Merger Meetings Coming

Update:

The Queen Anne ES and John Hay ES meeting is at Queen Anne from 6:00-7:30 pm on Monday, December 7th.

end of update

There are to be at series of meetings at schools (presumably the intake schools) with one other nearby school that is likely to see consolidation. 

Here's what the basic email looks like but I will provide a full list as I see them.

Dear Cedar Park and James Baldwin Families,

We warmly invite you to join us on Monday, December 14, 2026, from 6:00-7:30 p.m., for a family conversation with Superintendent Shuldiner regarding the proposed merger of Cedar Park and James Baldwin for the 2027-2028 school year.

We recognize that this proposal may bring questions, concerns, and many different emotions for families in both school communities. This conversation is an opportunity to come together, hear information, ask questions, share your perspectives, and begin building connections with one another.

This work is currently in Phase 1, focused on listening, learning, and gathering feedback. No decisions have been made. Your voices, experiences, and perspectives are important as we begin these conversations.

Family Conversation Information

· Date: Monday, December 14, 2026

· Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.

· Location: James Baldwin Elementary, 11725 1st Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125

· Executive Director(s): Dr. James Mercer and Dr. Jessica Conte

Cedar Park and James Baldwin are strong school communities with students, families, educators, and staff who care deeply about their schools. We hope this conversation provides an opportunity to listen to one another, learn more about what families value about their school communities, and begin building relationships grounded in trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to our students.

Most importantly, we want to hear from you. We look forward to welcoming you on Monday, December 14, 2026 and beginning this conversation together.

Sincerely,

Andy Zillig and Nicole Silver

Principals, Cedar Park and James Baldwin

I wonder how much that united front of principals will last. I'm hearing  other buildings' principals can stay a year. After that, who knows? I wonder what the PASS contract says on that front. 

And "no decisions have been made" is not something I would believe at this late date. 

And I see that many people are saying that starting in December is late especially if people are considering private schools. 

So I ask you - would you, as a new SPS parent, see this as a positive forward step or would you back away over uncertainty?

Also, would moving an entire population from one school to another matter to you if it were guaranteed? 

I have to say if they do this, then they MUST redraw boundaries and that will be quite a headache. Think parents are upset if their school closes, wait until the boundary lines get redrawn and some people are not going to the neighborhood school they thought they would be. 

Keep in mind that some of this situation was orchestrated by the district. For example, Sacajawea has been under a cloud for years. Ditto for Licton Springs. You can't blame parents for poorly maintained buildings that keep coming up in closure conversations for low enrollment. 

The Superintendent has said previously:

• What I can promise is that we will extend our transfer period until one week after a possible Board decision. That way families can apply for open enrollment, if they want, after seeing what the Board does. And as a reminder, open enrollment is a lottery, not first come first serve. So, if you put your child’s name in at the last minute (before the deadline), they are treated just like everyone else.

• The other promise I am making is that if you are transferring from a school being closed, you will get priority this year, during open enrollment, over families who want to transfer but are noti mpacted by mergers.

• Another promise is that if your school has not received an invite, we are not considering a closure now and will not in the near future. What I cannot promise is that these are all the mergers or program shifts we will ever do. Things change and we have to react.... However, what I can promise is that once we get through this round, I never want to do this again. You have my word that I will try very hard, once this year is over, to work with what we have. Large-scale change is fundamentally unsettling, even if it eventually leads to positive outcomes.

The district timeline for these pending changes:

Senior Leadership meetings – First two weeks in September

Principal meetings – September and October
Staff meetings – October and November
Family meetings – November and December
Community meetings/public hearings – January and February
Board possible action – Late February or early March

Community Meetings (I see nothing about childcare)

Monday, November 16th  Sanislo ES and Highland Park ES at Highland Park from 6:00-7:30 pm. 

Monday, November 23rd  Mercer International Middle School and Orca 6-8 from 6:00-7:30 pm

Wednesday, December 9th  Orca K-8 and MLK, Jr (for K-5) from 6:00-7:00 pm

Friday, December 11th  Licton Springs and Salmon Bay, both K-8s at Salmon Bay from 5:30-7:00. 

Monday, December 14th   Cedar Park ES and James Baldwin ES at James Baldwin rom 6-7:30 pm

To note, James Baldwin is one of the newest larger elementary schools.

Friday, December 4th Sacajawea ES and John Rogers ES at John Rogers (also a new building) from 

The schools below are going to have a meeting but I have not yet found out their information. Please let me know and I will put updates out. 

Montlake ES and Stevens ES at Montlake (also a new building)

Monday, December 7th John Hay ES and Queen Anne ES at Queen Anne from 6-7:30 pm

Sandpoint ES and Laurelhurst ES at Laurelhurst

Rainier View ES and Rising Star ES at Rising Star

Here's an odd duck - Decatur ES to View Ridge ES "building TBD" 

Yes, the district - somehow - stuck money into the last BEX for a new NE school. Never said where so I would guess it's View Ridge.