tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5423840394522927962..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6049926744909234412014-10-22T16:39:18.362-07:002014-10-22T16:39:18.362-07:00Mary Griffin - your post is timely given today is ...Mary Griffin - your post is timely given today is anti-bullying day. How many schools had programs today? Wore Orange t-shirts? Made time to teach kids about bullying and how to stop it? No, posting a poster in the office, counselor's office or in a classroom or two isn't enough in classrooms of 30+ kids. Neither is printing a brochure placed in first day packets with a font size of 1/2.<br /><br />Try getting an incident investigated, it's like falling into a rabbit hole. And the proposed changes are worse, a different 504 coordinator for every way bullying can be experienced....God help the parent whose kid may experience Mary's example....that parent would have to carve up an investigation request and send it to 3-5 different processes with 3-5 different 504 coordinators. This is so the odds are better for a parent to miss a deadline, get overwhelmed and give the legal team a way to release themselves from accountability on a technicality.<br /><br />I am not holding my breath for the OCR training.<br /><br />A far as the comments about SPED student with a plastic knife, given the district offered up that adjective, it is another example of how rampant discrimination is in this district. I think most parents who "step in it" with wrong wording are not meaning to discriminate. The district should be setting the tone here...they are the paid professionals.....or maybe just paid.<br />DoggirlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35524832820472059172014-10-22T14:05:54.388-07:002014-10-22T14:05:54.388-07:00"Because right now, the flow of choice studen..."Because right now, the flow of choice students is FROM the more crowded schools to the less crowded schools."<br /><br />Can you give an example? I don't see the logic.Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69064938535994209462014-10-22T10:48:18.904-07:002014-10-22T10:48:18.904-07:00The high school issue is building slowing. However...The high school issue is building slowing. However, it has been building in a manner that makes it "invisible" to most people. As such, when it hits, it is going to hit very hard and fast. <br /><br />The "invisible" part has to do with choice seats. Most high schools were drawn much smaller than their capacity so as to create "choice seats" for students outside of the attendance area. As the enrollment pressure on high school began to increase, the first warning sign is that those 10% choice seats "vanish" as the students in the attendance area have first dibs. <br /><br />If you look at the 2013 High School Annual enrollment report, you can clearly see some disturbing trends, if you scratch the surface pretty hard. On the surface, it looks like nothing has changed. The 2009 enrollment information is nearly identical to the 2013. This is likely why there hasn't been any greater sense of urgency. If you just look at the report, you don't see the "problem." <br /><br />2013 - 277<br />2012 - 435<br />2011- 519<br />2010 - 525<br /><br />For 2013, there was only half of the choice seats available as there was in 2010. 2014 will be even smaller. <br /><br />What this means is that very soon, the system is just going to "lock up" as students won't be able to choose. Why does this matter? Because right now, the flow of choice students is FROM the more crowded schools to the less crowded schools. Once that stops, enrollment at the crowded schools will "hockey stick" and shoot up. <br /><br /><br />kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322661098626555834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16370575779832101102014-10-22T09:23:46.457-07:002014-10-22T09:23:46.457-07:00@sped parent, speech IEP,
Correct. IEP's cove...@sped parent, speech IEP,<br /><br />Correct. IEP's cover the bases of 504 and both issues should be covered on an IEP. <br /><br />The wrightslaw.com website can be difficult to navigate. Here is one page that deals with that issue: <a href="http://www.wrightslaw.com/blog/?p=122" rel="nofollow">http://www.wrightslaw.com/blog/?p=122</a><br /><br />Also, you may want to come to the SpEd PTSA meeting next Monday at 7 pm in the John Standford Center. There should be other parents there that night that might be good sources of support. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542105149501352547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87254140037602966092014-10-22T09:18:28.699-07:002014-10-22T09:18:28.699-07:00Speech IEP,
You should be able to write accommoda...Speech IEP,<br /><br />You should be able to write accommodations for anxiety into the iep. If your child has an iep, she would be automatically covered by section504. A 504 plan would be redundant. <br /><br />You can read about the differences on the Wright's Law website. Lots of good info there.<br /><br />-sped parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-56157031399410489342014-10-21T23:32:53.098-07:002014-10-21T23:32:53.098-07:00Greenwoody, as I have said I believe there are for...Greenwoody, as I have said I believe there are forces both within and out of SPS that want a mayoral takeover.<br /><br />I can say that after talking with sources that this would be an incredibly bad idea for anyone up the food chain - Murray, Carlyle, Burgess - whoever to try. They will NOT success without the populace of SPS (and I mean parents) and community rising up to ask for this. <br /><br />I do not believe that could happen. Why? Certainly there are many unhappy parents (and for good reason).<br /><br />But the mayoral takeover has not proven its worth in practically any city. <br /><br />It inevitably leads to mistrust of the Mayor over who he/she appoints to school boards and why. <br /><br />A different mayor gets elected and boom! change comes (whether parents or staff want it). As Forrest Gump said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you'll get." (I know, that's not the exact line.)<br /><br />And, as Charlie reminds us, it's not just about governance. It's about follow-thru.<br /><br />A superintendent who expects and follows thru on operations in this district. Who makes basic operations functionally job 1 until achieved and THEN moves to bigger projects. Who will not allow procedures to be ignored nor auditor findings.<br /><br />A Board who makes sure policies are followed and adhered to and will not move forward until explanations are made and plans to correct offered. <br /><br />A Board who will not allow themselves to be short-changed on information/data. If they are, their answer is "I cannot do my job of oversight properly and be responsible to voters if I don't have the information I need to make an informed decision." <br /><br />More on this on another thread assessing the complete nonsense that is the op-ed written by former Board member, Don Nielson.<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78622091706501098822014-10-21T22:12:56.119-07:002014-10-21T22:12:56.119-07:00One of the sites of the Skills Center is at Lincol...One of the sites of the Skills Center is at Lincoln and teaches Health Science and Medical Assisting. The Interagency program doesn't list its sites, Or I didn't see them. There is a link to this article http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2018513097_lastchance24m.html<br />ExLincolnMom<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36134582102676654972014-10-21T22:09:38.777-07:002014-10-21T22:09:38.777-07:00504 and SpednServics,
I wanted a 504 to protect m...504 and SpednServics,<br /><br />I wanted a 504 to protect my child's rights and needs due to her medically documented anxiety issues. The school and District 504 coordinators said her IEP for speech would cover her needs. I was specifically told a student could not have both an IEP and a 504. It sounds like from the case cited above that one can have an IEP and a 504. So what is it? The districts 504 person never confirmed my question about that. Same old, same old...just don't respond to emails or phone calls. Very annoying.<br /><br />Speech IEP and anxiety issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10760456152554448112014-10-21T22:04:25.745-07:002014-10-21T22:04:25.745-07:00Yes the school district is trying to not say what ...Yes the school district is trying to not say what programs are in that building. They discuss with the families how they will accommodate various schools sharing, but they don't mention separate closed-off wings. What is InterAgency? <br />Ex-LincolnMomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36495172213700856192014-10-21T21:37:26.739-07:002014-10-21T21:37:26.739-07:00Follow Themoney, you said: "in about 3 + mont...Follow Themoney, you said: "in about 3 + months OSPI will issue a statement announcing the failure of the revised C-CAP due to the lack of progress and obvious failure of SPS to provide FAPE."<br /><br />I can believe that a move for mayoral control would be prompted by some crisis, financial or otherwise. Do you know if OSPI is in on this plan? Or are they just unwittingly going along?<br /><br />And what can we as parents and advocates do to force SPS to fix these problems in advance before they give the city and OSPI a reason to demand a takeover?Greenwoodynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63990914702654905042014-10-21T20:37:41.619-07:002014-10-21T20:37:41.619-07:00Can anyone give more detail about Reuven Carlyle? ...Can anyone give more detail about Reuven Carlyle? <br /><br />CuriousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37207528444207159242014-10-21T18:56:11.667-07:002014-10-21T18:56:11.667-07:00I think the vibe you are picking up in is that int...I think the vibe you are picking up in is that interagency may or may not be there, and I can't tell if "special Ed student" is a way if obfuscating that it's a student in that program, or if it's a student in one of the spec Ed programs they moved in. I agree I don't know anything about the students in a program just because it is special Ed. Interagency is a slightly different matter. Many of those students are in the midst of making some pretty poor life choices(many are not. It is a big program with lots of parts. In most district I would just assume the district would nor be crazy and create danger. Here...), and it could be hazardous to place them in uncontrolled circumstances in a building with a bunch of little kids. And if the program IS there, and problems have started to boil over, I believe I have the right to know.<br /><br />That is what the focus on the words special ed is about in this case. Whether it is a kind if obfuscation. Not a misunderstanding of propensity to violence based on educational label.<br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4883540720786268252014-10-21T18:53:32.719-07:002014-10-21T18:53:32.719-07:00Po3 - My guess is that GHS is over-enrolled (over ...Po3 - My guess is that GHS is over-enrolled (over capacity) just not as over-enrolled as they anticipated being.<br /><br />I wonder what happens to the students whose teacher gets pulled. Students aren't allowed to make a class change request after the 10th day of the semester. I don't think the district should be able to either.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44927271182766691662014-10-21T18:29:32.253-07:002014-10-21T18:29:32.253-07:00No Secrecy, our posts passed in the either. But y...No Secrecy, our posts passed in the either. But your facetiousness is ten others' histrionics.<br /><br />The mix at Lincoln is no different than that at Old Van Asselt: two Sped preK, three 18-21 transition programs, and an Interagency program - plus, I'm probably forgetting some other SpEd program that is kicked about like a soccer ball.<br /><br />I appreciate your willingness to discuss.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28793345462962919752014-10-21T18:20:19.774-07:002014-10-21T18:20:19.774-07:00SPS communication labelled the child as a special ...SPS communication labelled the child as a special education student. Not parents. Only time its been used on this blog that I can see is in the context of trying to figure out what school they go to at Lincoln.<br />No one is saying anything derogatory about special ed kids in general.<br /><br />Calm down<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24012817985647592182014-10-21T18:07:07.271-07:002014-10-21T18:07:07.271-07:00Those posters who think it will somehow "expl...Those posters who think it will somehow "explain" why the district would call 911 regarding a student with a plastic knife; I know teachers who apologetically call 911 on kindergartners. It's not their job, like its not mine to help an injured passerby or a lost child. Either way, the attempts by some to attribute behavior (or reaction, most important) to a class or "program" is for those who, in my mind, figure it can't be "normal" or "gifted" kids and must be the other kind.<br /><br />The district has no problem throwing SpEd kids into the dust heap. That makes it easier for everyone else. Think about it. If you had a child who had behavioral or emotional issues, would you be so prompt to excuse everyone else's proclivity to identify and brand your child as 911 material? Wouldn't you want to see some reasonable attempt by others to find a more helpful and humane solution? As the law of the land REQUIRES?! Or is that just a guideline, a suggestion? That's how SPS and its staff treats it - then choose to ignore it<br /><br />If someone wants to out my kid and brand him/her as a powderkeg, well let's look at your kid, then. Right, how stupid and illogical is that?!<br /><br />I know the programs at Lincoln, Licton Springs and APP. Any one of those students could have "wielded" a plastic knife, "requiring" law enforcement. Not. Maybe their classmates were tormenting them, or their self-hate overwhelmed them, or the cyberbullying was too much. <br /><br />Mary's point is well-taken. SpEd students are targeted far more than any other class - yes, more so than your own perfect student facing a plastic-knife wielding classmate. Do you watch youtube? or catch those horribly violent videos of "normals" beating down an unsuspecting student with a disability all in the spirit of sport or viral video?<br /><br />This subject really riles the hell out of me. Quite trying to label my child as disabled and therefore crazy or out of control. Perhaps those efforts would be better spent on identifying why our society is so violent and abusive of gays, women, and students with disabilities.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79702206664476018292014-10-21T17:21:04.516-07:002014-10-21T17:21:04.516-07:00@ enough discrimination…. Ok I can see how what I ...@ enough discrimination…. Ok I can see how what I said could be misconstrued. My bad.<br />But by saying "Why the secrecy? I mean, it's not like these kids who may be a danger to others or anything, right? Right??" I being facetious about the district obfuscation, since no one seems to know what this other program is and one of the students did behave in a threatening manner (regardless of whether spec ed or gen ed or whatever). But I can see how it looked. I was not intending to imply that special ed students are danger to others (having 2E kid myself). So I do apologize for that. <br />I do think it is a stretch call me bigoted on that basis - certainly, clueless about how my facetious question would look in that context though.<br />It was totally off the mark and uncalled for to generalize that APP parents are bigoted on that basis. <br />And jokes, and apologies aside, I still want to know all the programs that are 'housed' at the Lincoln campus and why the secrecy. <br /><br />No Secrecy (aka 2E)<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86787552202901852012014-10-21T17:07:43.318-07:002014-10-21T17:07:43.318-07:00My guess about the secrecy revolving around Lincol...My guess about the secrecy revolving around Lincoln is because several years ago a staff member had to be secretly re-located there because the principal at McClure wouldn't stop picking on him.<br /><br />Since Banda promoted her to Director, nobody wants her to find out.<br /><br />Hint-He retired Sara, get over it.just sayin'noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6751287145203226492014-10-21T16:14:01.170-07:002014-10-21T16:14:01.170-07:00Well Reuven is up for election. So ask him. You&...Well Reuven is up for election. So ask him. You'll probably need the secret handshake though for the answer you want. It takes money and connection to move up....<br /><br />voterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65365287191443902182014-10-21T16:11:11.411-07:002014-10-21T16:11:11.411-07:00In an attempt to redirect here..anybody know where...In an attempt to redirect here..anybody know where I can look up current enrollment figures, I am baffled by the staff reduction at GHS. Did they under enroll and move through their wait list?Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41379010161390906562014-10-21T16:07:19.022-07:002014-10-21T16:07:19.022-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75864092451449328972014-10-21T16:05:08.631-07:002014-10-21T16:05:08.631-07:00Thank you, Data Hungry, for that update.
".....Thank you, Data Hungry, for that update.<br /><br />"...if they take a plastic knife that seriously or is this standard procedure for SPS? Glad it wasn't a real knife or a gun!!"<br /><br />Zero tolerance and that means ANYTHING (toy or plastic or not) that looks like a weapon.<br /><br />"...cognitively qualified student.."<br /><br />Does Asperger's count?<br /><br />Concerned, not Surprised, yes, I am aware of the talk around Carlyle.<br /><br />2E, apparently you are in the reader group that believes I sit here all day every day. I can't and I don't.<br /><br />I will attend to the name-calling but some of you need to not badger me about what gets "attended to" or not.<br /><br />Do not call others names. I'm not your mom.<br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35499020102177613762014-10-21T15:55:06.410-07:002014-10-21T15:55:06.410-07:00There is reason to believe that REUVEN CARLYLE wan...There is reason to believe that REUVEN CARLYLE wants to remove Seattle School Board.ConcernedNotSurprisednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82531454947479398772014-10-21T15:33:33.217-07:002014-10-21T15:33:33.217-07:00OMG @ enough discrimination! How am I being bigot...OMG @ enough discrimination! How am I being bigoted? WHy is that representative of APP parents? You an't wait for an opportunity to bash APP can you? Talk about off topic ad hominen attacks…. Melissa where are you?<br /><br />I am just using the term the principal used. I don't care if it's a spec ed student - that was just how the student was identified. I'm just trying to figure out what school or program or whatever its called they belong to. <br />Why did SPS not say it was a "Licton Springs" student or a "Lincoln APP Student" or whatever without saying a special ed student? I don't know? All I wanted to know is this - is it a student attending my kids school - yes/no? If no, which school or program that is housed at Lincoln does the student attend. While we're on that subject, exactly what schools/programs are currently located at Lincoln?<br />The fact that we have not been told but instead told that it was a special ed student is what makes it weird and is the reason I asked what special ed program is at Lincoln (because wouldn't a special ed class or resource room normally be part of an actual school? - so is this something different?)<br /><br />I'm not getting at spec ed kids!!! I didn't say anything about them being more violent. It never would have occurred to me that it was a kid with special ed needs if the message from SPS did not specifically state that. <br /><br />Didn't I make it clear that I have no problem with any kind of special ed program being at Lincoln- it's just that no one knows anything about it. I would just like the district to be transparent about it. How does that make me bigoted???<br /><br />And complaining about my use of the term '"housed" Really??? APP students are currently 'housed' at Lincoln, Licton Springs students are currently 'housed' at Lincoln. Who else is 'housed' there? I make no apologies for using that term as it implies that the site is a temporary location - not their permanent site. For instance I would not say View Ridge elementary is housed at the View Ridge site. It has no negative connotations toward special ed students at all. It is a synonym for 'located at' Sheesh.<br /><br />It's like you guys are just looking for any excuse to bash APP parents.<br /><br />2EAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83205887725743515532014-10-21T15:25:57.799-07:002014-10-21T15:25:57.799-07:00My kid is not longer at Lincoln, but it was not pu...My kid is not longer at Lincoln, but it was not public knowledge that high school students and their program were in some separate wing of the school. I saw some of them before or after school when I was walking to or from the building. It seemed to be a small program. I had guessed it was an alternative way of getting through high school. The presence of that program was never mentioned when APP growth and sharing the building with other schools (McDonald, Licton Springs, etc.) was discussed. Also, when Hamilton came to use the auditorium for orchestra/band concerts, it was not mentioned. That music wing is on the south side. Maybe the C wing is the Southwest side. It is a very big school. They must have their own lunch system because I don't believe they shared that part of the building. They came and went from the south. Lincoln families came and went from the north or the west. I do think having an alternative high school on campus with an elementary school is good for parents to be aware of. There used to be running club at lunch that ran around somewhere.<br />LincolnHS Grad<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com