September 16, 2024. The Magnolia community continues to have residents and families respond to last week’s announcement that the Seattle School Board is recommending the closure of schools, including Catherine Blaine K-8 School, due to budget shortfalls.
Former School Board member Michael DeBell penned an editorial in response to the proposed closure plan, which ran in the Seattle Times on September 13th. In it, he called for a different approach while highlighting the challenges created by the school closing proposal.
We offer additional resources for those who want to learn more or engage with the district to offer comments and suggestions regarding the proposal:
The Blaine PTA has set up an excellent advocacy page, which can be accessed here. It includes the following information and ideas on how to engage:
- Details on how you can engage the school board via Q&A sessions. Importantly, the Magnolia Community Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 17th at 7 pm will now be via Zoom. We would like to encourage those who want to participate to contact the Blaine PTA or Magnolia Community Council to learn more.
- Participate in the Save Catherine Blaine K-8 Rally on September 17th at 5 pm. For more information, contact Jake Milstein: at jake.milstein@gmail.com or call 206.718.9602. Click here for media advisory.
- The Blaine PTA advocacy page includes a one-page fact sheet, student letter templates, and quick facts on the many impacts of closing Catherine Blaine K-8 School. It also provides how to contact the many officials representing Magnolia on the Seattle School Board, the Seattle City Council, and the Washington State Legislature.
- There will be an all district, grassroots 1-hour rally on the south lawn at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence, 2445 3rd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98134, on Wednesday, September 18th at 3:45 pm, which will lead into the regular school board meeting at 4:15 pm Sign up to speak here
In addition to the efforts of the Blaine PTA, concerned citizens can sign the latest All Together for Seattle Schools form letter that urges SPS to design a student-centered school system full of diverse, high-quality schools and not attempt to solve a budget crisis at the expense of students. Interested residents and families can also sign up to receive email updates from All Together for Seattle Schools or visit Fund SPS.