9

West Seattle Montessori (White Center)

Already started

Summit Atlas Middle/High School
Kennedy Catholic High School (Burien)

As for the Seattle Public Schools situation, we’ll have an update a bit later tonight

“SPS walked away from the table tonight.” So begins an update posted by the Seattle Education Association, saying contract talks have broken down with three days left until the scheduled start of classes at Seattle Public Schools. The two sides have been talking since June; the union says special-education staffing is a huge sticking point. As for why, the union has praised this unofficial website purporting to detail what the district has proposed; the district, meantime, has posted its own summary, date-stamped Saturday, here, addressing other issues too. That same page on the district website also promises daily media briefings starting Monday.

Two nights after the Seattle Education Association – the union for Seattle Public Schools teachers and other educators – voted to authorize a possible strike, there’s no deal yet. In an update tonight, a union spokesperson says, ” The SEA bargaining team is continuing to bargain and working hard to reach an agreement to avoid a strike and clear the way for students to come back on time.” (That would be this Wednesday, September 2nd.) But just in case, the union update also announced that 100~ members will gather in the Central District’s Judkins Park to make signs and practice picket-line chants. The union says they’re continuing to push for “increasing Special Education supports, providing respectful pay, (and) easing the pressurization that large class sizes, high caseloads, and piled-on extra tasks have had on educators.”

As noted here last night, the educators’ union Seattle Education Association had a general membership meeting tonight. The union took a strike authorization vote, and reports tonight that 91 percent voted yes. But that just means they have voted to authorize a strike if they feel it’s necessary; in the meantime, they’ll continue the talks that date back to June: “We are ready to keep working toward an agreement that gives educators the conditions we need to support every student and build the thriving schools our community deserves.” Tonight’s announcement also says that “Special Education supports, respectful pay, and easing pressurization on educators (are) the major sticking points.”

Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Torin Record-Sand
for West Seattle Blog

One week before the first day of classes for Seattle Public Schools, families, school staff, and district dignitaries gathered to celebrate the newly rebuilt, expanded Alki Elementary School.

The ribboncutting was of course the centerpiece of the ceremony. But it was closely rivaled by free ice cream:

This all followed speeches full of gratitude. Proud Alki Elementary principal Mason Skeffington, resplendent in a suit as blue as nearby Elliott Bay on a sunny day, emceed:

He, district superintendent Ben Shuldiner, and school board president Gina Topp were first to speak:

While praising the “world-class” and “state of the art” project, Shuldiner declared that “what happens inside” – learning and teaching – must be “world-class” too, and restated his goal that Seattle will become the nation’s top urban district.

Topp expressed excitement from a special perspective – saying her daughter will beattending Alki Elementary.

She and other speakers also took time to thank voters for approving the BEX V levy that funded the project, designed by Mahlum Architects and built by Cornerstone Contractors. Appreciation for those who built the school was also expressed by Monty Anderson of the Seattle Building and Construction Trades – he’s the second of three speakers in this video segment, following Evan Smith of Schools First and preceding Andy Sheffer from Seattle Parks and Recreation:

“How cool is it to have a school overlooking a park?” enthused Sheffer, referring to Alki Elementary’s new orientation facing north – the old school’s entrance faced west – which is toward the newly rebuilt playground as well as, beyond it, Alki Playfield and Whale Tail Park:

The playground is still getting some finishing touches:

After the ribboncutting, along with ice-cream scooping outside, attendees streamed inside for their first up-close look at the new school. We had a comprehensive look at its features, inside and out, in this July report. But we went in for a few minutes with today’s crowd:

Classrooms were closed, as educators already have moved in, but there are so many windows – interior and exterior – that everything was on view. All but the kindergarteners will start classes one week from today; the youngest students will start on September 8.

Alki Elementary spent the last three years in the former Schmitz Park Elementary, which the district tells us will be vacant this year so some work can be done.

By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Dogged progress continued this evening as Seattle Public Schools and its teachers’ union bargain to reach a contract agreement before the start of school. Tomorrow marks 1 week until classes start, and it is also when Seattle Education Association (SEA) members will have their general membership meeting to vote on a tentative agreement, if one is reached by then, or to strike.

As we reported earlier this month, bargaining started in June, with barely a handful of agreements reached by a week ago, and 57 issues total to resolve. “Right now, the biggest sticking points are Special Education supports, respectful pay, and class size,” SEA spokesperson Julie Popper told WSB this afternoon. She says SEA is committed to be at the table 12 hours a day every day until an agreement is reached. As of this week, there were still 50 issues remaining, which makes it difficult to imagine how nearly all of those could be resolved by this time tomorrow. Popper says there was progress today, but nothing monumental. “We hope to reach a few issue tentative agreements by the end of the day, but we haven’t made headway today on our biggest issues.”

(SEA graphic showing bargaining progress)

SEA members have been working under a contract negotiated in 2022, when a strike delayed the start of school by a week. It was a 3-year contract, and last year, SEA voted to continue under that same contract. SPS has had limited comment on bargaining, but just this evening released a statement from District Superintendent Ben Shuldiner on progress so far:

Bargaining continues in good faith and with respect for our labor partners. The opportunity for conversation and progress remains.

I want to recognize the extraordinary efforts of the Seattle Public Schools bargaining team. Our team members have been working diligently to move negotiations forward, meeting throughout the weekend and continuing their round-the-clock efforts every day this week. Their dedication reflects a shared commitment to finding mutual agreement.

SPS is working to open the school year successfully with an agreement that centers our students, supports our educators, and keeps our school district fiscally viable into the future.

Assuring that viability is contingent on the outcome of a scheduled school board meeting, which includes a vote on whether to approve the $1.3 billion 2026-2027 school year budget, along with budget plan summaries and enrollment projections for the next 4 years. The SEA membership and SPS board meetings will happen simultaneously.

If a tentative agreement is not reached and approved and SEA votes to strike tomorrow evening, Popper says to expect the bargaining team back at the table the very next morning. “Bargaining will continue until we reach an agreement.”

Alki Elementary is not the only West Seattle school having a dedication ceremony before school starts.

(Photo courtesy Our Lady of Guadalupe)

Back in June, with the photo above, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School announced its “summer of construction,” and the celebration is next week:

Join us Wednesday, September 2nd at 5:00 PM for a special Ribbon Cutting and Blessing!

Let’s gather as a community to celebrate the transformation of our school campus and give heartfelt thanks to those who made it happen!

Our deepest gratitude goes to the Fulcrum Foundation, Shea Homes, Knipp Contracting, the Archdiocese of Seattle Office for Catholic Schools and the dedicated construction team at KNIPP Construction. Thanks to their extraordinary generosity of time, talent, and treasure, our students now have an updated space designed to inspire learning, leadership, service, and prayer for years to come. We also want to thank our parish and school staff, parishioners, and neighbors for your patience and positivity throughout this process.

OLG School is on the southwest corner of 34th and Myrtle. The June announcement details the work that was done, including a new roof and windows.

(WSB photo, July)

As we first told you in June, tomorrow’s the dedication day for the new Alki Elementary School (3010 59th SW). The community is invited to the 10:30 am ribboncutting – here’s the official reminder sent today by the district:

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, 10:30 a.m., Seattle Public Schools (SPS) will celebrate completion of the new Alki Elementary School building and modernization of the gymnasium.

When: Wednesday, Aug. 26, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Alki Elementary School, 3010 59th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Superintendent Ben Shuldiner will join School Board President Gina Topp and Alki Principal Mason Skeffington will speak before cutting the ribbon to officially open the school for the 2026-27 school year. Additional confirmed speakers include Andy Sheffer of Seattle Parks and Recreation, Monty Anderson of Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council, and Evan Smith of Schools First.

There will be an opportunity to tour the school following the ceremony.

As noted in our story last month with a look inside the building, more than 400 students are enrolled at the newly rebuilt and expanded school for the 2026-2027 school year – a 50 percent increase from last year’s 260, the third year at temporary quarters at the former Schmitz Park Elementary.

Is your family new to Lafayette Elementary – with an incoming kindergartener, or student(s) who attended somewhere else last year? You’re invited to two playdates on the school’s playground!

Sunday, August 23 from 2-4 pm
Sunday, Sept 6 from 9-11 am

The school is at 2645 California SW; the playground is on its west side.

P.S. Reminder as the new school year approaches, we appreciate getting info on school events for our community calendar – just email the basics, including any relevant weblink, to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(SEA photo of members at West Seattle Farmers Market yesterday)

By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

You may have wondered about all the people in red shirts. Yesterday it was leafleting at the West Seattle and Capitol Hill farmers’ markets, and tomorrow it’s back to the bargaining table for members of the Seattle Education Association (SEA), as the teachers’ union continues negotiations with Seattle Public Schools ahead of their contract expiration on August 31st.

SEA and SPS started the bargaining process in late June. Just a couple of weeks later, the SPS board had a public hearing on the proposed 2026-27 district budget. At $1.34 billion, it includes cuts that aim to both balance the budget and shore up the district’s reserve funds, which had been projected to be depleted next year. Even though the budget is not yet approved, it is top of mind. “More than anything, we’re bargaining against SPS’ budget challenges and against the calendar,” said SEA Lead Bargainer Davina Diaz in a community update on SEA’s website last week. “SEA has put on the table all 18 of our “small” issues, called that because we believe they’re less expensive and easier to reach agreement on. So far we have reached agreement on two of those.”

(SEA photo)

The teachers’ union has been working under a 3-year contract negotiated in 2022, which was extended for 1 year. The 2022 contract was only reached after a strike that delayed the start of school for the district’s 50,000 students for one week. SEA and SPS have met 14 times already, with another 6 dates set, but SEA has asked for more dates to be added. They have a list of 57 issues to resolve, from class sizes and compensation to professional development and supports for students. “We’re committed to winning more time for supporting students in our days, safer schools, and respectful pay,” said Diaz. SEA’s bargaining team includes two dozen educators, including 3 from West Seattle schools—one each from Sanislo Elementary, Lafayette Elementary and West Seattle High School.

This all comes as SPS’s new Superintendent Ben Shuldiner is finishing his first 6 months on the job. SPS has not yet replied to a request for comment on the negotiations, but Shuldiner’s introduction to the new budget is clearly focused on the bottom line, including maintaining an adequate reserve. “A negative fund balance means the district enters binding conditions, potentially losing local control over how we spend money and make decisions for our students. We cannot let that happen, and that is what compels us to make difficult choices now, in the year ahead, and every following year until we have turned this around,” he wrote. “We have many hard choices ahead. We will address those head on, and we will do it together.”

“We’re doing everything we can to reach an agreement,” SEA spokesperson Julie Popper told WSB this afternoon. They’re also ready for anything, as evidenced by Picket Captain training listed on their website schedule for SEA members later this month. “We’re preparing just in case, but nobody wants to go on strike.”

Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Torin Record-Sand
for West Seattle Blog

The message above, one of several inscribed in small “cozy corner” seating spaces scattered inside the new Alki Elementary School, are meant as reassurances for its future students, but could also apply to those who fought over the plan for the ~$67 million rebuild and expansion.

Those battles are in the past, and so are two years of construction. A student body more than 50 percent larger than last year will occupy the new Alki ES in one month – 409 enrolled, compared to last year’s 260, according to principal Mason Skeffington, in part because Alki will be the regional center for Highly Capable education. Skeffington’s in his seventh year as Alki’s principal, and after three of those years in interim quarters at the former Schmitz Park Elementary, he’s excited. He led us on a long-planned tour of his new school earlier this week, along with the district’s project manager Brian Fabella.

We started outside:

Crew members were installing the landscaping for raingardens and other areas outside the school’s new entrance, which faces north, where a side entrance used to open onto a parking lot. The area in front of the school- designed by Mahlum Architects and built by Cornerstone Contractors – is now a “parkway”; the line where concrete pavement gives way to asphalt pavement is the line between Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Parks property. As was the case pre-rebuild, the two will share the playground north of the building:

It’s not finished yet but the plan is for it to be ready to go before school starts September 2. That’s actually the start date for all but the kindergarteners, who start classes on September 8 9. And that date the later start factors into tile work on the front of the school:

Inscribed in the tile work are the high and low tides projected for September 9, the (second) day all Alki Elementary students, kindergarteners through 5th graders, will be together in the new building (which is 8+ years in the works, going back to BEX levy planning in 2018). The tide tiles are near the main entrance, where two sets of doors will enhance security, with the office entrance to the right.

Though the office is a fairly traditional area, with a front desk that will be the gateway to some administrative offices including Skeffington’s, it won’t be a total “hub” type of set up.

Other staffers who serve the whole school have their areas integrated on classroom floors – for students who need services, it won’t be that dreaded “trip to the office,” for example. There are also meeting rooms for everything from staff gatherings to meetings about students’ Individualized Education Plans.

Back to the ground floor, you’ll notice two things about the commons – aka lunchroom: It’s close to the entrance:

And it’s an atrium, with the ceiling open all the way to the top of the building:

Another feature you might not notice until it’s pointed out are two circles in the floor like this:

They represent another feature that Skeffington says the students will learn about – the school itself being “a curriculum” (as mentioned previously) – the caps to the geothermal wells factoring into the school’s heating/cooling system, visible in other ways around the school.

Students will also learn more about stormwater in a small ground-floor courtyard that hosts a stainless-steel cistern and a rainwater-ladder type of feature nearby:

The ground floor is also the gateway to an area that the school will continue to share with neighboring Alki Community Center, the gym:

The Alki seagull logo is a prominent feature on the gym’s new floor:

The gym also has a wall with a 16-foot board that can be used for projection or can be written on.

On every floor, the restroom areas will feature a shared sink but mltiple individual, private stalls:

These are meant for safety as well as privacy. Heading up to the second floor, what comes into view are the views themselves – such as the northward view from this deck:

Most of the staff area (except for a private lactation lounge for nursing/pumping) opens onto the deck, from which you can glimpse the water of Elliott Bay, which is also visible from the big new library:

The upper floors are dominated by teaching and learning areas – and lots of windows.

The hallways are the only places where overhead lighting provides more illumination than natural light through windows:

As with other recently built school buildings we’ve toured around West Seattle, the spaces are flexible, with many different configurations of tables, chairs, and other seating, as well as open hallway-adjacent space where either multiple classes can meet or breakout sessions can be held. There are some specialty classrooms too, like the art room – with a kiln. Throughout the classrooms are tech features both modern and classic, from telephones to emergency buttons to PA systems to outlets accommodating USBs as well as power plugs.

We asked project manager Fabella about his favorite part of the new school. He replied: Its mass-timber construction. Not only does it result in the warm appearance of wood – though most of it is wood-laminate – but it is a major factor in earthquake safety, as the beams and supports will help the building flex in a quake. The method of construction also meant faster framing, he addded, and leaves the building weighing less. Overall, the supports are “like a shock absorber for the building,” Fabella explained.

And he recalled a story told by Duwamish Tribal Council member Ken Workman, about his ancestors being part of the trees, so they’re now part of the building too – as will be the first students to learn in the building starting in a month.

WHAT’S NEXT: Teachers are moving in August 17. That’s nine days before the ribboncutting, 10:30 am Wednesday, August 26th (they’re hoping to be able to allow community members into the building, too). And as mentioned above, Wednesday, September 2 is the start of classes for all Seattle Public Schools students except kindergarteners, who will start (updated) on Tuesday, September 8.

SUNDAY NOTE: Though the principal told us kindergarteners were starting September 9 – and said that was the reason the exterior tilework is inscribed with high and low tides for that date – reader K noted in comments that the district calendar says kindergarten classes start September 8. We asked a district spokesperson about the discrepancy and they confirm that Alki kindergarteners will also start September 8. So what about the tile work – will the date/time/tide inscriptions have to be changed? Reply: They’re “checking with the design team.”