Timeline

2005	April	Superintendent Raj Manhas releases a recommendation containing detailed proposals for school closure and consolidation; changes for the student assignment plan; and adjustments to the transportation services plan.
	May	Based on School Board and community feedback, the Superintendent withdraws the plan and announces that he will form a community advisory committee to assess the district’s academic and fiscal sustainability.
	July	Superintendent appoints the 14-member Community Advisory Committee on Investing in Educational Excellence (CACIEE) and charters them to develop recommendations on establishing short- and long-term fiscal stability in support of academic achievement for Seattle Public Schools.
2006	January	School Board announces the formation of a community advisory committee to develop a proposal on school consolidation and closure.
	February	CACIEE releases its final report outlining several strategies to ensure the district's future academic and fiscal viability, including closing schools. The Superintendent appoints a three-member Strategic Implementation Team to research, analyze and implement the recommendations.
	March	The School Board appoints a 12-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that represents the four quadrants of the city to develop a proposal on school consolidation and closure. The Board also approves a series of guiding principles, criteria and targets for this work.
		The CAC begins meeting weekly, reviewing data and information about district facilities, academic programs, capacity, demographics and more. The committee also encourages community feedback through email and letters.
	April	More than 650 parents, family and community members attend a series of five Town Hall meetings hosted by the CAC, including a meeting for the bilingual community. The committee collects input regarding criteria for recommendation development process.
	May	CAC committee members make on-site visits to every elementary, K-8 and alternative school in the district.
	May 17	The CAC releases its preliminary recommendations for school consolidation and closure.
	May 20 to May 25	The CAC hosts the second series of five Town Hall meetings for the community. The committee will collect additional feedback before making its final recommendation to the Superintendent.
	May 30	The CAC will present its final recommendation to the Superintendent.
	June 2	After reviewing the CAC's recommendations, the Superintendent will make his preliminary recommendation to the School Board.
	June 7	The School Board will hold a work session to discuss the recommendations.
	June 12	Public Meeting on preliminary closure recommendation
	June 21	School Board meeting
	June 26 to June 28	The district will hold public hearings at each impacted facility. There will be multiple hearings scheduled per night.
	July 5	UPDATE: Superintendent's Final Recommendation release date changed to July 5
	July 5	School Board meeting
	July 12	Introduction of the final recommendations to the School Board.
	July 19	Final public hearing on the recommendations.
	July 26	Scheduled School Board vote on the recommendations.

Planning for Implementation in Fall 2007
Making a final decision in July 2006 allows the district to thoughtfully plan for a smooth transition for Fall 2007. Both the School Board and the Superintendent are committed to minimizing impacts on students, staff and families. A central office implementation team, which has recently expanded to include principals and staff affiliated with employee associations, is discussing how to blend educational approaches as we bring students, staff and families from one or more buildings together in the same school facility; student assignment procedures; the process for staff movement; transportation impacts; the logistics of the physical move of desks and supplies; and many other key topics. The team will also ask for involvement from staff, parents, families, and students throughout the transition phase.