Highline Public Schools is currently considering a proposal to relocate and rebuild Cascade Middle School at the Salmon Creek site, a move that has sparked significant debate among local residents. The district’s Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) held a meeting on March 30 to finalize its recommendations for an upcoming bond proposal. Despite the progress in planning, officials emphasize that no final decision has been reached regarding the school’s future location.

The proposal would move the middle school from its current spot near Evergreen High School to the Salmon Creek campus, which is also home to the New Start High School. District leaders, including Director of Communications Mandi Lecompte, have noted that this relocation is the leading proposal because it is significantly less costly—estimated to save taxpayers $44 million—and would allow students to remain in their current building during construction.

However, the plan has met with resistance from community members concerned about the displacement of the New Start Shark Garden. The garden is a vital community asset that provides thousands of pounds of organic produce to the White Center Food Bank and hosts educational programs for at-risk youth. Advocates argue that replacing this green space with a school campus would be a major loss for a neighborhood already facing high environmental health disparities.

In an effort to get the district to reconsider, a petition has been launched on Change.org, which has already gathered over 150 signatures. The petition asks the Highline School Board to reject the Salmon Creek move to protect the garden and ensure equitable learning conditions for students. You can view and sign the petition here: https://change.org/p/urge-highline-school-board-to-reconsider-using-the-salmon-creek-site-for-cascade.

Following the CFAC’s recommendation, the Highline School Board will ultimately decide which projects to include in a bond measure for the November ballot