Seattle Public Schools closures? District sets date for West Seattle community conversation

As reported here earlier this month, Seattle Public Schools will have community meetings around the city next month to talk about a plan that could lead to school closures/consolidations starting as soon as fall 2024. They promised to announce the meeting dates/locations this week, and have just done so. From the announcement:

During these meetings, senior leaders will connect with our community to envision what a well-resourced school looks like. SPS staff will share a presentation, respond to questions, and facilitate group discussion.

Your feedback will help guide future district planning. This fall, we will review your feedback and develop an inclusive and equitable plan.

SPS has the opportunity to reimagine a system of well-resourced schools that is safe and equitable. Our goal is to offer students the support, the programs and resources, and the inspiration they need to succeed in the neighborhoods where they live.

(Meeting dates/times of West Seattle relevance:)

Southwest Region: Madison Middle School commons/lunchroom, Thursday, Aug. 10, 6 p.m.
Location: 3429 45th Ave. SW

Online: Teams Meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 5:30 p.m.

Translation and interpretation services will be provided at each meeting based on request. American Sign Language (ASL), Amharic, Cantonese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese interpreters will be available. After the online meeting, a recording will be posted to the district website. We hope you can join us! Take a moment to RSVP or send us your questions. Complete the RSVP to request accommodation for the meetings by Monday, July 31.

Insider July 20, 2023 (3:53 pm)

Every parent needs to severely question the new tag line “well resourced school” and demand for what that really means. The district needs to fix their accounting without putting more stress on the future generations success.

Jeff July 20, 2023 (4:01 pm)

It sounds like you have an opinion, but have not shared one. Why not?
- Kyle July 20, 2023 (9:42 pm)
  
  I think their opinion is Seattle shouldn’t close any schools and that all this can be made up by getting rid of some vague “bureaucracy”. The reality is probably both are true. Yes some schools will need to consolidate, yes Seattle public schools has waste and bureaucracy.
  - SlimJim July 21, 2023 (9:26 am)
    
    Perhaps another reality is out there. That people should question the “need” to close schools. It’s always easy to say we need to do something but the pros and cons need to be seriously and openly considered before we accept the “need” as the best choice and not just roll over and accept local government’s ideas. Disguising a choice, or option, as a need may just be a way of railroading public opinion.
    - Jeff July 21, 2023 (10:20 am)
      
      Like the previous poster, you are heavy on implications, but offer no data or position. If no school should close, tell me why and show me the data. If schools should close, tell me why and show me the data. I’m not going to just start from a spot of “the government says, therefore bad”, which is just as stupid as “the government says, therefore good”. Show some data!

Admiral Mom July 20, 2023 (4:24 pm)

So with declined enrollment from a number of reasons (pandemic, birth rate, public schools failures, legislation lack of funding, parents choosing charters, parents accessing private schools, gentrification, etc etc etc) – how is SPS supposed to keep all schools open? Nobody (me included) looks forward to closing neighborhood schools BUT: keeping schools open with low numbers WILL result in staffing cuts. This is a terrible problem for those schools serving low income students. WHY? Because wealthy PTAs will fill in the gap in their schools and schools with a higher number of kids living in property do not have that kind of parent involvement and resources. Here in West Seattle, Concord Elementary’s PTA has been struggling to survive for years. Denny’s PTA is in a similar situation. West Seattle Elementary school does not have a PTA. Do you want me to keep going? So as much as we say no to closures, let’s take a moment and reflect how we can as a community support our most vulnerable school communities.

Sanislo Mom July 20, 2023 (5:55 pm)

Sanislo PTA does an amazing job supporting our students and staff. If stanislo were to close where would this kids go? Highland Park? Then there would be larger classroom sizes and then the resources are going to be spread even thinner for low-income families. Sanislo has a great community so please don’t use blankets statements that low income Schools have parents that don’t have the resources or the means to support the community because it’s Sanislo that’s not the case.
- Admiral Mom July 20, 2023 (6:29 pm)
  
  Didn’t mean to offend, as I was NOT criticizing school communities. But economic privilege is a fact. I made my comment based on PTA fundraising numbers. Here is WS there is a HUGE difference between how much Genesee Hill raises compared to Denny, for example – I am very familiar with this (IN)Equity in PTA. Does your school have the ability to pay for extra staff? Because some schools do (mine doesn’t) – and the school board allows this. In my opinion, a gross practice. So back to the imminent school closures, what ideas do you have to avoid this? I have spoken to legislators and driven to Olympia to testify, along with so many other parents. Yet, here we are
- Kyle July 20, 2023 (9:40 pm)
  
  I don’t think Admiral Mom Intended to offend. I think the hope is that Seattle doesn’t just close and consolidate the schools with little funding, while schools with large budgets and PTAs fund extra positions to avoid changes to their schools.

Orb July 20, 2023 (11:22 pm)

I am curious if elementary level advanced learning children will get more attention. Yes, public schools do not want to leave children behind, but as a parent of three children who have tested into “advanced learning” I have been told unless they attend a school with an advanced learning program, they do nothing to challenge them further than every other kid in the same class. Very disappointing and discouraging.

Mel July 21, 2023 (10:02 am)

This is why we’ve chosen to go the private school route even though it’s a stretch for us.
- Orb July 21, 2023 (1:20 pm)
  
  We have thought about it, but we see other positives about public education vs private. We try to challenge in our household but it should be recognized at schools, too, especially if they are testing the children and indicating they are advanced learners, but then doing nothing about it.
ACG July 21, 2023 (3:39 pm)

I thought public schools removed their advanced learning/highly capable programs? Perhaps I’m wrong on that?
Shannon July 23, 2023 (3:12 pm)

Orb that is unfortunate. My daughter has tested into Advanced learning and I definitely didn’t want to send her to a different school. I would have opted out given the choice. I instead approached the principal of my very small school which might get shut down and we came up with a plan where she is in Advanced math curriculum. The principal and the teacher have been great at challenging her and happy to find ways to meet her needs so she wasn’t bored. Have you talked to the principal or asked for a meeting?

Marianne July 21, 2023 (6:51 am)

If enrollment is down, then schools should be consolidated to save on operating costs.

Fiona July 21, 2023 (9:51 am)

Before the meetings kick off, folks should be asking SPS why they chose Madison to hold their “WS” meeting. The meeting should be at Denny, or even Boren, to reach families that may be impacted.

Orb July 21, 2023 (1:24 pm)

The meeting can be attended online, too. Multiple schools may be impacted, so the school may have just been picked due to its central location.
- WSB July 21, 2023 (2:00 pm)
  
  To be clear: There is an online district-wide meeting but the 8/10 WS meeting (and other “regional” meetings) is billed as an in-person meeting.
- Fiona July 22, 2023 (9:10 am)
  
  Yes, I realize that, however, Madison is central to “well resourced” schools and families that are served adequately. It would be best to bring that conversation to historically under served communities and in a service area that may have a school closure.
Shannon July 23, 2023 (3:04 pm)

Fiona I said the same thing. I also went to SPS and looked at the racial diversity of the schools that feed into Madison vs the schools that feed into Denny. There is a big difference. I wonder how many schools that are more diverse are on the closure list. The meeting should definitely be at Denny.

Sorry, comment time is over.