Montlake Elementary School Planning

Communication and Engagement: November 2021–present

Capital Projects and Planning, the architectural firm, and eventually, the construction team use multiple opportunities to share information and collect feedback on school construction projects. Below is a summary of the engagement done during the two-year planning process for the Montlake Elementary modernization and addition project. Communication will continue throughout the remainder of the project.

Surveys

November–December 2021: Montlake Staff Survey

• A K-12 Cultural Continuum Survey for Montlake Staff

December 2021–March 2022: Community and Parent Online Survey

• Community Survey open from December 2021 through March 2022
• Advertised to the community through the project webpage, on flyers, and emailed to student families
• Nearly 100 Montlake parents and community members responded.
• Variety of topics about the school
  • Equity
  • Accessibility,
  • Safety
  • Character and culture
  • Challenges that students currently face
• Image selection study
  • Participants selected images that represented their vision of welcoming, inspiring, and engaging places, and their attitudes about historic preservation

School Design Advisory Team (SDAT)

November 2021: SDAT invitation distributed

• Flyers delivered to every house within 2 blocks of the school, as well as the Community Center, and businesses and library along 24th Ave E
• Posted to school website
• Posted throughout school building
• Digital flyer sent in school newsletter
• Digital flyer emailed to Montlake parents

December 2021–May 2022: SDAT workshop meetings and tours

SDATs advise on school design. During the SDAT process, the architectural firm hired by SPS lead seven workshop meetings and one day of school tours. During this process, the group identifies the vision, philosophy, and goals of the school and community. Full Montlake Elementary School SDAT information and meeting summaries.

School and Student Engagement

January 2022

• Jan. 1:  School Observation/ Listening Session (In-Person)
• Jan. 18: School Listening Session (Virtual Meeting)

February 2022

• Feb. 8: BIPOC Listening Session (Virtual Meeting)
• Feb. 10: SPED Family Listening Session (Virtual Meeting)
• PTSA meetings

March 2022

• March 4: Meeting w/ Student council (In-person)
• March 16: Student Presentation and Q+A (In-person)
• March 18: Safe Routes to School Meeting (Virtual Meeting)

April 2022

• April 29: Architects at School Presentation and Student Solar Panel Petition (In-person)

June 2022

• June 1,: Student Q+A (In-person Meeting)

• June 14: DLR Group Letter Response to Student Solar Panel Petition (Emailed) 

December 2022

• Dec. 7: Student All-School Assembly (Virtual Meeting)
• Dec. 15: Design boards posted at (Meany Concert Hall) Winter Performance
• Dec. 15: Design boards brought to Montlake and displayed in the front entry

January 2023

• Jan. 28: Design boards and video virtual tour at Admissions Fair

Montlake Elementary Staff and SDAT Member Engagement Meetings

March 2022

• March 2: Staff Listening and Design Review (In-person)
• March 16:  All Staff Q+A (In-person)
• March 16:  SDAT staff members plan review (In-person)

April 2022

• April 19: SDAT staff members plan review (Virtual Meeting)
• April 27: SDAT and Staff Plan Review (Virtual Meeting)
• April 29: All Staff Meeting (Virtual Meeting)

June 2022

• June 1: User Group meetings (In-person Meeting)

July 2022

• July 12: SDAT Staff Members Design Review (Virtual Meeting)

November 2022

• Nov. 2: Design and Community Art Update (Virtual)

December 2022

• Dec. 6: Design Update (Virtual Meeting)

March 2023

• March 3: SDAT Staff Design Update (Virtual Meeting)

April 2023

• User Group Meetings (in-person/scheduled)

Community Engagement

February 2022

• Feb. 8: Montlake Community Club Presentation (In-person meeting)

March 2022

• Mid-March: Banner posted on fence at school announcing project is in planning and providing website address for more information and updates
• March 23: Community Update meeting
  • Flyers and posters given to neighbors and posted at local businesses
  • Digital flyers emailed to parents/families
  • Meeting notice posted on project webpage and school website

May 2022

• Early May: Meeting notice postcards mailed to every neighbor within a six-block radius
• Mid-May: Meeting notice postcards mailed to every neighbor within a six-block radius

June 2022

• June 2: Community Update meeting (virtual meeting)
  • Recording posted to project webpage

September 2022

• Early September: Meeting notice postcards mailed to every neighbor within a six-block radius
• Mid-September: Meeting notice postcards mailed to every neighbor within a six-block radius
• Sept. 28: Community and neighborhood update meeting (in-person)

October 2022

• Mid-October: Community information full-color folded mailer sent to all Montlake Elementary School families and neighbors in a 6-block radius

November 2022

• Mid-November: Meeting notice postcards mailed to every neighbor within a six-block radius

December 2022

• Early December: Meeting notice postcards mailed to every neighbor within a six-block radius
• Dec. 13: Community meeting (virtual meeting)
  • Meeting presentation posted to project webpage

April 2023

• Early April: Community information full-color folded mailer sent to all Montlake Elementary School families and neighbors in a 6-block radius

Landmarks Public Process

• March 30, 2022:  Landmarks Advisory Hearing (Virtual Meeting)
• May 18, 2022: Landmarks Advisory Hearing (Virtual Meeting)
• Sept. 30, 2022: Landmarks Advisory Hearing (Virtual Meeting)
• Jan. 27, 2023: Landmarks Advisory Hearing (Virtual Meeting)

SEPA Public Process

• May 24, 2022: Postcard notice for SEPA Draft Checklist public comment period mailed
• May 24, 2022: Signs for SEPA Draft Checklist public comment period posted around Montlake Elementary School
• June 3–July 5, 2022: SEPA Draft Checklist public comment period
  • Montlake SEPA Draft checklist posted on SPS website

• Oct. 31, 2022: Postcard notice for SEPA MDNS public comment period mailed
• Nov. 7–Nov. 22, 2022: SEPA MDNS public comment period 
• Jan. 13, 2023: Montlake ES SEPA MDNS Appeal Hearing (in-person at JSCEE)

Departures Public Process

• Following the Landmarks approval of Certificate of Approval package, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods mailed postcard notifications for Departures Process
  • Departures process managed by Department of Neighborhoods
  • Department of Neighborhoods post Departures presentation on their city website
  • Signs for Departures public commenting period posted around Montlake Elementary School