Administration says it can preserve community schools within district budget, starting with eight sites

Public commenters—including a Washington High School special education teacher and union representatives—urged the board to restore community school coordinator roles and reestablish an institutional home for community schools. Boa Yang called coordinators “a bridge for students to staff and partners” and asked that all 16 community schools receive coordinator positions.

Administration responded that staff explored funding options and believes Fund 80 (referred to in testimony) can sustain community schools without relying on federal, state or philanthropic grants. The superintendent said the district would begin by keeping the eight existing community schools under that fund, create a director role to lead the effort and aim to add two more schools in the fall if levy capacity allows. “We would start with the eight schools that are currently there and then have a director over the community schools project… and hopefully expand by two more schools into the fall,” administration said.

Why it matters: Community school coordinators were credited in public testimony with improving school culture, coordinating partners and helping families; restoration affects staffing, program design and contract or union arrangements for those roles. Union and community speakers asked that positions carry pay and protections aligned with MTEA bargaining units.

Next steps: Administration plans to include funding and related policy language in the recommended preliminary budget for board consideration on Thursday and to work with MTA on role definitions and transitions.