Seattle Public Schools cancels closure meetings, is revisiting plan

Facing intense community backlash over proposals to shutter up to 21 schools, the Seattle school district is canceling community meetings scheduled for this week.

In a letter to families Monday, Superintendent Brent Jones said he's "taking more time to reflect on plans to bring a consolidation recommendation this October."

"I am working closely with my leadership team to revise our strategy and ensure any decisions we make are sustainable and prioritize the well-being of our students, staff, and families, working together to meet our goals," he wrote.

Jones also said the district will "revisit" its timeline for consolidation.

Monday's announcement comes days after hundreds of parents packed a school board meeting to speak out against the proposed school closures, and several board members questioned whether the district could pull off widespread closures in such a short time.

Earlier this month, district officials revealed preliminary plans for sweeping school closures, boundary changes, and other school reconfigurations.

One plan — referred to as "Option A" or the "well-resourced schools" plan — would shutter 21 schools and eliminate option and K-8 schools to save an estimated $31.5 million.

The other — "Option B" or the "choice" plan — would close 17 schools, saving a projected $25.5 million and leaving one K-8 school open in each region of the city. If the board moves forward with that plan, officials say they'll have to find another $6 million to $7 million of cuts.

On Monday, Jones apologized that the proposals "created anxiety for many families who rely on the key programs and innovations within our schools."

And he pledged to retool the plans to address their concerns.

"I want to assure you we are taking your concerns seriously," he said. "While our financial challenges are real and it's our fiscal responsibility to resolve them, it is very clear we need more time to listen and earn your trust as we resolve our structural deficit and revisit our timeline."

A new schedule for community engagement sessions will be released soon. Jones said they'll focus on "gathering your ideas and working together to resolve our challenges."