tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post1011784285931231546..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Feigning Interest in Community InputMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30217158047124411942012-05-05T13:00:46.644-07:002012-05-05T13:00:46.644-07:00Let's not forget that in 2010-11, MS started 8...<i>Let's not forget that in 2010-11, MS started 8:05 AM. In 2011-2012, they moved bell times back 15 mins to 7:50 AM (for the bulk of MS/HS). Now they are proposing to move bell times back an additional 30 mins, so a total of 45 mins within 2 yrs. </i><br /><br />I'm starting to wonder if someone in the UW College of Education got a big grant to study the impact of start times and they bribed someone at SPS to create a 'natural experiment' that they could mine for their analysis. (better dust offmy tin foil hat!)Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26704451841701406492012-05-04T21:01:20.619-07:002012-05-04T21:01:20.619-07:00Let's not forget that in 2010-11, MS started 8...Let's not forget that in 2010-11, MS started 8:05 AM. In 2011-2012, they moved bell times back 15 mins to 7:50 AM (for the bulk of MS/HS). Now they are proposing to move bell times back an additional 30 mins, so a total of 45 mins within 2 yrs. Whether or not you support the idea of later start times for MS/HS, the issue to me is that the District seems to have a callous disregard for parents, especially working parents, who need a predictable schedule. The other big issue is the way they are trying to push this through without notifying the public. I think we need to focus on effective ways to make everyone aware this is happening and how we can get the Bd to table the idea, or outright vote it down. I know many involved parents and none of them had any idea about this. <br />- frustrated MS momAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58131681136660027722012-05-04T20:16:52.572-07:002012-05-04T20:16:52.572-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mother of MS and HS studentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07192578077719327787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8365509332787925782012-05-04T20:16:49.580-07:002012-05-04T20:16:49.580-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mother of MS and HS studentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07192578077719327787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72570681937985799402012-05-04T20:16:07.594-07:002012-05-04T20:16:07.594-07:00Here is another great article on the importance of...Here is another great article on the importance of late start times for MS and HS students...based on research just published in the Harvard Journal Harvard journal Education Next. We CANNOT let them push start times earlier.<br /><br />Quote:<br /><br />Edwards found that students who started middle schools an hour later in Wake County, North Carolina, saw their standardized test scores increase by 2.2 percentile points in math, and 1.5 percentile points in reading on average. The impact was greater for older students. Starting school an hour later had further benefits, he found: 12 fewer minutes of television-watching per day; nine more minutes devoted to homework per week; and an average of 1.3 fewer absences than other students. <br /><br />See for detail...http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/school-sleep-student-performance_n_1472440.htmlMother of MS and HS studentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07192578077719327787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11759430754262609022012-05-04T17:12:34.637-07:002012-05-04T17:12:34.637-07:00Sue, I'll show up in my pj's if it will he...Sue, I'll show up in my pj's if it will help.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79233817519050555452012-05-04T16:36:44.514-07:002012-05-04T16:36:44.514-07:00Riding in the Clown Car says:
ArchStanton has pro...Riding in the Clown Car says:<br /><br />ArchStanton has produced another classic skewering of SPS administration. <a href="https://home.comcast.net/~webhost/ArchStanton/index.html" rel="nofollow">All the dysfunction in one movie poster</a> and a left hook to the Waiting for Superman lemmings, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91425824851497204892012-05-04T16:22:34.812-07:002012-05-04T16:22:34.812-07:00I am completely baffled by the Transportation Task...I am completely baffled by the Transportation Task Force. What would have been so difficult about setting up a 10 day or 2 week window to take applications from interested folks? They aren't convening it for the 2012-13 year -- that horse is out of the barn and careening wildly down the lane. How hard could it possibly have been to follow the policy? <br /><br />They may have picked all the right folks. They may be willing to add anyone else now who asks to be added (like Janis) but that isn't quite the point. If someone comes into my store, steals merchandise and then says nicely that he will put it back when I stop the theft -- it is still theft (by a nice-ish thief). If the District blows by the policy and just appoints a board willy nilly -- but then nicely agrees to add Janis and others who complain -- they are still totally out of compliance, and operating in complete disrespect of, the established policies (for no discernable reason other than laziness and complacency and utter lack of caring). I guess that makes them nice-ish rule breakers, but why couldn't they just care enough to follow the procedure. Look at FACMAC. It is not that hard to do.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09923777229601243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11216562328430170522012-05-04T16:17:33.751-07:002012-05-04T16:17:33.751-07:00A timely piece on school start times:
http://www....A timely piece on school start times:<br /><br />http://www.joannejacobs.com/2012/05/start-school-later-for-more-learning/<br /><br />-later starts for middle schoolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31756421460813874052012-05-04T15:58:30.457-07:002012-05-04T15:58:30.457-07:00Do not let the district divide and conquer, someth...Do not let the district divide and conquer, something it's 'famous' for. <br /><br /><b>No gradeband</b> should be on buses at - what - 6:15 a.m. 6:30 a.m.?!?! for a 7:10 bus arrival time. Not high school. Not middle school. Not elementary school. That means the district is asking families to be up every day at 5:30or somesuch? Cmon, it simply does not pass a reality nor a safety check. <br /><br /><b>No gradeband should be starting school earlier than 8.</b> That middle schools start at 7:45 right now is flat out bad educational practice driven by an inability for downtown to handle logistics professionally. Walk into a middle school at 1st period sometime and see how much quality learning is happening. Honestly, it is a joke. <br /><br />-skeptical-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23483021517533782762012-05-04T15:55:48.295-07:002012-05-04T15:55:48.295-07:007:10 is bus arrival time, start time would be clos...7:10 is bus arrival time, start time would be closer to 7:30 (yes, still early).parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84089034275501928822012-05-04T14:27:30.860-07:002012-05-04T14:27:30.860-07:00I am just completely dumbfounded that the District...I am just completely dumbfounded that the District and Board are proposing moving middle and high schools to a 7:10 am start time. My kid would have to catch a bus at 6:15 AM. Are they insane? And I find it ironic that the WSPTA is sponsoring an amendment to move high school start times to later in the morning based on the reams of data that kids perform better, absenteeism decreases, etc. with a later start time - AT THE SAME TIME the District is considering a 7:10 am start. <br /><br />This is nuts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27584008615608060552012-05-04T14:25:48.177-07:002012-05-04T14:25:48.177-07:00Okay, but your kid will never forgive you.Okay, but your kid will never forgive you.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21018839860112840032012-05-04T14:02:14.953-07:002012-05-04T14:02:14.953-07:00Pajama protest, anyone?
Here's an idea: At th...<b>Pajama protest, anyone?</b><br /><br />Here's an idea: At the meeting where the school board will vote on this insane transportation plan, how about if lots of SPS kids show up wearing their pajamas?<br /><br />It would be a visual reminder to the board of what it means to roust kids out of bed earlier and earlier just to accommodate the transportation dept's latest crazy schemes.<br /><br />(It would make a good photo opp...!)suep.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17281578510716234624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73029710436257171432012-05-04T13:14:56.213-07:002012-05-04T13:14:56.213-07:00My son is on a third tier bus. It makes quite a f...My son is on a third tier bus. It makes quite a few stops, certainly more than 5. According to the official schedule the route takes more than 25 minutes, and in practice it always runs late compared to the official schedule. The bus is quite full.<br /><br />So I'm thinking that we already have next year's bus this year. Maybe nothing will actually change next year, except that they will change the official schedule to more closely match the actual schedule...<br /><br />Third TierAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58753209156501995882012-05-04T12:56:48.951-07:002012-05-04T12:56:48.951-07:00Community stops have also been a success at TOPS t...Community stops have also been a success at TOPS this year. At the beginning of the year, a few of the stops turned out to be at bad locations and we worked with the Trans. Dept to change those stops. Since then, no complaints from our families. <br /><br />While the community stops are less convenient for some families, they understand that this saves money for the District. And, the feedback from TOPS parents has been extremely positive about the community building that takes place at the stops and the opportunity for parents to take turns waiting for the bus in the morning and meeting the bus in the afternoon.<br /><br />I have written to the Board to let them know that community stops do work.Janishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092964153769334271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72263077138170396502012-05-04T12:38:10.648-07:002012-05-04T12:38:10.648-07:00Riding in the Clown Car says:
To community stop p...Riding in the Clown Car says:<br /><br />To community stop proponents: Agree that it is a potential fantastic solution...buses are full, bus times actually do fit into 25 min segments...kids and parents build community at the stops...plus safety in numbers.<br /><br />Which of course is why the transportation 'leader' and I use that term lightly, testified at the Wed board meeting in essence that "Ohhhhh noooo we can't do community stops. Won't work."<br /><br />Bull)(*&&*. I'll be my 401K The department hasn't lifted even ONE finger to do analysis on the project. Somebody...ask them...have they? They should have at least a year of quantitative and qualitative data from my friends' school: TOPS. The school apparently suggested and most definitely piloted this program. Someone should talk to TOPS if the staff is going to baldface lie at a Board meeting saying community stops are not a possibility.<br /><br />It is mindboggling how often staff says No We Can't when what they mean is No We Haven't Thought About It. The operations at JSIS stink like (insert your fave metaphor here). <br /><br />If the board accepts lying to cover up lax operations, they are part of the problem and yes this is an explicit dig at the 2 board members - Carr, Martin-Morris - who cite their Boeing "operational excellence" experience ad nauseum. They have had months to steward and model program excellence on this subject and have blown it. They have actually managed to lead the district into doing <b>less</b> than nothing. They have led the district into yet another customer (family) revolt. Nice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66146637436368234652012-05-04T11:44:09.285-07:002012-05-04T11:44:09.285-07:00The bus my son currently rides to APP has 5 stops ...The bus my son currently rides to APP has 5 stops total. At our community stop, 25 kids get on. I know most of the other stops are also large. It works fine. <br /><br />Bus riderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67723721574679698462012-05-04T11:40:22.062-07:002012-05-04T11:40:22.062-07:00thanks Charlie for that explanation about ride tim...thanks Charlie for that explanation about ride times. What if those 5 stops are community stops, and those are the only 5 stops on your bus route, would the numbers go up?<br /><br />I'm envisioning something like a park and ride... buses don't make as many stops picking up individual kids or small groups, but when they stop at a community stop there are more kids there. Buses would get filled, there are fewer stops, and (presumably) the ride time could still stay manageable. (If my kid was on the bus 45 or 60 min, I'd figure out a way to drive him or carpool or something... that's too long on a bus) <br /><br />I wonder if most parents would be happy w/ taking shifts at the community stop. I think we're all looking for a compromise that will provide a reasonable start/ end time and not too long of a ride.<br /><br />transportationally challenged.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3162689183615785932012-05-04T11:20:36.459-07:002012-05-04T11:20:36.459-07:00Beuller is right. My inner project manager is slow...Beuller is right. My inner project manager is slowly going insane watching the obvious lack of documentation, written cost estimates, data projections, or any semblance or evidence of actual planning. The proposal put in from of the board was not only weak, but amateurish and lacking in even basic data.<br /><br />It is obvious that much of this is being made up as they go along, without any real analysis to back it up. Why has this lack of professionalism been allowed to go on so long in this department? Where are the project manager types? Who is responsible for this mess?Frustrated PMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8135765169969954662012-05-04T11:19:00.524-07:002012-05-04T11:19:00.524-07:00SP,
Here's a few more dates to add:
12/15/11...SP,<br /><br />Here's a few more dates to add:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/school%20board/committees/Operations/20111215_Minutes_Ops.pdf" rel="nofollow">12/15/11 Ops Committee (scroll to bottom)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/school%20board/11-12%20agendas/030712agenda/20120208_Minutes_OversightWkSess.pdf" rel="nofollow">2/8/12 Board Oversight Session on Transportation</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/school%20board/committees/Operations/20120315_Minutes_Ops.pdf" rel="nofollow">3/15/12 Ops Committee</a><br /><br />It seems I keep reading different reasons/solutions/explanations in every one of these. If you can't get the story straight, then we're not getting the truth.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15581089551954652472012-05-04T11:16:42.345-07:002012-05-04T11:16:42.345-07:00It sounds like we need more buses on the road to g...It sounds like we need more buses on the road to get rid of 3 tiers and back to some normalacy. Can we crunch the number and see how many more buses and at what cost to make that happen? <br /><br />For long term planning, I think we do need to re-examine the cost of transporting kids to our many programs(APP,alt/options/creative/innovative/STEM/STEAM), to interim school site, and use of metro and how all of this feeds into the complexity and overall cost and sustainability of the system. The other big cost is the cost of changing bus schedule every year. That speaks to inefficiency, wasted manhour along with $ cost.<br /><br />Perhaps we need to confine guarantee yellow bus service (exception for spec ed and homeless) to schools within cluster/geozones only. <br /><br />parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11411947154162108902012-05-04T11:10:51.809-07:002012-05-04T11:10:51.809-07:00Is there anyone working at the District who can ma...Is there anyone working at the District who can make a realistic cost estimate? Savings 50% of anticipated is a lot to be off.<br /><br />What we ought to be asking is what a realistic 2-tier bus schedule would cost, but the District's performance makes me think there's no one there can answer such a useful question as that.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16260807460417787614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91355488294145154702012-05-04T11:01:37.989-07:002012-05-04T11:01:37.989-07:00....and the whole selling point of the new Assignm.......and the whole selling point of the new Assignment Plan with neighborhood schools was "predictability" for families and saving tons of $ on transportation...<br /><br />(that's a big "F" for both subjects!)SPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12726295210572942506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15584044888871764932012-05-04T10:51:40.052-07:002012-05-04T10:51:40.052-07:00In addition to the proposed bus times, it sure wou...In addition to the proposed bus times, it sure would be helpful to have a list of which schools will be in which tiers. We just had an email from our school (a K-8 option school) saying that they are planning to switch us to Tier 1, with busses dropping the kids off at 7:10 AM (meaning some kids would be picked up between 6:15 and 6:30 in the morning). Had the school not notified us, we'd would have had no idea that such a drastic change was even proposed (the current drop-off time is around 8:00).<br /><br />Mom of 4Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com