09.13.2024

Today’s Forecast

📝 Pencils down

Seattle Public Schools introduces two proposals for closing schools

Chief Sealth International High School in West Seattle is one of 104 schools in the city’s district. | Photo via Seattle Public Schools

The time has come — Seattle Public Schools (SPS) released two proposals for dealing with its $91.5 million budget gap. Both plans include closing at least 17 schools across the system.

The idea for closing schools to manage its deficit was first floated in the beginning of 2023.

Let’s break down these proposals — from what they have in common to how they differ in execution.

What both plans include

Both plans suggest closing the following schools: Licton Springs K-8, North Beach, Broadview-Thomson K-8, Green Lake, Decatur, Cedar Park, Laurelhurst, Catharine Blaine K-8, John Hay, McGilvra, Stevens, Orca K-8, Graham Hill, Rainier View Boren STEM K-8, and Sanislo.

Some other schools will switch categorization to attendance area schools (meaning enrollment is determined by a student’s home address) in both plans. These include: John Stanford, McDonald, Cascadia, Thornton Creek Elementary, and Queen Anne Elementary.

Laurelhurst will also become an interim location for Sand Point.

Now that we’ve covered the overlap, here’s how the plans deviate + what parents should pay attention to for public comments.

Plan A: ~$31.5 million in savings

This plan relies on closing a few more schools than Plan B (21 total) and no longer offering K-8 or option elementary schools to save some cash.

The extra schools slated for closure under this plan include:

Salmon Bay K-8
Sacajawea
TOPS K-8
Dunlap
Lafayette

Hazel Wold K-8, South Shore PreK-8, and Pathfinder K-8 would also become attendance area K-5 schools under this plan.

Plan B: ~$21.5 million in savings

This plan only closes the original 17 schools, but key differences include:

The closure of Thurgood Marshall
Keeping an option K-8 school open in each region of town
Reducing the budget through other areas like staffing reductions

SPS will be hosting in-person meetings between Wednesday, Sept. 25 and Tuesday, Oct. 8 to gather feedback from locals.

Events

Friday, Sept. 13

Belltown Art Walk | Friday, Sept. 13 | 6-9 p.m. | Belltown Neighborhood | Free | Get a look at the neighborhood’s newest gallery exhibits and meet the artists behind the works.
I Saw You: A Comedy with Heart | Friday, Sept. 13-Saturday, Sept. 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Unexpected Productions | $12+ | Inspired by The Stranger’s version of “Missed Connections,” this improv acts out real submissions from Seattleites.

Saturday, Sept. 14

2024 Apple Cup | Saturday, Sept. 14 | 12:30 p.m. | Lumen Field | $90+ | Not sure how to experience this century-old rivalry? We’ve got you covered.
Art Battle Seattle | Saturday, Sept. 14 | 6-10 p.m. | Leif Erikson Hall | $20 | A group of artists will complete three different masterpieces during 20-minute rounds — the crowd will vote for the winner.
David Spade: Catch Me Inside | Saturday, Sept. 14 | 8 p.m. | Moore Theatre | $42+ | The sardonic SNL alum throws around barbs and silly one-liners reminiscent of his old “Tommy Boy” days.

Sunday, Sept. 15

Third Annual Adult Field Day | Sunday, Sept. 15 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Jimi Hendrix Park | Free | Release your inner child and return to the days of intense elementary school competitions like relay races, tug of war, and ring tosses.
“中秋情- Impression of EAST and WEST” | Sunday, Sept. 15 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Meydenbauer Theater | $40+ | This stunning classical concert features a blend of prominent works from Western and Eastern cultures.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Festival

🍻 Celebrate the official start of fall at Fremont Oktoberfest

Two people posing with their two small white dogs.

Pups are welcome to join on Sunday, Sept. 22 for Dogtoberfest. | Photo provided by Fremont Oktoberfest

Bust out your lederhosen + dust off your dirndls. Fremont Oktoberfest is happening next weekend, Friday, Sept. 20-Sunday, Sept. 22.

Here’s what we’re looking forward to at Seattle’s largest beer festival:

Tasting 100+ seasonal beers
Putting our biceps to the test at the Stein Hoisting Competition
Let man’s best drinking buddy tag along on Sunday for Dogtoberfest
And more

Explore tickets + weekend passes. Pro tip: Use this promo code for two free drink tokens.

Prost, Seattle

News Notes

Traffic

The Ballard Bridge will be closed to car traffic this weekend while crews continue some maintenance projects. The closure will begin tonight at 10 p.m. and continue until 5 a.m. Monday morning. More weekend-long closures are planned throughout the fall. (KING 5)

Coming Soon

In case you’re feeling called to do some more slurping, a new soup-less noodle chain is on its way to Seattle. Kajiken, which specializes in aburasoba, hopes to open its new Capitol Hill space next to the Hugo House by late November. (Eater Seattle)

Cause

Rooftop Brewing Co. has launched a GoFundMe in an effort to recover from a mid-August fire that burned its brewing grains and caused structural damages. Funds will be split between supporting its employees and helping the business recover. (Eater Seattle)

Ranked

We may not be honkers here, but Seattle does have the third worst traffic in the US according to a report by ConsumerAffairs. Seattle’s average commute time landed at ~28 minutes, behind only Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. (KING 5)

Community

Woodland Park Zoo’s sole hippo is moving to a new home. The strategic move aims to introduce Lupe to a more social environment + minimize the zoo’s water waste. The hippo exhibit absorbs 20% of the zoo’s water consumption — a lot for one little hippo. (KING 5)

Eat

KING 5 reporter Chris Egan has a very serious question for everyone. What’s better — the Washington State Fair scone or elephant ear? His vote favors the scone, but maybe you have some other opinions you wanna express?

Sports

The pressure’s on for the Washington Huskies — the Apple Cup is tomorrow. Will their defense hold up? Hear from the local experts with Locked On’s daily, Huskies-focused podcast.

The Word

Balance transfer cards: One of the best-kept secrets for managing credit card debt. This card gives you almost two years to pay off your existing balance, sans interest — plus, that sweet, sweet cash back.*

Shop

Level up your fall wardrobe with this stylish and versatile men’s quarter zip sweater. Its sophisticated mock neck design makes it perfect for both casual and formal wear.*

Culture

🎶 The rest is still unwritten

Unwritten rules of Seattle

A woman carries a plastic see-through umbrella through the rainy streets of Seattle, WA

Yeah, umbrellas aren’t really a thing around here. | Photo via @tek.tones

Whether you’re an Emerald City native or a relative newcomer, there are just some things every Seattleite understands to be true.

We asked our readers, Instagram followers, and Redditors to share Seattle’s unwritten rules — from common city knowledge to relatable trends and local lingo. You won’t find these rules in a handbook, but they are undoubtedly absorbed by the community. If you’re not from Seattle, these might be a little difficult to explain.

“Pike Place Market, NOT Pike’s Market. I-5, I-90, 520, NOT the 5, the 90... etc.” — reader Ashlii D. [Editor’s note: Pike Place or The Market also work]
“If you’re going downhill and there is an oncoming car going uphill, you give the uphill driver the right of way.” — @kim_kalgon
“Don’t cut in the ferry line!” — @harmonysoleil
“Flannel never ever is out of season or fashion. Ever.” — @stuffedlasercat
“Beechers’ Cheese is better than any other cheese.” — @anusha.gupta

Did we miss something? Let us know.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Alina

From the editor

I’m about to be out for a week visiting loved ones and exploring NYC — any of you SEAtoday readers have some good recommendations for the Big Apple? Especially when it comes to thrifting and coffee spots.

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