<p>The district most often cites 47th but I have also seen 34th( and a recent news article has been changed to 34th in spending)
They are trying right now to figure out how to raise money-part of problem is they built a brand new administration facility and used money that should have been used elsewhere.
The city Council can help to fund the schools without asking for a vote- which may be the best way to go because public confidence that the district would make good use of any new funds is low.</p>
<p>Something that is particulary galling to me is that the district is appealing yet another court decision in san fransico ,that bans them from using race to assign students to buildings, somthing that has surely cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars. A board member told me that when she questioned this, as it has been shown that by not using race schools are only slightly more integrated but public perception of the district is lower, the attorney for the district told her that "even if we win( the court appeal) we don't have to do it".!</p>
<p>Legally they could have bused for socio-economic reasons and gotten more diversity, than fighting the judges decision, compelling many familes to leave the district.
<a href="http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0524/050615_news_schools.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0524/050615_news_schools.php</a></p>