tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6273574432605035091..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47056384128676619002014-11-06T19:39:56.646-08:002014-11-06T19:39:56.646-08:00Here's the 2014-14 BudgetHere's the <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/budget/adopted15.pdf?sessionid=9d4bfad026b9b8ac385971e8ee977f37" rel="nofollow">2014-14 Budget</a>Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20870964359775848002014-11-06T19:17:24.818-08:002014-11-06T19:17:24.818-08:00I'm looking at the "Seattle Public School...I'm looking at the "<a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Communications/FactFacts_2014-15_Final.pdf" rel="nofollow">Seattle Public Schools Fast Facts & Figures</a>" the District just sent out. Am I wrong that they must be spending less than half their budget on teachers?<br /><br />It says that there are 3,122 teachers and a budget of $689M. Even if they were paying $100k per teacher, and they are not, that would be less than half the budget going to teachers.<br /><br />The District usually claims that 70% of budget goes to teachers, which is already too low, but this makes it look like maybe only 45% of budget goes to teachers. What's going on?<br /><br />This seems to be confirmed by the FTE count, which is 6,436. So, only 3,122 of 6,436 full time employees are teachers, or only 49%.<br /><br />How could this be correct? Is it really true that less than half of the budget should be going for teachers and less than half of the full time employees should be teachers? Shouldn't most of the budget be for teachers?Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20328087243736625152014-11-06T17:25:12.153-08:002014-11-06T17:25:12.153-08:00Non è una buona scuola a meno che i vostri student...Non è una buona scuola a meno che i vostri studenti bianchi<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My 2centsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69299440276659744172014-11-06T15:07:06.280-08:002014-11-06T15:07:06.280-08:00If 2 cents would explain their reasoning that woul...If 2 cents would explain their reasoning that would be much more helpful. It's funny, four years ago when my kid was in 8th grade was when they moved the cutoff for Ballard HS to 85th, and so many people were livid that Ingraham was now their assignment high school. Now I have friends whose kids are in school with mine whose younger siblings are choosing to go to Ingraham. I am glad it's become an attractive choice for some families instead of a place to avoid.Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52272710216091132122014-11-06T11:27:11.219-08:002014-11-06T11:27:11.219-08:00Huh, well we LOVE Ingraham. I had a kid go throug...Huh, well we LOVE Ingraham. I had a kid go through Roosevelt (great school for some kids) and close friends at GHS and other schools (great for some as well). Absolutely agree that no school is perfect for every kid (thank goodness for Nova and for the small amount of choice that is left to us.) <br /><br />I've been posting on this blog for a long time (ten years?) under my own name. So, in my opinion, 2cents' name is perfectly apt.<br /><br />MaureenUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977848093773607230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43070913863395367002014-11-06T09:23:44.651-08:002014-11-06T09:23:44.651-08:00I would steer clear of Ingraham.
My 2cents I would steer clear of Ingraham.<br /><br /><br />My 2cents Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9174427556013111372014-11-05T21:56:40.680-08:002014-11-05T21:56:40.680-08:00Accorring to national survey Seattle is far from b...Accorring to national survey Seattle is far from bad.<br /><br /><br />Seattle Public Schools has an annual budget of $680,031,000, spending an average of $14,246 per student. <br /><br />Seattle Public Schools has 2,645 teachers, yielding 19 students per teacher. <br /><br />On average, the teacher salary for the district is $73,009. <br /><br />Seattle Public Schools 739th in America for Best Districts!<br /><br />RockyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48501185328906605072014-11-05T19:39:01.605-08:002014-11-05T19:39:01.605-08:00You might also look at Cleveland STEM if your kid ...You might also look at Cleveland STEM if your kid likes STEM, and NOVA which is self-paced and a good fit for some gifted kids.TechyMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650916001250022778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31413389962942071832014-11-05T19:27:52.913-08:002014-11-05T19:27:52.913-08:00Mom of 4,
Any student who tests into HCC in the e...Mom of 4,<br /><br />Any student who tests into HCC in the eighth grade is automatically assigned to their attendance area school. They can enroll in IBX at Ingraham during open enrollment if they prefer that. They do not have guaranteed access to another school with IB unless it's their attendance area school. <br /><br />I would want to be sure there was a group of academic peers for my child before I enrolled them anywhere. (I don't think IB classes in 11th and 12th grade make a high school a good fit for a highly capable kid.) You'd want to look at the classes available for the first two years too.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78109632696416148782014-11-05T12:30:16.670-08:002014-11-05T12:30:16.670-08:00I have had the same experience as Rosemary with re...I have had the same experience as Rosemary with respect to the changing demographics at Ingraham. They have certainly been noted, but I've never sensed that the change was seen as an "improvement" by the staff (except perhaps as an aside to note there are more resources now).<br /><br />MaureenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52324625368857959382014-11-05T11:49:54.884-08:002014-11-05T11:49:54.884-08:00Wink wink, I have been at countless meetings at In...Wink wink, I have been at countless meetings at Ingraham in the past five years where the changing demographic profile has been discussed. I have never, ever heard an educator or an administrator say it was "improving." Changing, certainly. But never "improving."<br /><br />I know my older daughter loved that, as a Caucasian, she was in the minority for her first couple of years at Ingraham. She had never been in such an ethnically diverse school. I heard many of her classmates make similar comments. They observed that the increase of Caucasians over recent years hurt that diversity, and it bothered them. I have also heard long-time parents comment at football games how sad they are at the decreasing diversity among the cheerleaders.<br /><br />Yes, it's easier for the PTO to raise money now that we have a smaller FRL population, but beyond that, I don't hear anyone saying that this new Ingraham is "improved." Merely different.<br /><br />Rosemary D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67268894847011252802014-11-05T11:24:26.991-08:002014-11-05T11:24:26.991-08:00I am under the impression that the APP/HCC assignm...I am under the impression that the APP/HCC assignment process needs to be changed anyway, simply because the middle school APP cohort is now so large, especially the 6th grade, that assigning them all to Garfield would effectively close Garfield as an attendance area school. Of course, they may be ignoring this along with all other HS capacity issues.<br /><br />Would they automatically assign south-end students testing into APP in 8th grade to Ingraham? I guess I would expect them to be assigned to the new IB program at Rainier beach (although I know that IB and IBX are not the same).<br /><br />Mom of 4Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49187860184895145082014-11-05T11:21:37.552-08:002014-11-05T11:21:37.552-08:00missed,
IMHO, IB is a good match for HCC. Check ...missed,<br /><br />IMHO, IB is a good match for HCC. Check out RBHS and does Sealth have it too?<br /><br />ChrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42801872241810973542014-11-05T09:25:26.022-08:002014-11-05T09:25:26.022-08:00Thanks Lynn and Parent for the APP/HCC high school...Thanks Lynn and Parent for the APP/HCC high school eligibility info. As someone who lives in SE Seattle, the idea of commuting to Ingraham sounds pretty unappealing. I'm going to take Lynn's advice and write to the board.<br /><br />- missedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35613508529605994912014-11-05T07:27:23.821-08:002014-11-05T07:27:23.821-08:00Preschool passed, and of the two 1b passed
I love...Preschool passed, and of the two 1b passed<br /><br />I love my Stranger, but the reason preschool passed is because they endorsed it. They didn't really understand how messed up the implementation of this is (no focusing of resources on at-risk youth - instead, spreading the wealth to stable families whose kids do fine AND to a lots of educats at City Hall).<br /><br />Oh well. Lots of truly good intentions on the part of our wonderfully generous civic-minded fellow citizens who are predominantly childless. Their generosity is what I'll focus on, not what a mess this will be.<br /><br />-election overAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37351871826245617752014-11-04T21:14:32.838-08:002014-11-04T21:14:32.838-08:00I read the article by the teacher who sat in on cl...I read the article by the teacher who sat in on classes for two days. <br /><br />I disagree with her about the exhaustion of sitting. She found sitting all day to be exhausting -- I would find standing and walking around the class all day to be exhausting. Good thing that she's a teacher and I work at a computer all day.<br /><br />She argued that students feel like a bother and exhausted from sitting and listening all day. I don't know how I feel about her analysis. It seemed a bit silly and "hippie"-ish to me. Students spend less time sitting in class at school than most office-workers spend sitting at their desks.<br /><br />That being said, to be a high school student is to be subject to many strictures and little indignities, to have little control over your day. If I had to ask permission from my boss every time that I wanted to leave my desk and go to the bathroom, I'd be screaming in frustration.<br /><br />On exercise in schools: read an <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/3036607/this-school-has-bikes-instead-of-desks-and-it-turns-out-thats-a-better-way-to-learn" rel="nofollow">article</a> about a school in North Carolina where students were able to pedal stationary bikes while reading. Apparently it improved their reading proficiency dramatically.cmjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02451641218340300556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27208411218821143032014-11-04T18:32:11.964-08:002014-11-04T18:32:11.964-08:00parent is correct regarding APP eligibility and ac...<b>parent</b> is correct regarding APP eligibility and access to Garfield. If you're not happy with that rule, please contact Marty McLaren, Sue Peters and Stephan Blanford. They're discussing the Highly Capable Policy and Procedures next Monday in the Curriculum and Instruction Committee.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76190132650128980582014-11-04T17:19:07.954-08:002014-11-04T17:19:07.954-08:00Unless things have changed, testing into APP in fa...Unless things have changed, testing into APP in fall of 8th grade will qualify a student for Ingraham IBX, but not Garfield. If a student is enrolled in APP/HCC in 8th grade, then the default assignment is Garfield.<br /><br />From the AL website under the enrollment link: <br /><br /><b>Enrollment for Highly Capable Students Rising to Sixth or Ninth Grades</b> <br /><br /><i>Currently enrolled fifth- and eighth-grade Highly Capable Cohort (formerly APP) students are automatically assigned to their regional Highly Capable Cohort (formerly APP) middle school site for sixth grade or to Garfield for ninth grade and do not need to submit school choice forms.<br /><br />There are no automatic or guaranteed assignments to Garfield for students who are not enrolled in the Highly Capable Cohort (formerly APP) at Washington, Hamilton or Jane Addams middle schools.</i><br /><br />If you wanted Garfield as a pathway, your child would have needed to test <i>this</i> year and enroll at one of the middle school APP/HCC sites (Washington, Hamilton or Jane Addams) for 8th grade.<br /><br />parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17458504582251516842014-11-04T15:57:41.822-08:002014-11-04T15:57:41.822-08:00Pissed of, pissed off:
You're pissed at the w...Pissed of, pissed off:<br /><br />You're pissed at the wrong target. Interagency people are doing what most people at the John Stanford Center for Excess generally don't do: they're helping kids that in most cases are unreachable in any other way; kids that aren't in traditional schools, even kids in detention. They helped my daughter. She graduated and was guided into a program at SSCC. Hated high school, loves community college, and she'll be another taxpayer soon enough and will support your aged a$$ when you're no longer able to support it yourself. Money well spent. Let's get Gates to pay his tax and not just hide it behind a foundation and it's all good. <br /><br />WestsideAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65085545592303687132014-11-04T15:54:11.754-08:002014-11-04T15:54:11.754-08:00Wondering if someone could help me interpret the A...Wondering if someone could help me interpret the APP/HCC eligibility guidance. (I've read it online, but I'm still not sure.) <br /><br />I currently have a gen ed 7th grader. In 5th grade she met APP eligibility requirements, but for a variety of reasons, we elected to not move her to APP. My understanding is that 7th grade is the last year to test for advanced learning, meaning they'd be eligible for APP/HCC in 8th grade (at WMS, in our case) and then move onto high school. But I've since heard that it's possible to test in 8th grade for HCC in high school, either at Garfield or Ingraham. If anyone here can help me shed light on this, I'd appreciate it. I have emailed SPS, but am not expecting to hear back. <br /><br />Thanks,<br />- missedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74661233382893638832014-11-04T15:01:18.959-08:002014-11-04T15:01:18.959-08:00Wink Wink,
ARRRGH!! Suppose they missed the &quo...Wink Wink,<br /><br />ARRRGH!! Suppose they missed the "Race and Equity" training downtown keeps touting to the board.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38743041326805158032014-11-04T14:29:55.124-08:002014-11-04T14:29:55.124-08:00We where at the Ingraham open house and several te...We where at the Ingraham open house and several teachers commented on how the demographics at Ingraham are improving. <br /><br />Wink Wink<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74224401623066618522014-11-04T14:22:54.033-08:002014-11-04T14:22:54.033-08:00Schools of Distinction Awards should not be given ...Schools of Distinction Awards should not be given to schools whose FRL has decreased by more than 10 percent. Period. How can the public advocate for this change? As it stands, the award is a complete farce for most of those schools. Hamilton, Pathfinder, Ingraham are noticeably egregious. Not the school's fault. The award's. But schools shouldn't be tooting their horns when administrators know darn well the uptick comes from swapping students, not improving outcomes.<br /><br />DistrictWatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28365192977457004512014-11-04T13:56:20.024-08:002014-11-04T13:56:20.024-08:00I know schools love to receive those school of dis...I know schools love to receive those school of distinction awards, but I agree with the above. It's so often a demographic shift (or a school starting up), which is kind of a gross thing to be celebrating. "Woot! Got rid of the poor kids!" I feel it waters down the award for a place like Maple, which has just figured out how to work better with the population it has.<br /><br />And re:Interagency, I can't imagine how much worse off those kids would be without it. And it is SPS's job- to educate kids, no matter how damaged they might be. <br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47551988929779277252014-11-04T13:45:39.506-08:002014-11-04T13:45:39.506-08:00My HS daughter and I read that article about the t...My HS daughter and I read that article about the teacher who spends two days as a high school student and while it was interesting and a good eye opener for the teacher, we both thought it was not realistic. She only attended 4 classes each day, instead of 6-7 that most HS kids attend and she stated that she was too exhausted to do anything in the evenings so she clearly wasn't doing the 2-4+ hours of homework the average high schooler has. She should do it again, but for real this time. <br /><br />-Franklin ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com