tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6023671411047057430..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools and Leadership: What the Fundamental Problem IsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87079670358951303272014-07-15T04:26:29.894-07:002014-07-15T04:26:29.894-07:00I think such conflicts among staff and leadership ...I think such conflicts among staff and leadership should be not in learning place because it may cause bad affect upon the reputation of the institute as well as the learning procedure. Both management and leadership should join hands for the development of the institute and I am not trending towards any party but forcing them to join hands for best future of the institute. I have a tip for students to visit (<a href="http://www.essayspresident.com/custom-essay-writing-help" rel="nofollow">http://www.essayspresident.com/custom-essay-writing-help</a>) website where online writers are helping them to write essays without mistakes to obtain high scores.Anglew Methewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42617927419516292362014-06-24T11:46:04.866-07:002014-06-24T11:46:04.866-07:00I think that the central administration would bris...I think that the central administration would bristle at the charge that they work in service to the perpetuation of their bureaucracy. They would claim - I suspect - that they are working in support of schools, teachers, classrooms and students.<br /><br />But I have to wonder how they think they can do that without any input from those schools, teachers, classrooms and students. Why don't the schools, teachers, classrooms and students feel they are supported by the central administration instead of hindered by it?<br /><br />It's funny, because when the central administration wants support they want to direct that support. When parents say they want to support the district, the district invariably wants that support to come in the form of agreement with whatever the district has decided to do. So why doesn't their support for schools, teachers, classrooms and students come in the same form - helping them to do what they have decided to do?<br /><br />I ask this sincerely: if you truly believe that you're supporting them, why don't they feel like you're supporting them? Why do they feel like you're interfering with them - when they feel your presence at all?Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7626071004603660692014-06-24T09:26:42.751-07:002014-06-24T09:26:42.751-07:00Banda. I'm gonna do nothing for a year, beca...Banda. I'm gonna do nothing for a year, because other supes did bad stuff and I don't wanna do more bad stuff. Then, I'm gonna look for another job with a high salary. My contribution? Well, I hired a bunch of minimally qualified manager. Who know? They may pan out one day. It doesn't really matter, because lots of people can get good at doing nothing as I have.<br /><br />!?!#$$$!$$$!!! Seriously. This guy had a three year contract. At a minimum, he should remunerate the district for the expenses associated with hiring him, since he is breaking his contract.<br /><br />Reader 48Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9384563335516382912014-06-24T08:59:28.697-07:002014-06-24T08:59:28.697-07:00Huh. I was having this same thought when reading t...Huh. I was having this same thought when reading those emails re: the pre-k that mirmac posted. Ms Peters asks Mr. Herndon a facility related question - he says he can't speak to that - she says who can and no one ever answers. All I could think was, gee Mr. Herndon, passive aggressive much? Because to me what he was really saying was not "I can't speak to that" but "I won't speak to that". <br />Which is an entirely different thing. And something I suspect happens waaaaay more between the Board and staff then we can even begin to grasp.<br />I gotta say, I'm not someone who tolerates that kind of behavior for very long. I suspect I'd be the first person the Seattle Times publically harangued for "micromanaging". But seriously, in the absence of a strong Supt., <b>someone</b> needs to be in charge!<br />I truly think we need a management type, not an educator, because SPS is a multimillion business whose rudder is seriously warped. As a "shareholder", I'm ready to stage a revolt ;o)<br /><br />reader47Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44037539634089608082014-06-24T08:44:29.884-07:002014-06-24T08:44:29.884-07:00I was pleasantly surprised at the last Board meeti...I was pleasantly surprised at the last Board meeting by the level of questions from the Board to the staff. On several items, there was a "Is this the best use of limited resources" discussion. It was cordial but definitely firm. Eric Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1066088787555507002014-06-24T08:42:52.751-07:002014-06-24T08:42:52.751-07:00Theoretically we don't have to wait for the su...Theoretically we don't have to wait for the superintendent to address the dysfunction. I suppose it is possible for the Board to also take the control that it should and do its duty to demand compliance with policy, demand higher quality work, demand a focus on priorities, and demand engagement with stakeholders, but I simply hold out no hope for that.<br /><br />Too many members of the Board are convinced that the staff is right about their role. Cheryl Chow, when she was on the Board, actually said as much. She scolded her Board colleagues saying that they not only had no business voted down staff recommendations, but that they had no business even questioning those recommendations.<br /><br />Harium Martin-Morris also scolded his colleagues for trying to independently verify statements made by staff. He told them that they should accept all staff statements as true - even if they discover that the statements are not true.<br /><br />I have yet to see a single Board member ever ask Mr. Tolley for any of the information that he has promised them. They ask him a question, he says "I'll have to get back to with that. I'll put it in the Friday memo." Then, when it isn't in the Friday memo the Board never asks for it. This contributes to the belief that the Board didn't really need the information and that they were just making work for staff. So no wonder the staff believes that. In fact, the Board did want the information but didn't want to disgrace the staff by telling the world that they didn't fulfill their commitment. <br /><br />I had a glimmer of hope earlier this year when a Board member put an item on the C & I committee agenda to talk to staff about the inadequacy of their program evaluation report - except that when the item came up for discussion the Board Directors didn't do it. They asked "Why didn't the program evaluation report have any program evaluations?" Michael Tolley responded "You get program evaluation reports when they come out, not all at once." "What about the programs that aren't evaluated?" "Well of course you don't get reports on those - they aren't evaluated." "Oh. Okay."<br /><br />So, sorry, but I no longer hold out any hope that the Board will get up on its hind legs and reform the District. It will have to wait until a new superintendent comes in and does it.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33396512050806661812014-06-24T08:04:21.017-07:002014-06-24T08:04:21.017-07:00Anonymous at 7:39 said that the board is dysfuncti...Anonymous at 7:39 said that the board is dysfunctional. Can you clarify what they are doing that is dysfunctional?<br /><br />I think that administrative staff is dysfunctional. They have no idea what is going on in the buildings. Teachers & principals just try to stay out of their way. I think an example of the inspiring march toward Level 4 determination of special ed over the last several administrations demonstrates that we can't leave the superintendents unchallenged.<br /><br />-hs parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84621729736627586782014-06-24T07:39:49.081-07:002014-06-24T07:39:49.081-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8361383795962548552014-06-24T04:42:22.820-07:002014-06-24T04:42:22.820-07:00For me it has been 9 years participating in this s...For me it has been 9 years participating in this system. It astounds me that in this city, with the brains, money, and passion that we have that the school system in the way it is. The entire systems needs to be wiped put and then started a new. The system is supposed to be about educating children but it really is about creating/maintaining jobs for adults. Our three kids are finally done in this system and I am relieved to be done with it. It is quite a mess and I a m positive it will only continue to bump along. Good luck people.<br /><br />-New pasturesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com