SEATTLE — Students are concerned that the only public high school in Washington state for students struggling with addiction could be closing.
Following a staff meeting where potentially closing Seattle's Interagency Recovery Academy was discussed due to funding, students are concerned that their school is in jeopardy. School leaders told KING 5 no decision has been made.
The concern about the school's closure comes as Seattle Public Schools is facing a more than $100-million budget shortfall and district leaders are having to look at where they can save money. The academy is just one campus of Interagency Academy, which is a group of alternative schools funded by Seattle Public Schools.
Students gathered Wednesday to spread awareness and call on school leaders to protect the school that they said saved their lives.
“I don't think I'd be here today, I think I would be dead,” said Sarah Hussein, a junior at Recovery Academy. “I started using when I was 12, just weed. And then I started drinking alcohol and then got into pills, and I just kind of spiraled from there.”
“What landed me in Seattle Children's was heroin, in combination with other things like fentanyl and other drugs,” said Chai Owen, who started at Recovery Academy after an overdose.
Both students said the school gave them the support and resources they couldn't find anywhere else.
“If the school was not an option, I would have gone back to my old high school and most likely have died,” said Owen.
“It's not easy to stay sober and it would be so much harder at another school,” said Hussein.
Seattle Public Schools wouldn't confirm it, but KING 5 learned that on Tuesday Interagency leaders held a staff meeting to discuss the potential closing the school due to funding. Multiple sources told KING 5 about the discussion.
“I was angry, I was very angry,” said Owen.
Parents of former students feel the same concern.
“They literally saved his life, I don't believe he'd be here today,” said Rebecca Garcia, whose son graduated two years ago for the Recovery Academy.
She said rather than closing the school, it should be expanded.
“There's definitely a lack in that area with kids who are dealing with these things,” said Garcia. “We have a lot of resources for adults, but not much in place for our kids.”
As students share their stories, they hope school leaders will see the value of the school that they view as a family.
“The school is amazing and I just can’t fathom it ceasing to exist,” said Hussein.
Interagency Academy Principal Sharonda Willingham sent a statement to KING 5 that she also sent to families. It said, in part:
“It has come to my attention that information shared outside of our internal planning conversations has led to confusion and misinformation. Let me be clear: Neither I nor Seattle Public Schools has neither authorized nor recommended the closure of Interagency Recovery Academy. Currently, Interagency, like all other SPS schools, is in the process of developing our budget for the upcoming school year. This involves collaborative discussions with the Interagency’s Building Leadership Team and staff. I am also actively engaged with SPS leadership and the budget team to contribute to the thoughtful planning of our school's future.”
Seattle Public Schools sent KING 5 a statement that said there is a process involving the school board and public about potential school or program closures. It said it has not authorized the closure of Interagency’s Recovery School.
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