tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3242322101279104037..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Guess Who Might Get a Raise AND an Extension of Contract?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60096859330471999172015-11-05T08:08:55.992-08:002015-11-05T08:08:55.992-08:00Interesting, Catherine. Wonder why he said that.Interesting, Catherine. Wonder why he said that.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58450763120296096972015-11-05T07:15:30.686-08:002015-11-05T07:15:30.686-08:00"7) The pilot for ORCA cards at RBHS is docum..."7) The pilot for ORCA cards at RBHS is documented to have had more kids at school and doing better. It is not the sole reason (and again, no one said that) but it seems a worthy investment." <br /><br />Actually Mike O'Brien did claim this - twice. Once at the SEA endorsement meeting, and once at the Greenwood Candidate Forum. Catherinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36422226199929634092015-11-05T06:00:55.966-08:002015-11-05T06:00:55.966-08:00Hey Old Timer
You non-rep management types get un...Hey Old Timer<br /><br />You non-rep management types get unfunded "market adjustments" on a rotating basis with @1/3 of you benefitting every year. Don't give us that "6 years" stuff.<br /><br />Melissa has the lists. Give her your name and she can call out your adjustments.<br /><br />who are you trying to kid?Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48764686979133045442015-11-04T23:00:28.857-08:002015-11-04T23:00:28.857-08:00Oops, special, not social, ed advocates!
ReadeOops, special, not social, ed advocates!<br /><br />ReadeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87279548351080316302015-11-04T22:57:15.827-08:002015-11-04T22:57:15.827-08:00The most regressive relationship with social educa...The most regressive relationship with social education advocates in recent history. In fact, there is no relationship. Not that he'd notice.<br /><br />Add this to the nyland profile.<br /><br />ReadeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41715270645371125402015-11-04T22:51:56.237-08:002015-11-04T22:51:56.237-08:00Nyland's record:
1. First teachers strike in ...Nyland's record:<br /><br />1. First teachers strike in 28 years.<br />2. Nyland threatened Nathan Hale teachers- not with loss of job- but with loss<br /> of teaching certificates.<br />3. Forced the firing of an experienced, visionary and well liked principal.<br />4. Allowed the closing of Middle College; a school that served homeless. Students<br /> were to be transported to the other end of Seattle-or into a large comprehensive<br /> high school.<br />5. But for community out-cry, we would have seen enormous changes to program <br /> placement and uncertain pathways under the proposed student assignment plan.<br />6**** We saw the district attempt to dismantle Creative Approach Schools during<br /> collective bargaining agreement. There was no public notification.<br /><br />Nyland's history has been one that lacks transparency, and not been supportive of teachers.<br /><br />Elephant's Memorynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91294917539122584382015-11-04T22:06:01.711-08:002015-11-04T22:06:01.711-08:00Appalled, tonight was the intro of the item, it ge...Appalled, tonight was the intro of the item, it gets voted on at the next regular meeting on November 18. GarfieldMomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75696288614767582892015-11-04T21:34:01.129-08:002015-11-04T21:34:01.129-08:00So at the board meeting tonight, did he get the ra...So at the board meeting tonight, did he get the raise? <br /><br />Appalled Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65692876992603849152015-11-04T21:24:07.071-08:002015-11-04T21:24:07.071-08:00He's already making more than all the other su...He's already making more than all the other supes in Washington, and he exceeds the salaries of the peer districts they benchmarked against too -- two in real dollars, and one after taking into account cost of living difference. With this raise, his total compensation will be about $332K. If he were to continue getting 5% raises each year (and if Marty McLaren hadn't crashed and burned in her reelection campaign, I think she would be first in line to give those kind of raises to him), by the end of his contract he would be making $319K in base salary, for total compensation of $361K/year. I hope they are giving thought to the precedent they are setting if they give a significant raise like this for seemingly just doing his job. What happens if he blows expectations out of the water in the next year? Are they going to feel like they have to give him an even higher % raise due to merit? (Hypothetical, I hope, because I don't think our new board members are going to be quite so cavalier about spending district money without a really solid and defensible reason.)GarfieldMomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24634026505647581422015-11-04T19:17:09.165-08:002015-11-04T19:17:09.165-08:00Here's my interpretation: the salary and the r...Here's my interpretation: the salary and the raise have nothing to do with money. Nyland doesn't want a raise (he's promised to give only half of it back to the schools) because he has a use for the money. What's he going to do with it? Eat caviar every night? He wants the high salary and the raise because it's a status symbol. It doesn't matter how much he makes -- a good deal of it will sit untouched in a bank account for the rest of his life -- just as long as he's making more than other supes. It's just a matter of keeping up with the Jones's.<br /><br />We don't need to spend $300K/yr to fuel the superintendent's ego -- especially when he's not particularly good at the job and classrooms could really use the money.cmjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02451641218340300556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20237018245190169212015-11-04T15:08:15.218-08:002015-11-04T15:08:15.218-08:00@Jet City mom: Winner-winner chicken dinner! Spo...@Jet City mom: Winner-winner chicken dinner! Spoken like a true veteran of SPS. <br /><br />I look at the SI's review this way: We'll let you keep this 300k per year job, without any raises, if you can meet these targets. <br /><br />Do not tell me we can't find a competent SI for 225k per year, plus performance bonuses (so long as we aren't looking in the Broad Institute). <br /><br />The cynical apathy and resignation that we must continue to pay more and more for less and less, is ridiculous. We are literally at a point where an SI gets paid a king's ransom just to not do anything horrible or destructive, and raises are essentially automatic versus performance-based. The entitlement is almost as bad as the blackmail. So, so wrong. <br /><br />WSDWGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9103343766167796392015-11-04T14:22:10.136-08:002015-11-04T14:22:10.136-08:00Of course no one else wants to be the Superintende...Of course no one else wants to be the Superintendent for Seattle Schools. There must be more problems than just this position.<br /><br />HelenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90043074128716659572015-11-04T14:13:12.036-08:002015-11-04T14:13:12.036-08:00wait- he's not annually submitting reviews of ...wait- he's not annually submitting reviews of programs and is probably getting a raise yet just forced resignation of a long time beloved principal for being late with teacher evals (i believe due to a stolen laptop snafu)??berleenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85981063512025051142015-11-04T14:02:49.857-08:002015-11-04T14:02:49.857-08:00The usual blackmail from the KoolAid drinkers on t...The usual blackmail from the KoolAid drinkers on the board. "We can't - not - give a raise or we won't retain talent." If the governor donated his raise then it's time to shame the shameless. My kid's teacher gave up ------ so Larry Nyland could have a raise. My kid's class of 35 goes without ------ so Larry can have his raise. <br /><br />Westside<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18299279635128336302015-11-04T13:07:00.226-08:002015-11-04T13:07:00.226-08:00In the 32 years since we moved to Seattle, Ive see...In the 32 years since we moved to Seattle, Ive seen highly in demand alternative programs that should have been replicated: moved around, decimated & even closed. Ive seen it go from a district that had principals who were familar with the community and what they wanted and needed, to a district where principals seem to be viewed as interchangable and when they have been moved from school to school and still can't find a fit, they are moved into administration.<br /><br />I'm not saying it was perfect, I can't think of any superintendent that I would have hired myself. Popular schools had long waitlists which did not move till October, and I couldn't rationalize disrupting my kids a month or two into the school year. In the long run. it may have been better if I had, and even better if we had stayed in the suburbs, as hard as that is for me to admit.<br /><br />Kids with special needs, including " twice gifted", are especially sensitive to disruption, and I am consistently appalled at the way that the district moves kids around, who happen to have IEPs, whenever they need space for more desirable( less costly) students, or need butts in seats.<br /><br />We need more buy in from( and consideration for) families and the extended community for schools to take their rightful place as the center of neighborhoods.<br />But the more layers between the superientendent and the schools/families, the farther away they get from accountabilty and what students need to be prepared for making a meaningful life.<br /><br />If I was designing this city, I would insure there was low income/affordable housing in all neighborhoods, because the amount of money that special grants and benefactors throw at an impoverished school, rarely make up for a school which has the luxury of involved parents and members of the extended community.Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76809811401923186532015-11-04T12:51:15.112-08:002015-11-04T12:51:15.112-08:00@ Anonymous (reposted by Melissa):
"Micro-ma...@ Anonymous (reposted by Melissa):<br /><br />"Micro-manage"? When the Superintendent can't even adhere to basic policies like submitting reviews of education programs annually? <br /><br />Give me strength.<br /><br />-flibbertigibbetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11331360824959334162015-11-04T12:46:51.599-08:002015-11-04T12:46:51.599-08:00How surprising that someone should chime in that S...How surprising that someone should chime in that Supt. Nyland shouldn't be "micromanaged"<br />I hope everyone commenting against this proposal has written the Board and let them know their thoughts. (though that anonymous comment sounds suspiciously like one of the Board members...hmmm...)<br /><br />I can see wanting the continuity. I can not see the raise. Its not warranted or earned and there are sooooo many other places where funds would be better spent. It's not like Dr. Nyland will go hungry over that missing 5%<br /><br />reader47Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50255688405402036282015-11-04T12:14:14.594-08:002015-11-04T12:14:14.594-08:00What recent improvements? In the 7 years I've ...What recent improvements? In the 7 years I've been involved with the district, it has gotten steadily worse.TechyMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650916001250022778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22785463096460301902015-11-04T11:24:44.353-08:002015-11-04T11:24:44.353-08:00It is absolutely unconscionable that the Superinte...It is absolutely unconscionable that the Superintendent would get a raise or a contract extension. <br /><br />What has he achieved? <br /><br />-Truly dumbfoundedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3648484535986616602015-11-04T10:54:01.326-08:002015-11-04T10:54:01.326-08:00"The Superintendent had the Board’s authority..."The Superintendent had the Board’s authority to declare the strike illegal". He can declare it a unicorn if he wants; only a judge can declare it illegal based on actual harm being done to students. ConcernedSPSParenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15225940383725947861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80227631655133992262015-11-04T10:53:07.816-08:002015-11-04T10:53:07.816-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.ConcernedSPSParenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15225940383725947861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23437672809094975032015-11-04T10:38:14.753-08:002015-11-04T10:38:14.753-08:00The rest of middle management got the first raise ...The rest of middle management got the first raise in 6 years. We were promised 3.5% and ended up getting 2.9% after the board pulled the 0.5% promised last year. We had furloughs and then was told by not continuing the furloughs it could be considered a raise. We actually are the boots on the ground trying to execute things and seeing the raise for the superintendent on top of the salaries of the associates, assistant and chief superintendents, wow<br />Old timerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6153679367674870362015-11-04T10:28:47.989-08:002015-11-04T10:28:47.989-08:001) the district is NOT dysfunctional. The managem...1) the district is NOT dysfunctional. The management is. That has always been the case. <br /><br />2) the Superintendent has, by your own account, done a "decent" job. That doesn't merit a raise. <br /><br />3) The Superintendent is not solely responsible for the strike and no one said he was but yes, he's the top guy so these issues do fall into his accountability review.<br /><br />4) "The fact is the SEA was hell bent on going out last spring,..." and you know this fact how?<br /><br />5) I know no one who blames the Superintendent for students who left the district. I never said that. Who did?<br /><br />6) How does a raise stabilize the district? The extension, maybe, but the raise? He is incredibly well-paid.<br /><br />7) The pilot for ORCA cards at RBHS is documented to have had more kids at school and doing better. It is not the sole reason (and again, no one said that) but it seems a worthy investment.<br /><br />8) No the Super is not responsible for CC but yes, he is responsible for the number of assessments in SPS. Actually Common Core is Bill Gates' bought and paid for plan, not Obama's or Duncan's. <br /><br />9) No, I remember very well all the superintendents who have come and gone but Nyland has cleaned up nothing. He just picked up where Banda left off. He's like a shadow that moves around but leaves no trace. <br /><br />Wait for it and there you go with the "micromanage." That certainly didn't take long. <br /><br />It is not divisive to suggest that it is ill-timed and wrong to give a raise to the highest paid person in SPS during austere times.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85000986425747044902015-11-04T10:28:41.269-08:002015-11-04T10:28:41.269-08:00Anonymous, first of all, do read our comment polic...Anonymous, first of all, do read our comment policy before you comment. We do not accept the name, "anonymous." But I'll reprint your comment because it needs some comments of its own.<br /><br />"I am extremely disappointed at the level of finger pointing and hostility directed at the Superintendent, who stepped into a dysfunctional District and has done a decent job under trying circumstances since arriving. The Superintendent is not solely responsible for the Teacher's strike. Any objective observer would recognize there is plenty of blame to go around, including but not limited to ongoing state funding shortfalls, several years of little or no Teacher pay raises (prior to the Superintendent's tenure) and SEA's unrealistic expectation that all of the past year’s pay raises would be made up all at once. The fact is the SEA was hell bent on going out last spring, long before they met with the District for 20 negotiating sessions last summer. It should come as no surprise that a large number of families left the District as the economy improves and the Teacher’s demanded significantly more than was available. Laying the entire blame on the Superintendent for the families that left during all the vitriol and acrimony is unsubstantiated conjecture. The only intervening variable since last year (when there were no large reassignments) was the strike. The Superintendent had the Board’s authority to declare the strike illegal and take legal action but exercised restraint and good judgment by conducting good faith negotiations to resolve the strike. The Board is recommending a modest raise clearly to stabilize the District, nothing more, nothing less. Shouldn't we be focused on the positive developments (Rainier Beach's improvements were not due to ORCA cards, they were due to better instruction, rigorous curriculum, higher expectations and a tremendous effort from the students and staff) The Superintendent is not responsible for Common Core or the standardized testing either. Everyone knows that Common Core is Arne Duncan and President Obama's plan. Very unfortunate that so many have short memories about the District's recent Superintendents, who left the District in disarray for others to clean up, not to mention all the qualified Superintendent candidates over the past decade who withdrew from consideration after they witnessed all the micro-managing and unrealistic expectations. Let’s focus on the big picture issues and resist the urge to question, doubt and micro-manage every issue within the District. Let's remain supportive towards the Districts recent improvements and maintain a positive approach towards the work that remains. We have fresh blood on the Board that needs our encouragement and support, not time consuming negative suggestions that are divisive to the Board and the District."<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83710061729313035392015-11-04T10:11:51.731-08:002015-11-04T10:11:51.731-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com