tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4502179996582625567..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Update on Public HearingsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7706830753036966812008-12-16T20:02:00.000-08:002008-12-16T20:02:00.000-08:00All very, very good ideas. Especially make sure y...All very, very good ideas. Especially make sure you know the facts. And have the ability to say where the data comes from. <BR/><BR/>Also if a board member or someone else counters the data with their own data, check it out, ask where they got the information (nicely) and then verify if they have found something you didn't. <BR/><BR/>Always know the facts and always be ready to answer the questions regarding the facts, or be willing to find the answer.<BR/><BR/>And I wish I could say that all that has been suggested and what I have added is going to keep your school open, but I can't. <BR/><BR/>I do believe that the assignment plan should happen BEFORE school closures. It is the only way to know where the students will really be. <BR/><BR/>Thanks to all of you doing the research and making the meetings, your doing a great job of keeping us informed.snaffleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17138246931135963408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3331156057906920702008-12-16T15:09:00.000-08:002008-12-16T15:09:00.000-08:00Here is a link to the transcript from last night's...Here is a <A HREF="http://www.seattleschools.org/area/capacity/pinehurst_hearing_121508.pdf" REL="nofollow">link to the transcript from last night's AS#1/Pinehurst hearing</A>.Roy Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677294298900083208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10189908139433995152008-12-16T14:45:00.000-08:002008-12-16T14:45:00.000-08:00The hearings tonight are still a "go" despite the ...The hearings tonight are still a "go" despite the weather. I just got the following message for the Genesee Hill hearing, and assume they are sending similar messages to people signed up for the other two hearings.<BR/><BR/>"We want to thank those of you who have signed up to testify at tonight's public hearing and those who wish to attend. The weather has created concerns about safety, and we send this information to update you about conditions around the Genesee Hill building where the hearing will be held from 6:30-8:30 tonight. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Road conditions this morning lead us to recommend that those who choose to attend the hearing carpool and look for parking along the north shoulder (school side) of Genesee. That road was recently sanded. While there is some remaining ice on the shoulder area, it is much clearer than the south side of Genesee. <BR/><BR/>The sidewalks and steps into the school building were sanded this morning by SDOT, and staff requested that Dakota and 51st be sanded as well by SDOT since there was ice on both of these side streets. The school playground is CLOSED for your safety because of ice, so please look for parking along Genesee. Metro bus information is available at http://tripplanner.metrokc.gov/cgi-bin/itin_page.pl?resptype=U<BR/><BR/><BR/>We ask that people enter the building from the corner of 51st and Genesee and follow the signs to the cafeteria where the hearing will be conducted starting at 6:30. <BR/><BR/>We want our families and staff to be safe, and we also want to hear your input. If you make the decision not to attend tonight, we want you to know that we are reading the emails that come in to capacity@seattleschools.org as we will also read the transcripts of each public hearing held this week. Transcripts will also be posted to our capacity management web site which you can visit from our home page at http://www.seattleschools.org<BR/><BR/><BR/>Thank you for your participation in this engagement process as we prepare final recommendations for further public review. <BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/><BR/>Bridgett<BR/><BR/>Bridgett Chandler, Executive Director of Communication"Beth Bakemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16827919509722526726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14906284845759517652008-12-16T10:46:00.000-08:002008-12-16T10:46:00.000-08:00I took notes on the second half of the radio show ...I took notes on the second half of the radio show today with Dr. G-J and Michael DB. Added them to <A HREF="http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=12724" REL="nofollow">a preview post about the public hearing</A> that we're having at Genesee Hill tonight (pre-snow, I hope). If anyone here writes about the radio show, I'll add that link too - Tracy @ WSBWShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06932627099385203863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11371388783073658182008-12-16T08:47:00.000-08:002008-12-16T08:47:00.000-08:00I did write about possibilities for Obama's pick o...I did write about possibilities for Obama's pick on December 6th. As soon as I get the chance, I'll start a thread about his pick, Arne Duncan.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79310572317856082412008-12-16T07:12:00.000-08:002008-12-16T07:12:00.000-08:00Would one of the contributors mind starting a thre...Would one of the contributors mind starting a thread on Obama's Education Secretary pick? I'd like to hear what people who follow education think of him. Thanks!TechyMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650916001250022778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26305551376952619962008-12-15T22:23:00.000-08:002008-12-15T22:23:00.000-08:00Melissa, sorry you can't make it to Genesee Hill. ...Melissa, sorry you can't make it to Genesee Hill. I would have enjoyed hearing your point of view in that forum.addhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843309019050191230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44884121223073190242008-12-15T21:48:00.000-08:002008-12-15T21:48:00.000-08:00Megan, Thanks so much for your report! I was sitti...Megan, Thanks so much for your report! I was sitting here working, but also wondering how the hearings went tonight.<BR/><BR/>Can you post this comment on the North/NE Clusters thread from earlier this week as well?<BR/><BR/>I'm really glad to hear it went well at the AS#1 hearing tonight.Beth Bakemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16827919509722526726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-92099741822910901582008-12-15T21:39:00.000-08:002008-12-15T21:39:00.000-08:00AS#1 had a great turn out. We had speakers right u...AS#1 had a great turn out. We had speakers right up until 8:30 and the cafeteria was full. We served dinner cooked by AS#1 students and faculty and donated by local businesses. Parents, students, alumni, teachers, and community members all stated their support for keeping the AS#1 program in the Pinehurst building. There was no one there who spoke in favor of closing the building. The transcript will be posted on the capacity management site tomorrow. Speakers focused on the capacity issue, the need to preserve AS#1's unique program, and the lack of money saved by closing Pinehurst ($130,000 a year according to the district in 2006).Megan Mchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08526624057081098551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9880559889559817782008-12-15T20:32:00.000-08:002008-12-15T20:32:00.000-08:00I am signed up at Genesee Hill but can't make it s...I am signed up at Genesee Hill but can't make it so there's one more space there.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77129191748213255132008-12-15T18:54:00.000-08:002008-12-15T18:54:00.000-08:00FYI, the updated hearing sign-up lists have been p...FYI, the <A HREF="http://www.seattleschools.org/area/capacity/Building_Hearings_SignUp.pdf" REL="nofollow">updated hearing sign-up lists</A> have been posted.<BR/><BR/>The Genesee Hill building list is the only one that is "full" with 40 people, and a wait list of 5 more.<BR/><BR/>If you end up on the wait list at Genesee Hill or any other building hearing, don't worry. You'll almost definitely get a chance to speak. Either someone won't show up, or the Board will extend the time to allow all interested people to speak, or someone will give you their spot, or some combination of the above.<BR/><BR/>So if you have something you want to say, make sure you call or e-mail to sign up to speak at one of the hearings this week (assuming they aren't cancelled or postponed because of weather).Beth Bakemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16827919509722526726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35894567251676939352008-12-15T18:21:00.000-08:002008-12-15T18:21:00.000-08:00I'm not sure I agree with the advice about "don't ...I'm not sure I agree with the advice about "don't talk stats, talk about how you are a community". The district/board is supposed to making these decisions based on certain criteria - many of which are quantitative - so it would seem that "evidence" that the criteria are not being met would be important. <BR/><BR/>I think every school could talk about how it is a community - but ultimately, if you are a great community does that mean that your program/building won't close? I doubt it.addhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01843309019050191230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60626897811419251322008-12-15T16:23:00.000-08:002008-12-15T16:23:00.000-08:00"-children speaking, well, heck, of course it work..."-children speaking, well, heck, of course it works but it would work for any school because every kid loves his or her school (and all kids are cute)"<BR/><BR/>I'll say that cute little kids don't mean much, but articulate high school students, following all the other rules, do seem to have something to say.zbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205346985598789513noreply@blogger.com