By reporter Steven Smalley
With the delayed opening of the renovated Magnolia Elementary on 28th Avenue West until fall 2019, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is examining boundaries between its buildings that could force relocation of students. There is plenty of interest among Magnolia parents, according to SPS.
“The delay will provide time for district staff and the City of Seattle to analyze the possibility of adding a school at Fort Lawton. For the past ten years, the City of Seattle has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers on repurposing the Fort Lawton site. The City has proposed using the site for affordable housing, a park, or other city purposes. Many families have expressed interest in adding a school at that site as well,” according to a release from Seattle Schools.
The U.S. Department of Education manages federal property that might be used for education purposes, according to SPS. Federal requirements include completion of construction within 36 months of receiving the land, a demonstrated need for an educational use of the land, and an “aligned budget” to accompany the request, according to SPS.
“Once we have clarity on whether we could meet the eligibility criteria, we will contact the city for further conversation about the timeline and what might be possible,” according to the SPS release.
Email questions or comments to growthboundaries@seattleschools.org
For specific questions or comments regarding Magnolia School construction or Fort Lawton inquiries, email Associate Suerintendent, Flip Herndon ltherndon@seattleschools.org