We know many of you are very interested in working to ensure Bryant and all schools around our state continue to exist and have the resources needed to ensure our children receive excellent public-school education. To that end, the Bryant PTSA will be providing updates and information on ways to engage in the SPS well-resourced school plans, levies, and state efforts to increase K-12 education funding. We hope you find this information helpful!
SCHOOL CLOSURES:
Recent information:
On October 9th the SPS Board passed Resolution 2024-25-11 which directs the Superintendent to:
(1) Present to the board this October 2024 preliminary recommendations and supporting analysis for the closure of up to five schools for the 2025-2026 school year;
(2) Develop a multi-year plan no later than June 2025 to achieve fiscal stability; and
(3) Form a taskforce to advise the Superintendent on implementation of the 2025-2026 school closures, if approved by the board, and the multi-year recommendations.
See here for the Board Resolution, and here for the October 1st e-mail Superintendent Jones sent out regarding closing/consolidating five schools.
How you can help:
Given the lack of details in the new proposal we do not yet know the impact, if any, of this new plan on the Bryant community. However, we do know that many SPS parents, including those at Bryant, continue to fight school closures. Please find below a few resources that may help you engage in these efforts:
- E-mailing elected representatives is always a good idea. Continue sending messages to Superintendent Jones, and the SPS board.
- Use Let’s Talk.
- If you want to attend rallies in opposition to school closures, and sign on to petitions/letters etc., one resource is All together for Seattle Schools, a parent advocacy group. If you are interested in receiving their newsletters, or are looking for communication materials, you can find a link to their website here.
SPS LEVIES
Seattle Public Schools relies on voter-approved levies to fill the gap between what it receives from state and federal sources and what is needed to fully support students, staff, and schools.
There are currently recommendations for the renewal of the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy and Building Excellence (BEX VI) Capital Levy, which are expected to go before voters on Feb. 11, 2025.
On November 19, 2024 the Board will be voting on resolutions to place levies on the February 2025 ballot. During the next few months SPS will be holding information sessions on the levies, the first one will take place online on October 22, from 6:30-7:30pm. Go here for more information about the levies and upcoming information sessions.
STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS
Recent information:
Closing five or even twenty-one schools does not adequately address SPS’ almost $100M shortfall. According to the WA. Superintendent of Public Instruction:
- Washington currently underfunds K-12 education by around $4 billion per year.
- The share of the budget dedicated to K-12 education in WA. has shrunk from 50% in 2019, to only 43% today.
- While the national average for education investment is 3.6% of the GDP, WA only invests 3.1% of the GDP.
- WA. is behind high performing states in per-pupil spending. For example, WA. spends $17,000, while Mass. Spends $21,000. You can find more information here.
How you can help:
- E-mail Governor Inslee’s office to ask him to increase K-12 education funding in the governor’s proposed 2025-2027 biennium operating budget by including Superintendent Reykdal’s budget requests. One way to do that is through the fundsps link here.
- There is a limited window to do this as the Governor’s proposed budget comes out before legislative session.
- Reach out to your lawmakers and ask them to invest in our children’s education. One way to do that is through fundsps.com links – found here.
- Remember: Sending a template is great, but adding in personal information is even better.
- Remember: Try to stay focused on one issue – increased funding, do not address multiple issues in one e-mail.
- Ask a lawmaker for a meeting or organize a lawmaker meeting with a group of Bryant parents.
- Inform people about the impact of I-2109 and I-2117 on education. The WA. State PTA Board of Directors voted at its June meeting to oppose these initiatives. For more information go here.
- Sign up for Washington PTA’s action alerts here to stay appraised of what is happening during session.
- Subscribe to the Seattle Council PTSA newsletter here for advocacy updates.
- Join the Bryant advocacy group by e-mailing: ptsaexec@bryantschool.org.
