On November 21, Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones shared an update on the SPS District website that they will cancel upcoming community meetings previously planned to discuss school consolidation and closure proposals. This decision reflects the volume of concerns raised by families across the district about the significant impacts of these plans. You can read the full announcement on the SPS website.

Read our recent email update on WRS plans and the letter Viewlands and Northbeach PTA presidents sent to the District addressing the following concerns:

• Overcrowding: Enrollment projections for 2023-24 were inaccurately low. If this occurs again it results in school overcrowding impacting facility space and drop-off/transportation capacity.
• Boundaries: Understanding the future of boundary changes for Viewlands, with the expectation of additional district changes in the coming years.
• Facilities: Ensuring appropriate facility space for Special Education Programs and kindergarten/preschool rooms.
• Funding: Potential loss of school-wide Title I qualification and its impact on programs.
• Staffing: Staffing Resourcing may fail to achieve desired staffing ratios due to large enrollment. For example, a half-time librarian for nearly 600 children results in children attending the library every 2-3 weeks.

Information about SPS Well-Resourced Schools plan can be found on the Seattle Public Schools (SPS) website.

Viewlands Elementary PTSA is communicating with other PTAs and Seattle Council PTA on this matter. The team is working on putting together some community listening meetings, and will put forward plans that we welcome the community’s feedback on.

Viewlands Principal Carrie Wheeler will not be able to provide any additional information than what is provided on the SPS website. We encourage you to reach out directly to SPS with feedback and to also work with VEPTSA. Principal Wheeler currently needs to manage the school year which just started and already has a full plate. Let’s support her and our teachers who are also affected by the well-resourced schools updates.

We will get through this challenge together.

Here are ways to get involved:

• Become a VEPTSA Member! As a member you can vote on the initiatives and programs VEPTSA supports. This year Membership is available at no cost for anyone in our community (use the code provided on our membership page to receive a free membership). Membership is open to anyone in our community, including extended family members and neighbor supporters. Join today!
• (For current families) Join community conversation with other Viewlands parents in our Well-Resourced Schools (WRS) social group on the Konstella App. In Konstella, select Directory, then select Browse Social Groups, then join the SPS Well-Resourced Schools updates group.
• Volunteer to be VEPTSA Advocacy Lead! Contact our team to learn more.
• Attend our monthly Board or Fall/Winter/Spring General Meetings. All are welcome to join us, however only members can vote at meetings. Meeting dates are in the Konstella app and also on our membership page.
• Contact Seattle Public Schools. Provide feedback and ask questions of SPS via Let’s Talk.
• Email Liza Rankin. Director Rankin is the SPS Board President and District 1 (North Seattle) Representive. Send email to liza.rankin@seattleschools.org.

Local Advocacy Groups:

• Seattle Council PTSA (SCPTSA). The SCPTSA is our local PTSA partner supporting advocacy work. Visit SCPTSA website to learn more. Follow Seattle Council PTSA (SCPTSA) on Facebook or Instagram.
• Visit All Together for Seattle Schools. Learn ways to advocate for our Seattle students and schools right now.
• Visit Fund SPS. Get involved by signing petitions, attending meetings, or learning more about how to advocate for fair funding policies.

News :

• Seattle Times coverage:
  • Which Seattle schools could close? District unveils two proposals. Be sure to also provide your feedback via their family survey.
  • Submit A Letter to the Editor. Send a letter to the editor to the Seattle Times about this issue.
• WA’s Paramount Duty: Read Designed to Fail: The Legislature’s McCleary solution has collapsed by Robert Cruickshank, a former Viewlands parent.
• Seattle Hall Pass podcast: Listen to The story of how we got here to learn more about what led to the current SPS Well-Resourced Schools plan. 

Stay tuned for more updates from VEPTSA advocacy team!