Parents, students rally against Seattle school closures

Parents fill Seattle Public Schools meeting after school closures announcement

More than 300 students and parents rallied outside Seattle Public Schools headquarters, asking for the board to say no to plans to potentially close more than 20 local schools.

SEATTLE - Parents and students rallied outside Seattle Public Schools (SPS) headquarters, demanding an alternative to school closures as the district faces a $104 million budget shortfall.

Protesters are calling for a "Plan C" — no closures at all.

This demonstration follows the release of SPS's potential school closure list a week ago, sparking concern among families across the city. Alex Wakeman Rouse is a parent leading the charge with the group "All Together for Seattle Schools."

"No option A, no option B," said Rouse. "Option C — no closures, no cuts for our kids."

Parents held their children's hands, the duos armed with handmade signs and passionate speeches to keep 21 schools open.

Since the pandemic, the shift in enrollment has become an undeniable issue. According to education news outlet The 74, 1.2 million students nationwide have switched to private or home-schooling programs.

Seattle Public Schools holds board meeting after releasing closure list

A Seattle Public Schools board meeting is underway as parents and students rally outside, calling for no school closures.

For many parents, like Shana Chasteen and Rebekah Bins, whose children attend Graham Hill Elementary, the news was devastating.

"It's really been a whirlwind," said Chasteen. Bins added, "I am heartbroken. I am devastated."

SPS broke the news via email, leaving parents scrambling to understand the future of their schools.

"The district isn't talking about closing buildings," said Bins. "What they're really doing is destroying communities."

The potential long-term consequences of school closures are well-documented. Research from Education Week shows that students who experience school closures during their K-12 years face lower test scores, poorer attendance, and behavior problems in the short term. Over time, they are less likely to complete college, secure employment, and tend to earn less than their peers.

(File / FOX 13)

The board meeting to discuss the proposals was packed, with many arguing that by closing option schools and taking away choices for students, kids will suffer.

Some board members asked for a new scaled-back closure plan Wednesday night, adding that it’s unfair for families to get on board when the district has only provided what looks like a skeleton plan, with little information about student outcomes.

Parent Candace Kasbarian asked the board to keep option schools, like Thornton Creek Elementary, as is.

"In both of the proposals, Thornton Creek is being changed to a neighborhood school and then we would also be rezoned to a completely different school," said Kasbarian.

She says Thornton students focus on expeditionary learning, and the school provides positive outcomes for sensitive learners as well.

"There they taught him ways to regulate his emotions, adapt to them in a different way than he would at home," said Kasbarian.

"Our bottom line, how do we preserve the services that are essential for students?," said Dr. Brent Jones, SPS Superintendent.

The vice president of the board said Wednesday night that she wasn’t prepared to vote on either option being offered without a clearer explanation to parents on why their schools were chosen for closure or changes.

"I feel like I’m crazy, or maybe I shouldn’t be an elected official, because I don’t understand this stuff, I shouldn’t need a master’s degree to understand this…but parents shouldn’t either," said Michelle Sarju, School Board Vice President.

Some board members said it also wasn’t clear how the proposals would benefit students.

"What I’m not seeing is the refocusing on how we use our resources to provide the best services and make the best decisions for children. That's what we need to see," said Liza Rankin, School Board President.

There were some fireworks towards the end of the meeting when a board member suggested that they'd been backed into a corner to vote "yes" or "no" on the plan. The superintendent responded by saying he rejected that notion.

The board will again take up the closures in a meeting on October 9.