After 15 years, the partnership between Highline College and Akin has come to a close. The childcare center, located on the south side of campus, will be closing the doors at the end of August. The center has been used by the community for childcare as well as educational purposes for students in education and nursing.
In an email on May 15, Michael Pham, Vice President for Administration (VPA), said, “After more than a decade of leasing space on Highline campus for their child care center, Akin has announced its closure…This is an operational and business decision made entirely by Akin. Highline College has not been a part of this discussion.”
“Akin’s current space lease with Highline College, however, will officially end on August 31, 2025. The college has earlier offered to extend it to either August 31, 2026, or even December 31, 2026. Employees and students who may be impacted by this closure should contact Akin directly,” continued Pham.
The email from Pham was the first correspondence between administration and campus about the decision. The December extension was highly unpopular, as it would leave families without childcare during the holidays.
After campus reactions, a joint statement was sent out Wednesday, May 21, from the President of Highline College, Dr. John Mosby, and David Newell, President/CEO of Akin saying, “In spring 2025, Akin and Highline College evaluated the long-term feasibility of this location and made the difficult decision to end its partnership and the current operations of the Highline Early Learning Center.”
The official closure date is Aug. 29, 2025. In addition to childcare and education, Highline and Akin have worked together organizing campus events benefiting children of the community; such as, most recently, A Teddy Bears for Kids event.
The statement continued, “We understand the deep impact that this closure has on the campus and the community at large. Akin is currently working with participants and staff in transitioning to other early learning options, including other Akin early learning locations in Auburn and Burien. Highline College is also exploring options to support students, staff, and faculty to navigate this change.”
Patricia McDonald, a faculty member in the Highline Education Department, reached out to the Thunderword, saying, “The majority of the teachers in the center are graduates of our program. The education department was not involved in any way. We are heartbroken.”
Parents, too, were heartbroken. A petition was started by a parent of an Akin child and a Highline student to continue the lease, but the decision had already been made.
There is no information on what the building will become after Akin closes. There are doubts about “unnecessary” classrooms taking up the space, and wishes for a new program to continue to meet the needs of students and parents on campus.
*Mavrie has been serving as editor for the Thunderword since 2024.