Who Would Want This?

Oh Man! Manhas has been working through a process with his Board to take on the very challenging issues of closing schools and they are bucking back hard and taking the process their own way. Who needs this?

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The Seattle School Board told Superintendent Raj Manhas last night it would keep the idea of closing schools on the table for now but refused to commit to criteria that would tell him which schools should be closed.

The unanimous vote on board member Mary Bass' proposal directs Manhas to present by April 20 a total package: the schools to be closed, the criteria used to decide that, effects on enrollment and the itemized savings expected in the 2006-07 budget.

The board's vote does not mean the state's largest school district will close schools; that emotionally charged decision is being deferred to July 13. But last night's vote does mean the district staff can begin sketching school-consolidation scenarios and refining estimates of how closures would help close a $20 million budget deficit forecast for the 2006-07 school year.

Manhas had recommended that the board first approve criteria for closures; the staff would then take the criteria and develop a preliminary recommendation in early April of schools to be closed. After holding meetings at schools slated to be closed, the district staff would make a final proposal for the board to vote on in mid-July.

Manhas' recommendation appeared to be headed for passage on a likely 5-2 vote before Bass made her proposal. Board members Brita Butler-Wall, Jan Kumasaka, Darlene Flynn, Dick Lilly and Irene Stewart voiced support for adopting criteria, as a way of keeping alive the option of closing schools. Board members Bass and Sally Soriano opposed committing to criteria yesterday.

Bass opened her remarks with an accusation: "There are several schools that have been identified for closure in advance," she said, naming Nova High School, Meany Middle School and M.L. King Elementary School. Manhas later insisted he had no list.

Bass called for a break to review the district's long-standing policy on school closures. It turns out, the policy doesn't require the board to approve criteria before the staff can identify schools to be closed.

Manhas was taken aback by Bass' proposal, which wasn't on the meeting's agenda or available to the public beforehand.

Board member Stewart said she was sure the district would lose substantial numbers of students if it closed schools. After the district closed schools in 1989, it lost 10 percent of its enrollment, she said. Stewart said she would prefer to see the district mount a coordinated effort to reduce dropout rates; more than 700 students drop out each year, she said.

Consolidating schools won't by itself solve the district's budget problems, Manhas said. The board is also looking at a sweeping overhaul of district operations for the fall of 2006 that could include layoffs, cutting back on bus transportation, changing how students are assigned to schools and discontinuing some programs.