Update 2 p.m.:
Following a District Leadership Team meeting today, Superintendent Banda seems to have had a change of heart and released the following statement to Principals of all Seattle Public Schools:
Dear Principals,
Thank you for your participation in the District Leadership Team meeting today, and for taking the time to talk collectively about student achievement.
I enjoyed our discussion around Wednesday’s Seahawks parade, and I applaud your efforts to build a sense of community and celebration at each of your schools tomorrow. I know how important it is for our students and staff to celebrate this historic Super Bowl win. As I mentioned, our schools are a place of home for many of our students, and I know our kids will be fired up to celebrate tomorrow. This Seahawks season has taught us about teamwork, practice and community pride. Watching part of the parade together during lunch is a great activity. I hope you will share photos and stories of your school celebrations.
That said, I do understand the implications on students at different grade levels. I want you to have the flexibility to do what you feel is best for your school community. Under state regulation, you do have the discretion to decide if students who miss school tomorrow for the parade will be considered unexcused or excused. I will support your decision.
José Banda
Original Post:
Seattle Public Schools are set to remain open tomorrow during the Seahawks’ victory parade and absences will be counted, as per state regulation, as unexcused.
Superintendent José Banda released the following statement regarding the parade yesterday:
Congratulations to the Seahawks on an amazing season and Super Bowl win! I It’s been so fun to see our school communities get into the spirit these last few weeks. I’ve enjoyed seeing the photos and videos of our students and staff celebrating the Seahawks.
We have received questions about the parade on Wednesday, which starts at 11 a.m. Seattle Public Schools will not close or dismiss school early because of the parade. Parents who wish to take their students out of school can, but per state regulation, it will be treated as an unexcused absence. While we support the team, academics must come first and it’s important not to lose a day in the classroom.
We know this is a historical event for our community and we also know that for many of our students, their school community is a place where they will celebrate and come together to talk about pride, sportsmanship and teamwork. We encourage our students and staff to wear blue on Wednesday in honor of the Seahawks.
We are working with the City on transportation issues for the day and we will work hard to minimize disruptions. However, families should expect bus delays in the afternoon on Wednesday.
Let’s hope this is the first of many Seahawk Super Bowl wins!
According to the official Seahawks website, the parade (route pictured above) will begin just south of Seattle Center at Denny Way and travel south down 4th Avenue past Westlake Park and finish at the north entrance of CenturyLink Field.
There will be limited parking availability at CenturyLink Field. Fans are encouraged to carpool and utilize public transportation. Based on the projected forecast, fans are also encouraged to dress appropriately for cold temperatures.