Seattle, WA
Parents worried Seattle's Dual Language Immersion schools could be on 'chopping block'
SPS holds forums for possible school closures
Seattle Public Schools hosted a virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss a plan to close 20 elementary schools within the district. The move would help make up a budget deficit of more than $100 million that the district says it’s facing.
SEATTLE – Seattle Public Schools hosted a virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss a plan to close 20 elementary schools within the district. The move would help make up a budget deficit of more than $100 million that the district says it’s facing.
The list of school closures has not yet been released, and the uncertainty is causing some to worry.
“I’m concerned that it could be on the chopping block,” said Adriana Casas Gorski, whose son attends John Stanford International, a dual language immersion school (DLI).
“My husband is of Japanese heritage, and I am Mexican, so this school offers Spanish and Japanese,” said Gorski.
She’s worried that her son’s school and McDonald International Elementary might be on the closure list.
“I have seen the wonderful work that the staff and admin have done there, and I’m concerned others won’t have that opportunity,” she said.
As a teacher herself at a Spanish cooperative preschool, she says demand for the DLI schools is already so high, the district is losing students to private schools.
“Every year we have parents that are heartbroken because their child did not get into an immersion school. We are losing students each year to PCPE that should be coming to SPS,” said Gorski.
At Tuesday’s virtual meeting, SPS leaders answered written questions only. When asked how DLI schools would be impacted, no promises were made to keep certain schools open, but the superintendent said the district planned to maintain programming.
“We are actually talking about, ‘how do we shore them up?’ Our dual language programming should sustain as we go forward. So, I wanted to give some people some reassurance on that,” said Dr. Brent Jones, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.
School officials said Tuesday, generally speaking, even if some schools stay open, students could still be moved.
“It is very possible students would be moving from their current school, even if it’s not a school that is closing,” said Dr. Marni Campbell, the executive operations director at Seattle Public Schools.
Tuesday’s virtual meeting comes on the heels of an in-person meeting last week during which the crowd was frustrated they weren’t allowed to comment.
Gorski was one of the parents who said they wanted to be heard. She says if dual language immersion schools close, SPS will miss the moment.
“I mean, we are a world city. Seattle is a world city, and we need to prepare our students that way,” said Gorski.
SPS says the consolidated schools would be called “well-resourced” schools and would include high-quality educators and modern classroom resources and technology, inclusive curriculum and foster a supportive environment.
A public hearing is scheduled for June 10.
SPS has said that the closures will be distributed evenly across the district and the superintendent will be presenting recommendations to the board later in the month.
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Seattle, WA
Seattle Seahawks Injury Updates: Status of trio of DBs
There were Seattle Seahawks injury updates on Friday regarding three defensive backs coming out of the Hawks’ overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football.
Seahawks’ Derick Hall suspended one game for stepping on player
Here’s a look at the updates, as well as insight from head coach Mike Macdonald and additional information from ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler.
• The biggest concern for the Seahawks coming out of the game is safety Coby Bryant, who has a knee injury. Macdonald said in a press conference Friday that Bryant would “get imaged,” meaning undergo an MRI. Fowler reported on social media that, per sources, Bryant is “expected to miss ‘some time’ based on initial tests.”
• Cornerback Riq Woolen has a knee concern of his own, but Fowler reported that it’s “not considered serious” and that, per a source, Woolen “more so got ‘banged up.’”
• Versatile defensive back Nick Emmanwori was evaluated for a concussion late in Thursday’s game, but Macdonald said he cleared concussion protocol.
The Seahawks improved to 12-3 with their win over the Rams, giving them a one-game lead over Los Angeles for both first place in the NFC West and the No. 1 seed to the postseason out of the NFC. The Seahawks also clinched a playoff spot with the dramatic comeback victory.
The next Seahawks game will be at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28 on the road against the Carolina Panthers (7-7). Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will begin at 7 a.m. that day with the pregame show.
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Seattle, WA
Seattle brings losing streak into game against San Jose
Seattle Kraken (12-14-6, in the Pacific Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (17-15-3, in the Pacific Division)
San Jose, California; Saturday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Seattle Kraken look to end a four-game losing streak with a victory over the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose is 17-15-3 overall and 4-4-2 against the Pacific Division. The Sharks have conceded 117 goals while scoring 104 for a -13 scoring differential.
Seattle is 12-14-6 overall with a 5-4-0 record in Pacific Division play. The Kraken have a -20 scoring differential, with 79 total goals scored and 99 conceded.
The matchup Saturday is the third time these teams square off this season. The Kraken won 4-1 in the last meeting. Jaden Schwartz led the Kraken with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: William Eklund has eight goals and 14 assists for the Sharks. Tyler Toffoli has five goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Vince Dunn has five goals and 14 assists for the Kraken. Chandler Stephenson has four goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sharks: 5-5-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.9 assists, 2.9 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
Kraken: 1-9-0, averaging 2.2 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sharks: None listed.
Kraken: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Seattle, WA
Roster Moves: Seattle Seahawks activate Young off IR
The Seattle Seahawks activated wide receiver Dareke Young from injured reserve and elevated running back Cam Akers and offensive tackle Amari Knight off the practice squad Thursday ahead of their pivotal primetime showdown against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field.
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Young, 26, has missed Seattle’s past eight games with a quadricep injury. The fourth-year pro is a key special teams member for the Seahawks and was on the field for over 50% of the team’s special teams snaps in each of the six games he’s played this season. He has seven tackles and 10 kickoff returns for 322 yards. He also has two receptions for 48 yards.
Akers, 26, would be making his Seahawks debut against his former team if he gets into Thursday’s game. He played in three games for the Minnesota Vikings earlier this season and totaled 19 yards on five carries.
A sixth-year pro, Akers spent three-plus seasons with the Rams after they selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Florida State. Akers’ best season with Los Angeles came in 2022 when he rushed for career highs of 786 yards and seven touchdowns. He has 2,044 yards and 13 TDs on the ground in 56 career NFL games.
Knight, 24, provides the Seahawks with some depth at tackle with starting left tackle Charles Cross ruled out for Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. Veteran backup Josh Jones is getting the start in place of Cross.
Knight went undrafted out of UCF and made his pro debut in Seattle’s Week 4 win over Arizona.
The Seahawks face the Rams on Thursday night at 5:15 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 2 p.m. with the pregame show on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle sports app.
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