I attended the 5 year plan meeting at Rainer Beach High School on March 3.  The Bilingual Service Center did an outstanding job of hosting the meeting.  By far, this group set the most welcoming and inclusive atmosphere of the recent meetings I attended regarding transportation and school closures.  

However, I could not help but notice that no decision makers from Seattle Public Schools were in attendance!  It did not appear that anyone who developed the 5 year plan or who would be charged to carry it out was present.   A city councilman found the time for the meeting.

If the meeting was held north of the ship canal, I wonder who from the district would have attended.  Please note that unlike 60% of our fellow citizens from the north, we will attend Seattle Public Schools.

It appears that the conclusion one can draw from the meeting is that SPS is both indifferent and apathetic to reaching out to southeast Seattle.     If the district is unable to attend meetings that explain the 5 year plan, how will generate leadership iand commiment in this part of Seattle for it? 

Southeast Seattle needs and deserves the district’s support.