SEATTLE — Seattle Public Schools announced Monday it is canceling all upcoming community feedback meetings centered around the proposed school consolidation plan.
In a letter from SPS Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones, he said district officials need more time to consider next steps after "receiving thoughtful feedback" from the community.
The district originally released two options that would save $31.5 million and $25.5 million, respectively. It would help close an approximate $94 million budget gap spurred by decreasing student enrollment and less federal funding.
According to SPS, enrollment has dropped by 4,000 students and officials don't expect it to rebound any time soon.
One of the plans would close 17 schools and the other would shut down 21. Many parents, students, and community members have rallied in an effort to save their schools.
"While our financial challenges are real and it’s our fiscal responsibility to resolve them, it is very clear we need more time to listen and earn your trust as we resolve our structural deficit and revisit our timeline," Jones wrote in the letter released Monday. "I am sorry our proposed options created anxiety for many families who rely on the key programs and innovations within our schools. We are retooling our plans to address these concerns."
A new meeting schedule has not been released but is expected soon.