Seattle Public Schools’ Failure to Respond After Tragic Student Death is Unacceptable
We are devastated by the tragic loss of 12-year-old Arsema Mekonnen. Our deepest condolences go out to the student’s family, friends, and the school community as they mourn this heartbreaking and unimaginable loss.
We are also outraged by Seattle Public Schools’ (SPS) failure to respond appropriately—both in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy and in their lack of communication and accountability to the community. A student lost their life, and yet SPS did not notify families promptly, did not provide adequate crisis support, and failed to take immediate action to assess and prevent future dangers. This is unacceptable.
As an immigrant family already navigating systemic barriers, the silence and lack of care are an added injustice.
Parents, students, and educators deserve transparency, responsiveness, and proactive leadership from district officials, especially in moments of crisis.
Schools exist to serve and protect students; right now, SPS is failing at both.
Seattle Public Schools Board Directors Topp, Clark, Mizrahi, and Hersey voted to extend Superintendent Brent Jones’s contract early despite ongoing failures in crisis response, a recent school shooting, and clear signs of instability in the district.
We demand that SPS immediately review its crisis response policies, ensure clear and timely communication with families, and take tangible steps to improve school safety measures.
We stand with the grieving family and community to demand accountability, urgency, and lasting change.
This is about more than one incident. It is about a system that continuously fails our most vulnerable residents—our kids.
Every student should be safe in our school buildings. Our families deserve better than how Seattle Public Schools has acted on this and several other crises in Seattle schools.
We demand more and better for our communities.