Seattle Hall Pass

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In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass , hosts Christie, Jane, and Jasmine dive into the data-rich presentation on Seattle Public Schools' student outcomes, delivered by Dr. Ray Hart, Executive Director of the Council of Great City Schools, at the October 23rd special school board meeting. They break down the findings on student performance trends, equity gaps, and economic factors affecting ac...

In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass , school board director Gina Topp discusses the school closure plans with co-hosts Christie and Jane. The three also discuss Seattle Public Schools’ $94 million budget gap, the upcoming legislative session, community engagement, and student outcomes-focused governance. See our Show Notes Contact us

In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass , we dive into Seattle Public Schools' proposal to close and consolidate four elementary schools: North Beach, Sacajawea, Stevens, and Sanislo. Christie, Jane, and Jasmine explore critical questions surrounding the district’s decision-making process, including the criteria used for selecting these schools, the potential impacts on special education service...

In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass , we sit down with former Seattle Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Stephen Nielsen to understand the implications of “binding conditions” and potential state oversight for Seattle Public Schools if it can’t close its budget gap. Nielsen shares his insights on what financial oversight might look like, the difficult cuts that could follow, and the complex his...

In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass , we discuss school and student safety in Seattle Public Schools, featuring interviews with students, staff, and parents. We explore concerns about balancing physical safety measures with the need for mental health support, sharing perspectives on a $20 million initially promised from the city for mental health. Voices from the community highlight the role of t...

In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass , School Board Director Joe Mizrahi shares his perspective on Seattle Public Schools' plans for addressing declining enrollment and budget deficits. Director Mizrahi emphasizes the importance of minimizing impacts on students and families, focusing on a more thoughtful and community-centered approach to school closures. He touches as well on the role of st...

Christie, Jane, and Jasmine break down the October 9 Seattle School Board meeting, where the board passed a resolution to close up to five schools. We discuss the surprise executive session, held behind closed doors, and the newly imposed controls on board directors' questions and interactions with staff and the superintendent. Finally, we opine on where Student Outcomes Focused Governance is...

In this first episode of our Option C series, we explore alternatives to Seattle Public Schools' closure plans, known as Options A and B, which initially proposed closing up to 21 schools. Our guest, Ben Gitenstein , an SPS parent and former school board candidate, introduces the idea of a school board recall as his "Option C" in response to what he sees as the school board's u...

In this episode, we discuss Seattle Public Schools' revised plan to close 5 schools instead of 17-21, and the renewal of Superintendent Jones' contract with modified evaluation metrics. We reflect on feedback from our previous episode and emphasize continued advocacy for education funding. See our Show Notes . Contact us .

This episode of Seattle Hall Pass focuses on three main stories converging in Seattle Public Schools: The Financial Story The Equity Story The Student Story ... and how these competing priorities create a complex, seemingly impossible situation for the district to resolve satisfactorily. See our Show Notes . Contact us .

Seattle Public School Board President Liza Rankin, Student Outcomes Focused Governance coach AJ Crabill, and public school advocate Robert Cruickshank are interviewed about the governance model used by the SPS School Board. Thanks to Dawson Nichols for producing this episode. This is a video! Watch the video here . See our Show Notes . Note: Seattle Hall Pass features a variety of voices. Each per...

Seattle Public Schools has finally released potential lists of schools to close. We attempt to sort through some of the information. See our show notes . Contact us: Send corrections, suggestions, and comments to hello@seattlehallpass.org. Send us a voice memo at speak.seattlehallpass.org Disclaimer: Seattle Hall Pass features a variety of voices. Each person’s opinions are their own. 

We review major topics from the school board meeting on August 28. Topics include:  school closures and state funding dual-language immersion  principals’ union contract highly capable services See our Show Notes Contact us at hello@seattlehallpass.org

Christie, Jasmine, and Jane discuss new safety measures being implemented for the upcoming school year.  The total investment of $14.55 million by the city and school district includes mental health support, violence intervention, and increased police presence around schools.   Show Notes Contact us at hello@seattlehallpass.org

Christie Robertson and intern Jasmine Pulido look back at Season One of Seattle Hall Pass, which spanned the 2023-24 school year at Seattle Public Schools. They reference Hall Pass episodes on the district’s budget woes, postponed school closures, school board director resignations and appointments, the state legislature, and student outcomes progress monitoring. See our Show Notes . Email us at h...

Jane and Christie cover the June 26, 2024 school board meeting with help from our new intern, Jasmine Pulido. Topics include the postponement of releasing a list of schools to be closed in 2025, the 2024-25 budget introduction and hearing, and the reduction in school board meetings scheduled for the 2024-25 school year. Contact us: Send corrections, suggestions, and comments to hello@seattlehallpa...

This is a new segment called "What Do Other Districts Do?" In this episode, we discuss how other districts handle school closures and how often other districts have school board meetings. See our Show Notes Contact us at hello@seattlehallpass.org

This is a video! See the video here ! In 2005, Seattle Public Schools was projecting falling enrollment, and over the ensuing years, 11 schools were closed. But it turned out that the projections were wrong, and SPS needed to reopen most of the buildings. New Seattle Hall Pass contributor Dawson Nichols spoke to four people who were there - Kay Smith-Blum, Leslie Harris, Sue Peters, and Dora Taylo...

See our Show Notes Contact us hello@seattlehallpass.org School Closure Community Engagement Meetings, May 28 - June 1. In this episode of the Seattle Hall Pass podcast, Christie Robertson and Jane Tunks Demel discuss the recent community meetings held by Seattle Public Schools regarding the proposed closure of 20 out of 73 elementary schools by the 2025-26 school year. They report on the first mee...

Seattle School Board Meeting of May 22, 2024. Guardrails on school discipline and welcoming environments will not be met, but this is not discussed. Testimony dominates the meetings, focused on tensions with the administration at Pathfinder K-8, and fears of looming school closures. See our Show Notes Contact us hello@seattlehallpass.org

Christie Robertson & Jane Tunks Demel discuss the Seattle School Board Meeting of May 8, 2024, wherein the board agreed to entertain a plan to close 20 elementary schools. The list is coming June 10, 2024. Disclaimer: Each person's opinion is their own See our extensive Show Notes Contact us at hello@seattlehallpass.org

Show Notes Contact Us School Board President Liza Rankin shares the Seattle School Board’s immediate plans for community engagement to help inform the district's new Strategic Plan.

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In this special episode of the Seattle Schools Pass podcast, guests discuss the role of the Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance's (SESSFA) annual Move-a-Thon in supporting 17 of our chronically underfunded schools. The Move-a-Thon raises essential funds for basic needs and educational experiences while also building community. Support the cause by donating online at sessfa.org or v...