8:44 PM Tue, Jan 06, 2009 | Permalink |
Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson's recommendations can be summed up this way: close five buildings, relocate eight programs, add one new program and discontinue five programs.
It will save the Seattle School District $16.2 million in operating costs and reduce maintenance costs by $33.1 million over five years.
Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson and staff used what she calls strict and transparent standards to determine what would stay and what would go. But she admits, closing schools is always emotional.
"We agree that it's emotional," she said. "But we have to do the work and the analysis to make sure we're making good decisions for students." That analysis includes condition of the building, enrollment, ease of access, test scores and costs.
Public hearings scheduled for January 20 and 22 will no doubt be loud and cantankerous, but Goodloe Johnson, a mother of a four-year-old, says she feels good about her recommendations. "It's a difficult process, but the part that makes it not so hard is that I'm making decisions I would make for my own child."
To read the School District's analysis, go to its Web site www.seattleschools.org/area/capacity.
We admire the Dr. for her tough choices and good decisions. We should look at implementing tuition for all children in our state. (Based upon income of course) A mere $100 per year per child would seam the budget gap and keep good
teachers at good salaries and benefits. This would have another benefit as it would entice
parents to take part in their childrens education as they would have a vested financial interest in their loved ones education. Many parents are talking about this and are willing to pay for
this great need in our communities.
Pay to Play is a logical answer. I would be willing to pay for my son to attend a class A
school w/ class A teachers and a safe building. I think the legislature should look at this idea.
That's an interesting idea. That would protect our senior citizens from higher taxes. I think all parents would agree to pay for the needed dollars and $100 bucks a year isn't bad. We need to pay our teachers more in order to keep them!