After a proposal to close 20 elementary schools during a Seattle Public Schools board meeting Wednesday, parents are expressing their concerns. The suggested closures, which would go into effect as early as the 2025-26 school year, have some parents pushing back.
Erin MacDougall, a parent, described the news as a “gut punch” and emphasized the importance of schools as the heart of the community. She, along with Sarah Nau, volunteers with All Together for Seattle Schools, a group formed in response to limited information from the school district.
The district stated that reducing the number of elementary schools from 70 to 50 would help address a budget shortfall of over $100 million. However, some parents feel that the proposed closures are not in the best interest of students and families.
Sam Scharenberg, the Sand Point Elementary PTA president, sees the potential consolidation of schools as an opportunity to gain more students and funding. Despite acknowledging the challenges that may arise, he believes that the community can come together to figure it out.
Parents are calling for more transparency and engagement from the district before any final decisions are made. The Seattle Education Association President, Jennifer Matter, emphasized the need for a long-term vision and authentic engagement with the school community to mitigate the impacts of any closures or reductions.
As the proposal is still in the early stages, the superintendent is expected to provide a presentation next month, and public meetings will be held to gather feedback from the community.