COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          8j 
ACTION ITEM                            Date of Meeting       May 14,2024 

DATE :     May 14, 2024 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Bookda Gheisar, Sr Director, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 
SUBJECT:  Interlocal Agreement with Highline Public Schools, Maritime High School 
Amount of this request:                 $500,000 
Total requested project cost:            $500,000 
ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to sign an Interlocal Agreement
(ILA) with Highline Public Schools, Maritime High School, in the form attached, to support the
work of instructional design plans demonstrating a maritime-focused curriculum for the next two
years at $250,000 per year. The ILA will facilitate the initial payment of $250,000 Port of Seattle
funds to Highline Public Schools in 2024, as previously authorized in the 2024 budget, and a 
second  payment  of  $250,000  in  2025,  for  a  total  of  $500,00  over  two  years. 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The Maritime High School (“MHS”) launched in the Fall of 2021. The school is in South King County
and operated by the Highline Public Schools District (“HSD”). MHS includes curricula focused on
Port-related industries, including maritime and green jobs; and it is designed to expose students
to the educational and employment opportunities provided by the region’s robust maritime
industry, and to develop and sustain a workforce that mirrors the diversity of the residents of
South King County. HSD provides partnership and support for King County students through the
efforts of the MHS and provides project-based learning opportunities with an emphasis on portrelated
industries. Per the ILA, funds from the Port will support the work of instructional design
plans demonstrating a maritime-focused curriculum. The HSD will provide the following:
• Demographics of students outreached and in program (all reports disaggregated by race,
gender, zip code). 
• Lessons learned and student testimonials. 
• Any other tangible benefits of the program. 
• Instructional plans demonstrating maritime-focused curriculum. 


Template revised January 10, 2019.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j                                   Page 2 of 6 
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024 
JUSTIFICATION 
The Executive Director included $250,000 in the Commission authorized 2024 budget to support
the development and implementation of high school credit earning, and project-based learning
opportunities to be administered by HSD.
The school is in South King County and operated by HSD and includes curricula focused on portrelated
industries, including maritime and green jobs. The allocated funding aligns with the Port’s
Workforce Development Policy Directive, particularly the youth career connected learning
priorities, the Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive, and the
Workforce Development Strategic Plan. 
Diversity in Contracting 
No goal has been established as this is an interlocal agreement for a specific school. 
DETAILS 
In September 2019, the Port of Seattle convened a Maritime Secondary Education Summit to
discuss how to design educational programs that will foster student interest and passion for the
maritime industry and ocean sciences, close workforce skill gaps, and support environmental
sustainability. 
In early 2020, Seattle Public Schools, Highline Public Schools, Federal Way Public Schools, and 
Tukwila School District leaders convened to explore and identify the district that would serve as
the leading educational entity for this project, with a clear and indisputable choice in Highline 
Public Schools. 
In 2021, HSD took the next step in this project by establishing a taskforce of Highline staff to move
the project forward, guided by a design team of industry partners and a broader advisory team
to inform the work. HSD also assembled an Advisory Board representing industry, education,
community, and government stakeholders to provide ongoing project advisement. The school is
temporarily located at the Olympic Interim site, 615 S. 200th St., Des Moines, WA 98198. The
School District has also identified the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (DRCC) to serve as a
community engagement liaison and provide invaluable insight and perspective into the diverse
Duwamish Valley communities, contracted with Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC) to provide
direction and guidance related to maritime education and critical fundraising support, and
received unanimous approval from the Washington State Board of Education for a traditional
credit waiver necessary to support a true project-based learning experience. 
For the 2023-2024 school year, Maritime High School Enrolled 121 students. 



Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j                                   Page 3 of 6 
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024 




The school is designed to: 
• Expose students to the educational and employment opportunities provided by the
region’s robust maritime industry. 
• Develop and sustain a workforce that mirrors the diversity of the residents of South King
County. 
• Explore the region’s extensive maritime history. 
• Include a focus on environmental stewardship, with a recognition that clean waterways,
such as the Duwamish River, are a necessary element of the maritime and green jobs
industries. 
• Build on the HSD’s existing commitment to the industry and an expertise with the subject
matter, as evidenced by the Marine Science Technology program at the Puget Sound Skills
Center. 
• Build on the Port’s commitment to the Duwamish Valley through community
collaboration and targeted outreach. 
• Be open to students who reside within the HSD and students who live within the Puget
Sound region, including communities adjacent to the Duwamish River, who are interested
in the maritime and green jobs industries. 
The HSD shall provide partnership and support for King County students through the efforts of
the MHS and to provide project-based learning opportunities with an emphasis on port-related
industries. 
Scope of Work 
Instructional Design 
Extensive work will take place to implement and strengthen the overall academic program for
Maritime High School.  This work will encompass addressing all components necessary to
graduate from high school, as well as incorporating maritime content throughout.  The
instructional design work will focus on a series of integrated projects to strengthen the current
9th and 10th grade curriculum and developing three focus areas for the 11th and 12th grade
program that allows students to focus on and earn college credit and credentials in vessel
operations, marine construction, and marine science. This work will include: 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j                                   Page 4 of 6 
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024 
•    Alignment of meaningful and relevant projects to academic standards and specific
competencies and standards related to maritime. 
•    Development of culturally responsive assessments of student learning, including
structures for sharing learning in multiple modalities. 
•    Design of support structures for student success in accessing academic, including
specific maritime-related learning. 
•    Creation and curation of lessons, units, and materials to support meaningful, realworld
and engaging content to support learning across academic areas integrated
with maritime content, such as operating vessels, mastering maritime concepts and
terminology,  developing  advocacy  skills  and  understanding  relevant  policy
development, understanding environmental impact and mitigation, and learning
maritime construction skills. 
•    Development of systems to support students to attain maritime-related certifications. 
Community Engagement 
Short and long-term strategies to engage community partners to support access to the school
will be advanced. In keeping with Port of Seattle’s values of equity and accessibility, the focus
of this funding is to make maritime careers more visible to BIPOC communities. Ongoing
recognition of the Port of Seattle’s support of Maritime High School will take place during
activities which may include the following: 
• Innovative events to share information about the school, and solicit input for ongoing
development of the overall program. 
• Social media presences to sustain ongoing interest in and support of the school. 
• Newsletter publication to share information with stakeholders to nurture and grow
support of the school. 
• Meeting and networking with community groups supporting the school. 
• Conducting regular industry tours at the school to promote interest and understanding
of how Maritime High School is contributing to the maritime industry. 
• Specific and targeted outreach to tribes and BIPOC communities in King County. 
Partnership Development 
To engage students in hands-on and relevant learning, relationships will be developed with
industry partners to build and deepen learning experiences.  Specifically, the following will
take place: 
• Implement plans for mentorship programming to connect students to industry and
community professionals. 
• Increase opportunities for extended learning at industry and community sites aligned
with standards and maritime competencies. 
• Sustain relationships to ensure high quality engagement of partners to inform ongoing
development of academic programming to be informed by current and future needs
in maritime sector employment. 


Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j                                   Page 5 of 6 
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024 

Increase Visibility of Maritime Careers 
Develop communication protocols and partnerships that support regional student and family
awareness of maritime education and careers. Efforts will include the following: 
• Include information on broader maritime education opportunities to students,
teachers, and families. 
• Amplify maritime educational opportunities offered by MHS industry partners. 
• Specific focus given to outreach in tribal schools and methods to reach BIPOC
communities with the goal of increasing BIPOC’s awareness about maritime careers. 
Family and Student Engagement 
To ensure current and prospective families and students are fully engaged with the continued
development and operation of the school, extensive work will take place to ensure multiple
opportunities to provide input on programming, as well as general events to ensure families
are fully knowledgeable about the school program, and the full range of employment in the
maritime sector. Specifically, the school will: 
•    Support a student structure to provide feedback and input on school operations. 
•    Engage prospective families, particularly from BIPOC communities, around knowledge
and interest in maritime careers. 
•    Provide multiple venues for families to provide input, including live meetings and
asynchronous platforms for feedback. 
•    Host events for families to connect with industry and community partners to learn
about the full range of maritime careers. 
•    Provide regular opportunities for prospective families to learn about Maritime High
School and the benefits of a career in the maritime industry. 
Schedule 
Activity 
Commission design authorization               2024 Quarter 2 
2024 Annual Report                           2024 Quarter 4 
2025 Annual Report and final payment          2025 Quarter 4 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
No other alternatives are considered as this is an interlocal agreement with a specific school. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
The total estimated services will not exceed $500,000 from the tax levy. 
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds 
The Executive Director included $250,000 in the Commission authorized 2024 budget. 

Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j                                   Page 6 of 6 
Meeting Date: May 14, 2024 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
(1) Interlocal Agreement 
(2) Annual Report of the Interlocal Agreement between Highline Public Schools and the Port
of Seattle 
(3) Presentation 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
April 2021 – The Commission authorized an Interlocal Agreement with Highline Public
Schools, Maritime High School 
March 2022 – The Commission authorized an Interlocal Agreement with Highline Public
Schools, Maritime High School 













Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).