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Seattle School Board President facing recall effort

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Seattle School Board President facing recall effort


As Seattle Public Schools faces continued public backlash over proposed school closures, a group of parents is attempting to recall board President Liza Rankin.

In court documents filed with King County, the group argues Rankin adopted a “rushed and improper” school closure process and repeatedly failed to “provide transparency and community engagement on decisions critical to the well-being of the district.”

The parents also contend Rankin failed to uphold her duties as a school board member to adequately oversee the district and “ensure the district delivers student educational outcomes.”

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“As Board President, Liza Rankin must uphold the highest standards in public office, especially in a time of urgent crisis like that which Seattle Public Schools now faces,” Ben Gitenstein, one of the petitioners, said in a statement. “Instead, Rankin has committed violations that have worsened our district’s crisis.”

“Now more than ever, it is necessary to recall Rankin in order to save our students and Seattle Public Schools from her leadership,” added Gitenstein, the parent of two SPS students and a former school board candidate.

Janai Ray, Nancy Bacon, Annie Becker, and Rebekah Binns are also named as petitioners on the recall paperwork.

Rankin was first elected to the board in 2019, and represents the northernmost parts of Seattle, including the Crown Hill, Broadview, Northgate, and Lake City neighborhoods. She was reelected for a second four-year term last fall.

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A King County Superior Court judge must approve the recall before the petition can be circulated to voters. The petition would then need to get over 48,000 valid signatures from legal voters before getting on a ballot.

Gitenstein said the group isn’t planning to recall other board members “at this time.”

The recall effort comes as Washington’s largest public school system moves ahead with proposals to close four schools — a scaled down version of a previous plan that called for up to 21 schools to be shuttered next year. The board is expected to vote on a final closure plan by the end of January.

RELATED: 4 Seattle schools up for closure revealed

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In an interview with KUOW on Tuesday, Rankin said she stands by her actions as school board president and denied any accusations of malfeasance or wrongdoing.

“I have actually been taking it very seriously, that my duty as board president is to help ensure that we are abiding by laws and rules around compliance,” she said.

Rankin also argued the closure process hasn’t been rushed, pointing out that she was among several board members to push back on the mass closure plan first proposed in September.

‘It’s literally a skeleton.’ Seattle School Board critiques plan for mass closures

“What we received didn’t justify that level of change, and so we said ‘no thank you, please try again,’” Rankin said. “I think rushing would have been to accept it anyway, knowing that it didn’t have all the information we needed. And we definitely didn’t do that.”

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This is Rankin’s second attempted recall. She and the entire board were targeted for recall in 2021, amid accusations they failed to prepare for schools to reopen during Covid. A judge later dismissed the petition.



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Seattle, WA

Kraken lose 5th straight game, Jets 6-2 win pushes Seattle further from playoffs

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Kraken lose 5th straight game, Jets 6-2 win pushes Seattle further from playoffs


The Kraken dropped their fifth-straight game as the Jets won 6-2 in Winnipeg.

The loss adds to the dwindling Stanley Cup Playoff hopes for a Kraken team that’s made the postseason just once since the team began playing in the 2021-2022 season.

The Kraken’s (32-33-11) 75 points trail the Nashville Predators’ 81 points with just six games remaining.

The Jets, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Saint Louis Blues are ahead of the Kraken in the standings as teams jockey for Wild Card spots.

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Kraken captain Jordan Eberle opened the scoring in the first period to give Seattle a 1-0 lead.

The Jets then scored once in the first period and twice in the second to take a 3-2 advantage into the third.

Goalkeeper Joey Daccord was pulled after allowing two goals on 12 shots.

Forward Jared McCann scored early in the third period to bring the Kraken to within one.

The Jets then scored two unanswered goals and an empty-net goal to seal the 6-2 win.

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Up next

The Kraken play at the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.



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Our highlight list for your West Seattle Monday!

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Our highlight list for your West Seattle Monday!


(Photo by James Bratsanos)

Here’s the Monday list of highlights, most (but not all) from our West Seattle Event Calendar:

PUBLIC HEARING ON UPZONING PROPOSAL: As previewed here, the City Council is holding an all-day public hearing, both in-person and online/phone, under way right now – the agenda explains how to participate.

FREE TAX HELP: The deadline’s nearing … If you need assistance, today from 11 am-4 pm, find drop-in help at Alki Masonic Center. (4736 40th SW)

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BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Free.

NO CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: Regular 2 pm meeting is canceled today because of the aforementioned all-day hearing.

LONG-DISTANCE ADVOCACY: Write postcards to far-away voters with West Seattle Indivisible, 3:30-5:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: In baseball, West Seattle HS vs. Seattle Academy, 3:30 pm at Delridge Playfield (4501 Delridge Way SW); at 4 pm, the Chief Sealth IHS boys’ tennis team plays Rainier Beach at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle); also at 4 pm at NCSWAC vs. Rainier Beach, West Seattle HS plays softball.

FREE HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in assistance for K-12 students at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.

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‘BEFORE THE BADGE’: 5:30 pm, community conversation with SPD recruits, online; our calendar listing explains how to participate.

D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!

‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee. Before you go, RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)

ALKI MEDITATION: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three venues for trivia/quiz tonight! Music Quiz at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … and 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).

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POOL TOURNAMENT: If you play pool, you’re invited to enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)

FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 9 pm Mondays, karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

Big thanks to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 8 views of our feathered neighbors

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 8 views of our feathered neighbors


Thanks for continuing to send West Seattle bird photos! We’ve gathered a few for this gallery. Above, Dan Ciske‘s view of Brant in the sunset; below, Robin Sinner photographed them earlier in the day:

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Robin also shared this photo of a Barrow’s Goldeneye:

Leucistic (“caramel”) Crows turn up in West Seattle from time to time – Mark Rhea photographed this one:

Here’s a more conventionally colored one, courtesy of K. Smith:

K. also sent this unidentified bird (do you recognize it?):

And we have more recent views of the baby Anna’s Hummingbirds that recently fledged at West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor) – from Suzanne Krom:

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And from Jerry Simmons:

Again, huge thanks to everyone who shares photos, from birds to breaking news and beyond – westseattleblog@gmail.com or (when urgent) text 206-293-6302 – thank you!





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