Issue 23: SaferWatch Raises Privacy Concerns, Invites Intrusive Surveillance at SPS
The introduction of SaferWatch to the SPS community raises questions about privacy, law enforcement surveillance, security, and costs.
Julie Letchner
Issue 20 -- March 11, 2026 School Board Meeting Recap
The board discussed their frustrations with the Student Assignment Transition Plan rollout; lowered the threshold for board approval of outgoing payments but not incoming grants; and hears public testimony pleading for increased staff allocations at several alternative learning sites.
Issue 18 -- February 11, 2026 School Board Meeting Recap
The board re-establishes standing committees, weighs changes to the student assignment transition plan and to financial thresholds triggering board review, and hears public testimony on highly capable programs, ethnic studies at SPS, and student safety.
Issue 14 -- Board Gets Update on Highly Capable Program
Two new highly capable cohorts are coming to West and South Seattle -- but so are changes to identification practices.
Issue 13 -- ICE Protections on SPS Campuses
Immigration enforcement activity has ramped up across the country in recent months. Though Seattle has not been specifically targeted in the same way as other cities, Seattle-area immigration arrests have more than doubled since Trump took office. A well-documented incident of ICE officers executing violent arrests on school property in
Issue 11 -- January 14, 2026 Seattle School Board Special Meeting Recap
The board hears updates about "Life Readiness" and about the state legislative session.
Issue 7 -- December 3, 2025 Seattle School Board Meeting Recap
New directors get bad news about student achievement.
Issue 5 -- November 19, 2025 Board Meeting Recap
In this issue: Beth Day and Julie Letchner recap the November 19 school board meeting, the last with the current board lineup.
Issue 3 -- Podesta & Buttleman Speak on Enrollment & Budget Planning
In this issue: * Fred Podesta on SPS Enrollment * Kurt Buttleman on SPS Budget Seattle Public Schools leadership shared sneak peeks on Monday into the 2026-27 budgeting process and various enrollment changes coming to SPS next year. On enrollment, district-wide population projections show little change, but new enrollment processes for school