tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post1875742134966422014..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Upcoming Elections and Public Education in SeattleMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27039688981023693832013-02-26T19:22:48.129-08:002013-02-26T19:22:48.129-08:00I had the same response as Solvay Girl. I saw the...I had the same response as Solvay Girl. I saw the list of folks fundraising for Tim Burgess and knew I would never vote for him.<br /><br />I wouldn't anyway. My observations of him in small meetings regarding the Family and Education Levy has me thinking "slimy" every time I hear his name. <br /><br />I don't trust him or his agenda.<br /><br />jwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90232425282654314262013-02-26T19:21:16.955-08:002013-02-26T19:21:16.955-08:00In my passionate questioning, I forget a couple of...In my passionate questioning, I forget a couple of key sets of questions.<br /><br />Given the millions of members of the teachers unions, given the hundreds of millions a year in funds they collect, why is the choice being a toady at the chump table, or, saying "No!"?<br /><br />Why isn't there counter messaging which is effective, instead of pathetic? Why is the messaging always some kind of "Love The Way You Lie" kind of garbage? 'We better accept this little whomping or they'll whomp us worse!'<br /><br />It is exactly what the right wing has done to a complacent branch of the Democratic Party for decades - and when you're 1 of the 1/2 million households in WA living on over $100,000 a year, instead of 1 of the 2,000,000 living on less, you can afford to call the latest sell out a "compromise". <br /><br />Oh well, since the union is concerned with its survival, first, last and always, Burgess and Rodney are better off with a sould out company union than getting rid of the unions!<br /><br />WhatWorryShouldTimmyHave? <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76552260605734223622013-02-26T18:14:50.387-08:002013-02-26T18:14:50.387-08:00I recall SEA Prez J Knapp twisting himself into co...I recall SEA Prez J Knapp twisting himself into contortions to get the Creative Approach Schools MOU through, while Burgess sat at the back of the Board meeting room like a Mafioso crime boss.<br /><br />Anyone but BurgessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4458787732649216182013-02-26T16:48:37.405-08:002013-02-26T16:48:37.405-08:00Melissa, for many decades millions have been convi...Melissa, for many decades millions have been convinced that there are appx. 2 choices - the supposed 'seat at the table' OR zip, nada, nothing. <br /><br />We know no bodies keep voting for 'seat at the table' "Leaders" and we keep suffering. WHY have the bottom 90+% of us been steam rolled by the minions of the 1%? Well, when your goal is to rip off 99% of the population, you need to be really good at lying. <br /><br />It REALLY helps when your slick lies convince the other side that the latest lie is a moderate, bipartisan, grown up choice! It REALLY helps when your opposition "leaders" are politically pathetic, or, grovelling for their table scraps. <br /><br />In 4 years of some SEA-WEA involvement, I've seen ZERO evidence of "leaders" having learned lessons that Clinton & Obama learned after Mondale, Dukakis and Gore. YOU and YOUR BLOG did more to fight against the charter bill than the last minute few hundred thousand the WEA tossed in. <br /><br />The real question SEA members should be asking - why isn't their union "leadership" figuring out how to pay back Burgess & his band of privateers. <br /><br />WhatWorryShouldTimmyHave?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16377449054761135432013-02-26T09:08:42.080-08:002013-02-26T09:08:42.080-08:00Enough, you raise a point that does confuse me. I...Enough, you raise a point that does confuse me. I see SEA leadership as very much going along with a lot of what is being done.<br /><br />Now, is this going along to get along? Meaning, better to be at the table, trying to shape the discussion rather than just fighting it?<br /><br />Is it a cynical thing for some in leadership who want power (and hanging around with these powerful people will rub off)?<br /><br />I don't know because I'm not privy to union politics. I don't see WEA acting as SEA does. <br /><br />But if I were in the union, I'd be asking some hard questions. One of them would be "Did you or any SEA rep attend this party?"Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33452008377571903102013-02-26T07:50:35.209-08:002013-02-26T07:50:35.209-08:00The Susan Enfield Fan Club that is hosting this ev...The Susan Enfield Fan Club that is hosting this event must be terrified of the principled and intelligent stand of the Garfield teachers. <br /><br />These real educators are the nightmare of the poseur hosts, who either left the classroom and school building ASAP or never served in one in the first place.<br /><br />Hopefully, the SEA can get some backbone from this MAP episode. Having a union in name only has enabled these ineffective politicos to co-opt the name "educator", while seeking self gain at any cost.<br /><br />Real educators need to oppose in full force an ambitious sycophant like Tim Burgess.<br /><br />--enough alreadyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8167949657021320052013-02-26T07:42:46.856-08:002013-02-26T07:42:46.856-08:00Seattle schools principal at Queen Anne Elementary...Seattle schools principal at Queen Anne Elementary David Elliott? That's interesting. I don't see principals often involved in politics for some reason. At least not publicly. nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22340677723341028772013-02-26T07:14:38.396-08:002013-02-26T07:14:38.396-08:00Nick, the point is that having supported 1240 is n...Nick, the point is that having supported 1240 is not necessarily going to make him more popular with Seattle voters.<br /><br />Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16260807460417787614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41754159578121239492013-02-25T21:00:49.965-08:002013-02-25T21:00:49.965-08:001240 did Win in Washington State so deal with it M...1240 did Win in Washington State so deal with it Melissa WestbrookNick Esparzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29414786675585666082013-02-25T20:30:31.051-08:002013-02-25T20:30:31.051-08:00Luckily I have other media friends who are interes...Luckily I have other media friends who are interested in the mayoral race. I hope they pick up on this one and ask some hard questions. Or, at least keep an eye on this.<br /><br />Burgess doesn't have a lock on anything (and may have forgotten that 1240 lost in Seattle). Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81345473564831946982013-02-25T19:38:19.923-08:002013-02-25T19:38:19.923-08:00If the gang of four and DeBell think Mr Burgess is...If the gang of four and DeBell think Mr Burgess is a suitable mayoral candidate the only logical conclusion is he is an unsuitable candidate. I was on the fence, not now.ConcernedSPSParenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15225940383725947861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18358209670413552282013-02-25T19:31:19.562-08:002013-02-25T19:31:19.562-08:00It's interesting that the invite says, " ...It's interesting that the invite says, " Join Seattle Educators to support our friend Tim Burgess for mayor." How many of these people are actually educators? Sara Morris and Greg Wong are also on the list of supporters.Linh-Conoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86784515979858691892013-02-25T19:16:12.266-08:002013-02-25T19:16:12.266-08:00Suppose that the SEA-WEA wasn't completely com...Suppose that the SEA-WEA wasn't completely compromised / sold out with their seat at the table "strategy" - they'd be ramping, now, up to pay Burgess back in this primary. <br /><br />Suppose that these purported grassroots democratic organizations, such as the teacher's union, weren't fixated on phake top down grassroots - suppose that solidarity meant "GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING", instead of <br /><br />'get out and do what we tell you do to, oh crapped on and peed on and stomped on grassroots' - <br /><br />of the almost 5000 SEA members and 70 or 80,000 WEA members, there would be PLENTY of people working to politically pay back Burgess.<br /><br />Good for timmy - the "leaders" of his opponents are bleating outside timmy's door, waiting for their dose of mush, terrified of losing their seat at the kidde table. <br /><br />Good thing for timmy - 'grassroots' is so dysfunctional <br /><br />WhatWorryShouldTimmyHave?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66885186612078681062013-02-25T19:12:15.685-08:002013-02-25T19:12:15.685-08:00Burgess will ask you for dollars for the F&E L...Burgess will ask you for dollars for the F&E Levy and he will ask you for your endorsement, but he is unwilling to answer the call of his constituents on important issues.<br /><br />My guess is that he is more than willing to support charter schools, take the levy dollars that we ok'd..and take your ability to control tax-payer (and levy0 dollars out of your hands and place it into the hands of<br />an unelected board i.e Charter Commission.<br /><br /><br />I wouldn't worry about Smith-Blum. She is a strong and independent woman that has taken many unfair blows from Varner and Brewster. I'm confident she will do right by our children.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Just Sayingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87173292629737559752013-02-25T18:31:20.991-08:002013-02-25T18:31:20.991-08:00District Watcher,
Based on my read of public reco...District Watcher,<br /><br />Based on my read of public records (many which are not posted online), I see KSB as carefully walking the tightrope between the cabal and the great unwashed. I believe she remembers every slight those blowhards threw her way. I sure would...mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75947974740577392322013-02-25T17:47:24.552-08:002013-02-25T17:47:24.552-08:00Interesting to see DAVE ELLIOT is on this Burges...Interesting to see DAVE ELLIOT is on this Burgess for Mayor bandwagon. Dave is the principal at Queen Anne Elementary, one of the Creative Approach to Schools (CAS) sites. There was some suspicion that QAE would be taken over as a Charter School but that was dismissed by parents who worked to get CAS status. Seeing Dave's name on this fundraiser list with so many Charter advocates gives me pause.<br /><br />QAE parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90505783387131001262013-02-25T17:04:43.894-08:002013-02-25T17:04:43.894-08:00Someone said, I found that same quote and I think ...Someone said, I found that same quote and I think they very much will be skirting that line. The invitation says it is a "discussion" and for Board members, a discussion is action. And, there will be three of them there.<br /><br />I interviewed McGinn about that mayoral takeover last time. He was only saying if there was a crisis.<br /><br />Now Burgess, he'd do it and in a New York minute. If he thought he couldn't control the Board and the Superintendent, I think he would. He would have to get it through the Legislature but hey, with a pal like Rodney Tom, it's possible.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88142807769921072062013-02-25T16:14:14.082-08:002013-02-25T16:14:14.082-08:00@ Linh-Co: A mayoral candidate can propose anythin...@ Linh-Co: A mayoral candidate can propose anything she/he wants. McGinn came close to proposing a city takeover of SPS in the last election, though he never outright said that, I think, and he subsequently seemingly backed away from the idea.<br /><br />Certainly we should all be asking candidates on their opinion about this. <br /><br />It also just occurred to me that a Burgess mayoral administration would be a likely place for ex-school-board members aligned with him to find employment. The other names on tomorrow's fundraising list - from LEV, DFER, Teachers United, would no doubt support such appointments. <br /><br />It will certainly be an interesting mayoral election.<br /><br />EdVoterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76726794159396847012013-02-25T15:57:12.493-08:002013-02-25T15:57:12.493-08:00So has anyone expressed interest in running for De...So has anyone expressed interest in running for DeBell or Smith-Blum's seat this fall? Didn't this blog say DeBell isn't running again? I remember a bunch of solid candidates in Smith-Blum's district last time around...Jesse Hagopian who is now nationally famous, and Joanna Cullen who knew her neighborhood issues very well and Mary Bass, who was the incumbent. No one ran against DeBell last time, I think? Who will step up there? <br /><br />EdVoterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55433485293174541182013-02-25T15:47:17.593-08:002013-02-25T15:47:17.593-08:00I actually wondered about that open meeting act th...I actually wondered about that open meeting act thing too - I think this quote from a paper on the act illustrates where the "line in the sand" might be drawn...<br /><br />"To constitute a meeting, the event need not take place in a formal setting. "A meeting is any occasion at which action is taken." RCW 42.30.020(4). Action is defined as the "transaction of official business" and includes <i>discussion, consideration, public testimony, review, evaluation and other deliberation</i>, as well as final action."<br /><br />So I read that to mean that there is not (nor should there be) an exception for social gatherings, if something the act loosely describes as "action" takes place. Ambiguous certainly - but interesting ;o)<br /><br />Here's an example from the document, where a social setting still qualified as a OPMA violation:<br /><i>In 1999, the auditor held that some members of the Monroe City Council violated the OPMA when they met at a local restaurant after public meetings...the members of the governing body discussed business in addition to<br />socializing. ...The business discussions constituted action, and thus the gatherings were meetings, held in violation of the OPMA.</i><br /><br />Full document (pdf) here <a href="http://www.washingtoncog.org/pdfs/2010-01-12%20OPMA%20Overview%20for%20WSOG%20Conference.pdf" rel="nofollow">AN OVERVIEW OF WASHINGTON’S OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT</a>Someonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81910391053845483892013-02-25T15:20:22.331-08:002013-02-25T15:20:22.331-08:00One thought, though, this is a political event so ...One thought, though, this is a political event so I'm not sure they get to take off their political hats if it is.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88162517307331019072013-02-25T15:20:07.059-08:002013-02-25T15:20:07.059-08:00What does it take to have a mayoral take over of o...What does it take to have a mayoral take over of our district? Can Burgess suggest this if he wins?Linh-Conoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3012908217159151982013-02-25T15:19:46.361-08:002013-02-25T15:19:46.361-08:00Burgess absolutely played a game about 1240 becaus...Burgess absolutely played a game about 1240 because it works well for him. He had no political courage to go either way and that's something to remember as well.<br /><br />Charlie, I'll ask about that number of Board members in one place socially. I already have a call into the Ethics officer on another issue.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61127343274765599792013-02-25T14:45:23.194-08:002013-02-25T14:45:23.194-08:00So three board members have made endorsements for ...So three board members have made endorsements for mayor already? I want to know who the other four are backing. Melissa, Charlie, this would be a good question for the Blog to ask. Especially Smith-Blum because she runs this year doesn't she? She is sometimes slippery in her commitments. Who does she align with for mayor? Stake in the ground and all that. I want to know from the other 3 too. And whether any of them give actual $$ to the candidates. <br /><br />DistrictWatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70470587036519290972013-02-25T14:41:42.839-08:002013-02-25T14:41:42.839-08:00The people no doubt headed for the Burgess fundrai...The people no doubt headed for the Burgess fundraiser are some of the same people who now won't be able to pony up huge checks this fall to create a Burgess & School Board Corporate Reform Cabal. <br /><br />Glad to know from Buetow's post that Carlyle put a stop to the cocktail ed reform's Millionaire Donors strategy. Good for him despite the fact that I still think he has allegiance behind the scenes to some of that group. I guess time will show that.<br /><br /><br />DistrictWatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com