Parents and others concerned about four school closures proposed last month by Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones plan to rally on Tuesday, November 19, to oppose them.
The Save Our Schools rally is being orchestrated by the parent-led All Together for Seattle Schools and will take place from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. at John Stanford Center ( 2445 3rd Ave S. in Seattle). Rally organizers encourage those who attend to bring signs in support of keeping North Beach, Sacajawea, Sanislo, and Stevens elementary schools open. They also urge participants to wear red:
For those new to the fight for fully funded, equitable education, Erin Combs explains, “Red for Ed” has been a symbol of support for public education in cities across the country since the 2010s. Wearing red is a sign of solidarity to support our teachers and schools.” Combs is a spokesperson for All Together for Seattle Schools and parent of a second grader at Thornton Creek Elementary.
“The school closure plan will hurt kids, full stop, says Combs. “District leadership is ignoring concrete evidence from across the country and from Seattle’s own history that points to the lasting harm closures cause students.
School closures are simply not justified. Enrollment actually increased this year, which the District has not been able to address.”
All Together for Seattle Schools is concerned that the district’s closure proposal will reduce the number of staff serving students, may not move special education students with their peers to the merged schools, and may lead to schools losing Title I funds. They say closing schools will not address SPS’s budget crisis but will harm students.
“Further, school closures will not make a dent in the budget deficit,” Combs says. “This plan only distracts from the larger goal of lobbying the state legislature to fully fund schools.”
In announcing the rally, event organizers Stressed: “It’s time for all of us to wrap around the four school communities proposed to be closed to show them and the School Board that this proposal is not supported by the community. We need families, students, grandparents, engaged residents, local businesses, everyone to come help us support all of our kids.”
All Together for Seattle Schools also urges parents to attend the SPS School Board meeting on the day of the rally. Sign-up is limited and starts at 8 a.m. on November 15.
Further, they urge parents to attend the four state-mandated official SPS school closure hearings scheduled in December and sign up to speak out against closures. The hearing are schedule for:
- Wednesday, December 4 @ 6:30 pm, at Sanislo Elementary
- Thursday, December 5 @ 6:30 pm, at the North Beach Elementary
- Monday, December 9 @ 6:30 pm, at Sacajawea Elementary
- Tuesday, December 10 @ 6:30 pm, at Stevens Elementary
To sign up to testify at School Board meetings and hearings, go to the board online sign-up form.
Read more:
Parents file petition to recall SPS School Board president
SPS meetings at schools slated for closure
