Technology-academy proposal provokes anger at high school

A proposal to bring a technology-focused academy into Rainier Beach High School has angered some parents, students and teachers who say the Seattle School District should have long ago improved the program that already exists.

Dozens of people packed a community meeting last week to protest the "school within a school" idea — a science, technology, engineering and math academy for 6th- through 12th-graders. The nonprofit group that put the proposal forward, Technology Access Foundation, plans to set up five of these academies in communities of color, where students sometimes struggle to succeed.

The idea has run into resistance at Rainier Beach, in part because parents only recently found out about it by chance. The district has been in discussions with the foundation for the past year but had not told the community.

"This is about our children," Sabrina Lucas, a parent, told district officials on Thursday. "You owe us a meeting."

Some described it as an elitist plan that would shut out struggling students and sap resources that could go to Rainier Beach's program.

Carla Santorno, the district's chief academic officer, rejected the idea that TAF Academy would hurt the current program at Rainier Beach. She said the district would send the proposal to the School Board only if the district has found a way to shore up resources at Rainier Beach and ensure its program gets stronger.

"This is not 'kill one half of the program, and promote another,' " Santorno said. "This is about offering a valuable choice for kids, and raising enrollment at Rainier Beach."

Parents and teachers on Thursday said the district has neglected Rainier Beach's academic program for far too long. Rainier Beach students do not have enough books, enough computers, or even enough classes to choose from, they said.

"They should have been working with the community to enrich the program," said teacher Michelle Jacobsen.

TAF first approached the district last year with the idea of replacing Rainier Beach High School with its academy. Teachers voted against that proposal last spring, and TAF returned with the idea of an academy within the school.

The academy, which hopes to open by 2008, would get funding from the district and TAF would commit $4,000 to $5,000 extra per student.

District officials acknowledge they made a mistake in excluding the community from early discussions. The plan now is to meet with parents, particularly at the elementary- and middle-school levels, where the children would be most affected.

The School Board is likely to take up the matter in January, but won't vote on it for several months.

At Thursday's meeting, TAF Executive Director Trish Dziko worked to dispel what she said were misconceptions about the program. The truth is this, she said: Any student in the Rainier Beach area would be eligible to attend TAF Academy. The idea is to help students through small class sizes, extra academic support, and a curriculum based on the latest research on how kids learn.

Dziko said TAF hopes the academy would draw back to the school some children who are now bused elsewhere. Rainier Beach is one of the district's smallest high schools, with about 500 students.

Dziko faced a tough audience at the Rainier Beach Community Center. There was shouting and, at one point, the PTSA president walked out with dozens of students. Dziko traced some of the anger to the community's feeling toward the district.

"I think it's going to take a lot for people to get to the point where people believe the district is trying to do the right thing," she said.

In her talk about boosting student achievement, Dziko struck a sour chord with some parents and teachers, who see Rainier Beach as a strong, family-style school that is educating hundreds of children on a shoestring.

The school has historically struggled with poor test scores, low graduation rates and declining enrollment. But last year, the school doubled its scores in math, reading and writing on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

Dozens of students showed up at the meeting to defend what they saw as an attack on their school and its culture. They described Rainier Beach as supportive in a way that other schools were not.

"It's like a second home to me," said Temalisi Moimoi, 18.

Despite the friction, principal Robert Gary Jr. saw reason for hope.

"Everybody was at the table, wanting the best for Rainier Beach," he said.

Cara Solomon: 206-464-2024 or csolomon@seattletimes.com.

Staff reporter Emily Heffter contributed to this report.