Two West Seattle K-8 schools have steadfastly rejected the Seattle Schools superintendents recommendation that alternative Pathfinder program be merged with the more traditional programs at Cooper school.

In reaction, Superintendent Raj Manhas issued a statement that said the two schools were to "collaborate to create a strong alternative K-8 program that will integrate and serve the needs of students from both programs."

Manhas said that after a hearing Tuesday night (6:30 p.m., Oct. 10 at Pathfinder's Genesee Hill site) his final recommendation will go to the school board on Oct. 18 and the board is expected to make its final decision on Nov. 1.

The decision to incorporate both programs at the much newer and modern Cooper School site was made by Manhas on Sept. 18. Pathfinder parents immediately took issue with the idea. Moving to the Cooper building had been proposed in 2005, and then withdrawn under fire. This time, instead of displacing the Cooper students to nearby schools, the superintendent said the two school programs should be merged into a new program.

In a letter to this newspaper (printed in entirety on Page 6), Cooper staff members said the lack of an adequate building should not be at the expense of another school's program.

"We urge the Seattle school superintendent and school board to not 'fix' or merge a program that is successful, beloved and anything but broken," said the letter by Pathfinder staff members. "Pathfinder is already an 'exciting opportunity' for education.

"Pathfinder K-u parents and staff are working untold hours to preserve education, not out of arrogance but out of a passion for retaining the single alternative school as an option for families in West Seattle.

Cooper parents also object to the merger, issuing a statement under the name of the United Cooper Advocacy Group.

"The United Cooper Advocacy Group does not support the latest proposal of moving the Pathfinder K-8 program into the Cooper building," the group said in its "Charter Objectives" (also published in its entirety on Page 6).

"As a united group, we categorically reject this pronouncement along with its devaluing language which states that the district would 'permit Cooper students to enroll in Pathfinder K-8.' The (advocacy group) sees this current proposal as non-equitable, one sided and, therefore, injurious to the Cooper Program and the integrity of its students, families, community and staff."

After both letters we asked Seattle School District spokesman Peter Daniels if the district has changed its position from the letter it issued earlier last week (it, too, is published in its entirety on Page 6).

"We will just have to see what the superintendent decides," Daniels said while saying the district was remaining firm on this proposal.

Manhas said to parents and staff of both West Seattle Schools that there appeared to be a misreading of his merger decision.

"We realize that many people have read the recommendation to mean that the Pathfinder program will move intact into the Cooper building and that if Cooper students chose to stay they would be welcome," Manhas wrote. "That is not out intention. We want to be very clear about what this recommendation means:

"The Cooper and Pathfinder communities will work together to create an expanded . . . vision of an alternative school inclusive of Pathfinder and Cooper's successful programs. We recognize that students from both school will bring unique gifts and create opportunities to enhance the program."

He said it was the school district's goal to have students at both schools "will find that the renewed alternative program meets their needs," and that a planning committee both schools are to appoint "will work together to develop the concept of the school."

Lisa Clayton, Pathfinder librarian and parent of a student there, said an amalgamation "would not work at all." Some like the alternative program of looser restrictions at Pathfinder, while others will prefer the tighter controls of the traditional program at Cooper.

"Pathfinder and Cooper are like oil and water - it is hard to mix an alternative school and a traditional school."

Clayton said there was not enough planning for such a major change, and the one year until the new program should go into effect was just not enough time in any case.

Some has concluded the change was made only for Pathfinder to be housed in a better building than the leaky, crumbling building they are in now that was built as a temporary school in the 1940s.

"We did not start this, we are not trying to destroy Cooper," she said. "We would like to feel respected and honored and Cooper to feel respected and honored" by the district.

Cooper parents also listed detailed objections, including a better statement of intent for the integration "between two disparate and distinct education models." It also asked for a set of clarifications on how the district wants to handle a variety of problems.

Both school parents and staff note that an amalgamation of the two schools could require that portables be added to the Cooper site, something no one wants. Daniels, of the school district, says that might be needed at first be he says the attendance will stabilize over time until the Cooper structure should be able to handle attendance without portables.

Jack Mayne may be reached at 932.0300 or jmayne@robinsonnews.com