Sussing Out the Closure Timeline for 2024

 Let's work backwards to figure out what has to get done in order for to get to November and the Board vote on what schools should close.  I believe something truly huge would have to happen for SPS NOT to close ANY schools.  (I'm leaving out ALL the things on the list like HC revamp, boundaries, etc.) 

The first thing to make clear - if. you didn't know - is that district headquarters becomes a ghost town in the summer. For example, the Enrollment office, the one place you'd think would be operating fully, isn't. Here's their schedule (and I will NEVER call it "Admissions" which seems to imply they can keep kids out).

Admissions Office Hours for July 1-31:

• Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• The Admissions counter will close on Fridays, but staff will be available to answer phone calls and respond to Let’s Talk messages.

Closure Dates:

• July 3-5: Closed for Independence Day
• July 15-26: Closed for maintenance (limited staff available to answer phone calls and respond to Let’s Talk messages from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.)

On August 1, the Admissions Office will resume regular hours (see below)

• In-person: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• By phone: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

This is ditto for most departments, save Facilities.  And the only reason they are working is because the BEX projects have to continue on. 

There are two important things for parents.

 One, what schools are on the preliminary list and how many schools. 

Two, when will the plethora of unanswered questions around closures be answered? I find this question really upsetting because there is NO reason that these questions cannot be answered NOW.

Make your voice heard. Here's a link to the public comment page at the Well-Resourced Schools webpage.  

But here's a partial of what that page says:

However, all messages will be reviewed and shared with the school board and answers to frequently asked questions will be added to the FAQ on our well-resourced schools webpage. 

Has that happened, the sharing with the Board? No one on the Board has mentioned that.

As well, I have been keeping up that page and haven't seen any new FAQs. Why not? Are we to believe NO parents have sent in questions? C'mon!

Also, I think for all the Superintendent's talk of "workshops" they are just running out the clock. The Board may have even gone to one Board meeting a month to help facilitate that. 

And, that there will be no "preliminary list."

JULY

Clearly this first week is out for any kind of work or meetings by the district, save the Board meeting on Tuesday the 2nd. The agenda doesn't reflect any kind of discussion on closure even though the Board could have a discussion themselves around questions that parents want answered.

 

AUGUST

There are no Board or district meetings scheduled until the Board meeting on August 28th. Why is that? Sure, leave July and maybe the first week of August clear for vacations but isn't there urgency to this? President Liza Rankin moaned at the last Board meeting that she isn't feeling the urgency she thinks should be there.

Then do something, President Rankin. 

There could be meetings the 3rd and 4th weeks of August, if only to clarify questions that parents have. Please write to the Board and demand that at the least, that the FAQs are updated OR there are community meetings for questions and answers. 

spsdirectors@seattleschools.org

 

SEPTEMBER

The first week is when school starts; on the 4th for 1-12 and on the 9th for pre-K and K.  

Will the Superintendent wait all the way until the sole September Board meeting on September 18th or will there be a special meeting before that? Because tick tock. 

OCTOBER

This is where the rubber meets the road. If the schools are announced sometime in September, is it a preliminary list or final list? Because if it's preliminary, then they should have meetings to answer questions. If it's a final list, then they will be scheduling the legally required hearings for each school. 

Now that I think of it, I haven't heard anyone say the word "preliminary" but that's what we on the Closure and Consolidation Committee did last time. We had a preliminary list and a final list.

The October Board meeting is on October 9th. 

NOVEMBER

It was stated at last week's Board meeting that this is the month when the Board will vote.

November 25-27th are Family-Teacher conference days for elementaries and K-8s. 

The Thanksgiving Break is November 28-29.

The November Board meeting is November 19th.

Why it can't be December which would give communities more time to absorb the shock? Could they possibly think that they make the announcement on the 19th and then the schools that are closing have the saddest Family/Teacher conferences ever, followed by a sad Thanksgiving?

DECEMBER

The December Board meeting is on the 18th and school lets out for the "Winter Break" on December 20th.

Thoughts?