Seattle, WA
Critics say SPS capital levy will result in 'mega schools' and school closures
Meeting on Seattle Public Schools levies ahead of election
This February, when voters head to the polls, they’ll be deciding on replacing two Seattle Public Schools levies that are expiring this year.
SEATTLE – When voters send back their ballots in February, they’ll be deciding on replacing two Seattle Public Schools levies that are expiring in 2025.
The district relies on local voter-approved levies like those to help pay for operations and to fund building construction and repairs.
What they’re saying:
While the year’s operation’s levy hasn’t had much pushback, critics say the capital levy is causing controversy, including concerns it will lead to school closures.
Some of those affiliated with the Save our Schools group say the capital levy is also prompting concerns that it will lead to “mega schools.”
“Seattle Public Schools has 106 schools. We have facility needs we are going to place before the voters,” said Richard Best, Executive Director of Capital Projects, Planning and Facilities of Seattle Public Schools.
School officials say there could be serious consequences for students if two propositions fail to pass February 11.
“That would be, I won’t say catastrophic, but there will be declining systems that could have consequential implications in that, when we do implement that system repair, it costs more,” said Best.
The operations levy would provide schools with $747 million, replacing the last EP&O levy approved in 2022.
It wouldn’t reduce the deficit, but would continue a current funding source, for things like salaries, school security, special education and multilingual support staff.
This was a breakdown that SPS provided of the operations levy online:
Operations Levy Details 2026-2028
- Proposed Levy Amount: $747 million
- Levy Collected: 2026–2028
- Replaces: Expiring EP&O Levy approved in 2022
- Current tax rate is 63 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The second proposition, the $1.8 billion Building Excellence Capital Levy, would provide money for building projects and technology.
This was a breakdown of that proposition by SPS:
Building Excellence VI Capital Levy Details
- Proposed Amount: $1.8 billion
- Capital Projects Funding: $1,385,022,403
- Technology Funding: $$414,977,597
- Estimated Levy Rates: 93 cents to 79 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value
- Levy Collected: 2026-2031
A parent who didn’t want to share his name for privacy reasons told us he was concerned about the school closure plan that was scrapped last year, and wondered if the situation was “sustainable.”
Critic Chris Jackins belies the capital levy, as written, could result in the closure of schools.
“This is a continuation of an effort to close more schools,” said Jackins.
He wrote the statement in the voter pamphlet arguing against proposition 2. He says it would allow the construction of “mega schools,” which will in turn be used to then close more schools.
“On the capital levy, they have two projects which will create two more mega-sized schools, they are both scheduled at 650 students. They both cost more each, more than $148 million,” he said. “They are continuing their construction to add even more elementary school capacity when they say they have too much. It doesn’t make sense.”
The district’s website reads that major renovations and replacement projects would include replacement of at least one elementary school in northeast Seattle.
“The two schools they are talking about, one they didn’t name, so nobody knows, and one is Lowell, which is an existing school, but they are planning to destroy most of it and make it much larger,” Jackins said.
“I have worked designing schools since 1991 and since that period, I have never designed a school smaller than 500 students,” said Best. “We use a model for 500 students, which is three classrooms per grade level.”
Best explained further.
“The term is not ‘mega schools.’ We design schools to be schools within schools. You have a first-grade cohort, maybe 75 or 100 students. They stay together. Middle schools are 1,000 students. Those are very common throughout the state of Washington.”
Best says school closures aren’t on the table right now, but may be revisited at some point.
“We are going to engage in the conversation about schools, school capacity, looking at elementary schools, our focus right now is getting these two levies passed,” he said.
Meantime, Jackins is asking people to vote down the capital levy, and then to ask that it be resubmitted in a form that uses the funds to fix up existing schools in order to keep them open.
The ballots are expected to go out to voters around January 22. The election is set for February 11.
The Source: Information from this story is from Seattle Public Schools officials and the Save our Schools group.
BEST OF FOX 13 SEATTLE
Washington sees record eviction filings in 2024: ‘Not just an isolated incident’
New 2025 laws that are now in effect in WA
Good Samaritan saves mom from road rage incident in WA
Here’s when you’ll need REAL ID to go through US airport security
REI exits ‘Experiences’ businesses, laying off hundreds of employees
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
CHICAGO (AP) — The struggling New York Mets placed former Seattle Mariners second baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a right wrist contusion.
Mariners Injury Update: Latest on Robles, Vargas and more
The move was made retroactive to Wednesday, a day after Polanco went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in a 2-1 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 32-year-old Polanco is batting .179 (10 for 56) with a homer and two RBIs in his first season with New York, which has lost nine straight.
“When doctors first took a look at him, it looked like he got hit by a pitch when he didn’t,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “In talking to him, it was just a couple of swings that he took that night. … He didn’t think much of it, but just got worse the following day.
“So you just got to let it calm down a little bit and then we’ll go from there. But we don’t have a timetable for how long this is going to last.”
Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets in December, also has been dealing with an ankle issue.
“He was trending in the right direction,” Mendoza said of the ankle injury. “It’s definitely going to help, obviously now with him being shut down. But the biggest thing now is that we’ve got to take care of that wrist.”
Polanco spent the previous two seasons with the Mariners, who acquired him in a February 2024 trade with the Minnesota Twins.
Polanco struggled during his first season with Seattle in 2024, hitting just .213 with 16 homers in 118 games while playing through a knee injury that didn’t become public knowledge until after the season.
But after the Mariners somewhat surprisingly brought him back for a one-year contract in 2025, Polanco rebounded to hit .265 with 26 homers and an .821 OPS in 138 games last season. He then added three homers during Seattle’s playoff run, along with a 15th-inning walkoff single in Game 5 of the American League Division Series that sent the Mariners to their first ALCS in 24 years.
Seattle Sports staff made additions to this post.
Mariners RHP Bryce Miller to begin rehab assignment
Seattle, WA
Brandon Nimmo hits leadoff homer, Jacob deGrom works 4 scoreless as Rangers beat Seattle Mariners 5-0
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – APRIL 17: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers tags out Dominic Canzone #8 of the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park on April 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Brandon Nimmo hit a leadoff home run, Jacob deGrom threw four shutout innings and Gavin Collyer earned his first career win as the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 5-0 on Friday night.
Seattle lost its fourth straight game, and was shut out for the fourth time in 21 games, falling to 8-13. The Mariners were shut out six times during the 2025 season. Texas won its third straight game.
Nimmo led off the game with a 372-foot shot to right field off Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (1-3). It was Nimmo’s 16th career leadoff homer and second of the season. He also hit a leadoff home run on April 11 in a 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
DeGrom effectively maneuvered through Seattle’s lineup, and worked out of a one out, bases-loaded jam in the first inning. The two-time Cy Young Award winner recorded two of his three strikeouts after walking Josh Naylor to load the bases. Randy Arozarena fanned on a curveball, and Luke Raley swung through a fastball.
Texas added to its lead after Nimmo’s homer. Wyatt Langford’s single to left scored Corey Seager, who led off the third inning with a double. The Rangers stretched the lead to 3-0 on an RBI single from Jake Burger in the seventh.
The Mariners’ best scoring chance came in the sixth after Collyer (1-0), who worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, left the game.
J.P. Crawford singled to left off Tyler Alexander with two out, and Mariners third base coach Carlos Cardoza sent Naylor from second base, but he was thrown out by Langford.
Texas added two more runs in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Andrew McCutchen and an RBI double by Josh Jung.
Seattle third baseman Brendan Donovan left the game early due to a left hip issue.
Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller, who started the year on the injured list with a left oblique injury, was at T-Mobile Park for the first time this season. He will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.
Up next
Mariners RHP George Kirby (2-2, 3.25) will face Rangers righty Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40) on Saturday afternoon.
MORE MARINERS NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Padres secure 8th straight win with 5-2 win over Seattle Mariners
Andrés Muñoz blows four-run lead in ninth inning as Seattle Mariners lose 7-6 to Padres
Ballpark Buzz: Mariners finding their offensive rhythm
Xander Bogaerts, Mason Miller lead Padres to 4-1 win over Seattle Mariners
WA grandmother looking for ‘plus one’ to Mariners home games
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
FIFE, Wash. – A portion of southbound I-5 will be closed overnight in Fife Friday and Saturday night, according to WSDOT.
The Washington State Department of Transportation says the purpose of the closure is to install a new electronic sign and will need two nights to do it.
Crews will close southbound I-5 from 54th Avenue to Port of Tacoma Road starting at 11 p.m. Friday night until 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Closures will resume Saturday night starting at 11 p.m. as well, and lanes will reopen Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.
WSDOT says the closure will include the 54th Avenue ramps to southbound I-5.
Detours for weekend I-5 closure in Fife, WA
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Family from Japan has kimonos stolen outside Seattle Center: ‘Irreplaceable’
Do you recognize him? Sketch released of WA man found dead under SR 520 bridge
West Seattle homeless encampment swept despite mayor’s promise
Snapchat to lay off over 90 Seattle, Bellevue employees
Off-roading for a cause, Thurston Co. Sheriff’s Jeep Patrol looking for volunteers
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
The Source: Information in this story comes from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
-
Alaska1 minute ago
Bear injures two US soldiers during military training in Alaska | The Jerusalem Post
-
Arizona7 minutes agoNFL mock draft: 4-round projections for Arizona Cardinals
-
Arkansas13 minutes agoNo. 6 Arkansas ends top-ranked OU’s 31-game home winning streak with 3-2 decision
-
California19 minutes ago
Billionaire Steyer’s spending binge dwarfs rival campaigns in California governor’s race
-
Colorado25 minutes agoLandeskog – April 18 | Colorado Avalanche
-
Connecticut31 minutes agoOvernight Forecast for April 19
-
Delaware37 minutes agoState Police Arrest Dover Man for Assault and Aggravated Menacing in Dover – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
-
Florida43 minutes agoSNAP benefits will be changing in Florida starting Monday
