tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4144565393814251808..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10076584785192264042015-05-27T11:59:43.128-07:002015-05-27T11:59:43.128-07:00Did anyone hear the story on NPR about Forest Mond...Did anyone hear the story on NPR about <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/05/26/407762253/out-of-the-classroom-and-into-the-woods" rel="nofollow">Forest Mondays</a>? I would love to send my child to a school that did this.<br /><br />There are outdoor preschools in Seattle now and several more are opening this fall.<br />Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17112229366548288682015-05-27T10:40:52.466-07:002015-05-27T10:40:52.466-07:00Maybe they mean that crap software they keep buyin...Maybe they mean that crap software they keep buying that doesn't talk to each other. Wright's "Start of School" efforts have apparently gone nowhere. Now they want to hire a consultant to the tune of $1.5M to help them because its too haaaaard.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45221718061084685672015-05-27T07:42:18.402-07:002015-05-27T07:42:18.402-07:00Mirmac1, that is funny.
Again, there is a differ...Mirmac1, that is funny. <br /><br />Again, there is a difference between Central Office and Central Adm and if you added both those up, I'm sure that percentage would not be 5.8%. <br /><br />I'm not sure I believe systems are "eroding" - they would need to be more specific.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41020078690215872962015-05-27T07:31:37.920-07:002015-05-27T07:31:37.920-07:00Oh gawd. Here's a laugher from the budget pre...Oh gawd. Here's a laugher from the budget presentation<br /><br />FY2015-16 Budget Goals/Intent<br />•Historically, the District kept cuts away from schools and classroom and absorb reductions at central office<br />•Now the District needs to restore some of the staff cuts made during the recession<br />•And, the District needs to do what’s necessary to fix eroding systems<br />•We continue to maintain central office staffing levels at a reasonable level (currently at 5.8%)mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54567014700314435092015-05-27T07:29:51.938-07:002015-05-27T07:29:51.938-07:00Two special meetings this week:
May 27, 2015 - Bo...Two special meetings this week:<br /><br />May 27, 2015 - Board Special Meeting: Exit Conference for Financial and Single Federal & Accountability Audit; Work Sessions: Budget/ Superintendent Evaluation; Executive Session: Evaluate the performance of a public employee<br /><br />May 28, 2015 - Board Special Meeting: Work Session: Resolution on Assessments <br />mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63224115454600136372015-05-27T07:10:49.501-07:002015-05-27T07:10:49.501-07:00When did The Source start displaying a "Pears...When did The Source start displaying a "Pearson" logo in the bottom right corner and the phrase "Always Learning" in the bottom left? It loks and feels subversive. Remember the huge stink about not letting advertisers have access to space in our schools to avoid our students being reduced to media targets when they are supposed to be learning? <br /><br />MarmausetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84709562141515984782015-05-26T22:42:07.487-07:002015-05-26T22:42:07.487-07:00In the comments on Diane Ravitch's blog to an ...In the comments on Diane Ravitch's blog to an article decrying "Parent Choice" charters (where 51% of some group of parents votes to remove a school building from the public and retain it for use by private charter schools):<br /><br />"It’s as if the passengers on a mass transit bus or train at a particular time were able to take a vote and sell the line to a private operator.<br /><br />Normally that would be called piracy, but it’s A-OK with the Public Ed Piratizers."<br /><br />It was just such a great analogy that I had to pass it along!<br /><br />JanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55930323530395316502015-05-26T21:21:19.258-07:002015-05-26T21:21:19.258-07:00http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/05/12...http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/05/12/this_high_school_student_doesn_t_want_to_take_standardized_tests_on_a_computer.html<br /><br />An article on testing... literally from a student's perspective.<br /><br />Just sharingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21834616171507672532015-05-26T15:22:03.476-07:002015-05-26T15:22:03.476-07:00Took notes, to add to what you wrote, not only was...Took notes, to add to what you wrote, not only was Knapp present, but the 34th District Democrats endorsed Leslie Harris with that 123-12 vote AFTER Knapp had spoken in favor of endorsing Marty.<br /><br />I am not writing anything on this blog that I have not told Jonathan to his face. I don't know what game he is playing here. He knows full well that Leslie will be a dynamic, effective, and positive force on the Board. When, not if, Jill Geary is elected over the reformie McGuire, that will make two of them. Combine them with Rick Burke, and with Sue and Betty, and we could really make some positive changes happen here. But I'm not counting any chickens before they are hatched. We will have to get our vote out.<br /><br />-- Ivan WeissAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78372196861922459442015-05-26T14:03:13.996-07:002015-05-26T14:03:13.996-07:00Poppy, is teaching history from the POV of the peo...Poppy, is teaching history from the POV of the people who were here first radical? I would think it would make sense. <br /><br />As for Summit, yes, that website is not great and you'd have to ask yourself why. I know they say they have talked to middle/high school parents in the area. They are to have a public forum but no date has been set yet.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31468927579612499712015-05-26T13:50:45.165-07:002015-05-26T13:50:45.165-07:00Jonathan Knapp was in Martha McLaren's area wh...Jonathan Knapp was in Martha McLaren's area when the community gave a resounding thumbs down to McLaren. Harris was supported by a vote of 123. McLaren received a vote of 12.Took Notesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62674671120306269902015-05-26T13:49:55.311-07:002015-05-26T13:49:55.311-07:00The form can be found at the bottom of this page.
...The form can be found at the bottom of <a href="http://smarterbalanced.www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/integrated_home.phtml?gid=4928830&sessionid=47b6e342c55fc1f5af15757e9509e497" rel="nofollow">this page</a>.<br /><br />You don't need a form - you can simply email your child's principal that your child will not be taking the SBAC (or MAP or the mCLASS Beacon...)Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24893069145749935642015-05-26T13:45:33.455-07:002015-05-26T13:45:33.455-07:00In the article on Middle college as well as commen...In the article on Middle college as well as comments, it appears the school is pretty radical.<br />Social justice curriculum? History from the native POV?<br /><br />Good for them. Hopefully their curriculum will move into the mainstream high schools with the students. Option schools in SPS may be supplanted by charters like Summit High School.<br /><br />BTW, What's the word on Summit?<br />Did they recruit at any middle schools? Their website is useless, no info; are there no requirements for public notice?<br /><br />PoppyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16287619212215217622015-05-26T12:38:19.367-07:002015-05-26T12:38:19.367-07:00Looking for a simple opt out letter i can submit t...Looking for a simple opt out letter i can submit to my child’s school. I thought I saw one posted on this blog previously but I can't seem to locate it.<br /><br />Can anyone repost? Also do you know if emailing the letter is sufficient?<br /><br />Thanks in advance.<br />WSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32986812205653882652015-05-26T12:36:34.095-07:002015-05-26T12:36:34.095-07:00Jill Geary and Rick Burke have received sole endor...Jill Geary and Rick Burke have received sole endorsements for their school board races from the MLK Labor Council, and been recommended for sole endorsement by the King County Democrats Endorsement Committee. <br /><br />The SEA should take note.<br /><br />Note takerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40791125064380531732015-05-26T12:07:11.326-07:002015-05-26T12:07:11.326-07:00Was Nyland aware of the fact that Tolley disallowe...Was Nyland aware of the fact that Tolley disallowed admissions into W. Seattle's Middle College? It matters.MiddleCollege Admissionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57980605799818256322015-05-26T12:02:10.276-07:002015-05-26T12:02:10.276-07:00The City PreK program needs IRB approval because t...The City PreK program needs IRB approval because they will need to set up "control groups" of youngsters. That way they can demonstrate how their fancy preKs blow those other programs (and kids) away. How ethical is that?mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79891115513459036452015-05-26T11:40:16.652-07:002015-05-26T11:40:16.652-07:00Interesting that Nylands letter doesn't offer ...Interesting that Nylands letter doesn't offer students the option of enrolling in an option high school, like The Center School, which has a social justice component or NOVA, which may be a great fit for these students. Oversight or glaring omission?<br /><br />Also interesting that the district seems to be manipulating the decline in enrollment, by not letting students enroll. Clever tactic.<br /><br />I am also left wondering what happens to the staff, will they be RIFFed or reassigned?<br /> <br />Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85607461021796351922015-05-26T10:51:49.690-07:002015-05-26T10:51:49.690-07:00SPS shutting down WS Middle college effective next...SPS shutting down WS Middle college effective next fall.<br /><br />http://westseattleblog.com/2015/05/seattle-public-schools-says-its-closing-middle-college-high-schools-west-seattle-program/<br />wsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2662814760629405222015-05-26T10:30:32.118-07:002015-05-26T10:30:32.118-07:00http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homep...<br />http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/school%20board/14-15%20agendas/052015agenda/20150520_SPP_Agreement.pdf<br /><br />Page 5 of the MOU between the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools prek agreement indicates that the city's prek program must receive approval from a board that protects human research subjects from psychological harm. The name of this board is called an Institutional Review Board.<br /><br />The agreement is very vague. There is no indication why IRB approval is necessary. There is NO indication whether or not "evaluations" will take place in prek- only...or, if these "evaluations" are to occur in the K-12 system.<br /><br />SPS is on the verge of using children for research and this portion of the MOU needs to be removed. <br /><br />For the most part, children in the city's prek program will be poor, and some parents don't have the ability to speak English. I suspect language related to IRB approval will be in the small print.<br /><br />When did it become ok to use children for research? <br /><br />Please write the board on this issue.ForTheKidsnoreply@blogger.com