School Closure March - Updated with videos

By scott
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I'm here at TT Minor for the protest and march against school
closures. About 40 people have gathered here before it gets started.
I'll send updates and pics as things get going.

1:59PM - Here's some signs:
2:08PM - Quite a few kids are here:
2:11PM - Andre talking to the real media with big cameras:
2:15PM - Rally is getting started. Probably about 100 people on hand now.
2:22PM - A passionate mother with a kid in Cooper:
2:26PM - Bonnie Wilson, TT Minor parent, speaking up a storm
2:39PM - March is getting started, heading down union:
2:40PM - About 150 people marching. And did I mention that it's cold and snowing?
2:46PM - Turning onto 23rd. A popular chant: "save our schools! Not the banks!"
2:56PM - March arrives at Garfield Community Center
3:01PM - A big crowd in a nice warm gym:
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location: Radio PointSeattle, Washington
posted on Sun, Jan 25, 2009 01:55 PM
last updated on Sun, Jan 25, 2009 08:00 PM
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"Real media" story - Andre, Asha, and more... byJRo January 26, 2009 (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
King5 did a good story about the march, starring the Helmstetter family. Pictures, story and video at http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_012509WAB-seattle-
write today! byNora January 26, 2009 (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
please?
Maybe you've heard it 100 times, but the school board votes on this closure plan Thursday the 29th. Any amendments must be made by noon tomorrow. The School Board needs to hear from us, loud and clear. Call 252-0040, or write
School Board members:
mary.bass@seattleschools.org
peter.maier@seattleschools.org
sherry.carr@seattleschools.org
harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org
michael.debell@seattleschools.org
steve.sundquist@seattleschools.org
cheryl.chow@seattleschools.org

And while you're at it, the full city council meets today, 2pm. Given that no Council members attended any of the district's public hearings on closures, they may not know that SPS is taking actions that are in direct opposition to the Council's Themes and Priorities for 2009. http://www.seattle.gov/Council/
An email or call to them may raise some awareness.
Council members:
richard.conlin@seattle.gov
tim.burgess@seattle.gov
sally.clark@seattle.gov
jan.drago@seattle.gov
jean.godden@seattle.gov
bruce.harrell@seattle.gov
nick.licata@seattle.gov
richard.mciver@seattle.gov
tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov

I'd suggest contacting the Mayor, but it seems futile...
School Closures byangelallwayz206 January 26, 2009 (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I sent all emails out - this is a brief of what i shared with our goverment reps:

Please re-access this plan to close schools. Can you not make the budget cuts all across the board instead of closing all the primarily minority schools. There has to be a better plan. It makes no sense to close these schools when we are experiencing more growth in our district, as far as housing. What are we going to do in 5 years when these projects will be complete? Our schools are already overcrowded as it is. Please reconsider!!!!
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