Teachers raise safety concerns about encampment on school property

SEATTLE — Teachers at Broadview-Thomson K-8 in North Seattle wrote to the mayor and school superintendent, saying a camp on district property is making people feel unsafe.

“Students and staff are concerned about their safety. We have parents pulling students out of school because of safety concerns,” said Natalee Powell, a second grade teacher at the school.

The school’s union representatives sent a letter to Mayor Jenny Durkan and the interim school superintendent, Dr. Brent Jones, asking for a solution.

“We don’t see this as a compassionate solution. This is ignoring a problem,” said teacher Alicia Nicas.

The camp starts beyond the campus fence and looks like it’s part of the adjacent Bitter Lake Playfield, but it’s actually on property owned by Seattle Public Schools.

Durkan’s office told KIRO 7 the city is spending almost $200 million offering services to people camping on city property, but because this camp is on district property, the district needs to provide those services.

In a letter to Durkan, Jones asked for help, writing, “It is not realistic for the district to develop on its own a comprehensive program of supports for the unsheltered community.”

KIRO 7 asked people in the camp if anyone has offered them services, like housing.

“Not that I have noticed,” Nick Day said.

He and Anthony Piper, who are living in the camp, are well aware of tension with the neighborhood.

“The best way I think would be to come out and get to know people,” Piper said.

“There’s not really bad people here. We’ve come on bad times,” Day added.

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