tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post9023281192050629076..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tonight's Work Session May Provoke DebateMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14402509443239256642017-05-30T15:30:39.056-07:002017-05-30T15:30:39.056-07:00Does anyone have a referral to a lawyer that repre...Does anyone have a referral to a lawyer that represents families in these kinds of situations? Thanks in advance if you can recommend someone.<br /><br />--Frustrated Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67128215978218400542017-05-27T09:45:37.582-07:002017-05-27T09:45:37.582-07:00Reading this thread in dismay. The district *may*...Reading this thread in dismay. The district *may* fix the Stevens situation (let in all siblings for Sept. 2017, for example) to appease this group if this group makes enough noise, but, that is not enough. The district should not deviate from the policy the board set out in the first place. If they board wanted to 'create equity' by writing a rule that said the district can never place a non-F&RL student who resides in an attendance area whose school is Title 1 or X% F&RL in a non-title 1 school (be it option or a different AA school) for any reason whatsoever, the board would have done it. But, they have not. Because gating kids is not equitable. You can't create equity by being inequitable. <br /><br />So, what @NP said, GET A LAWYER.<br /><br />Here is my comment about the Lowell situation, it applies here too. Bottom line: the quicker you get a lawyer on board, they quick your situation will be resolved per the facts, merits and law. Seems like all three are on your side, Stevens.<br /><br /><br />FIX IT<br /><br /><br /><i>Attorney time!<br /><br />Seriously, the answer is an attorney. Not the board, they are completely toothless. Whether or not they are up for election; whether or not they care; they can't do anything other than wring their hands and wait for a self-serving Friday Memo to mansplain in a vague and lame wordsalad.<br /><br />This needs to be resolved immediately (I am not telling you anything you don't already know). <br /><br />After 14 student years in the SPS system, I can tell you the ONLY thing that gets their attention and gets a resolution done is that which includes the calling card of an attorney.<br /><br />The district doesn't care about kids,their mandate is not to care, their mandate is to comply with the law. That is their only deliverable. What they do care about: political optics. Negative coverage in the Seattle Times hits them where they live. They quake in the boots when they think they have to show up in front of an administrative law judge (because then they are no longer in control, and can't obfuscate, delay, or deny. They actually have to answer someone (no, not to you parent, who they don't care about, but to the judge who has real power). That creates a different attitude because they are no longer on home turf. They have to play by someone else's rules, and it is remarkable the night and day difference. Smart principals do not let controversies get outside of their buildings, because then they know they just lost control and are now risking their career in some fashion. That becomes a different calculus. They may suddenly see your point. <br /><br />It is terrible that they can't just be counted on to do the right thing, but there you have it. With SPS, it is the outside attorney thing that gets their attention. You might think this is hostile or too aggressive or disproportional, but it really is not: <b>it is about professionalizing the circumstance to move the ball forward so that children are done right by.</b><br />FIX IT<br /><br />5/26/17, 4:43 PM</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27288033539383943712017-05-27T08:05:41.145-07:002017-05-27T08:05:41.145-07:00For the Stevens folks, it seems like a logical nex...For the Stevens folks, it seems like a logical next step would be to get an attorney on board and contact the district that way citing the FOIA information and asking that SPS correct the error by letting those waitlisted attendance area/siblings in to Stevens. Seems like they only listen to attorneys... <br />-NPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59638133051305789872017-05-26T17:04:34.548-07:002017-05-26T17:04:34.548-07:00I also recall a conversation I had with Sherry Car...I also recall a conversation I had with Sherry Carr when she was a Board Director. My argument was that Enrollment should have some discretionary decision making power as there could not be rules to guide each and every unique scenario. Sherry was adamant that this should NOT be the case. As a Board Director she felt she had a fiduciary responsibility for the well being of the District. She was very firm that not following the rules put the District in jeopardy for liability. Her resolution was to work with me and Tracy Libros to amend policy - definitely not to break policy.<br /><br />From the examples given on this blog, enrollment policy is clearly not be followed. I'm not a lawyer, but actions from Enrollment Planning strike me as Arbitrary and Capricious. <br /><br />I suspect this has been going on for at least two years now. At the least the part about Enrollment Planning capping enrollment at a school, and not moving wait lists (or skipping wait lists entirely) per their own made up rules. Likely, why FOIA requests are now needed to get enrollment information that used to be published to the website. Trying to keep their rule breaking quiet and out of the public eye.<br /><br />I am very appreciative for this forum so that families and schools from across the district can share information and daylight these rule breaking, deceptive practices.<br /><br />-StepJ<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76476891241431520392017-05-26T16:32:05.936-07:002017-05-26T16:32:05.936-07:00It all gets curiouser and curiouser.It all gets curiouser and curiouser.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81483755964767176752017-05-26T16:31:52.398-07:002017-05-26T16:31:52.398-07:00Step J, I should go back and review. I had thought...Step J, I should go back and review. I had thought if you were private and lived in Seattle, it would not be possible. Sure, coming from out of district, maybe (not saying you are wrong, I just haven't read this in awhile). Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1553519053041018822017-05-26T15:39:02.138-07:002017-05-26T15:39:02.138-07:00For the Hazel Wolf student getting in after the Wa...For the Hazel Wolf student getting in after the Wait List dissolved it all depends on the timing. If it happened within the last two years when the wait list dissolved before the start of school, it is outside of policy. However, in years prior there was language in the NSAP and Transition Plans that a student "new" to the District could attend an Option school if there was space available after the wait list had dissolved. So, if a student had attended private school the year previous and had not attended SPS in the current or previous year they could get in to an Option school after the wait list had dissolved. Same is true for someone who had moved to SPS from another District. This is not the case in the past two years, as this language has not been included in the Transition plan. The options for assignment for a new student to SPS after the wait list is dissolved is their Attendance Area school, or a Service school. <br /><br />In the case of Stevens, which is an Attendance Area school, there has been no provision within the past nine years of enrollment rules to allow assignment for 'choice' applicants after the wait list has been dissolved.<br /><br />-StepJ<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61200913369850239272017-05-26T13:11:09.477-07:002017-05-26T13:11:09.477-07:00@Melissa-yes, Hazelwolf the option school let some...@Melissa-yes, Hazelwolf the option school let someone in to the 6th grade class during the third or fourth week of school after a phone call from the parents...I kid you not. I think it's because they were designated as private, so that might put them on a priority list after waitlists are dissolved.(??) why do they disolve waitlists and how do you get considered after they apparently start over with their enrollment list? It's all a little mind boggling. <br /><br />I also guess that the student was let in because it wouldn't hurt Eckstein to lose a 6th grader who was already private, but otherwise would be assigned there if they didn't get in to HW.<br /><br />There is no consistency, it's confusing, and the system seems really unfair to those wanting choice who have an underenrolled neighborhood school. There should either be choice or no choice, this approach to give students lucky enough to have great schools that are maxed out a choice but not to those who have schools that are struggling, or just have randomly small grade bands. Where's the equity in that! Be clear, and use approved policy.<br /><br />Wishing WellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44161945886375637182017-05-26T12:20:02.093-07:002017-05-26T12:20:02.093-07:00Fairness Not, Hazel Wolf is an Option school and t...Fairness Not, Hazel Wolf is an Option school and they got in? That's hard to believe. ( not that I don't believe you but again, where is the consistency?)<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20775531041343298852017-05-26T10:49:36.551-07:002017-05-26T10:49:36.551-07:00I know someone who entered private in 6th because ...I know someone who entered private in 6th because Eckstein freaked them out, then didn't like the private school so they then waltzed into Hazelwolf on the third or forth week of school and had a fabulous middle school experience....<br /><br />Fairness NOTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16454766947855217512017-05-26T10:25:18.772-07:002017-05-26T10:25:18.772-07:00@Left Out--what a bummer. We were especially disa...@Left Out--what a bummer. We were especially disappointed at Stevens because we kept pointing out all the excess space and asking how they were going to fill it if not with the families on our waitlist that were already so invested in Stevens (including siblings and current students that changed addresses). The Director of Admissions explicitly said that they wouldn't let in any other out-of-boundary kids after denying admission to our siblings and current students. But of course it looks like that's exactly what happened.<br /><br />--Stevens parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32685631994718652472017-05-26T09:50:13.960-07:002017-05-26T09:50:13.960-07:00This same thing happens at other schools. We have ...This same thing happens at other schools. We have friends who have been on the waitlist trying to get into an option school for two years in a row and haven't made it off the wait list and into the school. And we have other friends who moved to the area from out of state after the wait list was dissolved and were able to just start at the very same option school. Why didn't that seat go to one of the families on the wait list?Left Outnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45858559683568393962017-05-26T09:48:39.314-07:002017-05-26T09:48:39.314-07:00I do not understand admitting choice students when...I do not understand admitting choice students when there had been a waitlist. Those students should have been refused. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13393400162599704492017-05-26T09:32:38.146-07:002017-05-26T09:32:38.146-07:00@Melissa--also, yes, your understanding above is c...@Melissa--also, yes, your understanding above is correct. The waitlist ended slightly smaller than it started but that did not represent kids admitted--rather, it represents families who asked to be taken off the waiting list when they wrote their checks to private schools (they hoped that asking to be removed from the waitlist would give the remaining siblings a better chance of getting in).<br /><br />--Stevens parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91863111405935953432017-05-26T09:26:32.659-07:002017-05-26T09:26:32.659-07:00@Melissa, here is the text of the FOIA request and...@Melissa, here is the text of the FOIA request and reply received by our PTA president:<br /><br />"How many students received "choice" assignments to Stevens for the 2016-17 school year? 11 students were added to Stevens, Gen Ed, new to the site and not residing in the Attendance Area."<br /><br />We have submitted a follow-up FOIA request regarding the dates on which these students were admitted. But we are quite sure that it was after they dissolved the waitlist because all the siblings were waitlisted and we believe that *none* were let in (except one in October through some appeal process). The district held a meeting regarding our waitlist in May 2016 and told us (via the ombudsman) that the waitlist would not be moved and no siblings would be admitted despite our physical and staffing capacity (and they referenced fairness to Madrona, I don't remember the exact wording). Of course, Stevens had LOTS of physical and staffing capacity available, so although the district refused to move our waitlist they had seats to fill and apparently filled them with other kids.<br /><br />So several of the kids on this year's waitlist are current families with kids on the waitlist for the second year in a row. It's very upsetting to know that the district excluded our current families intentionally and then let a bunch of other kids in. <br /><br />@Appalled, we have been trying to get the District and Board's attention about this with no success. There has been no response as to the reason they would do this. We have contacted and met with individual directors, senior district staff, and spoken at the last two Board meetings. We have encountered what a friend calls "the blank stare of bureaucracy." If anyone has suggestions for who to turn to at this point, I would love to hear them.<br /><br />--Stevens parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67040632835617080922017-05-26T08:30:03.597-07:002017-05-26T08:30:03.597-07:00Stevens parent, let me understand.
There were 18 ...Stevens parent, let me understand.<br /><br />There were 18 students on the waitlist last year. That waitlist got dissolved with none of the 18 moving off the waitlist.<br /><br />Then 11 other students entered as "choice." Meaning,they were NOT students in the assignment area but their parents had just chose Stevens? <br /><br />What is the document you have? Is it actual enrollment data or e-mails to parents or what?<br /><br />Thanks.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2272066113030157682017-05-26T07:11:36.610-07:002017-05-26T07:11:36.610-07:00-Stevens parent- WOW! Not only going against the s...-Stevens parent- WOW! Not only going against the set policy, but also how unethical and unfair to those poor kids and families. Those Stevens parents need to bring this information to the board, with the data from the FOIA request. My guess is they will be repeating some of this craziness this year. That is not o.k. Those poor families with siblings and/or current Stevens students. What was the explanation of then letting 11 "other kids" not on the waitlist into Stevens? <br />-AppalledAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55418295443216972782017-05-25T23:16:52.482-07:002017-05-25T23:16:52.482-07:00@getting angry--Last year the district dissolved t...@getting angry--Last year the district dissolved the Stevens waitlist with 18 kids on it (many were siblings or current students) and then let 11 *OTHER* kids have choice assignments to Stevens (our PTA learned this from a FOIA request). Imagine how infuriating that is to the families who were excluded. So that's one way the district is handing out "backdoor" choice assignments and letting families jump over the waitlist. <br /><br />--Stevens parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-92155034553397943052017-05-25T21:30:13.839-07:002017-05-25T21:30:13.839-07:00End Schoolboards, so just an elected superintenden...End Schoolboards, so just an elected superintendent and no one else? Not much oversight there.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29489495007290598302017-05-25T17:07:58.704-07:002017-05-25T17:07:58.704-07:00School Board members reply...let them eat cake!
L...School Board members reply...let them eat cake!<br /><br />LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9360819299489286072017-05-25T16:20:02.533-07:002017-05-25T16:20:02.533-07:00So they are saying we have "official" pr...So they are saying we have "official" procedures and then "actual" procedures? <br /><br />It's not just that the apparent current practices aren't IN the approved policy or procedures--they are actually CONTRARY to them by not letting students in when there's capacity.<br /><br />School Board members, is this ok?<br /><br />freeforallAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88079695639217151142017-05-25T16:13:30.967-07:002017-05-25T16:13:30.967-07:00Eric B,
That is outrageous! We have had many yea...Eric B,<br /><br />That is outrageous! We have had many years of work to negotiate the NSAP & transition plans, trying to balance disparate needs. Staff can not just overthrow the whole thing without going through the process to change policy, including getting public input. The board better reign this in or they will have no power going forward at all.<br /><br />-HS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76336056597125559382017-05-25T15:51:55.385-07:002017-05-25T15:51:55.385-07:00There are kids getting into their choice schools. ...There are kids getting into their choice schools. How is it that some kids who are not sitting at number one on the wait list are jumping over other kids and getting assigned to their choice schools?<br /><br />Getting angryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44874424830372946642017-05-25T15:49:08.089-07:002017-05-25T15:49:08.089-07:00School boards are worthless, we should elect the s...School boards are worthless, we should elect the superintendent.<br /><br />End schoolboards Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45705569212119412342017-05-25T15:25:41.051-07:002017-05-25T15:25:41.051-07:00@ Eric B
Wow, they admitted that? Is that a fire... <br />@ Eric B<br /><br />Wow, they admitted that? Is that a fireable offense? To go against board policy?<br /><br />It IS going against policy: when the board sets out a policy, it is for staff to follow it. Not make up their own parallel universe. If kids want into a building, and, there is space, even perhaps a sibling, they need to let them in. They don't get to bar the door. If there is a school that cannot attract or retain students, then the district should figure out why and improve the school. I would really like to see accountability. It is not too late. Sept. 2017 is months away. The waitlists should be combed over, with a view toward facilitating families, not schools or employees. Schools are for kids. Not the other way around. <br /><br />This is so, so, so offensive. What else are they doing? This is the team that is running the Lincoln opening? The billion dollar capital budget? <br /><br />And please, perhaps you will join the board? Seattle really needs you.<br /><br /><br />Scared and ScarredAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com