A Message from Ben Shuldiner

Dear Seattle Public Schools Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. I am so happy to write to you all this week.

So, this is the Pacific Northwest clime you have all told me about?

I am writing this newsletter, looking out the window, seeing the glorious sunshine and people experiencing "sweater weather" in abundance. In this world of stress, anxiety, and fraught political relationships, I hope that all of you were able to go outside today, take a walk, if you are able, and feel a little sunshine on your body, if you are able. Today really is glorious.

I hope you noticed, twice I used the phrase "if you are able." This is on purpose.

October is Disability History Month in Washington, so designated in 2008 by the state legislature. Washington State Law

When running a school district, we think often about the needs of all 50,000 students. We try to make sure everyone has a desk, a book, a way to get to school, and a teacher in every room. This universal structure is important, as it allows us to serve the entire community. But often when we think of the whole, we can become myopic and not understand the needs of the individual.

If you have met me, you might notice I walk with a limp. Though I wish I had a great story of saving a child from a burning building, the cause of my ailment is much more mundane. I have hemophilia, and as a child I had multiple bleeds into my right ankle that caused serious bone, cartilage, and synovial membrane damage. Hemophilia runs in my family. Both my maternal grandfather and great uncle had it and died young, with my mother's father dying when she was just 4 years old. Hemophilia has been a part of my family for generations.

When I was a child, my family and I had to fight year after year to allow me to go to school, participate fully, but also know my own body and the impact of hemophilia, so I could ask for adjustments.

The craziest incident happened in middle school. I had just moved to Los Angeles from New York City, enrolling in a new school and new district, and of course having to make new friends as a 13-year-old. It was already pretty stressful.

My new school did not want to allow me to have my hemophilia medicine at school. Thus, I was possibly being denied life-saving medication, or even admittance to the school, because of a fear of liability and unwillingness to work with my family, to trust that allowing me to administer my medicine was the best way to keep me safe and at school.

To convince the district, I had to do my entire infusion in front of a panel of nurses and medical professionals, from mixing my medicine, to putting a needle in my vein, to pushing the medicine through a 30cc syringe, to putting a Band-Aid on one-handed. And since it was Los Angeles, they even made me get out of my chair, with the syringe in one hand and the needle in the other, to see if I could get outside or under a desk, just in case an earthquake struck at that exact moment. Because I was a smart aleck, I think in my frustration, I asked if they also wanted me to do a jig.

I share all of this because I think about that day often when I get emails from parents about how we are not serving the needs of their student. How we are not addressing the individual. How we seem sometimes more concerned about liability than love.

So today, as we celebrate and acknowledge Disability History Month, let's think about ways we can support and care and adjust so we serve both the whole and the individual, each according to their unique needs, each according to their desires. This will be hard. We will make mistakes, and not do things perfectly. But with grace and understanding, positive intent and comfort, we can and will do better for our children.

Thank you all for believing in SPS. With your help and hard work, SPS truly will be the best urban public school district in the country.

Ben

Seattle Public Schools invites students, families, staff, and community members to join the next Superintendent Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. These meetings provide an opportunity to share feedback directly with district leadership and help shape the future of SPS schools and services.

Building on conversations from previous meetings, the Oct. 27 session will continue discussions around academic rigor, school design, and school safety and security. Community input will help inform future engagement opportunities and district planning efforts.

To support broad participation, language interpretation in Amharic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese, as well as American Sign Language (ASL) services, will be available. Light refreshments and activities for children will also be provided.

Your voice matters. We hope you'll join the conversation.

View the full meeting schedule and learn more on the SPS website.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, students at Concord International Elementary School are using their voices to explore and share the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities.

Through the school's Hispano Radio presentation, fourth- and fifth-grade students research influential Hispanic and Latino figures, learn about cultural traditions and music, and share their discoveries with classmates and staff. Presentations feature songs, stories, and readings in both English and Spanish, creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect with diverse perspectives and experiences.

By taking an active role in educating and engaging their school community, these student broadcasters are helping bring Hispanic Heritage Month to life while celebrating the languages, histories, and achievements that enrich Seattle Public Schools.

Students from Ingraham High School's Drum Line helped mark an exciting milestone for the community when they performed at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Pinehurst Light Rail Station on Sept. 29.

Invited to participate in the celebration, the talented student musicians brought energy, enthusiasm, and school spirit to the event, performing for elected officials, city leaders, and community members gathered to commemorate the station's opening.

Their performance highlighted the important role students play in community events and showcased the dedication and talent of Ingraham's music program. Seattle Public Schools is proud of the Ingraham Drum Line for representing their school and district with pride while helping welcome a new chapter in connecting communities across Seattle.

During the Oct. 7 Seattle School Board meeting, the Board approved Resolution No. 2026/27-08, Supporting the Superintendent’s Implementation of School Safety Measures, reaffirming its commitment to safe, secure, and welcoming learning environments for all students and staff.

The resolution supports the Superintendent’s authority to implement safety measures and campus improvements across the district, including exploring a weapons detector pilot program and other building security enhancements where needed.

The action follows input shared by students, families, and school leaders from Nathan Hale and Rainier Beach High Schools regarding safety concerns in their communities.

The resolution aligns with existing district policies that promote school safety and prohibit weapons on school property and at school-sponsored events.