I felt it necessary to respond to the extensive coverage the West Seattle Herald gave the "plight" of Pathfinder in the June 7 edition. I find the parental opposition and some of their comments to be highly ironic and in contradiction to the stated purpose of their school and out of alignment with the District vision for restructuring.

The Pathfinder community objects to the Boren building because it is too large and unsuitable for their needs. Despite their stated commitment to providing an "alternative" program with service to the Native American community at the core of its vision, it has no interest in sharing space with one of the preeminent Native American organizations in the area, Huchoosedah. According to the co-president of the PTSA, Lynette Martin, "Pathfinder K-8 desires to stay small with only a growth in the middle school of 30 students for a total population of 400. This keeps with the alternative philosophy and vision of a small community."

The co-president of the PTSA claims the Community Advisory Committee provided no compelling case for the move to Boren despite acknowledging that it is spacious, would allow for growth and would have the potential to co-locate compatible programs.

There also seems to be a contradiction between the strong program the Pathfinder community says it has and concerns that the program would end if it was moved. Surely, if they were able to build such a flourishing program at the so called "dump" at Genesee Hill, then why wouldn't they be able to use their 15,000 hours with hundreds of volunteers and 96 percent parent involvement (Pathfinder Annual report) to continue and implement an even stronger program at Boren with the Huchoosedah program?

On a personal note, as an employee who worked for 10 years in the Boren building, without benefit of any of the remodeling which has since occurred nor the "gentrification" of the neighborhood which is now going on, I have to wonder what the real agenda is. The Boren building was considered perfectly adequate for Cooper, West Seattle, Madison and Cleveland students. But not Pathfinder?

Is the real issue the desire to have one of the new buildings that were previously suggested for Pathfinder? Is Boren considered a "come down" in Pathfinder parent eyes? Does the fact that the Boren building would work perfectly well for them and allow them to establish real links with the Native American community hold no weight?

I do have some suggestions for the Pathfinder Community:

1. Use the community to raise funds to make the move to Boren a positive one.

2. Use the strong parent connections and the vocal supporters on the School Board to convince the District to make the cosmetic changes to Boren that you feel are needed from the money saved by closing Genesee Hill and Hughes.

3. Embrace the District's vision, and your stated vision, of a Native American focused building by co-housing

4. Start lobbying for a Capital Improvement Levy (with Boren on the list)

5. Or deal with the District about renovating the current building, Genesee Hill

6. And focus all energies into a cause you can feel good about

Think very seriously about the ramifications if Pathfinder does not move to Boren. Pathfinder is not being told to shut down their program, disperse their students to many other schools or break up their community. The Community Advisory Committee and Superintendent's Recommendations are not the end of the world for them. But it would be the end for another community if Pathfinder does not move to the available Boren building (or stay in Genesee Hill).

Is that a legacy Pathfinder wants to live with? Consider building not destroying

Sherry Murray

Cooper Elementary