[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6241097,"mediaKeyId","3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c","parentId",3310217,"title","Seattle schools introduce Memorial Stadium redevelopment plan, seek partner for management and limited policy changes","audioSeconds",155,"startMs",3695000,"endMs",3850000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c&start=3695&end=3850","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c/thumbnail_3695000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241097/Washington/Seattle-schools-introduce-Memorial-Stadium-redevelopment-plan-seek-partner-for-management-and-limited-policy-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241097-83a2cb0265b3057022741976c1542985/orig.mp4?Expires=1770520574&Signature=HsGNnCd9CuOQOIBbT5~Z2aS7FrA-POoq6SHADzZGwJbZbp1Oen4yQESac8W6n2IpjFvRyHfjVWrukacOWKFx3irWQgiJ8FFSanMYk9jNR9uV3McMl9Qvzp9K5nwxmRB7w6cLPxepaTN30H7RmpOkxl4gwaPSO9SVpvPqSeZfpd07ixAfi1BnBuMbPkq8e2OfoJUqYWZZKXVzxDZyLoS301kBtHvm5kD9sUA4aatYV-0SwwkjXsLw0b9ZMBFSduiFmPT6c7Xqt-X6kVS64kKgoy~y6T0R1bLuOnX~L~QPesc3rD424ySHP5AG1geaspYBh0~i8yp6mq6fd~jTqJU6vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seattle School District No. 1, Washington","date","2025-05-15T04:38:13Z","article","Seattle Public Schools on May 14 introduced a plan to replace the aging Memorial Stadium and to negotiate an operating agreement with a nonprofit consortium formed by the Seattle Kraken and its partners to manage commercial events. Chief Operating Officer Fred Podesta told the board that the stadium’s major systems and visitor amenities are failing and that the district — which will remain the owner and primary tenant — is seeking a partner to raise funds, run non‑school events and maintain the facility without diverting capital dollars from school building repairs.

Podesta said the stadium, built after World War II, is in the worst condition of the district’s facilities and that the memorial wall and locker rooms need replacement. He said the district will remain the primary user for school activities and that all net revenues from commercial uses would be reinvested in maintenance or student athletics rather than distributed as profit.

Why it matters: The proposal would let a professional venue operator run concerts, festivals and other community events at Memorial Stadium when the district is not using the facility. The board discussion focused on how to protect student access while making the venue financially viable: permitting limited commercial advertising and alcohol at non‑school events, and clarifying that naming‑rights proposals would return to the board for approval.

Board members asked about calendar control, revenue sharing and how student use would be protected. Director Rankin said the board should consider a formal approval step for the stadium calendar so the public can review how often commercial events displace school use. Podesta said the district will remain the owner, will be the primary tenant and the district’s athletics office will keep event priority for students; the district expects the operator will absorb commercial risk for concerts and festivals.

Public comment included objections from at least one speaker who urged the board to oppose any plan he said would allow alcohol, marijuana or commercial naming of a public memorial facility. Chris Jackins argued the stadium’s memorial purpose should be preserved and not commercialized.

What happened and next steps: The board received the staff introductions to two items — an interlocal agreement with the City of Seattle and proposed policy amendments related to advertising and event rules — but took no final vote on an operating agreement. Staff will continue negotiations and return to the board with proposed operating‑agreement language and specific policies governing advertising, alcohol at commercial events and naming rights.

Ending: The district framed the plan as an effort to build and maintain a modern facility that better serves students while drawing on external fundraising and operational expertise for large commercial events. Any final operating agreement and policy changes will return to the board for further review and action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Seattle Schools Board Meeting May 14 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Seattle Public Schools on May 14 introduced a plan to replace Memorial Stadium and negotiate an operating agreement with a nonprofit consortium to run commercial events while the district retains ownership and primary student use.","taxTitle","Seattle School District No. 1, School Districts, Washington","taxId",14626,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6241083,"Public testimony presses district on community engagement failures and Deaf/Hard‑of‑Hearing accessibility; staff pledges changes",939,2234000,3173000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c&start=2234&end=3173","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c/thumbnail_2234000.jpg","/articles/6241083/Washington/Public-testimony-presses-district-on-community-engagement-failures-and-DeafHardofHearing-accessibility-staff-pledges-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241083-6292ece8dbfee80744afbcb88dc00b38/orig.mp4?Expires=1770520574&Signature=Minve5v1QrJC3tyjUJEetxuJxshn4GGDf54iPsMvJQihFzQM-aeg-83tUPmOkYrhTHj8u~NNem8UmqvRnhD0WfDMhpQmA4sa8aTiw7o3~ocBcNMHMnuWkTrB4v3gHt8P6CUi020tKccEFbYlHwnHLjEK-QIow4NHDPk~3HiMH7maKMk8uDkIxMK5ccvHg20FK-JayzYo-rZtGssIXlDjS~kTbakYq4dm-RlpYuo7mHKowCkLHhkskHgGUHYU7vy90-H5UuZABbguFfgQlhoO-ZRk2bvVaW-zXSXq-XG~GJhz-EfhOh13s2giFTKcwGuHwH4nwiR9VlLQL2SZ1xvxmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hundreds of minutes of public testimony on May 14 focused on community engagement and access for Deaf and Hard‑of‑Hearing (DHH) students and families. Several commenters described repeated failures to provide interpretation at engagement events and asked for sustained structural changes rather than apologies. Speakers urged immediate remedies — certified interpreters at meetings, accessible captioning and larger screens for remote caption feeds — and longer‑term steps such as an ADA coordinator, a DHH task force and an anti‑ableism initiative.

What staff said: Chief Operating Officer Fred Podesta and assistant staff said the district apologized for recent failures to provide American Sign Language interpretation at an engagement event and at a previous board meeting. Doctor Torres Morales and other staff said they are working to correct enrollment‑coding barriers that prevented CODA (children of deaf adults) from being recognized in placement systems and that they will allow CODA students to apply to TOPS while the technical changes are made. The district also said it would require ASL interpreters at every regular board meeting, public full‑board events and engagement sessions going forward.

Community requests and proposed fixes: Testimony included two written statements read into the record by advocates. Laura Grama and Bill Harkness (Boeing engineering accessibility leader) urged a permanent, community‑informed DHH task force, accessible systems that do not require repeated requests for access and training for administrators on ADA and Section 504 requirements. Several speakers sought an appointed ADA coordinator, consistent certified interpreters for IEP meetings and accessible emergency notification systems for deaf or blind families.

Board and staff response: Several board members, including Director Mizrahi and Director Rankin, pressed staff for specifics. Doctor Torres Morales said the district will (1) allow CODA placements at TOPS while enrollment coding is updated, (2) make ASL a more prominent option on family surveys and (3) work with technology services to create a CODA student code. Chief Redmond said staff will require that board action materials include evidence of engagement plans when relevant and that the district will increase training for school leaders on community engagement practices.

Ending: Community members said they will watch for durable, public changes rather than repeated apologies. Staff committed to specific short‑term changes (ASL provision at regular board events; CODA placement steps) and to follow‑up work to develop system‑wide processes for ADA accommodations and inclusive engagement.","Public commenters on May 14 pressed Seattle Public Schools to fix repeated failures in community engagement and in providing access for Deaf and Hard‑of‑Hearing families, demanding certified interpreters, ADA compliance and a permanent DHH task force.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6241087,"Board hears updates on enrollment, wait lists and possible changes to student assignment; staff to return with options",1742,5668000,7410000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c&start=5668&end=7410","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c/thumbnail_5668000.jpg","/articles/6241087/Washington/Board-hears-updates-on-enrollment-wait-lists-and-possible-changes-to-student-assignment-staff-to-return-with-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241087-6369221a057241bd51a29623b19af732/orig.mp4?Expires=1770520574&Signature=iscyaMixrY0Z4yWkXy87QTuYJuFGrFL7YnNMEoMEyzhh-hjsso9bLaWhihRVOJjs-rWAZl5lEGLR-ACeoqV6I9OP5fbZnCSoJvDBA3e3rlJqpIiJxaTy-yDoCg6pPyr50u40noa7PWMBvmWft1CAmTfLfWfid~RVu8QfqzZinO~RlXYhVotqqdB6pXMazdGl718epHOf58qHEEnEBZvs9mRv9eXQep6Qgyn5PChJIavaOCcZj2qwEtLfKPNZgyFNVWWL2t~TbFTggjdjCt61KJ4C6ELMoIGC7EDxbF7sBpTIydRaFDPI9GRuiyxv~d8lYapd288Fe8Je0W5d-aIliw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seattle Public Schools staff briefed the board on ongoing enrollment‑and‑assignment work on May 14, saying the district has received roughly 4,100 choice applications and has so far assigned about 1,700 families to their first choice. Director of Enrollment Fal Menou and other staff described a two‑track approach: continue targeted, immediate moves on high‑impact wait lists and plan a broader review of the student‑assignment system and timelines for the 2026–27 school year.

What staff reported: Menou said the district will keep reviewing wait lists through the end of August; offers on wait lists historically convert at about 75% and the district plans to move down lists as seats are declined. Staff noted that, over the past decade, about 10% of district families participate in the choice process and roughly 5% of students receive a school assignment other than their attendance‑area school; these systemwide rates frame the staff’s expectations for what is feasible in the current budget and staffing cycle.

Board discussion and community pressure: Public commenters and several board members pressed for faster action in specific neighborhoods and program areas — including John Stanford International School (dual language), West Seattle (highly capable access) and Cleveland High School. Several speakers described families that have waited years on DLI wait lists and urged immediate placement where space exists. Board members and staff discussed tradeoffs of moving seats now — which can create follow‑on staffing impacts at other schools — versus pausing to rework the student‑assignment framework.

Short‑term steps and timeline: Staff said they will continue to move wait lists where an immediate, low‑risk solution is available (staff cited Queen Anne, certain DLI spots and other “hotspots” as examples). Enrollment projections will be revised in June and shared with the budget office. Staff expects to return with an implementation timeline and options, and proposed changes to enrollment and staffing timelines would be discussed in the fall to inform the 2026–27 school year planning cycle.

Longer term: Directors and staff agreed a broader review of choice budgets, staffing allocations and the student assignment plan is needed. That work would examine transportation implications, staffing and hiring timelines and strategies to ensure the district does not shift burdens onto under‑resourced schools. Staff said the work will be coordinated with the district’s larger strategic plan and that changes that alter staffing timelines would need to be set earlier in the year so budget and collective‑bargaining timelines can be met.

Ending: Staff committed to additional, targeted wait‑list moves this spring and summer, and to returning with a fuller set of options and engagement steps in the fall so the board can consider systemic changes ahead of 2026–27.","District staff told the Seattle School Board on May 14 that they have received about 4,100 choice applications and have assigned approximately 1,700 families to their first choice; staff will continue targeted wait‑list moves while planning a broader review of the enrollment and student‑assignment system.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6241092,"Board approves $12.5 million purchase of warehouse near John Stanford Center for facilities operations",149,5811000,5960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c&start=5811&end=5960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310217-56af729e45058bf28b84aed101be7e4c/thumbnail_5811000.jpg","/articles/6241092/Washington/Board-approves-125-million-purchase-of-warehouse-near-John-Stanford-Center-for-facilities-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241092-34d30126d26fdae953d9c994c6d34633/orig.mp4?Expires=1770515678&Signature=EB-R7DKHcBu7vOUsSMqACx26W92TQgTOQf9MB7v3sKdjB549QTg5vDH19W~-2pc2OfRMYoVKKUmAVlNBNMPym1grkIvSL2yA42CIskKYyO~hCEk17G6XXC-aPBGckx-2THzAHvkDTeGW0WrJiPrrrdNqGzffjmoYqsepEJBisCCa7zYT6wYr5Crf0Xh2XNAYJ2wzXNDQetMGB7KINvsHtW1Ox5EY~A~dGoybHheXO7ipbh7GIy2vvdfGelpZQ0XfIm5S~q0hY89zQloqk65S-NOn5rWPYHiS1hl370W6-orAcbQD6G9thCrRNgHxVHTnJofXNcGH-dQKzDh5dCmvhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seattle Public Schools on May 14 approved the purchase of a warehouse at 3223 Third Avenue South for $12,500,000 to house grounds and certain facilities operations, the district’s capital projects director told the board.

Richard Best, executive director of capital projects and planning, said the site is roughly two blocks from the John Stanford Center and that the move would allow grounds, masonry and roofing operations to vacate the district’s inadequate storage in the north parking lot and grandstand areas. Best said the district completed due diligence, toured several alternatives and estimated roughly $1 million a year in equipment and operational savings over a 10‑year horizon if it consolidates operations at the warehouse.

Board action: Director moved the purchase approval and a second was recorded. The board approved the purchase by roll call; board members present voted in favor. The vote was recorded unanimously.

Why it matters: Facilities and grounds staff currently use a cluster of district‑owned spaces that staff described as poorly shaped for bulky equipment. Staff said the new facility would be more suitable for vehicle access, safer for equipment and reduce operational costs for maintenance of district assets.

Financial note: The board authorized the superintendent to execute a purchase and sale agreement dated April 21, 2025, in the amount of $12,500,000 and to make minor modifications as needed to implement the purchase. Best said additional work items after purchase — for example, removing two interior columns to permit vehicle access and improving ventilation for vehicle exhaust — were expected to be modest compared with the purchase price and were estimated at roughly $100,000 for the immediate modifications.

Ending: Staff said they will begin implementation tasks and return with follow‑up details; the district expects to realize operational savings from consolidated facilities work once the move is completed.","The board voted unanimously to approve purchase of a warehouse at 3223 Third Avenue South for $12,500,000 to consolidate grounds and facilities operations and reduce long‑term costs, staff said.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Seattle schools introduce Memorial Stadium redevelopment plan, seek partner for management and limited policy changes

Public testimony presses district on community engagement failures and Deaf/Hard‑of‑Hearing accessibility; staff pledges changes

Board hears updates on enrollment, wait lists and possible changes to student assignment; staff to return with options

Board approves $12.5 million purchase of warehouse near John Stanford Center for facilities operations