tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post200430826872947965..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Memo Surprises on BoundariesMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78969784154272986982016-10-28T18:08:09.983-07:002016-10-28T18:08:09.983-07:00Amendments have been posted (School Board webpage,...Amendments have been posted (School Board webpage, agenda for 11/02 meeting).<br /><br />-North-end MomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15153676738246961342016-10-28T16:02:52.777-07:002016-10-28T16:02:52.777-07:00On the SPS website, in the section about Public Te...On the SPS website, in the section about Public Testimony at Board meetings, it says: "The Board agenda is posted by close of business the Friday before Board meetings." So, I expect that by this evening the agenda will be posted and it may include amendments that the Board is proposing. That said, when I was at Director Geary's community meeting last Sunday it was clear there was still a lot of work to be done, and it was mentioned that Board members can propose amendments all the way up to during the meeting itself. So, I'm really hoping we will see some amendments today and have a sense of what is being proposed, but guessing that even if we do there could still be more to come. <br /><br />-Green Lake ParentGreen Lake Parenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07120835950110733566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5820803187108846672016-10-28T15:50:12.170-07:002016-10-28T15:50:12.170-07:00Watching and waiting for the amendments. Does anyo...Watching and waiting for the amendments. Does anyone know what time they would post the latest board recommendations? Supposedly there will be recommendations on whether or not Cascadia should split, and if so--where to send the split off students. I want to see their thoughts on how to handle this situation.<br /><br />What is the typical time for such announcements to be posted?<br /><br />Waiting wondering Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68830755426899590312016-10-28T15:07:47.048-07:002016-10-28T15:07:47.048-07:00@ Sorting it Out,
Access to AP classes is one big...@ Sorting it Out,<br /><br />Access to AP classes is one big factor. Garfield offers a wider range of AP courses than the other schools. Ballard and Roosevelt are catching up, but I think Garfield still has the most. <br /><br />Another big factor is the number of HC students--the "cohort." HC students are often out of sync with their peers in many ways-they are cognitive misfits. Consolidating them at one school allows HC students the opportunity to have plenty of other HC students in their classes, which is often key to their social/mental well-being. While other high schools have HC students, the numbers are much smaller, and thus the likelihood of having others in your classes is much smaller. HC services are about the socio-emotional needs of gifted kids as much as they are the academics. <br /><br />Splitting things up and having a north-end HCC pathway HS and a south-end HCC pathway HS would still probably provide sufficiently sized cohorts for those who need them. Eliminating HCC pathways altogether and sending all kids to their neighborhood school would not. <br /><br />pro-HCCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26255922027297802222016-10-28T14:48:02.455-07:002016-10-28T14:48:02.455-07:00Speaking of option schools...
Has anyone seen a m...Speaking of option schools...<br /><br />Has anyone seen a map with a geozone for Licton Spring K-8 starting in 2017-2018? (It looks to me like SPS staff forgot to create one... Ooops!)<br /><br />Also, does anyone know how enrollment caps for option schools are determined, or what the caps are for each of the option schools? I can't find any documentation on this. Is there a set number for each school? Or do the Principals coordinate with Enrollment Planning and make a determination each year on how many to take per grade from open enrollment, controling for class size? Just wondering how this works.<br /><br />-Green Lake ParentGreen Lake Parenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07120835950110733566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80023770163050719222016-10-28T14:38:51.103-07:002016-10-28T14:38:51.103-07:00I attended the Lincoln meeting and have a few ques...I attended the Lincoln meeting and have a few questions as I ponder the question of what Lincoln could be that would be a draw to families wanting their kids to go there. <br />1) I don't understand - what is it about Garfield that makes it the north end's HCC high school? Is it the number of AP classes it offers or something more? Doesn't Roosevelt have almost as many AP classes? Is Garfield at risk of overcrowding soon, so there's a capacity need to create Lincoln as the HCC pathway instead? I'm sure that'd make a lot of people unhappy as Garfield is so good and Lincoln, well, who knows. I just don't understand what more Garfield is than AP classes, which Roosevelt and Ballard also provide.<br /><br />2) Is Ingrahm's IB program hard to get into, or open to any student who wants it? Are the McDonald and JSIS students any more eligible for Ingrahm's IB programs than other students? Do they get preference or an automatic "in" over others who weren't in language immersion in elementary school? I am aware that "international" label at Hamilton is pretty meaningless, I'm just trying to understand the pathway as currently stands. Is there any preferential acceptance?<br /><br />Sorting it Out<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73818531363952979972016-10-28T14:22:16.637-07:002016-10-28T14:22:16.637-07:00I know! Move Thornton Creek to Cedar Park!
Pot st...I know! Move Thornton Creek to Cedar Park!<br /><br />Pot stirring Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9707016198634052242016-10-28T14:06:56.882-07:002016-10-28T14:06:56.882-07:00Language-immersion wouldn't be a bad choice fo...Language-immersion wouldn't be a bad choice for Cedar Park, because there is the potential to attract native speakers, but LI schools cost a lot to operate, and I doubt it would be possible for the PTA of Cedar Park to fund hundreds of thousands of dollars towards IAs. Also, SPS would need to provide a pathway to middle school, so there would have to be a lot of planning involved.<br /><br />Montessori or an expeditionary learning model (like Thornton Creek's) might be options to consider?<br /><br />-North-end MomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12598105518684823442016-10-28T13:52:09.560-07:002016-10-28T13:52:09.560-07:00I live in the NE, and agree that Cedar Park is rea...I live in the NE, and agree that Cedar Park is really in a dead space outside both Thornton Creek and Hazel Wolf. I agree that Washington and Denny need option schools, but in Cedar Park we have a small building opening now in an option school desert. A good opportunity. I have also heard from affected families and school staff that an option school is what they want, and an option school is best suited to the site. This seems fairly straightforward. Are option schools more expensive to run? I feel like we already have enough STEM focused schools and wonder what about the arts, but if this is what families want it is at least worth a listen.<br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52757725422195589992016-10-28T13:48:56.644-07:002016-10-28T13:48:56.644-07:00Lynn,
While residents of the JAMS MS attendance a...Lynn,<br /><br />While residents of the JAMS MS attendance area (including Lake City) do receive transportation to Hazel Wolf, the geo-zone for Hazel Wolf does not cover any of the current John Rogers or Olympic Hills attendance areas. Portions of the Olympic View and Sacajawea attendance areas fall into the Hazel Wolf geo-zone. It is nearly impossible to get into Hazel Wolf these days, unless you live in the geo-zone or have a sibling at the school.<br /><br />-North-end MomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1068732972235741782016-10-28T13:46:29.715-07:002016-10-28T13:46:29.715-07:00How about an attendance area language immersion sc...How about an attendance area language immersion school with an option to attend Olympic Hills for families that prefer English-only instruction?Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86960835691258462382016-10-28T13:40:46.250-07:002016-10-28T13:40:46.250-07:00Many neighborhoods are outside of option school ge...Many neighborhoods are outside of option school geo-zones. Lake City is included in Hazel Wolf's transportation area. Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27880470524684197912016-10-28T13:32:21.684-07:002016-10-28T13:32:21.684-07:00The geozone for Hazel Wolf stops at Lake City. The...The geozone for Hazel Wolf stops at Lake City. The attendance area school is a bad idea, but our growing and diverse community needs this building. An option school for our neighborhood is the only equitable solution.<br /><br />trebleclefAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91601936681625478472016-10-28T13:31:04.796-07:002016-10-28T13:31:04.796-07:00NEP - Yes. I think the executive director for the ...NEP - Yes. I think the executive director for the region should be tasked with ensuring services (as designed by the AL office) are provided. <br /><br />reality check - I did note that room would need to be made at these schools. Boundaries were drawn for the growth boundaries process assuming that these schools would continue to send many students to Cascadia. If we're moving boundaries around, this is the time to make room for them to stay. Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76954595349984557732016-10-28T13:25:01.950-07:002016-10-28T13:25:01.950-07:00trebleclef,
Hazel Wolf is in your region. Denny h...trebleclef,<br /><br />Hazel Wolf is in your region. Denny has no option school while Hamilton and Madison have two. The rest have just one. The next two option schools should be placed in the Denny and Washington regions.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46196170927433307682016-10-28T13:22:52.752-07:002016-10-28T13:22:52.752-07:00Lynn
Brilliant idea, but the only school on your ...Lynn<br /><br />Brilliant idea, but the only school on your list with room is BF Day (and Loyal Hts, when they get their new building).<br /><br />The new building at the Decatur site was originally supposed to be a new neighborhood school, with boundaries re-drawn to ease enrollment at View Ridge, Wedgwood, and Bryant, but that new building went to Thornton Creek. How/where do you suggest that SPS "find room" for HCC students at those schools?<br /><br />-reality checkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9900951362113155892016-10-28T13:21:18.980-07:002016-10-28T13:21:18.980-07:00Lynn, would the services be guaranteed? Half the b...Lynn, would the services be guaranteed? Half the battle at some of the schools you listed is fighting against the perception that an HC label isn't worth the paper it's written on. The limited differentiation at our school (which has always been worksheets-based ALO) is very biased toward old-for-grade boys, and a designation of HC is met with thinly-veiled derision.<br /><br /><br /><br />NEPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44895277335231692842016-10-28T13:16:16.362-07:002016-10-28T13:16:16.362-07:00What if Decatur is the interim site for a NE HCC s...What if Decatur is the interim site for a NE HCC school until John Marshall can be used? I'm sure the District would love to sit an imagine all those HCC kids sitting under the freeway sucking in gas fumes....<br /><br />Think aheadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16661485704888909992016-10-28T13:09:50.881-07:002016-10-28T13:09:50.881-07:00Fairmount Park's advanced learning program beg...Fairmount Park's advanced learning program began as essentially self-contained blended HCC and Spectrum and is transitioning to self-contained HCC only - a program like this for NE families wouldn't take enough pressure off Cascadia to solve its capacity problem. <br /><br />I don't think the distance to Lincoln from Lake City is the problem. Last year there were 64 HCC-qualified middle school students in the JAMS attendance area. When the program is available in the neighborhood school, it's likely that most eligible students have been identified. <br /><br />Here's what I think would help - making room at the schools that send the highest numbers of students to Cascadia and requiring the schools to provide services (designed by the advanced learning office) to their highly capable students. Families should be allowed to choose between remaining in these neighborhood schools and enrolling in Cascadia. This wouldn't pull many students out of Cascadia but it would reduce enrollment over time. Many people would prefer to receive services within their neighborhood school - and trying out those services for a year before deciding to move to another building is low risk for most. <br /><br />Those schools are Bryant (87 students last year), View Ridge 64, Green Lake 45, John Hay 44, Wedgwood 42, BF Day 36, Blaine 32, Loyal Heights 32. <br /><br />In all, there were 106 students from Queen Anne and Magnolia at Cascadia last year. By the time they get to middle school there are about 50 HCC students per grade in the region. When the Magnolia school reopens (in a few years?) It would be an ideal location to cohouse self-contained HCC classrooms and general education students.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12377045151795843392016-10-28T12:50:10.076-07:002016-10-28T12:50:10.076-07:00As a Cedar Park family I really hope the district ...As a Cedar Park family I really hope the district considers placing a STEM option school at the site, and not bussing HCC in. Even if a few more of our kids test in, looking at the heat map it's obvious it's going to be dominated by View Ridge and Bryant kids. No disrepect, but if they have an unused building in their own neighborhood they could use, why don't they so Cedar Park can have a decent option school like every other part of the city? We finally get a new building for our growing neighborhood and it just goes to kids being bussed from another part of town?<br /><br />trebleclefAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53893741297450531632016-10-28T12:30:56.120-07:002016-10-28T12:30:56.120-07:00After last night's Lincoln meeting, I'd ex...After last night's Lincoln meeting, I'd expect it to be a boon year for private school applications. I can't imagine being the parent of an 8th grader and trying to make an informed choice about high school. <br /><br />decisions decisionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3963072712920755922016-10-28T12:28:47.408-07:002016-10-28T12:28:47.408-07:00I don't think a stand-alone HCC at Decatur wil...I don't think a stand-alone HCC at Decatur will last beyond a year or two unless it's restricted to grades 1-2. That area is simply too high in numbers of HCC. If the district had a small space for HCC grades 1-2 in the northwest to be a partner to Decatur, Cascadia could be used to keep HCC grades 3-5 intact.<br /><br />If HCC is to land at Cedar Park, for the good reasons North End Mom has written about, I can see it being more Fairmont Park in style. I don't see it as rigidly HCC only because we would want to allow NNE families the ability to access it immediately.<br /><br />ASAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12695887352051681012016-10-28T11:57:49.163-07:002016-10-28T11:57:49.163-07:00As we look at split vs no split considerations, it...As we look at split vs no split considerations, it would be nice to know where and how much space is available in 2017-2018, but ALSO 2018-2019, and 2019-2020. If there is a better option for HCC in one, two or three years, it might be worth hunkering down to wait. If there will simply be no better options in the future than Decatur or Cedar Park, let's make a decision and move on a planning principal.<br /><br />Think aheadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34966021944549090792016-10-28T11:41:21.828-07:002016-10-28T11:41:21.828-07:00@ kellie, I went back and looked at the Lincoln dr...@ kellie, I went back and looked at the Lincoln drawings, and it looks like there are 10 science labs. If you figure they can be used 6 periods a day with 30 kids per class, they should be able to serve 1800 students, in theory, right? <br /><br />But I do have another question for you. Earlier you had said that if the district did a geosplit and pulled some students from their current high schools to Lincoln, they would probably do that for neighborhood schools but would be unlikely to pull students from "option" schools. Does that include "pathway" schools? For example, Garfield is currently the default HCC pathway school. If they make Lincoln the north-end HCC pathway school instead, would they pull students from Garfield? But GHS is the default, and choosing Ingraham IB/IBX is a choice, so you're thinking that in the former case they'd be vulnerable to a move but in the latter not? Is the same true with immersion, for which Ingraham is similarly a pathway that has to be specifically chosen? <br /><br />If that's the key distinction--automatic assignment vs. active selection--what happens to HCC students who override the default assignment and opt for their neighborhood school? If they got in as an "option" student, are they allowed to stay? If not, why would it be any different than the IHS situation? <br /><br />head a-spinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19259995564928682282016-10-28T11:36:30.419-07:002016-10-28T11:36:30.419-07:00FYI - here is the most recent "executive"...FYI - here is the most recent "executive" org chart, updated as of 10/10/2016<br /><br /><a href="https://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/District/sps_org_chart.pdf" rel="nofollow">SPS Org Chart</a><br /><br />reader47Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com