1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I'm writing as the parent of two children in Seattle Public Schools. Earlier today, I was made aware that Bellevue School District sent out an email gloating about their increased numbers of elementary students. They are reaping the benefits of SPS's chaos and mismanagement, and are seeing student growth, likely from families who either moved out of Seattle for "better schools," or families who commute to the East Side for work and don't mind bringing their kids along for the ride. I'm angry. Bellevue (and Shoreline, and private schools) are poaching students while SPS continues to bleed enrollment. SPS's current plans are to close and consolidate schools, impacting tens of thousands of students in the district. This generation has already had tremendous learning disruption due to COVID. They deserve better than to be shuffled from school to school every year because SPS thinks of them as just a number rather than individual humans with actual needs. I'm writing today to ask you to please push for funding for SPS, as well as new management that does not see school closures as the answers to their financial woes. It does not seem that SPS has kids' best interests as heart as they make these decisions, and are instead operating like a business where the bottom line takes priority. Please don't let money take precedence over our kids' futures. Thank you.