Seattle is considering yet another school closure, along with re-assigning some students away from popular but overcrowded schools. Closures and assignment changes caused conflict within the city’s public schools over the past few years. That was supposed to be finished last year.
But the Seattle Times reports some schools are under-enrolled and some are over-enrolled. Alternative School #1 is battling to stay open.
Shuttering the school has some board members worried, because there may not be enough open spaces at other alternative schools. The Times reportsthere another option is also being considered:
The other proposal under consideration is to give the school more time to attract more students. Alternative School No. 1, which has about 150 students this year, has been threatened with closure several times over the past few years.
Meanwhile, the school district may split its gifted program now housed at Garfield High, which is bursting at the seems. Half the students would be sent to Ingraham High in the north end next fall, which is one of two International Baccalaureate high schools in the district.
Expected state budget cuts are likely to mean additional district deficits of between $11 and $12 million dollars.
