Hundreds of public comments urge Mercer Island School Board to preserve Crest alternative program

Mercer Island -- Dozens of students, alumni, parents and staff packed the Mercer Island School District board meeting and urged trustees to preserve the Crest alternative program and, in particular, its separate Crest building.

The public comment period, which ran for more than an hour, included personal testimony about Crest's role in preventing students' disengagement and in some cases addressing students' mental-health crises. "Crestblock is not just a classroom, it is a lifeline," said Katinka van Eeden, a 2024 Crest graduate, testifying about the program's community and the ways it supports students who struggled in traditional classrooms. "You cannot dismantle the foundation of a program and expect the community to remain standing." (Katinka van Eeden, Crest alumna)

Several speakers described long-term, measurable benefits for students who attend Crest. "Press changed my life," Jennifer Blazer, a Crest graduate and district staffer, told the board. "This program is not dependent on one person. What makes it effective is a whole integrated system — every teacher works with every student together." (Jennifer Blazer, Crest teacher and alumna)

Students currently enrolled at Crest and alumni emphasized practical features of the separate Crest building: smaller staff-to-student ratios, quiet and controlled spaces, and scheduling that facilitates frequent student-teacher conferences. "Crest allows me to build meaningful relationships with other students and staff," said senior Noah Shires. "Without it, you would destroy a community of learners that has been built and improved since 1971." (Noah Shires, senior)

Board members and district officials said they have heard the community's concerns and promised further work before any final operational changes. President Burnett said the board is "committed to keeping Crest in its current role for another year" while forming a committee to explore financially sustainable long-term options and to gather detailed operating numbers. Board members emphasized that the district must balance competing priorities while also safeguarding programs that have demonstrable, high-impact benefits for students.

District leaders acknowledged a budget shortfall driven by lower enrollment and state funding constraints and said they will present more specific financial analyses and timelines to the board and community. Administrators also said they are willing to work with Crest families and community groups on short-term fundraising and partnership ideas as the committee evaluates sustainable models.

The board did not take an immediate vote on program closure or relocation. It scheduled follow-up briefings and asked administration to return with precise financial scenarios, implementation risks, and possible mitigation steps. The public comment record will be part of that analysis.

The board recessed for a short break after public comment and later took up related budget and staffing discussions that district leaders said will inform any long-range decisions about Crest.