Parents and teachers expressed appreciation and outrage at West Seattle's School Board member Steve Sundquist at a public hearing to discuss the proposal to close the Genesee Hill building, home to Pathfinder K-8, and move students into Cooper Elementary.

Jennifer Giomi, parent-teacher and student association president at Pathfinder, opened the meeting by explaining to the board and community members the value of Pathfinder's alternative education program, which practices expeditionary learning and has a foundation in Native American values.

Giomi also clarified that Pathfinder has never wished to displace any other school community.

Janet Osborne, a kindergarten teacher at Pathfinder, also complimented the program's teaching methods.

"(Children at Pathfinder) feel very empowered that they can contribute to their neighborhood," said Osborne.

To help stave off a projected $24 million deficit in its 2009 budget, the Seattle School District has recommended closing several schools to consolidate resources and address capacity imbalances across the district. Among those recommended for closure has been Arbor Heights, and later Cooper Elementary, to create a new home for Pathfinder, West Seattle's only alternative education program.

Pathfinder has been on a list to get a new building for several years. It's current facility is not large enough for the student population and has numerous structural problems.

Charita DuMas, a parent at Cooper talked about her school's unique programs to assist autistic and bilingual students. She described the school as a model that should be replicated, not closed.

"What sense does it make to close a school that is successful and distribute those students to schools that are less successful," said DuMas. "How is that responsible?"

Attendees erupted in applause when DuMas concluded her testimony, saying "Pathfinder will be fine, just not at Cooper."

Members of the Cooper community continued to respond enthusiastically when Shelley Williams, a parent at Cooper, accused Sundquist and the School Board of failing to represent their school or consider the needs of their community.

Dana Varon, Arbor Heights parent-teacher and student association secretary, suggested to the board that Pathfinder be given its own building so that successful programs, like Arbor Heights and Cooper, can continue to serve their own communities.

Other buildings the district has recommended for closure include Lowell, Mann, TT Minor, Pinehurst, Van Asselt, Aki Kurose and Old Hay. Meanwhile, some programs that could discontinue are African American Academy, Alternative School #1, Arbor Heights, Meany, TT Minor, Cooper, the Center School, Hawthorne and Summit K-12.

Final recommendations on building closures and program relocations will be released by the district on Jan. 6 and the School Board is schedule to hold a vote Jan. 29.

Rose Egge can be reached at 932-0300 or rosee@robinsonnews.com.