New school on Genesee Hill: See design concepts on Tuesday

The first of two West Seattle elementary schools to be built/rebuilt if Seattle Public Schools‘ BEX IV levy passes next month is already in the design phase. That’s because the new Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill (not its official name; that’s not decided yet) is expected to open in fall 2015. The project team has design concepts/options ready to show the community, and they along with SP principal Gerrit Kischner are inviting you to a presentation next Tuesday (January 22), 7 pm, at SP Elementary’s cafeteria (5000 SW Spokane). Meantime, ballots are expected to be mailed within days for the 2-levy vote on February 12th. (The rebuild to be funded by BEX IV, Arbor Heights Elementary, is slated to open in fall 2018 but the district is hoping to use “bridge funding” to move that up.)

3 Replies to "New school on Genesee Hill: See design concepts on Tuesday"

  • Wess Cider January 19, 2013 (9:45 am)

    Does anyone know if Schmitz Park Elementary plans to also hire more teachers when they move or is the 26-30 kids per classroom (one teacher) going to remain the norm?

  • JenS January 19, 2013 (4:34 pm)

    I’m not 100% sure how this works but I *believe* the district has in place maximum class size guidelines (I think it may be 26 for Kinder and closer to 29-30 for upper elementary school grades, no idea about middle/high school) and once the class sizes get beyond that tipping point, they add another class or sometimes do grade level splits (i.e. a K/1st class or a 4th/5th class). I don’t think it is up to the individual school to hire or not hire; I think they have to get the go-ahead from the district once the numbers shake out each year …

  • E January 19, 2013 (8:29 pm)

    JenS you are wrong. Our son had 29 (!!) kids in his kindergarten class last year. They do have a “tipping point” and that does not add another class but the teacher makes more money. To be honest, I think they’d rather have a smaller, more manageable classroom than a little bit more money. Even worse, our school nearly lost a teacher well into the school year because the final student count was about 15 kids too low to justify the teacher. I can’t believe they were seriously going to take away the teacher! What would they have done with the students? Just put them in all of the other already over crowded classes?? So instead our school got rid of the librarian and took PTA money to pay for and keep the teacher. Ridiculous. SPSD is a joke.

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