Parents and educators urge committee not to close McKinley High School before replacements exist

Several parents and educators told the Health and Human Development Committee that McKinley High School should not be targeted for early closure under the SLPS Future Ready proposals.

"McKinley High School, which is threatened with closure despite the fact that it's 1 of consistently 1 of the top 20, high schools in the state and 1 of the top 2,000 in the country," said Theresa Danley, a parent whose family includes SLPS students. Judith Southard, a Ward 1 parent, noted the school's strong offerings in the arts and its broad open-enrollment access; she said closing McKinley would remove opportunities for students across the city.

Adam Hopkins said closing schools deeply anchored in community life amounts to "a version of erasure," warning the loss of neighborhood anchors can drive families away. "When you start to close down schools that are literally woven into the fabric of our community...you start to eliminate the ability for people to literally say that my family generations...have gone to these schools," Hopkins said.

Speakers urged that any closures be tied to clear plans to replace and reopen neighborhood schools first, and that the district provide more accessible, in-language, and in-person community engagement before pursuing final votes.

The committee advanced a resolution asking SLPS to delay a final vote and to expand community engagement. No SLPS district representative responded at this committee meeting.