<body><div><p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=23Riyl_0vUZj3eI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=23Riyl_0vUZj3eI00" width="1000" height="563" ></p><i> The time has come </i> — Seattle Public Schools (SPS) released <a class="Link" href="https://www.seattleschools.org/resources/well-resourced-schools/proposed-option/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> two proposals </a> for dealing with its <a class="Link" href="https://www.king5.com/article/news/education/seattle-public-school-closure-options/281-496b68d3-b4d0-4897-9371-5e931370925f" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> $91.5 million budget gap </a> . Both plans include closing at least 17 schools across the system. <br><br> The idea for closing schools to manage its deficit was <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><a class="Link" href="https://seatoday.6amcity.com/seattle-bellevue-school-districts-discussing-consolidation" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> first floated </a> in the beginning of 2023, around the same time Bellevue solidified its plans to do the same thing. <br><br> Let’s break down these proposals — from what they have in common to how they differ in execution. <br><h3 id="what-both-plans-include"> What both plans include </h3> Both plans suggest closing the following schools: Licton Springs K-8, North Beach, Broadview-Thomson K-8, Green Lake, Decatur, Cedar Park, Laurelhurst, Catharine Blaine K-8, John Hay, McGilvra, Stevens, Orca K-8, Graham Hill, Rainier View Boren STEM K-8, and Sanislo. <br><br> Some other schools will switch categorization to attendance area schools <i> (meaning enrollment is determined by a student’s home address) </i> in both plans. These include: John Stanford, McDonald, Cascadia, Thornton Creek Elementary, and Queen Anne Elementary. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><br><br> Laurelhurst will also become an interim location for Sand Point. <br><br> Now that we’ve covered the overlap, here’s how the plans deviate + what parents should pay attention to for public comments. <br><h3 id="plan-a-31-5-million-in-savings"><b> Plan A </b> : ~$31.5 million in savings </h3> This plan relies on closing a few more schools than Plan B (21 total) and no longer offering K-8 or option elementary schools to save some cash. <br><br> The extra schools slated for closure under this plan include: <br><ul><li> Salmon Bay K-8 </li><li> Sacajawea </li><li> TOPS K-8 </li><li> Dunlap </li><li> Lafayette </li></ul> Hazel Wold K-8, South Shore PreK-8, and Pathfinder K-8 would also become attendance area K-5 schools under this plan. <br><h3 id="plan-b-21-5-million-in-savings"> Plan B: ~$21.5 million in savings </h3> This plan only closes the original 17 schools, but key differences include: <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><br><ul><li> The closure of Thurgood Marshall </li><li> Keeping an option K-8 school open in each region of town </li><li> Reducing the budget through other areas like staffing reductions </li></ul> SPS will be hosting in-person meetings between Sept. 25 and Oct. 8 to gather feedback from locals. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

Both plans proposed by Seattle Public Schools include closing at least 17 schools, but differ in whether or not some K-8 schools remain open + whether staff reductions are enacted.