Levies News

Thanks to Seattle voters, construction work continues at three capital levy-funded projects. A photo of the classroom addition at Daniel Bagley Elementary is shown. Bagley and Webster School are scheduled to open for Fall 2020. Wing Luke will open for Fall 2021.

The architects and project management team continue to work on plans for the new Northgate Elementary School. After completing the School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) process in mid-December, early schematic designs can now be shared. "These images reflect a very early phase of the project,” said Vince Gonzales, the district’s project manager for the Northgate replacement project.

Construction update on projects at Webster School, which will house Licton Springs K-8, Daniel Bagley Elementary School, and Wing Luke Elementary School

Planning is underway for six major school construction projects across the district. Funded by the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy approved by Seattle voters in February 2019, these projects range from school additions to building replacements. Representatives from the schools participate on School Design Advisory Teams (SDAT) to provide input to the construction design process.

Moving portable classrooms from one school site to another requires prep work, careful maneuvering, an early morning trip through dark streets, and sometimes, a crane. During the summer of 2019, nine classrooms were moved from three different locations, and then placed at three schools in need of more capacity.

Building Excellence VI (BEX IV) and Buildings, Technology, and Academics IV (BTA IV) apital levy-funded construction continues at Bagley Elementary, Wing Luke Elementary, and Webster School. Planning has begun for several school building replacements and additions included in Building Excellence V Capital Levy

Just before school opened, four ribbon-cutting celebrations marked the completion of multi-year construction projects at Lincoln High School, Ingraham High School, Magnolia Elementary School, and Queen Anne Elementary School. Each event included congratulatory speeches, school tours, and the ceremonial cut of a long red ribbon.

On Thursday, Aug. 29, the Ingraham cheer squad joined district leadership, elected officials, and Principal Martin Floe to celebrate the opening of the school’s new classroom addition.Students returned to an enlarged Ingraham High School when classes began on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The new two-story addition on the north side of the school provides 18 new classrooms, two new science labs, a makerspace, small group collaboration spaces, and a new main entrance.

This fall, Queen Anne Elementary School students, teachers, and staff will start the school year off with expanded enrichment areas and opportunities for students and community. They return to an expanded and reconfigured building designed to support their Creative Approach School, which combines project-based learning and social-emotional learning. The growing school needed more classroom space and expanded core facilities.

This fall, Lincoln High School is back serving students as a comprehensive high school for the first time since 1981. The school, located at 4400 Interlake Avenue N., Seattle, 98103, is the district's oldest existing high school. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will mark the reopening of this historic school on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at 2 p.m. The event will celebrate completion of the project to modernize the historic building and bring it back into service as a new high school.

Each year, the Capital Projects and Planning team spends the winter and spring months planning projects and hiring contractors so work can begin on schools as soon as summer break begins. This work is funded through voter-approved capital levies. It takes place over the summer months in order to provide the least impact on student learning. This year, 13 projects are scheduled at 12 schools.

On the first day of school in September, Magnolia Elementary opens as a new attendance area elementary school. Students, teachers, and staff will fill the halls for the first time since 2006. A ribbon-cutting event, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, will celebrate completion of the project to modernize the historic building and construct two additions.

When Daniel Bagley Elementary (Bagley) dismisses for the summer, students, teachers, and staff will say goodbye to the school for a year. They will be moving to an interim location at John Marshall School while Bagley is under construction. The Bagley community will be welcomed home in September 2020.

Between June 2019 and August 2020, the school will be renovated and expanded. A two-story classroom wing addition will add eight new classrooms, and a new gymnasium addition will be more than double the size of the existing gym.

Thanks to Seattle voters, the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy appears to be passing. (The final results will be certified on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019.) This means that the projects included in the BEX V Capital Levy will begin moving ahead.

The Feb. 12, 2019 ballot includes the Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy. This levy includes significant funding for technology equipment, staffing, and services. We know that access to technology and digital resources can play a pivotal role in enabling students to learn and have skills to be college and career ready.

Seattle Public Schools has a long history of support from the community to help fund our schools with operational and capital levies. Read our report to community and learn more.

There have been recent changes in how schools are funded in Washington state. While new state funding addresses some critical longtime funding needs, not all state dollars collected from Seattle homeowners will stay in our district.