September
24, 2002
Joseph Olchefske
Superintendent
Seattle
Public Schools
Administrative
& Services Center (A&S)
815
4TH AVE N
Seattle,
WA 98109-3902
Phone:
(206) 252-0000
Dear
Superintendent Olchefske,
We
write to insist that you maintain the integrity of TOPS at Seward. To us, TOPS represents hope. It is the only truly racially integrated
school in the Seattle Public Schools achieving unparalleled academic success. TOPS has accomplished this feat over many
years though hard work, dedicated staff and parents who continue to focus on a
common mission. TOPS has accomplished
this because it is an alternative school that draws families, voluntarily, from
across the Seattle School District.
For
years, many TOPS families have chosen to send their children miles and miles to
attend this school and have, nonetheless, remained highly active participants
in their children’s education and school activities. As you know, parent involvement is another reason why TOPS is
special, unique, attractive and successful.
TOPS
must remain a school that draws from across the Seattle School District in
order to maintain its current level of success.
Changing TOPS
to a mainstream, neighborhood school will:
1.
Decimate the
Mission of TOPS. It practically
goes without saying that the neighborhood immediately surrounding the Seward
building is predominately white. Less
than a month ago, the Seattle Times reported from the most recent census data
that the Montlake neighborhood sports the highest income level in the City of
Seattle. As you no doubt know by now,
the Mission of TOPS is diversity. If
TOPS is expected to draw its student body primarily or disproportionately from
this neighborhood it will be tantamount to the Seattle School District
decimating the school’s stated Mission.
2.
NOT solve the
problem of racial and economic disparity in the Central Cluster of the Seattle
School District. We have heard
more than one parent say who lives in the central cluster that you either “win
or lose” when you receive your child’s placement. This is what people say about
our schools. It comes as no surprise to
you that there is tremendous racial and economic disparity in the Central
Cluster. Dismantling TOPS to make it
yet another “winning” school for yet another select group of families living
near it will not solve the fundamental issues facing this cluster. We urge you to get up out of your chairs and
take on the real issues confronting the Central Cluster. As we have learned from TT Minor, money is
not the solution to these issues. Every
school within the Central Cluster is desperately in need of added diversity and
integration not further segregation.
3.
Teach our
children that segregation and racism are values held by influential members of
our community and that Seattle School District propagates and condones these
values.
This issue is fundamentally, at its core, about racism. Families who chose their neighborhood
school, but instead were assigned a school whose student body is predominately
African-American are now asking the School District for special
consideration. If this proposal moves
forward regardless of inent, the impact of the message we send to all families
is essentially: “I don’t want my
children associating with yours, they are not good enough.” We want no part of this message.
If
it is deemed that there truly is a capacity issue in the Central Cluster and
another building is needed to house an additional elementary school, we urge
you to consider all of your options before choosing to decimate the Mission of
TOPS. Others may have better or more
thoughtful ideas, but some of mine include:
Replicating
the TOPS program. Let us say
that we all recognized and agreed that TOPS is an outrageously successful
educational model. It seems to me wise
and educated people would counsel us to replicate that model, not dismantle
it.
Relocate the
APP program currently housed at Lowell to another building. The APP program is also, in theory, drawing
from across the school district to bring in highly capable students. Because this program is smaller than the
TOPS program, perhaps another space could be identified to house it.
Relocate
TOPS. We would
rather see the TOPS program move to another building, perhaps in another part
of the city, than watch its Mission decimated by the Seattle School
District. I am confident that it is not
the building that makes TOPS a successful and attractive program to most
families.
If
it is deemed that there is not a capacity issue in the central cluster, we urge
you to take on and truly confront and manage the real issues of economic and
racial inequity, instead of decimating a success story that is addressing these
issues.
Finally,
we would like remind you of two important reasons why the TOPS Mission is more
important now than ever before:
1.
By 2050 over
1/2 the population of the United States will be non-white. If we cannot manage (especially in Seattle)
to become more comfortable with diversity by then, I am afraid to consider the
country in which our children and grandchildren will live. TOPS has opened a
door for us to view one version of what this world might be like. We must retain this vision of possibility.
2.
Race can no
longer be used as a tie-breaker for school selection. We are already seeing the results of this
disaster at Ballard High School. With
this policy now in place, there is no doubt segregation will continue to grow
across the district. It is paramount
that the Seattle School District provide an viable alternative to forced
segregation. TOPS is clearly that
model.
Above
all else, DO NOT CLOSE THE DOORS on the Mission of TOPS. It is inherent in your job as a leader
within the Seattle School District to keep hope alive for all the district’s students.
Sincerely,
Michelle
Pennylegion &
Dan
Hurley
Parents
of:
Edna
Pennylegion-Hurley
Atticus
Pennylegion-Hurley
Contact:
1121
14th Avenue
Seattle,
WA 98122