Alliance/City Club School Board Debate
As I previously mentioned, there is a School Board debate this Thursday, the 26th, put on by City Club and the so-called Our Schools Coalition. Somehow I received two different e-mails with different information so here's the correct info:
It's at the Vera Project at Seattle Center. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and there's an awards program and then the debate follows at 6 p.m. It is free.
The debate is to be moderated and lead by high school students and one college student. This is great.
When I asked the Communications person at City Club whether the students had formulated their own questions and was told, absolutely.
But when I told her I had an e-mail saying they have been coached/schooled by a staff member of the Alliance for Education, she backpedaled.
When I asked about the coaching, I was told it was just to explain to the students about "governance" and how the School Board works. I said that an e-mail from Sara Morris, the head of the Alliance, Morris says the students will use the "8 Characteristics of Effective School Boards" to "inform" the questions. (This is a topic I have previously written about.)
I noted to the City Club Communications person that the Board itself hasn't signed off on these and that these characteristics, in fact, don't necessarily correlate to the state statute. She had no comment.
If you are attending, you might take these questions with a big grain of salt. Of course, young people being the free spirits that they are, I suspect some will go off-topic (and good for them).
To note, the so-called Our Schools Coalition is funded by the Gates Foundation.
This is the same night as the Diane Ravitch appearance at Kane Hall at UW at 7 p.m. It's a tough choice but her new book is really direct, fact-based and great. There will be other debates.
It's at the Vera Project at Seattle Center. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and there's an awards program and then the debate follows at 6 p.m. It is free.
The debate is to be moderated and lead by high school students and one college student. This is great.
When I asked the Communications person at City Club whether the students had formulated their own questions and was told, absolutely.
But when I told her I had an e-mail saying they have been coached/schooled by a staff member of the Alliance for Education, she backpedaled.
When I asked about the coaching, I was told it was just to explain to the students about "governance" and how the School Board works. I said that an e-mail from Sara Morris, the head of the Alliance, Morris says the students will use the "8 Characteristics of Effective School Boards" to "inform" the questions. (This is a topic I have previously written about.)
I noted to the City Club Communications person that the Board itself hasn't signed off on these and that these characteristics, in fact, don't necessarily correlate to the state statute. She had no comment.
If you are attending, you might take these questions with a big grain of salt. Of course, young people being the free spirits that they are, I suspect some will go off-topic (and good for them).
To note, the so-called Our Schools Coalition is funded by the Gates Foundation.
This is the same night as the Diane Ravitch appearance at Kane Hall at UW at 7 p.m. It's a tough choice but her new book is really direct, fact-based and great. There will be other debates.
Comments
http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2013/09/wealthy-folks-try-to-take-over-seattle.html
...cliff mass
Here is what Estey's response:
"S. Dale Estey: You know, honestly, perhaps I should know that, but I don’t. I’ve received over 400 contributions, many, in fact the last time I checked and ran the numbers, I haven’t run them recently, I have more contributors below $50 than my opponent has in her entire (inaudible). A senior citizen handed me $7 in cash the other day. I value each and every contribution. But no, I can’t name my top contributors. I could probably take a guess. My parents signed up right away. I have quite a few people who are absolutely fed up with the status quo of the school district and I’m very proud to have all of their support."
Seattle Public Schools needs a director that is honest and transparent.
It is really turning into a race of money/power versus regular people/endorsements. (Peters has racked up far more group endorsements than Dale Estey.)
Teachers, fill the vacuum in your leadership, vote to endorse the school board candidate who is not purchased by Ballmer, Griffin etc - Sue Peters
Witness the newest Lynne Varner column in the Seattle Times in which NCTQ critiques the new teacher's contract.
District Watcher