School closures, enrollment, and highly capable programs: SPS Superintendent sits down with Soundside

Seattle’s Public School District is grappling with a nearly 100 million dollar budget shortfall, as student enrollment in the district has dropped in recent years.

In a letter last month, Superintendent Brent Jones said that SPS was proposing the closure of North Beach, Sacajawea, Sanislo, and Stevens elementary schools next year, pending school board approval.

The district says the latest plan will save around $5 million dollars - much less, notably, than the close to 30 million the broader closure plan was expected to yield.

So, where will the rest of the money come from to shore up the budget? 

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann to talk school closures, highly capable programs, and more.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Guest:

• Dr. Brent Jones, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent

Relevant Links:

• 4 Seattle schools up for closure revealed - KUOW
• Seattle Public Schools enrollment ticks up slightly as district moves ahead with closures - KUOW
  
• School closures: No answers for my 5-year-old - Seattle Times
• Seattle private school enrollment spikes, ranks No. 2 among big cities - Seattle Times

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