No School Closures Next Year

Update 2:

So the district is hitting the pause button. Several thoughts from me.

1) From the Times' article:

“We know it takes time to plan and implement large-scale changes and will include our community to provide feedback as we move through the process,” Redmond wrote.

Yeah. The logistics in closing schools makes up a huge list. These "well-resourced schools" meetings that were a cover for getting parents prepped for closures. SPS better understand and suss out ALL the ramifications because if this goes badly, the district may go into full crisis mode. 

Some of what I learned from being on the last Closure and Consolidation Committee were things like this.  Younger teachers will get bumped out by older teachers with seniority. It's just a contractual fact. Many parents get upset when teachers at their school - not a closing one or a consolidation school, any school - are RIFed for teacher with seniority.

That it is VERY important to transfer some of the custodial staff and kitchen staff from a closing school to a consolidation school. Sometimes the adult a child trusts/likes the most in the building is not a teacher. It's the person in the hall who keeps the school clean or the person in the lunchroom who asks how their day is going. 

And no, I don't think there will be any closure and consolidation committee this time.

2) I saw this comment at the Times' story and it made me think. The writer said that it sure will be hard on parents of incoming kindergarteners to perhaps have to tell their child that their school is now closing and they will be moving to school X. Which might not be the same one that friends are going to. That might take longer to get to in the morning. 

It would have been kinder to provide a set list of schools that will be closed so that parents looking to register their kids for kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year would not choose one of those schools only to have to move their 6-year-old to a new school in 2025.

Yes, that's going to be tough for the parents of elementary kids, no matter when it happens.

3) Cynical me says that perhaps the district is worried about losing more money next fall.  If they announced the schools they are closing now, maybe that would cause even MORE families to exit or choose not to enter SPS. The district may believe waiting might be a better fiscal answer while they do their planning.

4) I wonder if the district balanced the problems in closing schools now with their ongoing efforts to extract more dollars from the Legislature.  I just don't get how the district can ask for more money when things are not going well. 

Thoughts from the OSPI Retired Professional:

- Consolidation isn’t a magic bullet to “efficiency. 

- But perhaps the most detrimental consequence of consolidation is an overall loss of community identity. Therefore, a balance between costs, achievement, social, and political considerations must be maintained as SPS district leaders explore the impact of consolidation.

- Questions and concerns that need to be asked and addressed are …

• Is it more cost effective to reduce the need for more duplication in administration, transportation, and other services, and the affect this has on student performance and identity;
  
• And, or is the idea that joining together provides for more opportunities for students;
  
• And, or is this SPS push for consolidation designed to serve a PR purpose during economic difficulties, based on claims that cannot be supported solely by data? 

- If SPS ends the fiscal year with a negative balance, it will be placed under BCs, or strict fiscal rules established by the regional educational service district (ESD) and OSPI. A dist is put on those conditions if it can't balance its budget without borrowing from future revenues.

end of update

Updates to the budget woes and thinking at JSCEE: -

-  Increases in secondary class sizes;
- Reductions in school staffing
- Fees

 He (Jones) will present his 2030 strategic plan to realize the vision for system of well-resourced
schools by April 3, 2024. The plan may include:

- School consolidations
- Grade level reorganizations

 - Programs adjustments and restructuring

 end of update

This according to the new podcast, Seattle Hall Pass, with former Board candidate Christie Robertson and parent Jane Tunks Demel. They have a preview of the fiscal stabilization plan that will be presented at the Board meeting tomorrow night. No school closures next school year.

However, there are likely to be closures in 2025-2026. I'm hearing that the district think there should be a lot more community engagement. No kidding. Given the district STILL has not issued the report they promised weeks ago about the feedback from the well-resourced schools meetings, yes, more needs to be done.

There is talk in this plan about co-locating, not combining, some non-comprehensive high schools like Interagency, Sugiyama, Center School and Nova. 

Apparently the district is thinking of asking the legislature to allow moving more funds from Capital to the Budget. 

“use inter-fund loans on a near-term basis while the district implements sustainable financial restructuring.”

But is that what voters said they wanted? Is that how the district presented those capital levies? I mean they already use some capital funding for academics but this would be an entirely different thing. 

It also sounds like the district may sell off some properties. Well, there is one that comes to mind - the office complex out in Lake City. (Update; it appears the district is already using some of that complex for SPS. If so, then they lost a tenant and therefore more dollars.)

The hosts of the podcast suggest wondered if the district might sell school buildings to charters. I hope not; that would be a HUGE mistake.

As usual a lot of head-scratching language - "grade-level adjustments" and "program adjustments and restructuring." 

Jones says:

 “I have experienced SPS as a student, parent, and leader through good times and hard times. I went to Franklin High School when busing was the new mandate. My mother taught at SPS and my daughter also is a graduate. I know that I am calling on our community to make some hard choices for the good of all, and I know that together we can do this, and together we will.”

Very heartfelt but there is gonna be pain as these deficits continue.

Ah and they might delay paying back the rainy-day fund. I was wondering why they were going to start with this upcoming budget. Like, where is that money coming from?

They want to go back to three tiers for transportation.  This I think WILL happen.

More updates as they roll out.