In a letter to the residents of the Genesee Hill Schmitz neighborhood the Principal of Schmitz Park Elementary Gerrit Kirschner announced that a virtual tour of the new school now under construction on the former Genesee Hill Elementary site would be presented on April 23 at the PTA meeting beginning at 6:30pm at Schmitz Park Elementary School" (5000 SW Spokane Street).

"A Virtual Tour of our new school building will be presented by BLRB Architects and we will provide an update on the name submission process. For more information, please visit schmitzparkpta.org."

The school is still in need of a new name, and the choices have been narrowed to four.

You can VOTE FOR YOUR CHOICE HERE.

Genesee Hill Elementary School: Genesee Hill is the name of the original building, which opened in 1949.

Genesee-Schmitz Elementary School: Genesee-Schmitz recognizes the shared identity and history of the neighborhood and the two schools.

Dietrich Schmitz Elementary School: Dietrich Schmitz was the longest-serving member of the Seattle School Board in history, serving 32 years and multiple times as President.

Thelma DeWitty Elementary School: Thelma DeWitty was the first African-American teacher in Seattle, working first in West Seattle at the Cooper School.

You may also drop off or mail a hard-copy of your preference to Schmitz Park School, 5000 SW Spokane St., Seattle 98115. We ask for just one vote per household. This survey will close at midnight on April 26, 2015, and the results will be used to finalize a recommendation for the Superintendent’s report to the School Board of Directors.