Teachers to vote on pulling backing for school-closure plan

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Over the past year and a half, as Seattle Public Schools has struggled through the contentious process of closing some schools, it has enjoyed the steadfast support of the local teachers union.

That may change Monday, when the Seattle Education Association's representative assembly is set to vote on whether to withdraw its support of the district's plans to close up to 10 schools next fall.

Closures won't save much money, disrupt the community, disproportionately affect students of color and will result in overcrowding at some schools that will force more students into portables, according to the resolution passed 10-9 by the union's board of directors last week.

The resolution also raises concerns that the closure plans have prompted two lawsuits, and that angry parents might organize opposition to the district's $397 million operations levy and $490 million capital bond.

Seattle Public Schools officials could not be reached for comment Monday.

The union withdrawing its support would not necessarily kill the closure plans -- but it could influence public opinion and put added pressure on the district officials.

Despite the board vote, SEA President Wendy Kimball believes most members will continue to support closures as a fiscally sound move that will also give students access to a wider variety of programs and services.

"If closing schools helps create that, then I believe (members) will help support it," she said.

Chad Pharis, a Graham Hill Elementary teacher and SEA board member, voted to withdraw support for the current closure plans even though he agrees some schools ultimately need to be closed. He hopes the union will send a message to the district that the current process is hopelessly flawed.

"A lot of us are saying this is doing more harm (than good), this is dividing the district," he said. "There has to be a better way to do this."

On Wednesday, Superintendent Raj Manhas is scheduled to share his final recommendations for the second phase of closures. His preliminary recommendations call for closing three buildings, housing Roxhill Elementary and Pathfinder K-8 in West Seattle, and Alternative School No. 1 on the northeast side. Pathfinder would move to the Cooper Elementary building, and A.S. No. 1 would co-locate in the Summit K-12 building.

Manhas has also proposed merging Viewlands Elementary into Broadview-Thomson Elementary, creating a K-8 school. If approved by the School Board on Nov. 1, it will be the largest round of closures in decades.

P-I reporter Jessica Blanchard can be reached at 206-448-8322 or jessicablanchard@seattlepi.com.

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