OLYMPIA, Wash. – Seattle Public Schools’ plan to close more than 20 schools has come to a sudden stop, but concerns about Washington’s state education budget remain high.
The financial strain has raised questions about the future of public school funding, with mounting pressure on Chris Reykdal, the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, to secure additional funds. His willingness to explore new taxes to fill the gap is at the center of the debate.
Reykdal’s opponent in the upcoming superintendent election, David Olson, has been vocal in his opposition. Olson, a member of the Peninsula School Board, labeled Reykdal’s early budget proposal a “political stunt,” saying that it is more about posturing than practical solutions.…