Demand Equitable Funding of Rainier Beach High School!

The undersigned community members, educators, students, and parents publicly demand the full restoration of 4.8 FTE (or just under 5 full-time educator jobs) to Rainier Beach High School's 2019-2020 budget immediately so that we can retain essential staff and continue to provide the instruction necessary for our students to succeed. In addition, we stand in solidarity with all Seattle Education Association members and Seattle Public Schools currently facing job and budget cuts.

Read the full letter explaining the impact of the cuts here:

http://socialequityeducators.org/2019/04/29/demand-equitable-funding-of-rainier-beach-high-school/

Join a Walk-In of Rainier Beach High School educators, students, parents, and community members this Wednesday May 1 from 8:20-8:55am as they raise these demands:

https://www.facebook.com/events/705109043265890/

Read a brief background here:

The Superintendent’s strategic plan states “WE focus on ensuring racial equity in our educational system, and unapologetically address the needs of students of color who are furthest from educational justice, and work to undo the legacies of racism in our educational system... BY doing the following: ● Allocating resources strategically through a racial equity framework.”

ALL students deserve:

-Four full years of courses in all core subject areas

-Culturally responsive curriculum and staff

-Opportunity to thrive in all subjects, not simply to meet graduation minimum requirements

All Seattle Public High Schools must offer students these opportunities. When cuts must happen, equity demands we unapologetically address the needs of students of color who are furthest from educational justice. Due to the shortfalls in our district, and the district under-projecting Rainier Beach’s enrollment for the 7th year in a row, we are having to let go of:

0.2 Art teacher position

1.0 Social Studies teacher

1.0 English Language Learner Social Studies teacher

1.0 Math teacher

1.6 Literacy and Spanish support positions currently funded by the state International Baccalaureate grant.

The district used a lens of equity when making budget decisions this year. This was an important step, however, at a school with 97% students of color and just under 82% low-income, these cuts will have devastating impacts on the students whom this equity framework is designed to protect.

Fully funding Rainier Beach is a matter of equity that the district has sworn to uphold. We are demanding immediate action for the success of our kids, the health of our community, and the survival of Rainier Beach.

For more information contact:

Christina Black: 206-383-7251 christinablack.rainierbeach@gmail.com

Mark Epstein 206-743-6155 mdepstein1@gmail.com