Parents fight closing of Pratt Elementary

Cynthia Violett planned to sit in the back row inside the Pratt Elementary School gym Wednesday night and chant “save our school.”

Violett’s fifth-grade daughter rolled her eyes at the idea. But she’s not opposed to saving the school.

“I don’t want to go to a different school next year,” Sarrah Violett said.

The Violetts joined more than 100 people from the Pratt neighborhood Wednesday who said they plan to fight the possible closure of the school at 6903 E. Fourth Ave.

Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Brian Benzel proposed last month closing Pratt to shave $500,000 annually from the district’s budget.

Unless the Legislature commits to funneling more money into basic education in the state, the district is facing a budget gap of more than $10 million next year.

“It sort of feels like we’re being singled out,” said Bill Boone, who came to the crowded gym with his wife, Toni. They have a first-grader who attends Pratt.

“We came here tonight to find out what we can do,” Boone said. “I just hope we can make a difference.”

Members of the Parent Teacher Group and the Edgecliff SCOPE (Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort) met with district officials on Tuesday in an effort to learn more about why Pratt was selected for closure.

Pratt, the only Spokane school located in within the Spokane Valley city limits, is one of the smallest with 231 students. Like other district schools, Pratt has continued to lose students each year.

“It sort of feels like a done deal,” said Rick Scott, a member of Edgecliff SCOPE.

Scott handles a federal crime prevention grant given to the Edgecliff community — once considered a high crime area. Under the grant, the school is considered a “safe haven.” Without the school, it’s possible the community could receive fewer grant dollars, Scott said.

“I think a lot of the work we’ve done might be undone,” he said.

Some of the strategies the community considered Wednesday night include asking the district to relocate students from schools like Lincoln Heights and Sheridan to Pratt, instead of moving students out to those schools. Community members were also urged to contact their local legislators.

If the school does close, the district has proposed moving in a special education assessment center to the space. But it’s possible the Pratt folks could still use the gym.

“There’s been some talk about that, but we’re still losing the direct connection to the kids,” Scott said.