Managing the Politics of Decline [electronic resource] : School Closures in Seattle. Public Policy Paper No. 16 / B. J. Narver and Others.

Faced with an enrollment decline of over 50 percent since 1962, the board of the public school system in Seattle (Washington) decided in 1981 to close 18 of the district's 112 schools. This report details the decade-long process that led to this decision, treating in particular the changing rel...

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Online Access: Full Text (via ERIC)
Main Author: Narver, B. J.
Corporate Author: University of Washington. Institute for Public Policy and Management
Format: Electronic eBook
Language:English
Published: [S.l.] : Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse, 1982.
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Summary:Faced with an enrollment decline of over 50 percent since 1962, the board of the public school system in Seattle (Washington) decided in 1981 to close 18 of the district's 112 schools. This report details the decade-long process that led to this decision, treating in particular the changing relationships among the school district, the city, and concerned citizens. Drawing on interviews with local city and school officials and community representatives, and on examinations of the records of the period, the researchers found that the process of school district policy-making on facility utilization had been fraught with many difficulties and had undergone many changes. The roles of the school board and citizen groups in obtaining, developing, and utilizing relevant information changed considerably over the years. Despite an outcome that failed to satisfy all participants fully, the policy development process did lead to some positive results and suggested to the researchers ways in which the many problems raised by massive retrenchment can be overcome. (Author/MLF)
Item Description:ERIC Document Number: ED223005.
Availability: Publications, Institute for Public Policy and Management, Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Washington, 3935 University Way, Seattle, WA 98105 ($4.00).
Sponsoring Agency: National Inst. of Education (ED), Washington, DC.
Contract Number: NIE-G-80-0131.
ERIC Note: Some pages may reproduce poorly due to broken print of original document.
Educational level discussed: Elementary Secondary Education.
Also distributed on microfiche by U.S. GPO under ED 1.310/2:223005.
Physical Description:45 p.