COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          7a 
BRIEFING ITEM                             Date of Meeting      February 11, 2020 
DATE:     January, 31, 2020 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    LeeAnne Schirato, Commission Specialist 

SUBJECT:  Maritime Secondary Education 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
In late 2018, Commissioner Calkins initiated an ongoing dialogue with a diverse group of tribal,
community, labor, education and industry leaders from the Seattle area to discuss how to
empower young people to succeed in the climate-adaptive, new-economy, maritime jobs in the
region. In July of 2019, the Port engaged consultant services to create a strategic action plan,
generate significant stakeholder engagement, and produce a final case statement to outline the
feasibility of a public secondary education institution and/or programs in the Seattle area
focused on maritime education. This presentation will share the results of the final case
statement that includes support to transition the maritime and ocean sciences initiative from a
port driven effort to a community driven effort. 
A CHANGING TIDE 
The final case statement "A Changing Tide," calls for a maritime and ocean sciences high school 
in the Seattle area. A Changing Tide was authored by Architects of Achievement in consultation
with the Maritime Secondary Education Advisory Group, whose members include: 
Ryan Calkins, Port of Seattle Commissioner 
John Welch, Superintendent, Puget Sound Educational Services District 
Dr. Diane DeBacker, Chief Academic Officer, Seattle Public Schools 
Sarah Scherer, Executive Director, Seattle Maritime Academy (now with City of Seattle) 
Paulina Lopez, Executive Director, Duwamish River Clean Up Coalition/TAG 
Joshua Berger, Executive Director, Maritime Blue 
Ali Vekich, Washington Area District Council, ILWU 
Marie Kurose, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Development Council of King County 
Adrienne Hampton, Washington Sea Grant Keystone Fellow, Seattle Aquarium 
Gilda Wheeler, Senior Program Director, Washington STEM 
Angie Mason Smith, Core Plus Project Coordinator, Office of the Superintendent of
Public Schools 
Victoria Bergsagel, President & Founder, Architects of Achievement 

Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                  Page 2 of 3 
Meeting Date: February 11, 2020 
Jessica DeBarros, Executive Director, Communications, Puget Sound Educational
Services District 
The recommendations in the case statement were also informed by a stakeholder summit, held
on September 25, 2019 and attended by over 80 participants, two study tours to NYC and Port
Townsend, and conversations with students, business and labor leaders, educators and nonprofit
agencies and legislators. 
THE ROLE OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE 
The Port has exercised civic leadership as a maritime anchor institution to facilitate efforts to
convene regional stakeholders and identify maritime workforce gaps and education
opportunities. A regional and collaborative synergy with the goal of creating a maritime and
ocean sciences high school has emerged. 
The Port of Seattle is uniquely positioned to continue its role as a convener of regional
stakeholders, communities and school districts, maritime education non-profit organizations,
labor and industry, and aligned government agencies, in pursuit of the mission and vision, and
supported by the guiding principles identified in "A Changing Tide." 
The development of a maritime and ocean sciences high school will require the explicit desire
and leadership of at least one school district, explicit support from the Office of Superintendent
of Public schools, industry expertise, and funding. 
Using $100,000 secured during the Port of Seattle 2020 budget development process, the Port
will execute a contract for consultant services to continue the facilitation of coordination with
school districts, the development of a workplan and other duties to support the transition of
work to a school district or a non-profit organization. A contract will also be executed for
community outreach services.
The Port is at the forefront of ensuring that the regional workforce evolves to meet industry
demands. It also has the responsibility to drive solutions that will support workers, families,
communities and the Port of Seattle to reach their full potential in current and future
economies. The Port of Seattle's $100,000 budget allocation will facilitate the successful
transition of the maritime and ocean sciences initiative from a port driven effort to a
community driven effort. 
GROWING SUPPORT 
The Port of Seattle has a long history of interest and action in supporting workforce
development efforts in port-related activities. The Port's mission to achieve economic
development includes both the generation of quality, living-wage jobs and ensuring a stable,
well-trained and diverse workforce to fill them. The Port has worked to integrate its efforts with
regional stakeholders and use its influence to increase the capacity and efficiency of the
regional maritime workforce development system. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 7a                                  Page 3 of 3 
Meeting Date: February 11, 2020 
In November 2019, the Northwest Maritime Center, NWMC, demonstrated its strong support
for this initiative by submitting a Career Connect Washington, Career Launch grant application.
If awarded, the funds would have been used to create an action plan to create a Seattle-based
Career Launch Maritime High School and a Maritime Apprenticeship Council (MAC). The NWMC
identified two critical gaps in the maritime workforce development sector in Washington State:
the lack of a maritime vocational career and technical education (CTE) high school and the lack
of a youth maritime pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship program. Creating an action plan
for a Maritime High School and MAC to serve traditionally underserved youth in Seattle would 
directly address both the Maritime Blue and Career Connect Washington State legislative
initiatives. NWMC was not awarded a grant, but is considering a resubmittal in the future. 
On February 3, 2020, Rep. Jesse Johnson and Sen. Hasegawa submitted a budget proviso
requesting $250,000 to support the design and planning of a maritime and ocean sciences high
school. Funds would go to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to align school
design. 
On February 6, 2020, Commissioner Calkins met with the superintendents of Highline and
Tukwila school districts and the Chief Academic Officer of Seattle Public Schools to discuss
coordinated support for creating a maritime and ocean sciences high school. 
NEXT STEPS 
A motion to support the recommendations of the Maritime Secondary Education Advisory
group that calls for the development of a Maritime and Ocean Sciences High School will be
considered at the February 25th commission meeting. The motion will facilitate efforts to
convene regional stakeholders, with an emphasis on South King County communities and
school districts, maritime education non-profit organizations, labor and industry, and aligned
government agencies, in pursuit of the mission and vision, and guided by the principles
identified in "A Changing Tide." 
The Port will execute two contracts for community outreach and plan development services to
support the transfer of effort from the Port to a school district or a non-profit organization. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 
(2)   Case Statement: A Changing Tide 
(3)   Advisory Group Commitment Letter 
(4)   Draft Motion 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None 


Template revised September 22, 2016.