FIXING SCHOOL FUNDING: West Seattle-wide invitation for Wednesday conversation

In the midst of the current school-funding crisis – with schools here and around the city facing the loss of teachers, and voices (including last night’s $70,000 donor) calling for a look at the big picture – here’s your chance for the latter. Just out of the WSB inbox:

Fairmount Park Elementary PTA cordially invites members of the West Seattle Schools Community to join us Wednesday for an overview of the current education funding situation and a candid conversation about how our schools can come together to effect change.

Our Paramount Duty: Getting to the Heart of School Funding in WA
Wednesday, October 14th, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Fairmount Park Elementary School Auditorium
3800 SW Findlay

Agenda

*Welcome from FPE PTA Leaders
*Show Us The Money: McCleary & Washington State Budget – Heidi Bennett
*Coming together to create change: How can community members work together to address the ongoing funding shortfall in our state?
*Participate in constructive dialog and candid conversation with longtime education advocates and PTA leaders to formulate action items to which our community can commit to moving forward.

flyntheointment October 12, 2015 (3:22 pm)

The big picture: Seattle Public School District has been in decline since the 1970s when enrollment topped 100,000. While the District trumpets recent enrollment growth, increases haven’t been sufficient to offset annual increases in operating and maintenance costs. That’s why the District is in financial crisis every 5 years, and small over projections in enrollment have widespread impact. Funding is not the problem.