Seattle Public Schools is considering school consolidation in fall 2006 as one strategy to reduce overhead costs and redirect resources to the classroom. The district operates about 30 percent excess school capacity for its current, and projected, student enrollment.
On April 20 Superintendent Raj Manhas submitted his preliminary recommendation to the School Board on potential school sites to close and/or consolidate. The final recommendation is scheduled for presentation on June 15, with a Board vote on July 13. Additional information is located at the Reshaping the Future of Seattle Public Schools website.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
The community meetings, listed below, are scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Information regarding school consolidation will be distributed and there will be an opportunity for question and answer.
| May 10 |
Ingraham High School Cafeteria 1819 North 135th Street |
| May 10 |
Madison @ Boren School Cafeteria 5950 Delridge Way South |
| May 17 |
Rainier Beach High School Cafeteria 8815 Seward Park South |
| May 17 |
Washington Middle School Cafeteria 2101 South Jackson Street |
PUBLIC HEARINGS
The public hearings, listed below, are scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Interested speakers may sign up at the hearings (doors open at 6:00 p.m.). Public testimony will be limited to two minutes per speaker.
| May 23 |
Alki Elementary* Cafeteria 3010 59th Ave. SW |
| May 23 |
Jane Addams (Summit K-12) Auditorium, 11051 34th Ave. NE |
| May 23 |
Whitworth Elementary Cafeteria 5215 46th Ave. S. |
| May 24 |
John Marshall* Auditorium 520 NE Ravenna Blvd. |
| May 24 |
T.T. Minor Elementary Cafeteria 1700 E. Union St. |
| May 25 |
Cooper Elementary Cafeteria 1901 SW Genesee St. |
| May 25 |
Old Hay* (Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center) Cafeteria, 411 Boston St. |
| May 25 |
Rainier View Elementary* Cafeteria 11650 Beacon Ave. S. |
| May 26 |
Bagley Elementary* Cafeteria 7821 Stone Ave. N. |
| May 26 |
M.L. King Elementary* Cafeteria 3201 E. Republican |
| May 26 |
North Beach Elementary* Cafeteria 9018 24th Ave. NW |
| May 31 |
Montlake Elementary* Cafeteria 2409 22nd Ave. E. |
| May 31 |
Columbia* (Orca) Cafeteria 3528 S. Ferdinand St. |
| May 31 |
Genesee* (Pathfinder) Cafeteria 5012 SW Genesee St. |
*The preliminary recommendation proposes ten buildings, marked by *, be closed. Program moves impact four other school buildings: Jane Addams, Whitworth, T.T. Minor, and Cooper.