Seattle, WA
SPS board approves raise for Seattle superintendent despite $100M budget deficit
SPS board approves $20k raise for Seattle superintendent
Dr. Brent Jones’ salary is expected to jump by around 6% under the latest agreement.
SEATTLE – The Seattle Public Schools Board approved an employment agreement and pay raise on Tuesday that will result in Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones earning an extra $20,000.
Erin Combs, the parent of a second-grader at Thornton Creek Elementary, says she was shocked to learn that while Seattle Public Schools was weighing plans to close schools due to budget deficits, the board was planning a vote to approve the substantial raise for the superintendent.
“Unfortunately, the school board is not taking any public comment at today’s meeting,” said Erin Combs, with All Together for Seattle Schools.
Parents and some educators were upset that the board meeting was virtual, so they couldn’t speak out against the raise.
“If the district doesn’t have enough money to keep schools open, then we certainly don’t have enough money to give district leadership raises,” said Combs.
According to state data, in the 2021-2022 school year, Jones made more than $323,000, and in 2022-2023, he made $334,998.
His salary is expected to jump by around 6% under the latest agreement.
“The base salary increase is the same cost of living adjustment that was provided to other administrators in Seattle Public Schools,” said Board President Liza Rankin.
Past employment agreements with Jones also included a car allowance, along with health and retirement benefits.
Despite previous reports that the budget would need to be cut by nearly $100 million, the board unanimously approved the employment agreement, along with a new evaluation instrument.
Jones said during the meeting that he was supportive of the changes and also offered to take unpaid furlough days in solidarity with other central office staff.
“I’m willing to have five furlough days to make sure we are in alignment,” said Jones.
“On the one hand, I think it’s a positive sign, but I still have deep-seated skepticism about what’s next,” said Combs.
When FOX 13 Seattle reached out to the SPS about the agreement, the district released this statement:
“The employment agreement the Seattle School Board will vote on tonight reflects negotiations between Board President Liza Rankin, as authorized by the Board, and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Superintendent Brent Jones. The changes to Superintendent Jones’ contract are described in tonight’s Board Action Report as follows:
“The proposed employment agreement (a) removes the automatic extension language and requires an affirmative vote of the Board in January to extend the term of the agreement; (b) aligns the annual salary decision with budget development in July; (c) supports the performance evaluation process with quarterly check-ins and a review of data aligned to the Student Outcomes Focused Governance Framework; (d) updates common employment terms for sick leave accrual, vacation cashout, and holidays; and (e) provides a cost-of-living adjustment to salary.
“The cost-of-living adjustment is consistent with what SPS administrators received effective September 1, 2024.”
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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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Seattle, WA
Alex Carpenter scores twice as Seattle Torrent beat Charge 4-1
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 17: Alex Carpenter #25 of the Seattle Torrent celebrates her goal during the second period against the Ottawa Charge at Climate Pledge Arena on December 17, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Alex Carpenter had two goals and an assist, and Hannah Bilka had a goal and two assists as the Seattle Torrent earned a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday night.
Hannah Murphy was 38.1 seconds away from the first shutout in Torrent history before Ottawa finally got on the board late in the third period on a goal from Rebecca Leslie. Murphy made 24 saves on 25 shots in the victory.
Julia Gosling also added a goal on the power play as the Torrent won their second straight game.
Seattle took the lead on Gosling’s power play goal late in the first period with Rory Guilday in the box for a hooking penalty. Ottawa looked like they were going to get the game into the intermission scoreless after clearing the zone in the final 20 seconds of the period, but Carpenter and Bilka combined to find Gosling driving the back post for a finish past Sanni Ahola for a 1-0 lead.
Another power play chance off a Mannon McMahon tripping penalty allowed Carpenter to strike for a 2-0 lead.
A shot from the right circle from Bilka deflected off a skate to Carpenter at the front of the net as she back-handed the puck into the net for a two-goal advantage.
The Charge then lost track of Carpenter in the offensive zone as she found space directly in front of Ahola, beating the goaltender for a 3-0 lead off a pass from Megan Carter off the left boards.
Murphy was sharp in net for Seattle, turning aside 13 shots in the first period alone as Ottawa had the upper hand early. She’d face just 12 more shots over the final two periods combined, with only Leslie’s goal finding a way through.
After Bilka’s empty-net goal made it 4-0, Leslie outflanked Carter and the Seattle defense to get a near breakaway look in on Murphy that she finished to avoid the shutout for Ottawa.
Murphy has been the goaltender for both of the Torrent’s victories this season as the rookie out of Colgate University has been terrific early in the season for Seattle.
The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
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Seattle, WA
Jorge Polanco sends message to Seattle Mariners fans
Jorge Polanco won’t be back with the Seattle Mariners next season, but he left the club and its fan base heartfelt message after his signing with the New York Mets became official on Tuesday.
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Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Mets, posted the following to his Instagram page.
#Godfirst. I cannot express with words how grateful me and my family are for the belief YOU had in me. First you traded for me and then you signed me when everyone else doubted me after surgery. YOU made me feel wanted and loved and I will be forever grateful for that. I became a better player and person because of YOU. YOU embraced my wife, kids, and me as one of your own…again, I will be forever grateful for that. YOU were an inspiration for me every night and I just wish we could have delivered you the trophy YOU deserve. I will always cherish my time with YOU…I will never forget these last two years because of YOU.
YOU= Seattle Fans, Teammates, Trainers, Coaching Staff, Front Office, and Owner.
I will always smile thinking of YOU all.
Tridents UP!
Polanco was hindered by a knee issue and had a disappointing first season with the Mariners in 2024 after he was acquired in a trade that sent four players to Minnesota. But after coming back to the M’s on a one-year deal before the start of 2025, he had a resurgent campaign that helped key the club’s run its first American League West title and AL Championship Series appearance since 2001.
After posting career worsts with a .213 average and 29.2% strikeout rate in 2024, the 32-year-old second baseman and designated hitter batted .265 with an .821 OPS, 30 doubles, 26 home runs and 78 RBIs over 138 games in 2025. His strikeout rate dropped to 15.6%, marking the largest year-to-year dip in strikeout percentage in MLB history (minimum 450 plate appearances), per MLB.com’s Mike Petriello.
Polanco was extremely clutch for the Mariners all season long. He led the league with a 1.284 OPS and 259 wRC+ in high-leverage situations, and his .438 batting average was second.
That clutch hitting showed up in the postseason as well. Polanco homered twice off two-time reigning AL Cy Young-winner Tarik Skubal during Game 2 of the AL Division Series and delivered one of the biggest hits in Mariners history with a walk-off single in the 15th inning of their series-clinching Game 5 win. He also hit the go-ahead three-run homer in Seattle’s Game 2 ALCS win.
Polanco triggered a $6 million player option for 2026 by reaching 450 plate appearances in the regular season, but he declined the option to become a free agent. He was a top offseason target for Seattle before signing with New York.
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