Seattle School Board Meeting, December 10, 2025

Tonight's Board meeting looks to be interesting in several ways.

One way is the first appearance of the new Board directors; Jen LaVallee, Kathleen Smith, and Vivian Song. Director Joe Mizrahi retained his seat. I watched The Seattle Times' virtual event this week with those three new directors. More to come on that but I will say that Song and LaVallee looked to be poised and having a depth of knowledge. Smith was more tentative but that may be her personality. She doesn't seem to know as much about SPS as do the other two.

Another way is what we see on the agenda and what the main topic appears to be for public testimony.

The Speaker List has 25 people on it. They all largely want to talk about student safety. This is likely because on the Action list the "Amendment to Board Policy No. 4311, School Safety and Security Services Program." Passage of this amendment will set the stage for new talks about SPD officers in SPS high schools.

Still another way is the election of officers for the Board. As I have mentioned previously, there is only ONE good choice for president and it's Gina Topp. I'm hoping she wants it because it can't go back to Liza Rankin and Evan Briggs is ill-equipped for the work. Mizrahi has way too much on his plate. The only other person would trust is Vivian Song. 

Lastly, there is to be a presentation at a Budget Study Session after the main business portion of the meeting. Kids, this presentation is just chockful of info. I direct you to page 7 that lists 14 documents for reference. Another key page is 26, What's Causing the Structural Deficit?

• Costs are increasing faster than revenue sources
• Insufficient State and Federal Funding
• Declining or flat enrollment
• District Choices (and they reference the recent ERS Diagnostic Analysis report)

That last bullet? Listed for that are "transportation, elementary school portfolio, configuration of schools, and Instructional Assistants." The elementary school portfolio and configuration of schools appear to me to be code for closing schools and/or ending some programs at some schools. 

There are two items on the Consent Agenda that I wish someone on the Board would pull off. 

One is just flat out wrong. It's a contract with a consulting firm, Novak, for MTSS work and it's for $1.3M. Why am I against this contract? There is ZERO documentation attached at this late date. Sticking it on the agenda, just hours before the meeting does not cut it. Directors should stop allowing staff to do this.

Two is the John Rogers Elementary Construction Change Order for $1.7M. Change orders do happen but what I see from Capital Building - over and over - are these types of "who knew?" "unforeseen costs:"

- for off-site stormwater draining from NE 109th Street

- unsuitable on-site soils (export of unsuitable soil and import of structural fill)

- outstanding construction change directives, change orders "as identified by project Request for Information, Architects Supplemental Instruction or Construction Change Directive."

Seattle has unstable soil? Drainage issues?  I know who knows this and it's the Capital Building staff.  It's ridiculous to not budget - upfront - for these issues. And that third one? Nice word salad there for more spending. 

After the Budget Study Session, there will be a presentation on Enrollment Planning Updates. I like the simple format of this presentation, very easy to read and understand.

This year's Oct 1 enrollment - 48,957 (-0.58% decrease from prior year)

Comparison to last year: 49,240

Montlake, RBHS and Mercer Middle are all up +10% in enrollment. To note, Montlake and RBHS both have new buildings. 

Additionally, they have changed the timeline for enrollment - on-time choice applications will be taken from January 5-January 31, 2026 so parents really have to get it together for that. I do wonder how school tours play into this.