Hope Lutheran School and Seattle Lutheran High School
West Seattle’s new 100 year old school

Most of you have heard about the strategic initiative that is underway in our schools. A joint operating agreement between Hope and SLHS is being explored by the school boards, church council and association to position both schools for long term success. SLHS has been serving Seattle area high school students for more than 30 years while Hope has been serving elementary students for more than 50 years. Together these schools have been serving church and community families through educational ministry for nearly a century.

Research has shown us over the years that it is typical for organizations to reinvent themselves every 30-50 years. That is the typical life cycle of an organization. Research has also shown that organizations that do not make changes during this time period tend to become irrelevant or obsolete. Both SLHS and Hope are entering this exploration from positions of strength. Both schools have steady enrollment, strong support from the congregation and community, and seeking opportunities to be the choice for Christ-centered, college preparatory education in Seattle.

The two school boards met together for the first time in September to discuss future possibilities and metrics to measure success. Both school boards voted to continue moving forward with the exploration of a joint operating agreement. “There are great possibilities ahead of us,” said Mike Jensen, chairman of the Hope School Board. John Jacobs, the chairman of the SLHS school board commented that “in these economic times, both schools need each other now more than ever.” The 15 member team, comprised of Hope and SLHS boards, will continue to meet throughout the year as the details of a joint operating agreement are discussed. It is the intent of the boards to provide detailed information of the proposal to the congregation and association in early winter. If you have any questions or comment, please contact Adair Hinds at ahinds@seattlelutheran.org or 937-7722 ext. 29. I’d love to hear your comments and questions.

Some of the successes stories from phase 1 of the joint operating agreement include:

• The expansion of advanced programs at the middle school level
• The expansion of the middle school foreign language program to include both French and Spanish
• Marketing, admissions and strategic planning support for Hope
• The influence of the Senior Pastor and Director of Christian Education on the religion curriculum and Chapel worship at SLHS
• Operational support from Hope’s Parish Administrator to SLHS
• The opportunity for middle school and high school teachers to collaborate to provide more continuity of curriculum and stronger relationships
• Combined efforts toward strategic planning, accreditation and marketing have improved the quality and scope of services for both schools in these areas