tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8310876679252137737..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Once Again Shoots Itself in the FootMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2156358112903720022016-05-25T16:10:48.255-07:002016-05-25T16:10:48.255-07:00When Cleveland STEM was created it had a budget th...When Cleveland STEM was created it had a budget that was in excess of the WSS amount that would normally be allocated to the school. The District committed to finding all kinds of private support for the program to make the budget work. The Superintendent herself chaired the development committee. They never raised a dime.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90586347999759307212016-05-23T22:54:48.725-07:002016-05-23T22:54:48.725-07:00Homeless kids, traumatized kids, kids with no fami...Homeless kids, traumatized kids, kids with no family support, kids born to drug addicted parents, abused kids, abandoned kids - this is what City of Seattle should be helping SPS with. Not their secret little SPS takeover meetings, or their neoliberal levy policies that take funding away from the neediest kids. <br />Schools are a reflection of society - this city's society. With so many kids living in poverty, so many families torn apart, its no wonder we have so many kids crying out for help. But instead of coming up with lasting supports to help those children & those families, the mayor lobs stink bombs at SPS & yanks FSWs, the ed deformers carve out their new exclusive little charter enclaves of privileged kids, and kid behavior in public schools makes front page news. And of course, public schools are always to blame for the latter. Or they blame the parents and the schools. Never a thought to policies, society, etc. <br /><br />CT<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-56044757754499569092016-05-23T14:29:07.130-07:002016-05-23T14:29:07.130-07:00The district may be looking for funding, but they ...The district may be looking for funding, but they are saying they won't honor a previous commitment to fund $200K/year unless they find that grant. Everyone read that announcement as the district putting in more money. Period. Not if they get a grant. The district needs to honor that commitment. <br /><br />Ramona, the board has a WSS-style funding sheet for IB in hand, prepared by people from the three IB schools.Eric Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26369957125853980072016-05-23T13:06:07.444-07:002016-05-23T13:06:07.444-07:00Premature? The announcement was made and NOW the ...Premature? The announcement was made and NOW the district says this? They never should have allowed the announcement if this was the case.<br /><br />I have no doubt that making the district look bad is part of the plan for some people's agendas. Sometimes it's hard to tell incompetence from cunning.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8380340206668147542016-05-23T12:17:46.228-07:002016-05-23T12:17:46.228-07:00Murray and his hand picked education committee is ...Murray and his hand picked education committee is meeting behind closed doors- today. City Employeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23288167426324347642016-05-23T12:14:07.844-07:002016-05-23T12:14:07.844-07:00I'm REALLY thinking this article is premature....I'm REALLY thinking this article is premature. The district IS looking for funding. <br /><br />Once again, the Alliance for Education is involved and I can't help to wonder if there is a political agenda behind this inflammatory story. After all, the mayor and his in the midst of holding his secret education committee meetings behind closed doors.<br /><br />Leonardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74433225055312466512016-05-23T11:39:07.494-07:002016-05-23T11:39:07.494-07:00I'm hearing that other districts support IB pr...I'm hearing that other districts support IB programs and it is time for the district to consistently fund this program.<br /><br />That said, I understand the difficult position of the district. They are in the midst of planning for a $70M shortfall related to the levy cliff. The district just lost $12M due to a decrease in the levy inflator, and the district must pick-up $12M to support lower K-3 class size in high poverty schools.<br /><br />The district must face a state that foists unfunded mandates upon them. I'm thinking about the 24 credit requirement, decrease suspension (requires additional support/ funding), creating a department to support AA etc. There are many worth-while initiatives. The board and the district must make all the puzzle pieces fit.<br /><br />It appears, to me, that the district is attempting to get funding from another source; the funding which Jayapal refers....<br /><br />It is sad to see that a school is having issues related to suicide. There is at least one other school that had an incident and our schools need support. <br /><br />Fabulous that A4E is offering support, but the funding is a drop in the bucket. As well, why wouldn't the city provide funding? I do have a problem with a city that wants to help, but poaches a good principal away from a high need school.Leonardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78678823774474849822016-05-23T11:19:11.145-07:002016-05-23T11:19:11.145-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ramona Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17269272676307680777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33001678892014262232016-05-23T11:18:51.847-07:002016-05-23T11:18:51.847-07:00On RBHS, I wonder if failure to provide funds for ...On RBHS, I wonder if failure to provide funds for Sealth's program plays into this. I want the program supported ... but picking and choosing who gets extra without any directive policy is troubling as a matter of principle. Makes me miss weighted student formulas. Ramona Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17269272676307680777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83997598122316939402016-05-23T11:04:32.471-07:002016-05-23T11:04:32.471-07:00Someone needs to find that money for RBHS. Here a...Someone needs to find that money for RBHS. Here are my suggestions,<br /><br />Get rid of the MAP for K-2. It is a useless exam. My very solid student's scores fluctuated by 30(out of 100 total) points over the 5 times he was required to take the MAP in K and 1. Why? Perhaps because he boys aren't expected to develop academically until closer to 2nd grade. Perhaps because he didn't like the sandwich I packed for him for lunch. Perhaps because there was a squirrel outside. Get rid of the useless MAP and part of the $500,000 a year they spend on in could easily be used to support RBHS.<br /><br />Fire the communications department. Any department that can spin the fantastic news that SPS will be reducing class sizes into horrible news that split grade level classes will be increasing next year, leaving parent confused and upset, is not earning its salary.<br /><br />-So Frustrated<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61303513434020199212016-05-23T10:27:45.842-07:002016-05-23T10:27:45.842-07:00I try really hard to assume positive intentions. ...I try really hard to assume positive intentions. Things like the RBHS IB situation make that difficult. <br /><br />What is wrong with telling RBHS that SPS will fund the remaining $200K if the state grant doesn't come through? And why on earth is there nobody at SPS that reads the entire state budget document? They shouldn't have to depend on legislators to find the Easter eggs, whether those are good or bad. Eric Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85106810014364192702016-05-23T09:48:19.189-07:002016-05-23T09:48:19.189-07:00Regarding the field trip: this whole ordeal repres...Regarding the field trip: this whole ordeal represents a massive failing on the part of district administrators and principals. When there were some serious discipline problems with one of my kid's class at JAMS, we were notified the first day it happened...the first day..... by email - an email cc'd to all the parents and teachers involved. In this way, we as parents were able to ask our kids about it and keep tabs on the situation. Otherwise, my kid would never have mentioned it - I would have never known what was going on. The situation was monitored over the course of a couple of weeks and was eventually solved by the principal and teachers by splitting up some kids that were acting out. We have found the principal at JAMS to be a really excellent principal. However, it appears to me that many of the principals - are failing to support teachers and students at their schools - perhaps at the expense of toadying to the central administration. Principals have told us over the years that the central administration does not want to hear about any problems - thus eliminating the ability for principals to advocate for their schools as that will adversely affect their "career path". Furthermore, this oppressive atmosphere can only contribute to a "code of silence" among staff whenever something happens - at least until a crime is committed and everybody ends up in court. And we have seen that when this happens the teachers are required to take the fall. <br /><br />-SPS parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com