Seattle to host meetings at schools set for closure

Seattle Public Schools will start community engagement meetings this week for families at schools that could close next year under the district’s latest proposal.

The district has planned in-person sessions this month at each school that might close. All of the in-person meetings will run from 6 to 7 p.m. 

The first in-person meeting is scheduled for today at Sacajawea Elementary School, 9501 20th Ave. N.E.

The other in-person meetings are scheduled to take place at Sanislo Elementary School, 1812 S.W. Myrtle St., on Tuesday; Stevens Elementary School, 1242 18th Ave. E., on Nov. 15; and North Beach Elementary School, 9018 24th Ave. N.W. on Nov. 18.

One districtwide meeting, scheduled on Zoom for Nov. 14, will run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The district said the meetings are intended for the school communities that might close next year. It’s an opportunity for parents to get more information about the proposal and share their ideas, according to notes sent by principals to families. It is unclear whether similar meetings are planned for schools that will receive students because of closures.

Under the preliminary closure proposal published last month, Sacajawea Elementary in Maple Leaf will close and consolidate with John Rogers Elementary in Meadowbrook, North Beach Elementary School in North Beach/Blue Ridge will close and consolidate with Viewlands Elementary in Greenwood, Stevens Elementary on Capitol Hill will close and consolidate with Montlake Elementary in Montlake, and Sanislo Elementary in Delridge will close and consolidate with Highland Park Elementary in Highland Park.

SPS initially pitched closures as a cost-saving measure to help cut a budget gap that it estimates at $94 million to $100 million. The district also said closures would improve staff and academic supports at elementary schools.

The current proposal is a scaled-down version of an earlier one that would have shuttered up to 21 schools. By the district’s estimate, the first set of proposals, released in September, would have saved about $31.5 million. The proposal under discussion would save only about $5 million, Superintendent Brent Jones said.

The meetings are being held during a 30-day public review period. The district is also legally required to have a hearing for each school scheduled to close. Those will be scheduled in December, according to notifications sent to parents this week. The School Board is not expected to vote on the final plan until January.