Angry parents packed the Bainbridge Island school board meeting Dec. 15, upset that their nearby schools could be closed.
“The district put forth an option that made education inaccessible for so many of our students. Removing a neighborhood school is removing access to a community resource center,” said teacher Erin Graham of Ordway Elementary, one of the schools identified for possible closure. During public comments she added, “I could easily fill the three minutes of concern for my kids but they do not compare to those of my many Ordway families.”
Superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen said nothing is set in stone. “I want to acknowledge there are so many areas for further analysis. We want to continue to learn about the potential impact on students across the spectrum of race, economic and neuro-diversity factors.”
The BISD is looking to possibly close Ordway and Commodore Elementary schools and relocate students in other scenarios. The district feels it has to do something due to continued declining enrollment, which means less money from the state, which leads to budget restrictions. A final decision is expected in March.
Scenario A includes closing the two schools and relocating those programs to Sakai, Woodward and Bainbridge High. Fifth-graders would be moved into neighborhood schools while sixth-graders would be moved to Woodward.
Scenario B includes closing one of the schools while Blakely and Halilts would serve pre-K through third grade. Sakai would serve fourth through sixth grades and Choice schools (Odyssey, Mosaic and El Velero) would be housed in either Ordway or Commodore. Lastly, Eagle Harbor students would be moved to Bainbridge High.
Scenario A could save an estimated $2.4 million. $2.1 million would come from staff savings, about $85,000 would be saved from not using utilities in the buildings and about $53,000 would be saved for not having to do maintenance.
Scenario B would save an estimated $1.4 million. $1.3 million from staff, about $42,600 from utilities and about $26,600 from maintenance.
“One of the things I want to keep emphasizing is this is a snapshot of our best estimate at this point,” Bang-Knudsen said. “I know there are a lot of questions about where we get those numbers, and the numbers will continue to evolve.”
Over 40 people make public comments for over two hours at the meeting. Many targeted the same issues regarding Ordway demographics.
One Ordway parent said, “I could not escape the reality that closing Ordway will greatly impact lower-income and minority students. A study I saw shows a pattern of school closures throughout the nation that disproportionately target schools with higher minority and lower-income populations.”
Becky Walden said: “Equity means shared ownership, and I have not seen that. Instead, the scenarios would spread without widespread info on the needs, priorities and concerns of our community and the inclusiveness of the most affected by this decision.”
Aaron Blumenthal added: “I want to speak in favor of our Options program. Our Options program helped this district by retaining and attracting students who thought of alternatives to the main program. I’m asking when you are evaluating these options, please keep that forefront and that you will work with us as a community through these issues.”
An unidentified person said: “I knew becoming a part of a diverse school would help a black child like Isaiah. It can help develop a positive self-image and a strong sense of identity to help ensure they are not alone.”
Others discussed how the closure of Ordway can bring tougher challenges for bus drivers and the length of the bus routes.
Even if schools are closed and consolidated, the school district will still need to make more cuts of between $1.4 million and $2.1 million. The largest cuts would include non-direct classroom instruction positions ($1.75 million), adjust sectioning and class size ($1.08 million), specialist and K-12 elective positions ($523,600) and many more.
