SEATTLE — Up to 21 schools could close within the Seattle Public School system as the district looks to shore up a large budget deficit.
The district released two options that would save $31.5 million and $25.5 million, respectively. It would help close an approximate $94 million budget gap spurred by decreasing student enrollment and less federal funding.
District Superintendent Dr. Brent C. Jones told KING 5 they will hear community input through early fall. There will be an official vote on a plan before winter break in December.
Option A
"Option A" would shutter 21 of the district's 73 elementary schools, eliminating K-8 and option elementary schools.
The following changes would be made in each area:
Northwest Seattle: Licton Springs K-8, Salmon Bay K-8, North Beach and Broadview-Thomson K-8 would close.
John Stanford, McDonald and Cascadia would become attendance area schools.
According to the SPS website, an attendance area school is "one to which elementary, middle and high school students are assigned based on where they live."
Northwest Seattle: Green Lake, Decatur, Sacajawea, Cedar Park and Laurelhurst would close.
Thornton Creek would become an attendance area school, while Hazel Wolf K-8 would become an attendance area K-5. The Laurelhurst building would serve as an interim site for Sand Point.
Central Seattle: Catharine Blaine K-8, John Hay, McGilvra, Stevens and TOPS K-8 would close.
Queen Anne Elementary would become an attendance area school.
Southeast Seattle: Orca K-8, Graham Hill, Dunlap and Rainier Valley would close.
South Shore Pre-K-8 would become an attendance area K-5 school.
Southwest and West Seattle: Lafayette, Boren STEM K-8 and Sanislo would close.
Pathfinder K-8 would become an attendance area K-5 school.
Option B
"Option B" Would shutter 17 schools, but would keep an option K-8 open in each school region, but would also require further "strategies," such as staffing reductions.
Northwest Seattle: Licton Springs K-8, North Beach and Broadview-Thomson K-8 would close.
John Standord, McDonald and Cascadia would become attendance area schools.
Northwest Seattle: Green Lake, Decatur, Cedar Park and Laurelhurst would close.
Thornton Creek would become an attendance area school, while Laurelhurst would serve as interim site for Sand Point.
Central Seattle: Catharine Blaine K-8, John Hay, McGilvra, Stevens and Thurgood Marshall would close.
Queen Anne Elementary would become an attendance area school.
Southeast Seattle: Orca K-8, Graham Hill and Rainier View would close.
Southwest and West Seattle: Louisa Boren K-8 and Sanislo would close.