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SEPT. 25, 2024
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VOL. 105, NO. 39
Community protests proposed school closures
By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing Writer
Photo by Laura Marie Rivera University of Washington’s Husky Pup Squad took the football field for Saturday’s 24-5 win over Northwestern. The Pup Squad is led by UW Dance Team members and made up of 200 8-10 year olds, including many from Queen Anne and Magnolia. After two practices and receiving their official uniforms and pom poms, the kids were ready to go. Charlotte, age 8, said, “I can’t wait to do it again next year!” For more information, go to www.uwspirit.com/pupsquad.
Electrifying Washington’s ferry fleet could cost $4.4 billion or more By TJ Martinell The Center Square
Like with the Washington state highway system, Washington State Ferries also faces what it describes as “longterm unfunded needs,” the vast majority related to state efforts
to electrify the ferry system that could cost taxpayers $4.4 billion or more in the years to come. For the upcoming 2025-2027 biennium, WSF is requesting $751 million for its operating budget and $1.1 billion for its capital budget. However, those requests combined are $230
million below what the state agency says it needs to maintain and operate the largest ferry system in the country. WSF Senior Director Finance Todd Lamphere told the Senate Transportation Committee
At last week’s school board meeting for Seattle Public Schools, directors and district staff got an earful from a crowd of community members who showed up in support of our public schools and to express their concerns over the proposed school closures. The school board was considering the two proposed plans that close 21 or 17 elementary schools but only close about one third of the current budget deficit. At the urging of online chat groups and the districtwide advocacy group All Together Seattle Schools, approximately 350 people showed up to make themselves heard. This powerful group included students and family members, education advocates, district employees, and local politicians. They gathered ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s regularly scheduled board meeting and protested for the better part of an hour. When the meeting was coming to order, protesters filed into the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence. In addition to being the heart of their neighborhood ecosystems, some of the schools on the closure list house some of the most diverse, unique, and sought-after programs in the district. The first plan closes all of the elementary option schools in the district and the second plan closes most of the option schools, but leaves one K-8 school in each of the city’s five zones. SCHOOLS Page 3Æ
FERRY Page 8Æ
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Laura Marie Rivera Over 350 community members rallied to protest the SPS school closure proposals last week at John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence.