Sept. 17, 2024
Dear B.F. Day Community,
Most of you are probably aware of the recent Well Resourced Schools proposal. It includes 2 options for addressing the SPS budget deficit. Below is a brief summary of the options, both of which include a substantial number of school closures and will impact many families across the school district.
SPS has offered two plans (Option A and Option B). Both options will close schools in the district (21 in Option A and 17 in Option B) and redraw boundary lines for nearly all elementary schools, including BF Day. The selected option would go into effect next school year. Option A also closes option schools or changes them into neighborhood schools; Option B maintains one option school per region.
You can check your family’s boundary for Option A and Option B using SPS’ interactive map tool. If you’re having trouble loading the tools, try a different browser.
“Continuing Assignment” is SPS’ term for continuing at a school you’re already enrolled in/established at, even if it’s outside of your boundary. SPS School Board past policy was to always grant continuing assignments, even if a student moved or no longer lived in the boundary. This new plan does not confirm whether continuing assignments will be available for all rezoned students or what the process would be to request continued assignment.
This plan does not clarify if or how middle school or high school zoning may be impacted by these changes. Most elementary school cohorts are not currently divided between middle schools or high schools, so it’s unknown whether families will remain at their currently assigned middle school (which would divide elementary school cohorts) or will follow the middle school boundary for their rezoned elementary school.
Both options address a small portion (25-30%) of the estimated budget deficit and will require significant additional funding (likely from the state legislature) to close the remaining 70-75% budget deficit. These plans do not specifically address how the remaining shortfall will be solved.
The superintendent will present his recommendation to the School Board in “mid to late October” (so unlikely to be at the October 9th regular school board meeting). The School Board is slated to vote on Option A or Option B at the December 18th regular school board meeting. Between now and then, SPS has scheduled several Community Meetings, along with public hearings for each planned closed school.
Community Meetings
The school board is hosting five regional in-person meetings and one online meeting.
Online: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., Zoom Meeting (Families and staff will soon receive the Zoom meeting link, and the link will be posted on our website.)
Southwest Region: Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m. Genesee Hill Elementary, 5013 SW Dakota St., Seattle, WA 98116
Southeast Region: Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m. Wing Luke Elementary, 3701 S Kenyon St., Seattle, WA 98118
Central Region: Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m. Kimball Elementary, 3200 23rd Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98144
Northeast Region: Thursday, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m. Olympic Hills Elementary, 13018 20th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125
Northwest Region: Monday, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m. James Baldwin Elementary, 11725 1st Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125
The source for all confirmed information regarding these plans is on SPS’ Well-Resourced Schools site. The FAQ section provides some helpful information (and is a little easy to miss). It’s important to also understand that SPS is not allowing principals to communicate with families about this issue outside of formal, district-provided workstreams.
We aim to provide our BF Day community with information and resources so that we are educated on what is being proposed, and in a more activated scenario inspired to engage. We understand that this news is landing differently with every family for personal and valid reasons. Despite what SPS has proposed and intends to push forward, we remain a supportive, inclusive neighborhood community.
If you’d like to share your voice there are individual and coordinated advocacy opportunities available.
At B.F. Day
Enter the conversation and have a meaningful impact by joining the newly formed B.F. Day PTSA Advocacy Committee. We need volunteers to share their unique perspectives and work to keep students at the center of our mission. Contact Laura Prudhomme for more information and to get involved.
Individual Action
Contact our local representatives and ask questions, share your concerns, and demand they advocate for your family. Use SPS’ “Let’s Talk” tool to ask questions or provide comments
Contact Seattle Council PTSA, a collective PTA that spans Seattle schools: https://scptsa.org/new-page
Contact WA State legislators: Rep. Liz Berry, Senator Noel Frame, Rep. Julia Reed
Write to school board members (specifically our board member for District 4 Joe Mizrahi joseph.mizrahi@seattleschools.org)
Coordinated Action
Coordinated letter writing campaigns to Sarah Clark (our school board director) and State Legislature: https://fundsps.com/take-action
Sign an Open Letter directed to SPS by All Together for Seattle Schools, a grassroots organizing team: https://www.alltogetherforseattleschools.org/home/take-action-seattle
Form letter for State Legislature to increase school funding drafted by All Together for Seattle Schools: https://www.alltogetherforseattleschools.org/home/take-action-washington
Join an in-person Grassroots community gathering/meeting on Saturday, September 14: https://www.facebook.com/share/CAbspwEbDpBtMbtb/
Join the rally being held outside the John Stanford Center before the September 18 school board meeting. Supporters are encouraged to wear red, bring signs, and show up at 3:45pm on the south lawn.
You can also attend the September 18 school board meeting and sign-up to provide public testimony (sign-up opens at 8am on September 16th; learn more here).
Our B.F. Day PTSA has a full, enriching year planned to support our Sun Dragon scholars and provide them with the greatest educational experience possible. If you would like to get involved please email Annie Barker (Volunteer Coordinator) or have a chat with a board member at drop off and pick up.
While it is reasonable to feel frustrated with the School Board, we hope that you will join us in fortifying our community with knowledge and support each other with ideas to address our questions and concerns as parents and community members.
In solidarity, Your B.F. Day PTSA