Officers with a K9 unit responded to a report of a break-in at the abandoned Magnolia School on 28th Ave. W. this evening.

Seattle Police said they arrested two juveniles inside shortly after they arrived. A police dog searched the premises but found no other suspects.

An officer told us they discovered a broken window, but it was unclear if the damage was related to the break-in.

Magnolia School has been closed since 1984, used a temporary facility for a few times, and is currently overgrown with brush and, in parts, covered with graffiti.
(Thanks Carilyn for the tip!)

The Seattle School Board has approved the final recommendations for the Student Assignment Plan, which will determine where a student attends school based on their home address. Now Magnolia students will know which schools they’ll attend through high school. The district will now start working on the boundaries and public comment will be heard in the fall. As part of the final plan, the School Board also approved an amendment to address the grandfathering of siblings as part of a transition plan to be developed by the district, “provided that doing so is feasible and does not displace incoming attendance area kindergarten students,” the district press release says.

With Seattle Public Schools struggling with a budget deficit, we want to let you know about efforts by supporters at Blaine to raise money for school programs.  The school is holiding its auction on Saturday, March 21 at Bell Harbor Conference Center at Pier 66 on the Seattle waterfront. 

The event includes dinner by an award winning culinary team, a silent auction and a live auction with many  one-of-a kind items and experiences.  The evening will also include dancing to the band American Standard.  Tickets are $65/per person.  

Organizers promise a night of food, fun and a chance to raise money for Blaine.  You don’t have to be a Blaine parent to attend, everyone is welcome and you can call the school for ticket information at 252-1920.

At a work session of the Seattle School Board on Wednesday the district said it would consider turning Catharine Blaine into a K-5 school to ease overcrowding.  The plan would send the middle school students to McClure Middle School on Queen Anne. 

As we have reported, district officials are considering short-term solutions to ease overcrowding in schools in the Queen Anne and Magnolia area.  Schools in the north end are also facing crowding issues.  The problem is expected to get worse next year according to district estimates.

Based on comments from board members and feedback generated from two community meetings last month, district staff members will prepare a proposal to present to the School Board at its Oct. 15 meeting.

The board would have to sign off on any potential changes to the district’s student assignment plan, and could give their blessing on other aspects of the proposal, such as relocating programs.

This is bound to be a hot topic of discussion at Blaine tonight when parents come to the school for curriculum night.

Catharine Blaine K-8 is getting a new playground this summer. 
 
The new metal and plastic structure will be ready when school opens. The old play structure was rusted and considered unsafe. The new equipment features bright colors and will have two slides, monkey bars, a suspension bridge and climbing elements. The total cost of the project is around $30,000 and the money is coming from a neighborhood grant as well as the Blaine PTA and Magnolia Community Council.

Volunteers are needed to help get the playground ready. Here is the schedule:

Install new playground equipment: Saturday, July 26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pour concrete, build wheelchair access: Monday, July 28, 5 to 8 p.m.
Spread gravel and woodchips: Monday, Aug. 4th, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Spread woodchips: Wednesday, Aug. 6th, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.