Dear Bryant Community,
By now, you have likely seen Seattle Public Schools’ two proposals for the future of our elementary schools. While Bryant will remain open, both proposals would result in significant changes to our current boundary — resulting in the loss of nearly one-third of currently enrolled families. We are devastated by these proposals and are determined to fight to keep our community together.
The Bryant PTSA is here to support the community — and it will take all of us to prevent this change. At Thursday’s PTSA meeting, we established a new Advocacy team which will help spearhead and organize our efforts at the local and district level.
There will be more updates and information to come, but in the meantime, we wanted to share some ways that you can advocate for our school right now.
1. Use the Let’s Talk Tool
We have been encouraged to use the Let’s Talk Tool on the district’s Well-Resourced Schools Online Hub. This tool is being tracked and responses are being collected by the district, making it one of the best ways we can begin our push-back today.
Here’s how you can use the tool:
- Go to: https://www.k12insight.com/
Lets-Talk/embed.aspx?L= PZ5K78N4B9LT - Click the “Boundaries and Student Assignments (WRS)” button
- Make sure the subject line starts with “Bryant”
- In your response, please be specific about how these proposed boundary changes will impact you, your student(s), and the Bryant community.
We have a window of opportunity now to generate as many responses as we can and show the district that Bryant is united against these boundary changes. Please submit your response as soon as you can and share this channel with other families, friends, and community members.
2. Contact District Officials and School Board Members. Send feedback to:
- Superintendent Jones: superintendent@seattleschools.
org, bjones@seattleschools.org - Marni Campbell (SPS Head of Well-Resourced Schools): macampbell@seattleschools.org
- School Board Member Evan Briggs: Evan.Briggs@seattleschools.org
- School Board President Liza Rankin: liza.rankin@seattleschools.org
3. Get Involved
Please consider lending your time and your talents to our Advocacy team. The louder we are, the more chance we stand of convincing the district to reverse course. If you’re interested in learning more or want to discuss how you can help, email us at ptsaexec@bryantschool.org. We stand together with you and will do everything we can to keep our amazing community together. Please share this information with anyone who may not be on the Weekly email distribution list and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Sincerely,
Matt Hunt and Marika VanderSmith
Bryant PTSA Co-Presidents