Here Is Where Seattle Schools Stands
Let's take inventory, shall we?
1. On medical leave Superintendent Brent Jones is pretty much the lamest of lame ducks. I do believe he had good intent on saying he was leaving but wanted to stay until September to help the transition. Sure, he may get more money to see his contract through but I do think his heart was in the right place.
Keep in mind, this is the Superintendent who - in the midst of terrible budgetary problems - got a raise and then, two months later, announced he was leaving.
2. The Board has a current superintendent search underway with a firm called HYA. (And that reminds me I need to put up their calendar of public input dates which was mentioned at the last Board meeting.)
But I think after this current athletic scandal that those on the Board who want Jones gone and some internal interim installed will bang that drum louder. I believe I understand that President Gina Topp wants to stick with Jones until September but given it is unclear who will guide the district the next couple of months, she may weaken that stance.
If there is an internal interim picked, will that then lead the Board to say, "Let's keep them!" I'm hearing names like Ted Howard, Sarah Pritchett, and former RBHS principal and head of DEEL for the City, Dwane Chappelle. Possibly Rocky Torres. The first two would be disasters with Chappelle the least worst choice. . And to note, there is NOTHING stopping any of these people from applying for the job.
On the other hand, if there were a firm and clear positioning by the Board (meaning, "yes, he/she/they is not permanent," maybe it might work for the summer.
The next superintendent will come in before elections and will have to adjust to a new Board (some of whom know as much about SPS as the new person).
3. The majority of the Board is up for election and that could mean four newbies on the Board. Considering this time and place, that would be very bad. If the two appointed members - Sarah Clark and Joe Mizrahi - earn their seats, well, they still have not been there long.
If the new Board majority does become a new line-up of folks who vote together, we may see SOFG "lite" group come into place. I can see, though, the minute the election is done, the remaining hardcore SOFG members (at that point Liza Rankin and Evan Briggs) will double-team the newbies.
My viewpoint is that Mizrahi, Clark, and Topp are in the SOFG lite camp. I am certain that at some candidate forums candidates will be asked about SOFG and their beliefs about it.
My tip is anyone endorsed by Briggs or Rankin besides Clark and Mizrahi, vote someone else. Ditto Sarju or Hersey. (I haven't made my mind up about Clark and Mizrahi.)
4. Plus the current Board is moving ahead on a new Strategic Plan for 2025-2030. They approved the "goals and guardrails" in January 2025. According to the district webpage, the Superintendent should be creating procedures to make those goals happen and deliver that by September 2025. Is that work happening? It's unclear.
This is probably the least important item if only because it appears that the district and the Board will just continue with what the current Strategic Plan's focus is. Because that focus isn't all the students in the district, it just doesn't matter as much. (I am NOT saying what they are focusing on is necessarily wrong, but the honest truth is the plan won't have much of an effect on most schools.)
5) SEA contract negotiations are continuing, albeit quietly. I note that former SEA president, Jennifer Matter, who now a member of the WEA, had this recently comment on a Times story about SOFG:
Thank you Seattle Times for including this coverage. I've had these same concerns about Student Outcome Focused Governance and have seen firsthand the negative impacts of this model on SPS students and staff.
6) Financial woes abound. Director Michelle Sarju, to her credit, has consistently asked, about the financial future of SPS, "What's the plan?" And she's been waved off but recently, senior staff admitted that they were just getting the next budget done on time (with the unspoken, "this is all we can do now."
If ever it were a time for consulting, the Board should go out and hire a firm to look over district finances with a cold, detached view and give suggestions and multiple scenarios.
Know what I think this firm (as well as the new superintendent) will recommend?
7) Closing schools. Yes, IT WILL HAPPEN in the next couple of years. How fast the new superintendent on-boards and gets the memo on this will determine when.
I have no crystal ball but again, folks, this district DID NOT building these 500-660 student school buildings to have them sit half-full.
Do I think the district (and various Boards) allowed this to play out in a quiet, sneaky manner? Yes, I do. But what's done is done and when they built these mega-schools, they knew it was in service to closing buildings.
The mega-schools are/will be: Montlake Elementary (central); James Baldwin Elementary (formerly Northgate) NE; John Rogers Elementary, far NE; Kimball Elementary, SE; Alki Elementary, SW; and Viewlands Elementary, NW; Loyal Heights, NW; Olympic Hills Elementary, NE.
So that's eight schools right there.
We all know districts don't really save that much by closing schools but it will be done and that will be the reasoning. Saving money. So any elementaries near one of those is definitely going to close. How they determine which one is unclear to me.
8) Scandals and safety are my last pick. Senior staff have said - repeatedly - at budget meetings that the cost of insurance is going up. I'm sure that's true but, per a Seattle Times' article, because SPS has to settle so many lawsuits, their own inability to watch over schools (especially around athletics) is costing this district money.
Plus, when you have two students murdered at two different high schools over a couple of years, there is really something wrong. That Garfield High has seen multiple shootings not resulting in death at the same time is a real SOS.
Don't get me wrong, I know there is a lot societally that SPS cannot control for in any way. They cannot control parents and adult siblings who are careless with their guns. They cannot control young men who believe the only way to be a man is through violence.
What the district can and should do is have a multi-pronged approach to making students feel safe and improving mental health care at middle and high schools.
Boy, does this next superintendent come into a very disjointed school district. But I think someone who has been outside the SPS system would really be the best choice.
Thoughts?
Comments
CHG
Quietly
PERC Case No. 143210-U-25c was filed against both Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association. It’s public, consolidated, and very real.
The complaint accuses SPS, under Sarah Pritchett’s oversight, of pushing a retaliatory settlement that banned the employee from returning for four years — after an “investigation” with no due process.
SEA, led by Girard Montejo-Thompson, failed to grieve it, failed to represent the member, and went silent after the resignation.
Now, both parties are exposed and scrambling — the emails, texts, and rally messaging are all part of the PERC record.
If you’re wondering why there’s rally confusion or bargaining delays… this case is why.
The member warned them: settle or the truth goes public. Looks like they chose exposure.
"Dear Roosevelt Families and Staff,
"As you prepare to end the school year in a few days, I understand the timing and nature of this message is unexpected. Effective Thursday, June 12, Principal Tami Brewer will be on leave from her position at Roosevelt High School.
"This will provide Seattle Public Schools an opportunity to review a set of findings related to Roosevelt that were recently released by the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association to determine next steps. Please note that leave is a personnel matter, and further details are confidential in order to protect privacy rights.
"SPS Regional Director of Schools Dr. Mike McCarthy will provide transitional support and oversight while working with the current team of assistant principals to support students, staff and families during this time of transition.
"Dr. McCarthy will be working with the assistant principals and Roosevelt staff to determine what additional administrative support may be needed in the coming days. Families and staff should look to hear from them soon as they begin to interact with the Roosevelt school community.
"This news will undoubtedly yet understandably spark concern. Seattle Public Schools has created a special email address to collect questions from the Roosevelt community. Send your questions and/or comments to roosevelt.admin@seattleschools.org. Your feedback is valued and will be used to inform future updates.
"Collectively, we will move through this challenging time together while providing the appropriate supports for all parties involved. Most importantly, we remain focused on ensuring the safety, well-being, and educational success of Roosevelt students.
"Respectfully,
Fred Podesta
Chief Operations Officer
Seattle Public Schools"
The current CBA does NOT protect teachers from being placed on paid administrative leave by malicious principals and culpable district officials. The students are the ones who suffer when skilled, respected, and effective teachers are removed from classrooms WITHOUT clear, concrete allegations.