Dems proposal to close WA schools for developmentally disabled draws GOP ire

As the debate heats up in Olympia over competing budget proposals, one of the cost-cutting ideas offered by majority party Democrats in the state Legislature is getting some Republican pushback.

Democrats propose shutting down the Rainier School in Buckley, which has served people with disabilities since October 1939. In addition, they propose closing the Yakima Valley School, which also serves those with disabilities. Respite and crisis care would continue in Yakima Valley.

During this week’s Democratic leadership media availability, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Seattle, was asked about the proposal to close the facilities.

“One of the values that drives our thinking around care for folks with developmental disabilities, whether in RHCs [residential habilitation centers], residential habilitative centers, or supportive living out in the community, is the choice of the client and their family,” he said. “We have capacity in our other RHCs, Fircrest and Shoreline and Lakeland Village, and outside Spokane, to accommodate residents of Yakima Valley and Rainier School.”

Fitzgibbon said Democrats don’t take lightly the disruption the closures would create for residents and the workforce.

“But we do have to evaluate the services that the state provides every time we pass a budget and decide whether we need every state facility,” he said.

Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said Washington is in a long process of evolving away from institutionalizing people with disabilities.

“We’re trying to place a much stronger presumption that people should be placed in the community whenever possible,” the Senate majority leader said.

“The idea of these large schools where people would get sent away and essentially locked up for the rest of their lives is not a modern idea,” he noted. “Washington is very unusual in preserving those spaces.”

Fitzgibbon said he’s confident that the people who work at the schools could find other jobs in community settings because their skills are in high demand, including in long-term care.

Rep. Matt Marshall, R-Eatonville, whose district neighbors Rainier School in Buckley, told The Center Square he vehemently opposes closing the facilities.

“These are persons who are developmentally or intellectually disabled. They are primarily adults who don’t have support systems or a way for them to be out on their own; however, with some support, they are able to be productive members of society,” he said. “They hold jobs and have some assistance with daily living to get to and from appointments and places where they work and they pay back into the community with their taxes and contribute to society.”

Marshall explained that closing the schools would cost the state additional resources.

“The money that we spend as a state for this is matched one-for-one with federal money,” he explained. “We’re losing twice the impact for the dollars spent by doing this.”

The proposal from Democrats would close both locations within 18 months.

“I have not seen any sort of a plan that actually addresses the issue. I only hear talking points of having places in the community where people could go. I haven’t seen a single example of a viable solution, so I have grave concerns that if people are discharged and we just close this school, people will die,” Marshall continued. “These people are depending on us and we’re going to send the message as a state that says we don’t care, figure it out.”

Marshall noted that residents are often employed outside the school in their communities.

“These individuals are being employed by commercial employers outside, and they are actually helping our economy, and they are adding value to these businesses. So, we close the school; how are they going to get to and from their job? Where are they going to live? Or will they just be on the street?” Marshall asked. “We have so many questions, and just pulling the rug out from under these people is wrong, and again, keep in mind we are losing another federal dollar for every dollar we don’t spend for this.”

The Center Square contacted the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services for comment on the possible school closures.

“As this Legislature is still in session and deliberating on this and other issues, we are refraining from commenting and will await any decision on this,” Adolfo Capestany with DSHS communications said in an email. “We continue to be available to provide technical assistance as requested by the legislature and Governor’s Office.”

According to DSHS, Rainier School currently has 81 residents and 510 employees. Yakima Valley School has 47 residents and 250 employees.