Last year's canceled school closure process made clear that keeping schools open is important to the public . School choice and keeping schools open, not school closures, should have been the starting point of the superintendent's advisory committee.

The philosophic underpinnings of current public school closure proposals are inappropriately based in the private sector: closing "inefficient" outlets (schools); outsourcing jobs and services; cutting "subsidies." The district is adopting a divide and conquer strategy, getting school communities to finger each other for closure and pitting groups of employees against each other over job cuts, while egging on parents and the public to take sides. It may be no surprise that the school closure process is being funded by private grants.

In the private sector view, all expenditures become trade-offs and any spending on one item or service is a "subsidy" at the expense of another item or service. In this view, "smaller" schools, neighborhood schools, alternative schools and your "favorite" school or program (fill in the blank) are said to be "subsidized" and school "choice," transportation options and clean classrooms are all somehow undercutting "equity" and "education." This is nonsense.

Public schools are the people's schools. Public schools are not just private schools which happen to get public tax money. Public schools have a tradition of providing everyone access to opportunities for an education. These are issues of fairness in the public schools: regardless of how much money you have, or your race or ethnic background, you, as a child, have the right to attend a public school and learn about the world.

The district has deliberately touted the need for new programs as a way to "sell" school closures. But, in my view, improving academics does not require large new amounts of cash - it requires people who know what they are doing.

The whole concept of a systemic budget "problem" is undercut by the fact that the district has built up a $13.7 million reserve during the past two years of a supposed budget "crisis." And it is worth noting that core teacher salaries are set by the state - they cannot e raised or lowered by anything the district does.

Also, there is no guarantee that school closures will save money: the district's "consolidation" into its new headquarters, once expected to save tens of millions of dollars, is not expected to lose $32 million.

How should closures be fought? I am counting on people to come up with creative ideas, which I hope will target the entire concept of school closures. With enough pressure, the district may back off and halt the school closure process. However, I think it would be good for school communities to raise funds, line up lawyers and prepare to contest school closures in court. Also, I think it would be good for the public to be planning to elect new school board members who will reverse school closures - either at scheduled elections in November 2007 or sooner through recall elections.

Chris Jackins

Coordinator

Seattle Committee to Save Schools