Lowell’s APP Program to Move to Lincoln

A few weeks back, we reported that Seattle Public Schools was contemplating moving Lowell Elementary’s 4th and 5th grade APP classes to the Lincoln site here in Wallingford; but during a meeting on June 27, parents from Lowell expressed concern for splitting the APP program. Today, Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield sent out a letter to families announcing that all Lowell APP students in Grades 1-5 will move to Lincoln for 2011-12 school year:

Dear Lowell Elementary families,

After hearing from the Lowell community at our community meeting last week, in addition to feedback from an online survey and personal conversations, we have decided to move APP students in Grades 1-5 to Lincoln for the fall.

I want to apologize to our students, families and staff for the timing of this decision. I know this has been frustrating for many of you. We are putting proper systems in place to ensure this will not happen again.

Moving APP to Lincoln for the 2011-12 school year not only provides a short-term solution while we look long term at our growing APP program, but it also presents an opportunity for additional capacity at Lowell. We will be looking carefully at how we can work together to ensure that the ALO and Special Education programs at Lowell will be vibrant and successful. We will work closely with you and the community in the next school year on these issues.

We are working on the details and logistics of this move and we are compiling answers to the many questions you must have. We are working on issues about transportation, resources and other logistics. We will have more information in the next few weeks, including answers to frequently asked questions that we will post on our website at  http://bit.ly/lowell-2011. You may also email us with specific questions at [email protected].

We look forward to working with the entire Lowell community on strategic long-term solutions for both APP and the school. I know this solution is not ideal, but I appreciate you working with us to make this the best possible situation for our students. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Susan Enfield, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools

Lowell will share the space at Lincoln with McDonald Elementary during the 2011-12 school year.