School's future

Editor's Note: This letter was written to the Seattle School Board and the Seattle City Council and a copy sent to the Ballard News-Tribune.

The Sunset Hill Community Association is extremely concerned by the Seattle School District's reported plans to change the way surplus school properties are used. Our neighborhoods depend on these public properties for untold numbers of active, vital, and essential community organizations. We understand that it is the district's goal to develop public property to maximize "revenue potential," but you cannot assign a dollar value to providing a home for the work of public, spirited citizens; we urge the Seattle School District to continue to retain ownership of these public assets and to continue to make them available to community use.

The future of the Crown Hill School is of particular concern. The Crown Hill School is home to many small organizations that can afford no other home. Please review the Crown Hill/Ballard Neighborhood Plan, which was the result of five years' work by the community. Council Resolution 29775 and City Ordinance 11911 adopted the Plan as an amendment to the Seattle Comprehensive Plan on August 17, 1998. That plan makes specific mention of the Crown Hill School as central to the vitality of our community, and any change to that plan would be contrary to the clear goals of community and City of Seattle policy.

We recently received the Pro Parks 2006 Annual Newsletter. The Parks Department calls project number nine the "Crown Hill School Open Space", and states that the project is "being acquired, or in planning or construction in 2006." We trust that the Seattle School District will fulfil its obligations and will allow this project to be completed.

We look forward to hearing about the Seattle School District's plans to enhance public use of its facilities. Please write to us if your plans for these properties change.

Robert Drucker

Sunset Hill Community

Association