tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3418327122742135309..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Teacher Contract Negotiations - End RunMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42957688528592706972010-08-08T13:27:32.850-07:002010-08-08T13:27:32.850-07:00Charles - civic engagement are words spoken like a...Charles - civic engagement are words spoken like a politician. <br /><br />Your district has engaged in acquiring some expensive, new programs and the voters want to know how the district is going to pay for them and why they weren't properly informed. <br /><br />Why would anyone want to take on such a dismal task as the one you are preparing for? <br /><br />I won't dissuade you - I prefer anarchy over slavery any day.<br /><br />What Washington's schools really need is a revision of the code of laws and procedures controlling capital expenditures of public institutions. <br /><br />You cannot try elected officials for breaking laws that don't exist in Washington. That is the Attorney General's responsibility and ultimately your Governor is responsible.<br /><br />An optimistic appraisal of the situation is some of the board will resign. The skeptic, however, argues it won't matter.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48697442203903318592010-08-08T09:59:45.480-07:002010-08-08T09:59:45.480-07:00Parents of AYP 2-5 step schools received letters y...Parents of AYP 2-5 step schools received letters yesterday from SPS. The list of schools doesn't appear on the OSPI website yet. Does anyone have the list? Also, what step is our district on? (I think 2 or 3)vitaminceenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17944382492633928912010-08-06T13:49:14.379-07:002010-08-06T13:49:14.379-07:00The first thing I would do is create a program tha...The first thing I would do is create a program that will quickly accelerate the education of students working below grade level and get them on pace.<br /><br />Could we have a higher priority?<br /><br />Next I would create a new job called building manager and assign them all of the non-instructional work now assigned to principals. I think that each building manager could handle two or three schools. They could do the budget and the schedule and the HR administration and take care of the physical plant. I want principals to focus on instruction as exclusively as possible. If discipline becomes too great of a time drain I'd like them to delegate that too.<br /><br />I would dedicate the necessary resources to make inclusive classrooms work for everyone in them.<br /><br />I would redefine the mission of the central learning and teaching group more narrowly and shrink that staff.<br /><br />I would require authentic community engagement in the decision development stage of every signficant change. Nothing would move forward without it. I'll stop things that don't have it.<br /><br />I would set procedures for establishing new programs. I would reform the program placement process and correct a few bad program placements.<br /><br />I would make language immersion programs and Montessori programs Option programs.<br /><br />I would use part of the superintendent's update at the beginning of each school board meeting to address each of the concerns raised in testimony at the previous meeting.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64475532135759977112010-08-06T08:10:30.872-07:002010-08-06T08:10:30.872-07:00I would do what is needed so that no other young p...I would do what is needed so that no other young person ever has to articulate the thoughts of this graduate:<br /><br /><a href="http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/valedictorian-speaks-out-against-schooling-in-graduation-speech/#comments" rel="nofollow">http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/valedictorian-speaks-out-against-schooling-in-graduation-speech/#comments</a>Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60105952970094202472010-08-06T08:07:31.743-07:002010-08-06T08:07:31.743-07:00What's the first thing I would do if I was Sup...What's the first thing I would do if I was Superintendent????? Wow, where to start... <br /><br />Some of this depends on who is on the Board and what the Board takes on as its responsibilities and what would be the extent of my role... but if the Board wants to work in full partnership:<br /><br /><br />I think the first thing I would do is move the community towards a style and actual process of governance/administration that is not top down...<br /><br />I like Gavroches and Dan's ideas - but probably wouldn't be the first thing I would chase - not sure how successful I'd be in getting our money back... but I would suspend MAP and state testing until we as a community could have a conversation about that - about what people want, about how best to measure individual childrens' progress over each year...<br /><br />Second priority after changing the top down approach would be to clean house internally!<br /><br />Form a community group (with representatives from all interest groups, including teachers/the union)that acts as a guiding council for the District... I know this is what the Board is supposed to be/do but it is not doing its job, its not representative of the community and its too inaccessible...<br /><br />Sever links with Broad/Gates/the Alliance et al...<br /><br />Open communication with all school community stakeholders to see what we can do about all the changes imposed over the past three years what does the community want to keep and what does it want changed - some things probably cant be undone in the short term, so how to ameliorate them in a way that honours all needs until we can change them... that means staff going out into the community, not expecting the community to come to staff at times that suit only the staff...<br /><br />Ask people to have patience for a year while I bring to them all the (non-corporate bias) research available about how to really educate children holistically<br /><br />Ask the community to nominate people to be part of that process<br /><br />Bring that research back to the community with some recommendations, leaving the way open for the community to make its own recommendations<br /><br />Ask the community to vote on what it wants...<br /><br />Sell or lease the white elephant that is the JSC... move administration into empty/underutilised SPS properties or leased premises around the perimeter of the city... with modern technology, there is no need to house everyone in one place...and there is no reason to be housed in expensive real estate...<br /><br />fresh, nutritious, cooked on the premises school lunches<br /><br />restructure the school day<br /><br />late start times for adolescents<br /><br />reintroduce vocational programmes for kids who want them<br /><br />give equal weight/support to arts, music etc as is given to academic subjects...<br /><br />and on and on it goes....so much to do.....and only one lifetime to do it! (well, not really only one lifetime, but that's another discussion!)Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45800994403263639012010-08-05T22:29:36.021-07:002010-08-05T22:29:36.021-07:00One word for reform - anal. Instead of putting tea...One word for reform - anal. Instead of putting teachers in classrooms, they ought to consider replacing them with lawyers. They'll be needing some soon enough.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22723869910831513862010-08-05T21:55:58.759-07:002010-08-05T21:55:58.759-07:00That's a definite yes, Dan - adopt new account...That's a definite yes, Dan - adopt new accounting and disclosure procedures designed to control capital projects expenditures. Washingtonians have no protection against freeloading contractors. The district budget is an outgoing spigot and somebody needs to close the loopholes, especially in curriculum. That's why nothing appears ever to get fixed.<br /><br />I'm now getting told names must be put on my popsicle sticks to make 'everyone' accountable (I asked, just to cover my a..). If the kids can't meet standards, don't pass them. Okay, whatever you say works for me. I'm not working in a school that needs improvement. <br /><br />Schools are being turned into conveyor belts; guaranteed, half the students will fall off before they graduate.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22609871565995879942010-08-05T20:59:20.730-07:002010-08-05T20:59:20.730-07:00Get the $800,000 back from KnowledgeWorks Foundati...Get the $800,000 back from KnowledgeWorks Foundation parent of New Technology Network ... product was misrepresented by sales force to inept school board.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80649882466292886732010-08-05T20:27:30.128-07:002010-08-05T20:27:30.128-07:00If I were Seattle School Superintendent, the first...If <i>I</i> were Seattle School Superintendent, the first thing I would do is take a serious pay-cut, in solidarity with all the children, schools, teachers and programs the District has been cutting back on in the name of "fiscal crisis."<br /><br />I think $300,000+ is an obscene amount for a School Superintendent to make, especially under current local and national economic circumstances.<br /><br />The next thing I would do is cancel the MAP test, get our money back from NWEA (faulty product), and use that $4.3 million to hire more teachers and reduce class sizes across the District.<br /><br />(Okay that last one was a bit of a pipe dream -- I'd guess that NWEA doesn't do refunds.)gavrochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11336376340965305696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63503891371728392502010-08-05T17:56:44.416-07:002010-08-05T17:56:44.416-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4515426025193272402010-08-05T00:15:23.773-07:002010-08-05T00:15:23.773-07:00Anonymous - I'm going to take it that you are ...Anonymous - I'm going to take it that you are sincere in your posting (and that's not meant to be insulting - its hard to tell sometimes whether people are having a dig! I've had people write what you write but in a sarcastic manner)<br /><br />So, thanks for the kind thoughts...yes, I have lots of ideas and I know where to look for some answers to the issues we are facing and I know its totally possible logistically, pedagogically and economically, and yes, I have a good head for running an organisation (used to be Executive Director of a professional association) and no, I am not in education, and no, its very unlikely that I would ever be given the job of superintendent, even if it was vacant and I applied...Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15530321697532005922010-08-04T22:49:06.526-07:002010-08-04T22:49:06.526-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67942936407807068642010-08-04T21:57:19.189-07:002010-08-04T21:57:19.189-07:00Eric,
Nice post. I'll see if I can top that i...Eric,<br /><br />Nice post. I'll see if I can top that in the morning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27532934161056080602010-08-04T21:48:11.237-07:002010-08-04T21:48:11.237-07:00My response to the latest TImes editorial:
Judgi...My response to the latest TImes editorial:<br /><br /><br />Judging teachers by scores on an unproven test is a stupid, stupid idea. <br /><br />Emperor's new clothes: classic groupthink by the witless councilmen. <br /><br />It's a worse idea when the test is not age appropriate, not in line with the curriculum teachers are expected to teach, and really really expensive. <br /><br />It's an even worse idea when the Superintendent (don't we pay her enough already - I mean, sheesh, more than the governor ???) SITS ON THE BOARD OF THE TESTING COMPANY (NWEA, an out-of-state, hugely profitable megacorp). <br /><br />People, <br />a) don't we already pay her enough to get her full attention? (A: nope. Read over the recent damning and exceedingly lengthy audit of SPS. There's immense problems. Any normal worker, given this audit, would already be looking for new work) <br /><br />b) Shouldn't she have disclosed her connection to this company before helping to arrange a very substantial multi-year contract between NWEA and SPS? (A: nope. No need, apparently, if you're arrogant enough.) <br /><br />c) Shouldn't the School Board have called her on the carpet for this egregious conflict of interest? (A: should have, didn't, cuz they're rubber-stamping every stupid move. Note that there is a recall petition filed for 5 of the Board members, the ones that voted to extend the Superintendent's contract.....drum roll..... until 2013!) <br /><br />This Superintendent and her gaggle of geese in high places are goading us teachers into a strike, mindless of the immense harm that causes teachers, students, families, schools, and the district. <br /><br />The goal: turn public education into a revenue stream. Never mind the collateral damage. <br /><br />Every time you sit a kid down in front of a MAP test, picture wasted educational resources, wasted student time and energy, a dumbed-down, teach-to-the test education, and money standing up and walking right out of our community, never to be seen again. <br /><br />Makes me sick.Eric Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663977355241677800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40987734014404048022010-08-04T21:46:45.299-07:002010-08-04T21:46:45.299-07:00The gloves are off.The gloves are off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87371501183278762332010-08-04T21:45:31.156-07:002010-08-04T21:45:31.156-07:00Then I would say it's time for some ass-kickin...Then I would say it's time for some ass-kickin' in the comment section of the Seattle Times.<br /><br />Anyone have an op-ed in them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67789466462685474772010-08-04T21:24:13.129-07:002010-08-04T21:24:13.129-07:00New info from the Supe:
http://www.seattleschools...New info from the Supe:<br /><br />http://www.seattleschools.org/area/laborrelations/index.dxml<br /><br />Including a link to a new editorial in the Seattle Times: another well-deserved ass-kicking for teachers!<br />http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2012536250_guest05burgess.html<br /><br />Interesting how the district knows what's in the Seattle Times almost before the Times does!Eric Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663977355241677800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37690258781895261692010-08-04T20:48:56.593-07:002010-08-04T20:48:56.593-07:00Striking is not that bad - we took a tour of the d...Striking is not that bad - we took a tour of the district office, all 900 of us during a board meeting. I got my picture taken. We walked around a block for a few days and I think somebody at the union said we looked too happy waving our signs and another said we talked too much. Our bargaining team did get us an excellent contract, but this only works when all the members think together. I read my contract every year and thank God and my union for it.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10466009859088991032010-08-04T20:04:06.109-07:002010-08-04T20:04:06.109-07:00Michele Rhee, who is also on the Broad Board of Di...Michele Rhee, who is also on the Broad Board of Directors, along with our supe, has taken the tack that GJ is going for now, total control of our schools.<br /><br />See: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/28-0<br /><br />I can imagine that comparisons are being made as we speak in Broadland about what is happening in DC and what is happening here in Seattle. And I am sure that our supe is under the gun to "perform" at least as well as her DC counterpart.<br /><br />For the rest of us, it is getting down to a battle of ideologies. You have Gates and Broad on one side, neither of whom come from a background of education let alone ever had a child in public school, and parents and educators who understand our children and know what works and what doesn't.<br /><br />You have on the Gates/Broad side the naive idea that it is all about the teachers and nothing else and that standardization of curriculum and all students knowing all of the same things at the same time is a good thing. Looking at their priorities, we don't need our students to have creative or critical thinking skills, let alone recess. I suppose that's for those in private schools that only their children attend. I truly think that they believe the leaders of the future will come out of the private schools. Public schools are for the worker bees and those who will go into the military. (See Chicago, Broad and charter/military schools on http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com )<br /><br />On the other side you have those who believe that what works is funding education with no strings attached. Our public educational system has been woefully underfunded for 50 years. This is due to the fact that laws have changed and corporations now only pay about 2% of the total of income tax that is collected in this country. You could say that folks like Gates and Broad have been part of the problem for many years, not part of the solution. <br /><br />On the parent/educator side there is the belief that class size DOES matter, that there should be wrap around services for families in need and that all children should be fed, clean, warm and able to concentrate on their school work in a safe and clean environment.<br /><br />The "achievement gap" that the reformers continually refer to has nothing to do with teachers and has all to do with the way minorities and low income individuals and communities have been treated throughout our history.<br /><br />How dare someone like Gates or Broad come into Seattle and tell me what is best for my child! I know what works and I trust the teachers who, through their own experience and knowledge, have been able to provide the learning environment that my daughter needs to be excited about learning and help her to develop a greater understanding of the world.<br /><br />Testing and retesting of my child is of no value to me or my daughter. Placing such weight on my daughter's test results to make her think that her performance on a test might affect her teacher's career or the fate of the school is unacceptable.<br /><br />If the teachers do strike, I, and my daughter, will be there with them, walking the picket line.<br />My daughter’s teachers have been there for her and we will be there for them.<br /><br />To see my post about SERVE, see:<br />http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/parents-against-serve/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82479641600876916402010-08-04T19:42:52.162-07:002010-08-04T19:42:52.162-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65397048665730527712010-08-04T18:16:12.045-07:002010-08-04T18:16:12.045-07:00BTW, the entire SPS teacher evaluation proposal is...BTW, the entire SPS teacher evaluation proposal is, as it says at the top of the document on every page, "CONTINGENT ON PASSAGE OF NOVEMBER 2010 SUPPLMENTAL LEVY." [sic]<br /><br />And, yes, they did spell "supplemental" incorrectly.Mr. Edelmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16100732082087823318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18523978695687250762010-08-04T18:14:38.379-07:002010-08-04T18:14:38.379-07:00anonymous,this part, about the supe having the fin...anonymous,this part, about the supe having the final say without a right to grieve is the sickest part of it all. She's a dictator.(and possilbly a robot.)<br /><br />I'm surprised that anyone thinks it sounds like a workable contract. If we all don't wake up now it will be too late. <br /><br />I don't need much of a strike reserve. My pent up anger at the disprespect of the adminotons towards the entire school community, students especially, will fuel me for as <br />long as we need to go. I expect I have lots of company in that. <br /><br />I suggest guerrilla theater. If the media doesn't respond it can go wide and far on youtube and email. Make it really fun and over the top and it could make the evening news. This is what I fantasize about in the school board meetings.artemishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16126334438098801823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61055570592125164732010-08-04T18:01:50.572-07:002010-08-04T18:01:50.572-07:00Anonymous,
Yes, the district is proposing DEATH P...Anonymous,<br /><br />Yes, the district is proposing DEATH PANELS! Here is the exact language in their proposal:<br /><br />"Adjustments in any teacher's individual rating are solely at the discretion of the SPS Evaluation Oversight Team and the SPS superintendent, and cannot be grieved."<br /><br />This Evaluation Oversight Team kicks into gear when there are discrepancies in the various ratings a teacher receives. <br /><br />And what happens if there are consistent discrepancies at a school or for teachers of specific populations?<br /><br />"If consistent score discrepancies are found at particular schools and/or for teachers of specific populations of students, SPS will closely monitor both student growth measures and their implementation. Evaluators who assign ratings that are consistently at odds with other evaluative components may be directed to receive additional training and support or, in the event that they fail to improve, face sanctions."<br /><br />No, I'm not making this up. Evaluators can't protect effective teachers by giving them good evaluations when test scores indicate otherwise. If they do, the district can require additional training for them or even levy sanctions against them.<br /><br />What a bunch of fascists.Mr. Edelmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16100732082087823318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36491312794202074842010-08-04T17:59:38.329-07:002010-08-04T17:59:38.329-07:00Two Gates Foundation Front organizations are encou...Two Gates Foundation Front organizations are encouraging parents to express support for the District's proposals in the contract negotiations.<br /><br />Alliance for Education (Our Schools Coalition):<br /><br />http://alliance4ed.blogspot.com/2010/08/community-groups-renew-push-for-reform.html...<br /><br />http://www.ourschoolscoalition.org/documents/OSC_open_letter_parents_Aug_3_2010.pdf<br /><br />League of Education Voters:<br /><br />[copy of letter distributed via email]<br /><br />Dear [name],<br /><br />You made it a priority to take part in the Youth and Families Initiative. Here is another important opportunity to speak on behalf of your children and their schools. <br /><br />The Seattle School District and the teachers union are negotiating the next teachers' contract. Currently, our schools work for some of our kids, but not all. Our graduation rates hover around 60%, and much lower for a lot of our children of color. Do we want business as usual? Or do we want better student learning? As President Obama said last week, "this status quo is morally inexcusable, it's economically indefensible, and all of us are going to have to roll up our sleeves to change it."<br /><br />If we want to see improvements, then parents and the community need to speak up about the teacher contract negotiations.<br /><br />The League of Education Voters goal is to improve learning for ALL children. We helped raise voices for the Seattle Youth and Family Initiative, and we can help raise voices in support of children in the Seattle teacher contract negotiations. <br /><br />What can you do? Become informed, join us, and forward this email to friends. There is important work to be done!<br /> • Want to know more about negotiations? Visit our webpage on teacher contracts.<br /><br /> • Want to know what LEV and the Our Schools Coalition believes should be in the teachers' contract? View an open letter to parents and the list of goals.<br /><br /> • Want to be part of a rapid response team that speaks up about the contract? E-mail us your contact info.<br /><br />Thank you for speaking up on behalf of your chidren and schools.<br /><br />Chris Korsmo<br />Executive DirectorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14704819264351817452010-08-04T17:43:52.190-07:002010-08-04T17:43:52.190-07:00As with math reform, education reform aka educatio...As with math reform, education reform aka education alliance 'favors' balance - curious both reforms were initiated in Michigan.<br /><br />Busting teacher unions aka performance pay is what education reform is leading up to. If you teach on the other side of the tracks, your school could be a candidate for closure aka kipp charter. That is not equity, it is discrimination and an open declaration of war on human dignity.<br /><br />Mr. S.U. Cess4all has learned schools can also remove knowledge and make way for belief. Would our lives improve living in Kantian world? I think not.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.com