Champion Robotic Teams Pushed Nearly Out of Highline. Why?

On the back of an amazing WIN for the Girls High-Tekerz Robotics team article yesterday, we have a follow up story to other stories we have followed.

The award-winning Burien-based robotics teams — known as The Tekerz, High Tekerz & Skunkworks — continue to post impressive results and inspire students across the Highline District area, even as they face growing obstacles stemming from space restrictions, equipment loss, and continually reduced district support.

From District Support Setbacks to Big Wins for the Teams!

Earlier this year, Burien News highlighted the Tekerz’ outstanding season, during which the teams earned the District Championship Award, Girls Gen Competition, Rising Star Award and at the FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) they are currently ranked 3rd in their league this season!

Yet team members and volunteers say their success masks the daily struggles of keeping the program alive.

“These students are innovators and builders, but they’ve been boxed into a gym, with space nearly 1/5th what we had before and told to make it work,” mentor David Dammann said. “It’s a testament to their creativity that they’re still competing at all.”

Displacement and Equipment Loss

Last year, the robotics teams were told to move all their equipment and machinery in less than 1 week after it was determined the district needed their space for classes, because students were displaced at the Southern Heights Elementary School location after they experienced a fire last year due to arson. The teams were moved to the old Salmon Creek Elementary school, but then were heavily restricted to use the space the way they had before, and then told they couldn’t use their own machinery due to “safety reasons”, though they could never get anyone to acknowledge at the district that they use safety manuals, guidelines, and that adults are always supervising the machinery use. In the 12 years they have been functioning and using this machinery, they have never had an accident or reported incidents.

Now, the robotics teams have been pushed out of all given classrooms and portables at the Salmon Creek building location, once used for robotics instruction and storage. Team leaders say they were told the spaces were needed for other purposes — yet, according to several volunteers, the rooms have sat empty for months.

Now confined to a single shared gym, both robotics teams must build, practice, and store all their equipment in one crowded space. Stacks of materials, boxes they can’t reach, and machinery rise nearly ten feet tall, leaving little room for the robots themselves or room to build.

The loss of workspace has also meant that much of the equipment saved from the demolition of Highline High School— tools and machines rescued by the robotics teams from disposal — can no longer be used, as the district superintendent bars their access.

Financial Strain After Loss of Support

The team’s financial picture has also grown more difficult. Since the Highline School District withdrew associated sponsorship, the Tekerz have lost eligibility for a $20,000 annual OSPI grant that previously helped cover travel, materials, and competition fees.

In addition, the teams have been required to purchase extra insurance and rental space from the district, when the cost before was donated space to use that no one else was using. More expenses that must now come out of limited community donations and grants. All mentors and coaches continue to serve as unpaid volunteers, and have not cost the district any money.

“Every dollar we spend on rent or insurance is a dollar not spent on students,” said one longtime volunteer Dammann. “The kids are still producing championship-level robots — just with fewer tools, fewer funds and tighter space.”

Isolation and Advocacy

In 2024, Burien News reported on earlier setbacks — including stolen equipment, a fire at the team’s former site, and funding losses.

"When our team appealed to have a meeting with the district, we were notified by a Board Director that they were personally discouraged by the Superintendent to not attend our meeting with the district, and was threatened that the meeting would be cancelled if the Director showed up to help us," said Dammann.

This move led to a near-total block out by the district and further broke-down communications and resolutions sought by the students and volunteers.

Despite that, the Tekerz continue to mentor younger students, host outreach events, and compete at regional FIRST Tech Challenge tournaments.

Community Calls for Change

Parents and volunteers have begun organizing outreach efforts to raise awareness and seek stable, adequate facilities for robotics.

With the District once petitioning the public for approval in April of 2021 to purchase the old HiLine Lanes Bowling Alley that sits adjacent to the district central office, with promises to "free up space...for a Robotics and STEM center..."

It appears now 5 years later, there are still no plans to make that promise a reality for Highline students, and in the meantime, have essentially pushed away the only Stem and Robotics programs that serve our area.

Renewed attention from district leaders will need to lead to long-term solutions and recognition of robotics as a vital part of STEM education.

About the Teams

The Tekerz Robotics Club represents several Burien-area students within the Highline School District. Students compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program, where they design, build, and program robots to complete complex engineering tasks. Over the past decade, the Tekerz have earned multiple state and regional awards for innovation, teamwork, and design excellence.

Previous Championships:

More information is available on the team’s website at www.skunkworks1983.com.

Video of School Board Testimonies

Watch video of Damman and Bryant speaking at the Sept. 4, 2024 Highline School Board meeting:

• Coach David Dammann’s Testimony
• Zoë Bryant’s Testimony

How to Help

To help the team continue to experience such triumphs please donate.
https://hcb.hackclub.com/donations/start/tekerz-robotics