Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools Maria Goodloe-Johnson has recommended to the School Board that Arbor Heights Elementary program discontinue, Pathfinder K-8 move from the Genesee Hill building into Arbor Heights, and that West Seattle's Lowell building close.

The recommendation was the first step in the district's two-month long process to redistribute resources and address an anticipated $24 million deficit in its 2009 budget.

Because Pathfinder is the only alternative or K-8 school in West Seattle, the School District felt it was important to maintain the program, and provide it with a facility that costs less to maintain than Genessee Hill.

According to the recommendation, students in Lowell Elementary's Accelerated Progress Program could be relocated to Thurgood Marshall, at 2401 S. Irving St., and Hawthorne Elementary, at 4100 39th Ave. South. Students with Special Education needs would be reassigned based on the new Student Assignment Plan, which will be finalized this Spring.

At an informal community meeting on the morning of Nov. 26, School Board member Steve Sundquist addressed parent's concerns.

Most notable were parents from Arbor Heights, who spoke in defense of the program that some described as "a model for neighborhood schools."

When recommendations were presented at the School Board meeting on Nov. 25, Sundquist questioned whether the Cooper building, currently used as an elementary school, might be a more appropriate home for the Pathfinder program. He said that the idea will require further research

The district has recommended closing the Lowell building, according to Sundquist, because of its high maintenance costs. He also explained that the program brings up a legal issue because it places two special education programs together.

Lowell educates only advanced progress and special needs students. As a result it does not offer those in special education the opportunity to learn and socialize with general education students, as state law requires.

At the community meeting, parents with children in the Advanced Progress Program were frustrated that the students could be separated. One mother said that the School Board should think about how dispersing the program could cause more parents to send their children to private schools.

Sundquist advised parents to suggest alternative options to the board as early as possible, and back up their ideas with as much research as possible.

"The more specific you can be, the more likely your thoughts are going to be heard," he said.

While Goodloe-Johnson chose to present the School Board with a single recommendation instead of several different options, Sundquist is confident that the board members will have the opportunity to amend individual aspects of that recommendation. He added that the superintendent could come back with a new recommendation in early January.

Parents and other community members will have the opportunity to respond to the district's recommendation at community workshops. The first will be held at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence on Dec. 4 and the second will be at the Filipino Community Center on Dec. 6.

Rose Egge can be reached at rosee@robinsonnews.com or 932-0300.