A Summary of SPS Engagement Sessions with Faauu Manu, Enrollment Specialist
/This post summarizes key topics discussed between parents of Sacajawea Elementary School students and SPS Enrollment Specialist Faauu Manu regarding the proposed closure of Sacajawea and its consolidation with John Rogers Elementary School. These meetings occurred at Sacajawea during the weeks of Oct. 28th and Nov. 4th with very little notice given before each meeting (typically one day or less). We created this post using the notes provided by various parents who attended one or more sessions with Faauu.
During these sessions, parents raised concerns about the transition's impacts on students and families, with a focus on areas such as special education services, after-school care, transportation, staffing, and community diversity. While Faauu provided some responses, numerous questions remain open, contributing to parental concerns about communication and transparency from the district.
The following sections cover each topic in detail. Questions with provided answers are listed first, followed by unanswered questions and concerns for each section.
Special Education (SPED) / Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
Sacajawea is known for its strong SPED programs, and parents have concerns about whether similar support will be available at John Rogers. Many parents feel that merging two high-need populations, such as the significant SPED population at Sacajawea and the large English Language Learner (ELL) group at John Rogers, will create challenges for both communities.
Questions with Answers
How will the district ensure that families needing SPED resources will have the same level of support if the schools are combined?
Answer: Faauu indicated that SPED services would follow students to John Rogers. She also mentioned that John Rogers has some parallel programs in place but did not provide specifics on how these programs and supports would be merged or coordinated. Additionally, Faauu implied that some students might need to move to a different school to receive their full range of support services.
What options are available for students in distinct programs who may want to be reassigned to a school closer to home rather than John Rogers?
Answer: Parents were told they could use the district’s choice system to request reassignment to a closer school if desired.
Unanswered Questions and Concerns
Facilities and Staffing for SPED: Can the facilities and staff at John Rogers support all students from the SPED community at Sacajawea? Will some students with additional service needs effectively be excluded from the merged school due to capacity limits?
Resource Allocation: How many resource rooms are allocated for SPED at John Rogers? One parent voiced, “Combining two schools creates a high-needs environment—how is that being planned for?”
Consideration of Population Needs: A parent expressed concern, saying, “I’m concerned about combining two high-need communities without fully considering the actual populations. John Rogers has a large ELL group, and Sacajawea has a large SPED group. I haven't heard anything that makes me confident that this has been considered.”
After-School Care
After-school care is essential for many Sacajawea families, especially the Boys and Girls Club (BGC) program, which includes options for non-school days and summer care. There is concern over whether BGC and similar programs will be accessible at John Rogers.
Questions with Answers
Will after-school care, particularly the Boys and Girls Club, be available at John Rogers?
Answer: Faauu stated that she does not yet know the answer. Parks and Recreation, which manages after-school programs at John Rogers, found out about the proposed consolidation at the same time as the parents, and no planning has occurred so far. Additionally, it was unclear if there is enough space at John Rogers for an after-school program.
Will the district coordinate with the Boys and Girls Club to explore after-care options at John Rogers?
Answer: Faauu recognized the importance of after-school care and committed to raising the issue with her team and Dr. Jones. However, as of now, the Boys and Girls Club has not been contacted by the district about potential changes.
Unanswered Questions and Concerns
Capacity and Priority for After-School Care: A parent voiced frustration, “Seattle Parks and Rec has a very small number of spots—around 30, which isn’t even 10% of the new John Rogers population. Sacajawea families don’t stand a chance of getting in.”
Reliance on After-School Programs: Another parent shared, “I rely heavily on after-school care. I won’t be able to work without it. The district should have answers to these questions before making such major decisions.”
Choice Options
Parents raised questions about options for students who may not want to attend John Rogers and about priority within the school choice system for Sacajawea families.
Questions with Answers
Will Sacajawea families receive priority within the school choice system, particularly for schools close to their homes?
Answer: Faauu stated that Sacajawea families will have top preference for Olympic View during the school choice period, even over current option families who have an incoming kindergartner.
Unanswered Questions and Concerns
Alternative Options for Families: Parents want clarity on what specific options will be available for families who do not wish to send their children to John Rogers.
Assignment Logic: Some parents questioned the district’s decision-making, with one parent asking, “Why wasn’t Maple Leaf assigned to Olympic View instead?”
Transportation
Transportation is a significant concern, especially for families who live within walking distance of Sacajawea and will now face busing challenges if assigned to John Rogers.
Questions with Answers
How will the district handle transportation for students moving from Sacajawea to John Rogers?
Answer: Faauu did not provide specific details on the duration or extent of bus services for Sacajawea families, nor on any long-term plans to avoid further disruptions.
Unanswered Questions and Concerns
Bus Service Duration: Parents want to know, “How long will SPS provide bus service to the entire school—1-2 years or longer?”
Winter Transportation Concerns: A parent pointed out, “How will the district effectively transport 200 kids to John Rogers, especially in winter when the hills are impassable?”
Building Plan Post-Move
Parents raised questions about what will happen to the Sacajawea building and property after the school closes, especially those living nearby.
Questions with Answers
What is the district’s plan for the Sacajawea building and property post-closure?
Answer: Faauu did not provide a specific plan, but parents are concerned about the potential for vandalism and the expense of maintaining or demolishing an empty building.
Unanswered Questions and Concerns
Financial Implications: A parent asked, “How does closing Sacajawea save the district money if they’ll incur expenses from demolition or repurposing?”
Title I Status
Title I funding provides critical resources for high-poverty schools. Parents are concerned about how merging with John Rogers might impact this funding and related staffing ratios.
Questions with Answers
How will the Title I status of John Rogers be affected by the merge?
Answer: Faauu directed parents to review the plan online but did not provide specifics on potential changes to Title I funding or staffing ratios.
Staffing
Concerns about teacher and staff reassignments were also raised, particularly around maintaining sufficient specialist time for students.
Questions with Answers
Will Sacajawea teachers and staff be reassigned to John Rogers along with their students?
Answer: Faauu indicated that teachers who wish to transfer with their students can do so, as allowed by the district’s contract.
Unanswered Questions and Concerns
Specialist Instruction Time: A parent noted, “We have 2.5 FTE specialists at Sacajawea, but John Rogers is set for only 3.0 FTE with twice as many kids. This would mean a decrease in time spent in art, PE, and music.”
Diversity in the New School
There are concerns about whether the district has considered the potential impact on diversity and long-term viability of the merged school assignment.
Questions with Answers
What steps is the district taking to preserve diversity at John Rogers after the merger?
Answer: Faauu acknowledged that maintaining diversity has been a struggle in the past but did not share any specific plans for how the merged school would handle this.
Final Thoughts and Future Concerns
Parents requested greater transparency from SPS regarding the data behind the consolidation decision, expressing frustration over the timing and a sense of lost trust. Some parents also emphasized the importance of understanding the short- and long-term impacts on school assignments within the neighborhood. A parent summarized this concern: “I don’t want to agonize over this decision if it turns out to be moot and Sacajawea stays open.”
Parents are also aware that Faauu and her team are conducting an enrollment study to understand where SPS students are going and to address the district’s reputation. However, there is concern that SPS appears willing to invest significant resources into image improvement rather than addressing immediate needs at existing schools.