TagSchools(18)

A May 2013 presentation by City of Burien staff to the Highline Forum explores potential partnerships between local cities, the Highline School District, and the Port of Seattle, focusing on shared community interests and collaboration opportunities. The presentation covers Burien's community vision, historical context, current conditions, school performance data, and specific areas where the city has a stake in local schools. It lays out a case for deeper, more structured cooperation among these regional institutions to strengthen the broader South King County community.

This map covers the Des Moines and SeaTac area in Washington State, showing residential streets, major roads including SR 99, SR 509, SR 516, and Interstate 5, along with several schools such as Mt. Rainier High School, Pacific Middle School, Midway Elementary, Des Moines Elementary, and St. Philomena School. A purple diagonal corridor crosses the map, likely representing a flight path or noise contour zone associated with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, while an orange boundary outlines a specific study or impact area in the southern portion of the map. The document appears to be part of an airport noise or land-use planning study examining how SeaTac flight operations affect surrounding communities.

Highline School District No. 401 used multiple funding sources — including voter-approved bonds from 2002 and 2006, State Construction Assistance Funds, Port of Seattle/FAA funds, and State Department of Commerce funds — to build 13 new replacement elementary schools and one new replacement high school. The Port of Seattle and FAA funding connection reflects the district's location near Sea-Tac Airport, where aircraft noise mitigation has historically supported school construction projects. The new elementary schools feature 66,500 square feet, 26 classrooms, earthquake reinforcement, air-conditioning, and other modern amenities suited to the noise-impacted communities they serve.

This EPA document explains how poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools can harm students' health and academic performance, causing absences due to respiratory illnesses and reducing the ability to concentrate, calculate, and remember. Studies show that high pollution levels, inadequate ventilation, and improper temperature and humidity control contribute to these problems. The EPA recommends schools use the IAQ Tools for Schools Kit to identify and address indoor air quality issues at little or no cost.

WAC 246-366-110 sets sound control standards for Washington State school classrooms, requiring that background noise in new construction not exceed NC-35 on the noise criterion curve, with actual noise levels capped at 45 dBA during normal operation. Industrial and vocational classrooms have separate limits, with ambient noise not to exceed 65 dBA when exhaust systems are running. In music and vocational education areas, student noise exposure is strictly regulated by duration, and hearing protection must be provided if exposure limits are exceeded.