Take Action
in Seattle
On May 8, SPS unveiled a proposal that would close 20 of our 70 elementary or K-8 buildings beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. We believe that SPS must show their work NOW: what schools may close; how it will improve student outcomes and racial equity; how it will close the budget gap; and what alternatives they explored.
Read our letter to the School Board & Superintendent to see our take and share your view with the Board.
We urge you to contact the school board to tell the School Board that SPS must show their work NOW (schoolboard@seattleschools.org).
upcoming Events
SPS Board meeting
Wednesday, May 22, 4:15PM - In person or online
TBD
During the meeting
Agenda link and details TBD.
Want to participate?
We hope everyone feels empowered to provide public comment at these meetings. Public comment is when those who sign up get to speak for two minutes to the Board and Superintendent. You can give public comment in person or over the phone.
Sign up for public comment. There are a limited number of public comment spots. Public comment is first come, first serve. Link here.
Sending emails to board members is also helpful. Contact all board members and the superintendent by sending an email to schoolboard@seattleschools.org.
Want to share public comment, but feeling nervous or unsure of what to say?
Use our Talking Points document or other communications to help craft your public testimony!
Email us and we will help support you! We have experience speaking in public and are ready to help out.
Recap of past school board meetings
April 3, 2024:
The board held a budget work session; find the materials here.
The district’s 2024-25 budget proposal closes a $104-$111 million budget deficit. In an update from the March board meeting, the district made two changes:
Proposed a $36.8 million interfund loan (from Capital Budget to Operating Budget) to help bridge 2024-25 budget gap. This loan must be repaid in full by June 30, 2026 and it is unclear what revenues SPS will identify to use to repay this loan.
Based on feedback from the Board, school leaders, and staff participants in the school staffing process, the district proposes to: restore discretionary equity funding in schools allocations for non-staff allocation, which is approximately $1.3 million.
To finalize the 2024-25 budget, there will be a public hearing on June 10th, and the Board will vote on the budget on July 2. However, the Board will need to approve the interfund loan prior to June 30th.
SPS unveiled the elements of what it described as part of a Well-Resourced School at the Elementary School Level:
Multiple teachers per grade level
Full-time support staff
Inclusive learning for EVERY student
Social and emotional learning support
Art, Music, and PE teachers
Stable operational budgets
Safe, healthy, and beautiful schools and grounds
Connections to the community
Strategic Plan. SPS needs to update its Strategic Plan, as the 2019-2024 one is expiring. This next plan will set the goals and priorities for SPS from 2025-2030. In the April 3rd Board meeting, Board President Rankin proposed that community engagement related to this plan will occur from mid-April through mid-June, and that the Board will hold a one-day work session to finalize it. No information on these sessions have been provided yet to the general public.
The board did not conduct progress monitoring for its College & Career Readiness goals; find the materials in this folder.
March 20, 2024:
The board held a 90-minute budget work session; find the materials here.
In January 2024:
The board held a 90-minute budget work session; find the materials here. SPS has also updated its budget development website. Take a look.
District staff shared ideas on how the district can balance its 2024-25 budget. Discussed were ideas that have significant student-facing changes, like moving to three-tier bell schedule, program adjustments and restructuring (such as K-8 and option schools), grade level reorganizations (such as moving 6th grade to some elementary schools), school closures and consolidations, as well as the lease or sale of non-school properties and delayed repayment of the Economic Restabilization Plan (rainy-day fund).
Staff also shared that there will be Phase II Well-Resources School meetings, but did not provide details.
In November & December 2023:
The board voted to approve the financial policy as introduced, which did not include Director Song’s proposed amendments. While this was disappointing for many of us, there will likely be opportunities for community voice as the policy elements are implemented.
The board approved a budget resolution that will determine the process by which next year’s school budget will be developed. It is called the Fiscal Stabilization Plan to Create a System of Well-Resourced Schools.
District staff presented a summary of the Well-Resourced Schools meetings that occurred this past summer and early fall. You can see these results here (starts on page 9).
Other ways to take action
Write an Op-Ed
Writing an Op-ed in your local media source can help create visibility of the issues.
Volunteer
Bring your skills to help us organize and plan in order to create a better future for our students and schools.
share
Share information about this group with all the parents and community members that you can.