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Advocacy Update: 1/13/25

We’re running this January in advance of WA State’s legislative sessions! For more news, please check out last month’s advocacy update. For today, here’s a list of advocacy activity we’re currently focusing on:

  • We’re contacting our State reps to demand they fully fund education. Using engagement templates from the Billion Dollar Bake Sale, a grassroots, parent-led advocacy campaign, we’re sending postcards and emailing State reps in advance of funding-specific advocacy action in Olympia on January 30th.
  • Make your Special Election voting plan for both the BEX and EP&O Levies on February 11th. Passing both levies is vital to ensure Seattle schools maintain its current (insufficient) funding.
  • SPS’ proposed spending for its BEX levy includes building new, large-scale elementary buildings in neighborhoods that are already dense with school buildings. Its BEX plan also spends way more on far fewer construction projects than past plans and continues its practice of tying Technology operations funding to this capital levy (effectively forcing residents to pass it or risk SPS’ operations budget altogether). SPS is not required to follow its proposed plan for Levy spending if levies pass; families can share their vote to try to influence change. Contact all School Board directors and contact Seattle Public Schools.
  • SPS is developing their new 5-year strategic plan. Learn more about the Goals and Guardrails in this plan here. Share your voice about this proposed strategic plan by contacting all School Board directors and Seattle Public Schools before the School Board votes to approve the plan at their meeting on January 22nd.
  • School Board Meetings are an amazing opportunity to share your voice and learn more about the district’s work and priorities. Learn more about upcoming meetings, how to watch or attend, and how to sign-up for public testimony.
  • On the horizon, we anticipate the following issues that will require advocacy efforts to surface:
    • THREE BELLS: The District has mentioned (but not shared specifics) moving from “two bells” (or school start/end times) to “three bells.” The last “3 Bell” proposal in 2022 moved neighboring elementary schools to either 7:25am or 9:25am start times. It was disbanded following public outcry as it created unsolvable childcare challenges and unsafe conditions for families.
    • REDUCE ALL LIBRARIANS TO .5 FTE: The District has mentioned reducing all librarians to .5 FTE. While this wouldn’t reduce Whittier’s library time, it does impact middle and high school librarians (currently 1.0 FTE) and functionally eliminate student library access for half the school year, including using the library space for clubs and other student activities.
    • NEW SCHOOL BOARD LEADERSHIP: The School Board voted Gina Topp at their new President, Evan Briggs as Vice President, Joe Mizrahi as Member-at-Large, and (D2 Director) Sarah Clark as Chair of a Financial Oversight and Short-Term Strategic Planning Committee. School Board Elections are slated for Nov 4, 2025. Our community will want to express support for this year’s school board directors that act and vote in alignment with our voices to help build a coalition of directors that can vote in agreement with our values.
    • CLOSURES WILL COME BACK: Director Rankin, Director Briggs, and others have remarked that they believe school closures are the only way out of SPS’ operational deficit. Without a majority coalition at the school board level, we should anticipate the possibility of being impacted by future school closure proposals and the need to organize and advocate for proposals that have the best outcomes for our students.