Parents, students, and educators have rallied against the plan, prompting emotional responses from school board members and calls for better transparency. In an unexpected development, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones announced Tuesday that he might withdraw his controversial recommendation to close elementary schools, reversing course after months of heated debate.
Parents and students hold signs outside a Seattle Public Schools board meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2025.
KUOW Photo/Sami WestThis pivot follows Jones’ initial proposal in September to shutter up to 21 elementary and K-8 schools, later reduced to four: North Beach, Sacajawea, Sanislo, and Stevens.“The school board directed me to develop a preliminary recommendation for consolidations,” Jones said during a school board meeting on Tuesday, where he was expected to provide an update. “However, it’s now evident that this direction is shifting. I am seriously considering retracting my initial proposal.”Jones added that he needs more time to decide whether to revisit the plan, modify it, or abandon it entirely. The status of legally mandated school closure hearings, which were scheduled to start next month, is now uncertain.During Tuesday's board meeting, dozens of community members—including parents, educators, and students—voiced strong opposition to the closures during the public comment period.Some school board members also expressed misgivings, criticizing the lack of clarity about how the closures would contribute to improving academic outcomes, a primary goal for the district.Board President Liza Rankin, visibly emotional, apologized to the audience for the prolonged and fraught process. “I’m furious that we’re here, in what feels like an entirely avoidable situation,” Rankin said. “Your questions haven’t been answered, and neither have ours.”
Parents and students hold signs outside a Seattle Public Schools board meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2025.KUOW Photo/Sami WestThis pivot follows Jones’ initial proposal in September to shutter up to 21 elementary and K-8 schools, later reduced to four: North Beach, Sacajawea, Sanislo, and Stevens.“The school board directed me to develop a preliminary recommendation for consolidations,” Jones said during a school board meeting on Tuesday, where he was expected to provide an update. “However, it’s now evident that this direction is shifting. I am seriously considering retracting my initial proposal.”Jones added that he needs more time to decide whether to revisit the plan, modify it, or abandon it entirely. The status of legally mandated school closure hearings, which were scheduled to start next month, is now uncertain.During Tuesday's board meeting, dozens of community members—including parents, educators, and students—voiced strong opposition to the closures during the public comment period.Some school board members also expressed misgivings, criticizing the lack of clarity about how the closures would contribute to improving academic outcomes, a primary goal for the district.Board President Liza Rankin, visibly emotional, apologized to the audience for the prolonged and fraught process. “I’m furious that we’re here, in what feels like an entirely avoidable situation,” Rankin said. “Your questions haven’t been answered, and neither have ours.”
