On Jan. 29 the Seattle School board will vote to decide whether to carry out the Superintendent's recommendations for capacity management across the district.

Since the final recommendation was made on Jan. 6, school board members have attended numerous public hearings and community meetings to hear the opinions of teachers, parents and students.

"We've tried to listen very carefully to what people have to say," says school board member Sherry Carr. "The goal is to be sure that what we vote on is the very best proposal it could be."

One of the most contended proposals in the recommendation is Goodloe-Johnson's suggestion that the Cooper program discontinue so that Pathfinder K-8 can move into the Cooper building.

If approved, Cooper students will be reassigned to other local elementary schools based on their address. Students in Cooper's self-contained special education program would have the opportunity to remain at the school as a part of the Pathfinder program.

Because Pathfinder is West Seattle's only alternative education program, it was a priority of the district's to relocate. The school is currently located in the Genesee Hill building, a facility that is too small for the program and costs the district too much to maintain.

When looking at existing school buildings in West Seattle where Pathfinder could move, the district found that only Cooper and Arbor Heights would be large enough for the program. Although Arbor Heights was initially suggested to close, the Superintendent's final proposal included Cooper based on its geographic location. The building is not located in the heart of a neighborhood, and therefore is considered a more appropriate facility for a "choice" program with that draws students from all areas of West Seattle.

Steve Sundquist, West Seattle's school board representative, says he is concerned that the district has projected enrollment at Cooper could drop based on birth records.

"I will make sure the district is doing its homework and look at development in the Cooper area," says Sundquist.

The district has also stated that Cooper would be a more appropriate facility for Pathfinder's K-8 program. The school is nearly 30,000 square feet larger and the building layout would allow for separation of Pathfinder's elementary and middle school students.

But the Cooper Elementary community has strongly opposed the Superintendent's recommendation. The biggest concern suggests that Cooper students will receive a lower quality education if reassigned to other West Seattle schools. Compared to other elementary programs with similar demographics, Cooper has scored relatively high on the Washington State Assessment test. The school has also been successful in addressing a high percentage of students in poverty as well as English language learners.

"The Cooper community have shown themselves to be strong through this entire process," says Carr.

Another component of the recommendation that could impact West Seattle is the proposed split of the Accelerated Progress Program (APP) at Lowell Elementary school. If the recommendation is approved, APP students living in the south clusters, including West Seattle, would be assigned to a new APP at Thurgood Marshal Elementary. Students living in north clusters would remain at Lowell and be joined by general education students from TT Minor.

Goodloe-Johnson has given two primary reasons for the proposal. For one, she believes that spreading the program across two locations would provide greater access to students who qualify. Secondly, the district is required to ensure that all special education programs, including APP, have regular access to general education. Currently, Lowell is home to only special education for physically and mentally disabled students as well as APP students, with no general education program.

"Splitting (the program) gives us the opportunity to reduce potential barriers to future growth," says Sundquist.

Nonetheless, Parents of APP students at Lowell have voiced their concerns over splitting the program. Many have wondered how a successful program could be implemented at Thurgood Marshall in such a short period of time, and during the district's financial struggles.

Sundquist says he is wondering "is this a good time to do this?"

Parents at Lowell have also complained to the district that dividing the program would have a negative impact on students and families.

Four of the seven school board members must approve Goodloe-Johnson's recommendation for it to move forward. While the proposal will be voted on as a whole, school board members do have the opportunity to propose amendments.

"There is a larger context," says Sundquist. "It's important to remember that this is happening at a time when we're committed to creating a school system that does a better job delivering a better education to all Seattle students."

Carr says she will consider the recommendation as a whole, while also analyzing each school involved.

"If I didn't believe it was absolutely necessary to consider this recommendation, I wouldn't but (these communities) through it," says Carr.

If the recommendation is approved, parents who are not pleased with the schools their children are assigned to may apply for another school through the regular school choice process.

For more information on the Superintendent's final recommendation visit http://www.seattleschools.org/area/capacity/index.dxml.