Important Information On The School Boundary Proposals

Dear QAE Parents,

As you may be aware, the Seattle Public School District is currently evaluating new growth boundary proposals for many of its schools.

While there are no changes to QAE’s boundaries in the proposal at this time, there are significant implications for our school.  We are writing to let you know what some of these are, and to ask for your help in voicing any requests/concerns you may have for QAE.

The new boundary proposal increases QAE’s enrollment capacity from 350 to 525 (for 2019) and also includes a self-contained special needs program.  The capacity increase is no surprise, given our current enrollment figure of 336 and our build-out rate of two new classrooms per year.  The district opened QAE’s doors to alleviate over-crowding in the McClure service area and to provide families with an option other than their neighborhood school, and we are certainly accomplishing that goal!  You can look here for projected student enrollment and other statistics.

QAE is on the BEX IV levy for a major renovation and expansion that would accommodate the larger enrollment; however, the new building will not be completed until 2019.  We need the district’s help in planning and funding short-term mitigation measures.

Once our neighborhood school boundaries have been solidified, we anticipate possible changes to our boundaries, and we want to insure that the board considers the needs of our school and the entire McClure service area when they vote on those changes.

QAE PTSA strongly encourages you to write the board with any thoughts or comments you may have; their names and contacts are below.  In addition, there is an important board meeting next Wednesday night, 10/16, where they will be discussing the proposals and hearing testimony from interested parties.  We encourage you to attend that meeting, if you are able.  Board meeting details can be found here.

Having reviewed the information available, here is what we plan to say to the board:

·      We support any boundary changes that the Board determines will best meet the needs of the entire McClure service area.

·      We ask the Board to consider the capacity and infrastructure constraints of our school.  With a total capacity of 16 classrooms, a gym portable, small lunchroom, and four other under-sized portables currently on site – it will be a challenge to accommodate 18 K-5th grade classes and support their needs with Special Resources, Art and Technology rooms on site.  QAE needs your help in planning for this growth.

·      QAE welcomes any one who would like to enroll in our school, and we ask that our school boundaries and option school status reflect this inclusiveness.

·      As an option school in the McClure service area, we provide great value to our community, and we respectfully request to maintain that status.

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments on the above information.

QAE PTSA

 
Please email the following contacts:

GrowthBoundaries@seattleschools.org 

Tracy Libros, Manager of Enrollment and Planning
trlibros@seattleschools.org

Flip Herndon, Assistant Superintendent of Capital Facilities
ltherndon@seattleschools.org


Seattle School Board Directors

Michael DeBell, District IV (QAE district)

michael.debell@seattleschools.org

Kay Smith-Blum, District V

Operations Committee, President

kay.smith-blum@seattleschools.org

Marty McLaren, District VI

Operations Committee

martha.mclaren@seattleschools.org

 

Sharon Peaslee, District I

Operations Committee, Member-at-Large

sharon.peaslee@seattleschools.org

Sherry Carr, District II

sherry.carr@seattleschools.org