State Representative Tina Orwall, a member of the House Capital Budget Committee, toured two Highline Public Schools sites last week to assess fire damage and progress on a major construction project.
Organized by the Washington Association of Maintenance and Operation Administrators (WAMOA), the tour included stops at the Southern Heights site and the new Evergreen High School construction project.
At Southern Heights, Rep. Orwall viewed the extensive fire damage from a July blaze. The main office and gym building were deemed beyond repair, with demolition expected to begin once permits are approved. Two additional buildings sustained significant smoke and water damage. The district is working closely with insurance adjusters to finalize the next steps for restoration.
The tour also included Evergreen High School, currently under construction and slated to open in September 2025. Representatives from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), and the American Institute of Architects Washington Council (AIAWA) also attended the visit.
As a temporary solution to the Southern Heights fire, the district renovated the Original Beverly Park site over the summer. The facility now houses Innovation Heights Academy and Highline Virtual Academy, both previously located at Southern Heights.
Photos
Below are photos from both the Southern Heights and Evergreen tours, courtesy Highline Public Schools:
I live two blocks from Southern Heights school! Since 1968 I have had my children, grandchildren and daycare children attending the school until it closed. Even now I take two children up to the school to catch bus to Beverly Park. Was glad to see it reopen to alternative school and have activity at the school involving children again even if they were a little older. I’m still taking children to catch bus in front of school so have been watching what activity there has been at the school since the fire. It would have been nice if the parking area in front of office area had been left open for parking with kids waiting for bus instead of on the street with cars zooming off Glendale Way! After the fire I did go up and walked around the school and office/gym building was not good but what I could see the other two main buildings seemed ok so was surprised to read they had smoke and water damage and not usable? So I’m hoping somehow the school remains where it is with renovations of course for more children to use someday soon. With all the new homes being built in the neighborhood and multifamily homes with children we may need a school on the corner again with bells ringing and children playing and laughing!