tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4836542013898787720..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools' 2017-2018 Budget: What is the Real Story?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11994150171428739742016-10-29T16:41:06.121-07:002016-10-29T16:41:06.121-07:00I vote for getting rid of standardized tests unles...I vote for getting rid of standardized tests unless mandated by law.<br /><br />Nw momAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63285720086525713722016-10-28T20:24:53.312-07:002016-10-28T20:24:53.312-07:00Agree with Robert 100 percent.
It's hurry up ...Agree with Robert 100 percent.<br /><br />It's hurry up and act on budget cuts to things we don't like with zero financial and outcomes data to back up the wisdom of proposed cuts. And it's sit on our hands and do nothing in a hurry about pressing boundary, assignment, and program decisions that directly impact students and families and decisions they are being forced to make (per SPS deadlines) now for next year and beyond. <br /><br />As a city we must demand no cuts to schools and programs. If this district decides it needs to cut, cut at John Stanford Center and the executive directors who don't seem to do much of anything.<br /><br />Concerned Hamilton and Cascadia parent<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46791688526070339312016-10-28T18:31:44.006-07:002016-10-28T18:31:44.006-07:00"I also think it is an effort to lay the grou... "I also think it is an effort to lay the groundwork to start cutting back or getting rid of programs that the district no longer supports."<br /><br />Correct. <br /><br />The district also suggested looking at cutting elementary school counselors. For years, we can not get stable funding for counselors. Schools, repeatedly, state they need counselors.<br /><br />Heads-Up!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10293740305395704102016-10-28T15:11:49.124-07:002016-10-28T15:11:49.124-07:00Melissa, you hit the nail on the head here: "...Melissa, you hit the nail on the head here: "I also think it is an effort to lay the groundwork to start cutting back or getting rid of programs that the district no longer supports. I'm not sure I believe it's just about money. And I think the district wants this cover of "not enough money" to avoid hard conversations that should be happening."<br /><br />That appears to be the case.<br /><br />Further, the Supreme Court is highly unlikely to allow the legislature to push districts over the levy cliff, especially when the state is in contempt of court over the McCleary case.<br /><br />The vast majority of the scary $70m number is levy cliff. SPS's own projections show that they can address the remaining $13 million or so with other funds that don't come out of classrooms or programs. And we should expect the legislature to provide more than enough funding to cover the $70m figure and keep all these programs going.<br /><br />Therefore, no member of the public should play SPS's game. They want us to fight amongst ourselves and turn on each other's programs. This a prisoner's dilemma situation and the only way out is to not play their game: instead we unite and tell SPS "no cuts."<br /><br />We then go to Olympia, and especially to our Seattle legislators, and insist they bring home enough money so that SPS never faces this problem again.<br /><br />SPS is proposing an unusually and unnecessarily aggressive timeline to make these decisions - potentially identifying initial cuts by mid-November. We should completely reject that and tell them they do not need to make any such decisions until the spring.<br /><br />I've seen situations like this before and the only way we win is by pushing back against this entire exercise. They're not necessarily "crying wolf" but neither are they being straight with us, and they certainly don't need to force us to pick which kids win and which kids lose. Just say no: SPS won't be allowed to cut anything. We stand together as a community.Robert Cruickshankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23731856826705958722016-10-28T14:55:23.590-07:002016-10-28T14:55:23.590-07:00Where's the cost analysis associated with rest...Where's the cost analysis associated with restructuring AL? What sort of options do they see as viable alternatives, and what are the costs of each? Returning kids to neighborhood schools would be very costly, unless we have a bunch of free, 4-story portables lying around somewhere...<br /><br />grrrAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47021305298008266172016-10-28T14:52:37.287-07:002016-10-28T14:52:37.287-07:00As part of the budget process, the district wants ...As part of the budget process, the district wants to restructure advanced learning's delivery model. People need to pay attention.<br /><br />I am not sure why advanced learning is being targeted. Advanced learning is a VERY small part of the budget.Heads-Up!noreply@blogger.com