In February 2020, the Port of Seattle Commission passed a motion supporting the development of a maritime and ocean sciences high school in the Seattle area, particularly aimed at serving underrepresented youth in the Duwamish Valley community. The motion responds to a workforce shortage in Washington's maritime industry, where the average worker age is 54 and women and people of color remain significantly underrepresented. The initiative, informed by a $150,000 stakeholder study titled 'A Changing Tide,' seeks to create equitable career pathways into maritime jobs for students furthest from economic opportunity.Open full document
Notes
This motion by the Port of Seattle Commission supports the Maritime Secondary Education Advisory Group’s recommendation to develop a maritime and ocean sciences high school in the Seattle area. The motion responds to workforce shortages and demographic inequities in Washington state’s maritime industry, where the average worker age is 54 and women and people of color are underrepresented. The proposed school would focus on students in the Duwamish Valley community, aligning with the port’s Duwamish Valley Community Benefits Commitment Policy Directive.