If True, the Worst Decision in Seattle Schools' History

I have it from a very good source that Superintendent Brent Jones may have signed off on a property swap with the City of Seattle.

What property? The 9 acres at Seattle Center that Memorial Stadium and its parking lot sit on.

What could possibly be more valuable than that acreage? I can think of very few other places in Seattle. 

Keep in mind that Memorial Stadium is the home field for several of the high schools for football and soccer as well as for graduations. Whatever property the district gets, they then have to build for all that plus parking. 

I hope there's money involved because none of that will be cheap.

For me, this worries me as a terrible decision. I wish I trusted those in senior leadership more in this judgment.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Brent Jones traded Memorial Stadium for a pot growing warehouse?

Say What?
3/16/23, 12:08 AM
Unknown said…
Seattle is achieving mayoral control through cronyism between the mayor and superintendent with young Hersey there to sign off and learn the craft from two of Seattle's most powerful and enduring politicians.

SP
3/16/23, 5:02 AM
Melissa Westbrook said…
Say What, those are two different things, neither good.

The warehouse buy is because Memorial Stadium houses their current warehouse and it is to be torn down. The one they chose was last used for a cannabis business.

The property switch with the City for Memorial Stadium is something I heard about from a valuable source and I will endeavor to get clarity on.
3/16/23, 7:47 AM
Melissa Westbrook said…
I went back and looked at my past posts on Memorial Stadium. I had thought maybe if it was just a land swap, perhaps the district could bypass the Board because the Board approves spending. But I think they need Board approval no matter what so that means no fait accompli.

Also, when I researched this long ago and read the documentation at the district’s archives, the family that gave it to the district said the property had to be used for "educational purposes." Well, if the district no longer even owns the property, not sure that can be stated as happening even IF what they trade for is used for educational purposes. My recollection is that the wording seemed loose so it may be open to interpretation.

Like legal interpretation. I've heard that lawsuits have a way of slowing things down.
3/16/23, 2:28 PM
peonypower said…
what????? where will football teams play, where will graduation ceremonies be held? Is this how they make up budget shortfalls?
3/19/23, 6:33 PM
Melissa Westbrook said…
PeonyPower, I have reached out to the Mayor's office but no reply.

I think there may be much behind the scenes action going on and the district is going to say nothing until it's nearly a done deal. Then they'll say, "Well, we told you in the BEX V levy."

What I wonder is if trading/selling Memorial Stadium to the City would be considered "educational use" per the agreement by which the district owns that land. Even if they rebuild elsewhere.

To state again, capital dollars are being used here, not general fund. General Fund is where the shortfall is.

As for where some high schools will play football/soccer and where they will graduate is a mystery. I'd bet the district will need to lease some space and this will be an ever escalating tower of costs.
3/20/23, 1:44 PM
Sam said…
The stadium is kind of nasty today. I've been to stadiums in the developing world that look better than Memorial Stadium. But I think Seattle politics is sodifficult these days that no change will be made in the next decade or so.
3/21/23, 9:31 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday Open Thread

The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested.  It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio.  (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Read more

Breaking It Down: Where the District Might Close Schools

Update 2: an absolutely fabulous interactive map made by parent Beth Day (@thebethocracy on Twitter - she covers Board meetings and is fun to read).   end of update    Update 1: Mea culpa, I did indeed get Decatur and Thornton Creek mixed up. Thanks to all for the correction. end of update   I suspect some who read this post will be irate. Why do this? Because the district seems very hellbent on this effort with no oversight skid marks from the Board.    To clearly state - I do not believe that closing 20 schools is a good idea. I think they hit on 20 because they thought it might bring in the most savings. But the jury is still out on the savings because the district has not shown its work nor its data. I suspect closing schools and THEN leasing/renting them is the big plan but that means the district really has to keep the buildings up.   But this district, with its happy talk about "well-resourced schools" is NOT acknowledging the pain and yes, gr...
Read more

Education News Roundup

From the ever-amusing Washington Policy Center : Vouchers are Pell Grants for students under 18.  Vouchers are no different than Pell Grants or GI benefits, except the money goes to the families of students younger than age 18.  Except they are. Pell Grants were created to help needy students and that's not really the goal of the voucher program.  The Pell grant website does have a couple of great studies on why low-income students drop out before finishing their higher ed and what makes a difference.
Read more