RESOLUTION

WHEREAS Viewlands Elementary School should remain intact as a program because of their highly successful Model inclusion program housed in a modern, one-story building; according to current District information building space cannot be provided to keep the program intact; and

WHEREAS: Viewlands students have achieved high overall test scores in both Special Education and Non-special Education classes, and have programs such as an irreplaceable "Aspergers Program" for autistic students in which students flourish; and

WHEREAS: By virtue of its location adjacent to Carkeek Park, Viewlands has utilized and can continue to utilize, if kept open, the unparallel opportunities for science/environmental hands-on experiences such as low-tide exploration, salmon life-cycle observation and a multitude of other nature wildlife experiences with no need for buses; and

WHEREAS: Viewlands Elementary School was not allowed the opportunity to increase the enrollment of their school with a K-8 program in 2004 thereby denying entry into what had been on open process, and

WHEREAS: Shutting down the 'beehive' of activity that comprises a neighborhood school adjacent to the dense woods of Carkeek Park could increase opportunities for vandalism, graffiti, homeless encampments, unsupervised teen behaviors and gang activity creating a hardship in the neighborhood and extra work for North end police, and

WHEREAS: IT IS APPARENT THAT THE DECISION BY Superintendent Raj Manhas to close Viewlands and then stating in public on KUOW that he and the district would consider community driven proposals showed his lack of awareness of Viewlands 2004 request,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 46th District Democrats strongly urge the Seattle School Board to direct Superintendent Manhas to (1) reconsider his decision to close Viewlands Elementary School, and (2) give the Viewlands staff the opportunity to implement a K-8 program as previously requested.

Resolution sponsored by:

Nancy Malmgren, PCO 46-2201, Dean Fournier, PCO 46-2539, Rene Murry, PCO 46-2130, and Judith Hine, PCO 36-1388.

Adopted June 15, 2006