September 12, 2024. The Magnolia Chamber aims to closely follow the proposed school closure plan released by the Seattle School Board on Wednesday, September 11th.
Background. Seattle Public Schools’ enrollment has been declining since 2019. The district estimates it will face a $100 million deficit in the coming year if it does not reduce costs.
In May, the Seattle School Board voted to authorize Superintendent Brent Jones to draw up a consolidation and closure plan, which was released on Wednesday. The Superintendent was expected to present the preliminary proposal in June. However, the rollout was delayed after a series of community engagement sessions, during which some parents questioned the district’s rationale for closures and the projected savings.
Under one proposal released Wednesday, the Seattle school district could close 21 schools, some of which also serve middle school students. The district’s application-only option schools would close or become neighborhood schools. That plan would keep 52 schools open and save the district $31.5 million annually. Catherine Blaine K-8 School is slated to be closed under this proposal.
The second proposal closes 17 schools and leave one K-8 school open in the district’s five regions. The proposal keeps 56 schools open and saves the school district about $26 million annually. Catherine Blaine K-8 School is also slated to be closed under this proposal.
The district has posted the proposals on its “well-resourced schools” landing page.
What’s Next? If you are interested in learning more, there are several resources.
- The Magnolia Community Council is hosting Seattle School Board District 2 member Sarah Clark at a meeting on September 17th. To learn more, click here.
- The district will conduct online information sessions on Sept. 24 to discuss the two closure options. It will also host in-person community meetings between Sept. 25 and Oct. 8 to gather feedback and hold sessions for staff. To learn more and engage, click here.
- Keep informed by checking in with the Blaine PTSA.
The Magnolia Chamber is concerned with how the proposed school closure proposal could impact families and the children served by the school, but also how such a closure could affect the Magnolia Community Center and adjacent playfields. The unique relationship between the Catherine Blaine K-8 School and the community center, playfields, and Mounger Pool is historically significant and has been a feature of our community since the 1950s. We look forward to sharing more information in the weeks ahead and staying engaged in this vital community issue.
