Some school board members released proposed amendments Wednesday, Jan. 28, to Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson's final recommendation for school closures, which will be voted on today (Jan. 29) at 6 p.m.

Director Harium Martin-Morris has proposed that the superintendent remove the Genesee Hill building from the list of recommended closures so that Pathfinder would remain at Genesee Hill and Cooper would remain at Cooper.

Reducing the number of schools closed to four would reduce the district's anticipated savings by $516,000 in fiscal year 2010.

West Seattle School Board representative Steve Sundquist has proposed an amendment that would reassign Cooper students to just three schools: Gatewood, Highland Park and Arbor Heights, with transportation provided.

This excludes students currently served in Cooper's autism program and those who live within the Cooper walk zone. Those students would remain at the Cooper location and be incorporated into Pathfinder.

Meanwhile, School Board member Mary Bass has proposed that the Lowell program be kept in tact, so that West Seattle students in the Accelerated Progress Program are not transferred to Thurgood Marshall elementary.

The School Board will address these amendments before it votes on the superintendent's final recommendation regarding school closures on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.

For more information on school closures please visit http://www.seattleschools.org/area/capacity/index.dxml.

All amendments from members of the school board are available at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/board/08-09agendas/012909agenda/012909agenda.pdf.