tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post7283572531869913509..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Dorn Turns ALE Rules/Regs on their Head for Charter SchoolsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81849986168241563252015-12-29T04:30:45.318-08:002015-12-29T04:30:45.318-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13301505436358827882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74725515453208553422015-12-08T19:20:13.624-08:002015-12-08T19:20:13.624-08:00Spokane School district is a charter school author...Spokane School district is a charter school authorizer, but they said NO to charter/ale proposal:<br /><br />Brenda McDonald, the director and founder of Pride Prep, one of Spokane’s two charters, said there had been discussions by her charter’s board about joining Spokane Public Schools, but those talks have ended.<br /><br /><br />:There is no animosity between the district and the charter schools, she said.<br /><br />“It has been a bumpy road; it really doesn’t need to be bumpier,” McDonald said.<br /><br />McDonald said affiliating with the Mary Walker district wouldn’t result in a substantive change for parents or students."<br /><br />http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/charter-schools-in-state-may-join-small-district-near-spokane/Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25863873902794047812015-12-08T17:05:16.250-08:002015-12-08T17:05:16.250-08:00FYI - there's an article about the Mary Walker...FYI - there's an article about the Mary Walker story in Spokesman Review from a few days back<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/dec/04/washington-charter-schools-may-join-springdale-sch/" rel="nofollow">Washington charter schools may join Springdale school district</a><br /><br />reader47<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31553674228857868262015-12-08T11:58:08.768-08:002015-12-08T11:58:08.768-08:00Lynn, that won't be true soon. Maybe that'...Lynn, that won't be true soon. Maybe that's what a consultant is for (I'm thinking they may need several, at this rate.)Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31766202882123993992015-12-08T10:38:39.903-08:002015-12-08T10:38:39.903-08:00That Mary Walker principal is Edwina Hargrave. (Ma...That Mary Walker principal is Edwina Hargrave. (Mary Walker has only one elementary school.) She is also the district's Special Education Director. She can do both those jobs because her school has about 190 students and the district has 70 or so students receiving special education services.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26694745799476020762015-12-08T09:46:02.261-08:002015-12-08T09:46:02.261-08:00Watching, I watched that video - pretty fast-talki...Watching, I watched that video - pretty fast-talking (literally.) But he left out a lot and made it sound like a "fix" is a simple math equation via a vote. It's not the simple, kids, and to make it sound so makes you sound simple. <br /><br />As well, yes the Times had a story on this but it left out a lot and left a lot to be desired. It was on their digital front page a couple of hours and then went to the search vault. <br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43543456211063489562015-12-08T09:05:00.721-08:002015-12-08T09:05:00.721-08:00"No action will be required by resident distr...<br />"No action will be required by resident districts that approve OSPI's facilitation of the transfers." This sentence really needs to be clarified.<br /><br />Randy Dorn's office has not issued a press release and for good reason. IMO, there is an attempt to keep the MWSD/charter school plan quiet. Never before have we seen attempts to move entire schools into an ALE status with oversight from across the state.<br /><br />We saw a piece in the Seattle Times. Not surprising, the Times piece was not investigative or critical. Disgusting. <br />Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40672635607829459372015-12-08T08:57:36.926-08:002015-12-08T08:57:36.926-08:00"The Sp Ed obligations would transfer to Mary...<br />"The Sp Ed obligations would transfer to Mary Walker when they accept the students. They could contract back with the resident district or a contract service provider (aka the charter) to provide the services and conduct the evals, but ultimately Mary Walker would be on the hook legally for any failures by anyone they contract" <br /><br />Regarding special ed. students, Mary Walker and charter schools...an elementary school principal within the Mary Walker school district has been approached for this job. In essence, we have a guy, located in another part of the state, being asked to oversee special education.<br /><br />I can't imagine that parents of special education students, within charter schools, understand the situation. <br /><br />I hope individuals within this blog advocate for special education students. Consider writing to Dorn, Inslee and legislators.<br /><br />The logistics of Dorn's proposal are a nightmare and I don't see that it will work. Then again, does anyone care?<br /><br />One of the legislators trying to find a charter school "fix" is Joe Fain. He just recorded a video (propaganda) about a legislative "fix" for an unjust system. He goes on about the usual propoaganda...an old law, timing of Supreme Court decision and ability for general fund to provide dollars to charter schools. As Melissa says...what will they cut to fund charter schools? <br /><br /><br />Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25414157307274930742015-12-08T08:54:00.989-08:002015-12-08T08:54:00.989-08:00CT, sorry I left this out:
"No action will b...CT, sorry I left this out:<br /><br />"No action will be required by resident districts that approve OSPI's facilitation of the transfers." <br /><br />One more nice benefit for districts.<br /><br />NB, if you hit the link for the webinar, there is more info on Sped.<br /><br />SWWS, I'll send this today to the Auditor.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69284207676939976682015-12-08T07:46:14.951-08:002015-12-08T07:46:14.951-08:00I don't think Mary Walker can afford to provid...I don't think Mary Walker can afford to provide SPED supports to all these Seattle kids. This will bankrupt them.<br />WestAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83481708209865861202015-12-08T07:33:17.830-08:002015-12-08T07:33:17.830-08:00The Sp Ed obligations would transfer to Mary Walke...The Sp Ed obligations would transfer to Mary Walker when they accept the students. They could contract back with the resident district or a contract service provider (aka the charter) to provide the services and conduct the evals, but ultimately Mary Wakker would be on the hook legally for any failures by anyone they contract with, including the resident district. That was one of the initial big problems with WAVA- they used to only accept non-Sp Ed students or require families to withdraw from Sp Ed to be accepted. Stelicoom (who hosted WAVA as an ALE at the time got reported to OSPI and OCR who disabilty discrimination and ended up having to change practice,though they continued to find ways to dwhy individual Sp Ed students. If the charters went private, the district where the charter was located would be obligated to do Child Find and conduct evaluations and the resident district of the student would be responsible for providing Sp Ed services on a party time basis, though only in the resident district - ie a Federal Way student attending a charter that became a private school in Tacoma would be evaluated by Tacoma and if eligible, would be able to get services, but only in Federal Way. <br /><br />Has anyone reported the plan to the SAO? The auditors have historically been tight on ALEs because there is so much room for fiscal abuse. Since Dorn seems to have lost his mind, perhaps the SAO would step in.<br /><br />-SWWSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31171098334599449952015-12-07T23:02:45.566-08:002015-12-07T23:02:45.566-08:00He's basically bending all the rules and assum...He's basically bending all the rules and assuming that by the time a court steps in, the Legislature will have passed some sort of "fix" to restore the charter schools as they had been. For shame.Greenwoodynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27936727176560003272015-12-07T22:51:04.455-08:002015-12-07T22:51:04.455-08:00I'm wondering how special education would be p...I'm wondering how special education would be provided since currently it's the responsibility of the attending school district to do evaluations and the student's home district to provide services. <br /><br />NB parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45428421064047309392015-12-07T22:35:16.200-08:002015-12-07T22:35:16.200-08:00Dorns plan would create an enormous amount of work...Dorns plan would create an enormous amount of work for Seattle Public Schools and other districts that have charter schools. Each district must release students. I'm confident school districts will not receive funding for administrative support.<br /><br />I would fully expect the Washington State Charter Commission to assist Mary Walker School district with administrative work.<br /><br />Dorn ought to be ashamed of himself.<br />Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8176286983167986032015-12-07T21:39:06.823-08:002015-12-07T21:39:06.823-08:00Many districts in Arizona changed all or most of t...Many districts in Arizona changed all or most of their schools to charter schools because they got more funding than if they were "traditional" public schools. Sounds like this is more of the same. <br /><br />CTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com