The Seattle School Board voted unanimously last week to co-house the Viewlands Elementary Autism All-Inclusion program at Broadview-Thomson next fall.

Broadview-Thomson will become a K-8 grade program.

The proposal had drawn little criticism, partly because the school's principals developed the idea, said Ballard's School Board member Sally Soriano.

A merger of the two schools had been discussed, but details of how Viewlands' inclusion program would blend with Broadview's programs left too many uncertainties.

Some Viewlands' parents were concerned about how Broadview-Thomson would absorb the inclusion program, which joins students without disabilities in the same classroom as students with the Autism Spectrum Disorder,

"It's called moving slowly and getting the details right," said Soriano. "Getting it right and making sure we keep the program flourishing is the most important issue. They (Viewlands) need to feel secure that this program is not going to be put in jeopardy."

The program could expand to include Broadview students over the next few years, but that could take a few years to allow for staff training, said Soriano.

Originally built as a middle school, Broadview-Thomson has room for about 250 additional students. If all 200 Viewlands students transferred over it would bring the population to about 680 students. The district has said they want to create elementary/K-8 schools with 400 to 500 students.

There is no telling yet how many students will transfer over.

Some Viewlands staff members have already left for other positions within the district, and about 40 families have moved their children to other schools, said Viewlands parent Lynn Miller. Others could choose another school during open enrollment this January.

"It's not the same Viewlands we had last May," said Miller.

The district is fighting two lawsuits that seek to rescind the seven closures approved by the School Board over the summer. A few months ago, Miller would have been excited at the prospect of staying open, but the tenor of Viewlands has changed, she said, and a lot of energy has already been spent preparing for the move.

Jeanne Smart, Broadview-Thomson's principal, said Viewlands' students will be able to take advantage of new programs and resources like bi-lingual services when they join Broadview. There are also diversity and economic similarities between the schools, she said. About half its student bodies are on the federal free and reduced lunch program.

"The kids already play together and shop at the same stores," said Smart. "They live in the same neighborhood. In the greater community, we are already integrated."

The district is faced with big issues that have surfaced as result of closures, such as equity and fairness. Most of the schools slated for closure are predominately minority and low-income.

"We need to look at schools that are shrinking and figure out why and do something to fix it," said Soriano. "If we figure out how to deal with them, we'll be going forth with a much more stable and sustainable district and there won't be this jarring, shock therapy process. I don't think this process belongs in education."

A $490 million school-construction bond and a $397 million operations and maintenance levy that would make up about a large part of the district's budget will be put before voters in February. Some wonder if school closure controversies will doom those measures.

Soriano, who is participating in a lawsuit to cancel all school closures, said the closure process wasn't fair because the first round couldn't be debated to the extent of the second phase since much of it took place when school was out for the summer.

"I think I can speak for most of the board members when I say there is a sense that this kind of process has to be longer term," said Soriano.