Rainy Day Recess

In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, we dive into Seattle Public Schools' proposal to close and consolidate four elementary schools: North Beach, Sacajawea, Stevens, and Sanislo. Christie, Jane, and Jasmine explore critical questions surrounding the district’s decision-making process, including the criteria used for selecting these schools, the potential impacts on special education services, and how transitions might affect students and staff. We discuss community concerns, staffing changes, and the broader implications for the SPS landscape.
See our Show Notes.
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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

This episode of Seattle Hall Pass is part 1 of 2 that covers the October 11 School Board Meeting (part 2 is coming soon). In protest of the 40 elementary schools that are being disrupted so that the district can comply with a state-mandated student-teacher ratio, public comment was full of parents, teachers, and union staff sharing their thoughts with the district.

Christie and Jane also share why they think it’s important for “our district” to listen to criticism from the people on the ground.
For sources on the facts cited in the podcast and other supporting documentation, see our show notes here.
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Support the show

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

Jane and Christie cover the Seattle Public Schools board meeting on October 25th.

• The community engagement committee is sunsetting after 13 meetings. They completed some "one pagers" about board-community engagement but did not finish a full plan or toolkit.
• The legislative agenda for the upcoming state legislative session was introduced. Priorities include special education funding, transportation funding, supports for students of color, and allowing more capital funding to be used for operating costs.
• Progress monitoring, a key part of the Student Outcomes Focused Governance model, was not done at this meeting or the prior one. The board is supposed to spend 50% of meeting time on progress monitoring.
• Board directors discussed possible criteria for deciding which schools to close, including size, proximity to other schools, transportation costs, and unique programs/populations.
• The next meeting on November 15th will likely include the district's plan for cutting the 2024-25 budget. The new board will join at the following meeting in December.

For sources on the facts cited in the podcast and other supporting documentation, see our show notes here.

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

The 8 finalists for the Seattle School Board Director positions for Director Districts 2 and 4 participated in a candidate forum moderated by two students, Aayush Muthuswamy and Semai Hagos.

The finalists for District 2 are:

• Carol Thompson
• Sarah Clark
• Danielle Gahl
• Shawn Sullivan

The finalists for District 4 are:

• Rachelle Olden
• Joe Mizrahi
• Gabriella Gonzalez
• Laura Marie Rivera

See our Show Notes

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Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.

This week we’re reporting on the first meeting of the newly elected School Board, on December 13, 2023.
The Board elected a new President, Vice President, and Member at Large. Also, the board voted on the Budget Resolution, in which they authorize the superintendent on the cost-saving measures he can “consider and research” to close the $105 million budget gap.
See our show notes.

Support the show

Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.