tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post920038713096298974..comments2024-03-18T16:51:10.406-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12112487721461608552011-10-14T16:47:32.577-07:002011-10-14T16:47:32.577-07:00It would also deal with the sibling issues. As an ...It would also deal with the sibling issues. As an option school, siblings of spectrum students would be guaranteed entry at Jane Addams. <br /><br />- another ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40197039789017004582011-10-14T16:35:30.220-07:002011-10-14T16:35:30.220-07:00"Ostensibly Jane Addams is a Spectrum site.&q..."Ostensibly Jane Addams is a Spectrum site."<br /><br />Yes, Charlie. I think what NE mom was referring to was moving the View Ridge and Wedgewood Spectrum programs to Jane Adams. There is PLENTY of space at Jane Addams currently, strong leadership that would support Spectrum, and it would give the current Jane Addams Spectrum program the critical mass needed to be very strong. At the same time moving View Ridge and Wedgewood Spectrum to JA would free up much needed neighborhood seats in those two over crowded schools. It's a spectacular idea.<br /><br />momsteranonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3188382074111292132011-10-14T16:33:20.020-07:002011-10-14T16:33:20.020-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40304807617097493212011-10-14T09:38:50.025-07:002011-10-14T09:38:50.025-07:00I'm a former Jane Addams parent (my child is i...I'm a former Jane Addams parent (my child is in high school now). We were there the first 2 years of the school's existence. At that time there were not enough spectrum kids to have full spectrum classes, so those kids were treated as more of a cohort within their class, and they had a "walk to math" model. I think moving spectrum there from another school could be beneficial. JA has the room, and good leadership. I think there were families who liked the culture of JA, but didn't choose it because the spectrum program wasn't big enough.BettyRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09896046969300047111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86315980933811640632011-10-14T05:03:54.531-07:002011-10-14T05:03:54.531-07:00Ostensibly Jane Addams is a Spectrum site.Ostensibly Jane Addams <b>is</b> a Spectrum site.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79233717895261699502011-10-13T16:26:57.121-07:002011-10-13T16:26:57.121-07:00We are currently at Wedgwood Spectrum, and like it...We are currently at Wedgwood Spectrum, and like it very much. But given the reasoning for the program changes being rolled out (basically - a too small school for a district program), I would like to see a Spectrum program move to Jane Adams at least be considered. <br /><br />Overall, I would like to see a coherent strategy for the inevitable enrollment ebb and flow for Advanced Learning and other district-wide programs. But perhaps I ask too much.TraceySnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83513935426405159032011-10-13T13:34:10.425-07:002011-10-13T13:34:10.425-07:00In the meantime, before the capacity thread opens ...In the meantime, before the capacity thread opens tomorrow, here's a blast from the past.<br /><br />http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2008/11/capacity-management-proposal-response.html<br /><br />I'm kind of a dork so I find it interesting (but sometimes painful) to go back a few years & read the real-time discussion about what was going on at that time.Rufus Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45762072919890006372011-10-13T13:21:28.212-07:002011-10-13T13:21:28.212-07:00So we need a thread on capacity and I had a talk w...So we need a thread on capacity and I had a talk with Pegi McEvoy so that'll be up tomorrow.<br /><br />Good ideas, smart parents, some worthy leadership at SPS but it's a fast track, kids. Our district is not good at fast so let's put our heads together and maybe we can give them some guidance and ideas.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35027141107991597202011-10-13T13:03:57.531-07:002011-10-13T13:03:57.531-07:00"So you could say not enough is being done, b..."So you could say not enough is being done, but to say nothing is being done, is, well, just not true."<br /><br />I don't think I said nothing is being done. But it is clear that not enough is being done. The measures done under MGJ were also minimal compared to the issue. Open a new school and give them practically no support and make the parents do all the work. <br /><br />I think MGJ did the minimum to deal with the issue and here we are three years later with the exact same issue. So yeah, I give MGJ credit for doing the minimum and I give this plan credit for doing the minimum. <br /><br />Is there something wrong with wanting more than the minimum? Maybe there is and I am missing it. <br /><br />- ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51193577527272460422011-10-13T12:45:14.462-07:002011-10-13T12:45:14.462-07:00"There are still district owned buildings in ..."There are still district owned buildings in the NE, like University Heights and Cedar Park."<br /><br />University Heights was sold. I don't have a clue about Cedar Park. Where is it? Is it possible to make it a school again?<br /><br />"And I like the idea of leasing space at Magnuson - would be great for another environmental science school."<br /><br />I wish the district were looking at something like this. The portables are going to cost a few million dollars and be immediately full. There has to be a better idea. <br /><br />- ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59730892437605547342011-10-13T12:35:14.505-07:002011-10-13T12:35:14.505-07:00"John Rogers isn't tiny - they have over ..."John Rogers isn't tiny - they have over 480 kids. It's one of the larger elementary school in the NE." <br /><br />John Rogers has less than 300 students and if officially listed as a "small" school. Maybe you are thinking about Wedgwood. (which should be a medium school) <br /><br />- ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55840574426351124422011-10-13T12:32:33.801-07:002011-10-13T12:32:33.801-07:00"You have a lot of good ideas NE."
Mos..."You have a lot of good ideas NE." <br /><br />Most of them are not mine. They are the things I tend to hear on the soccer fields. I have no idea if they are good ideas or not. But I do know that problem is bigger than portables. <br /><br />- ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74109987336743729212011-10-13T12:26:46.604-07:002011-10-13T12:26:46.604-07:00"I'm not challenging you, I'm just cu..."I'm not challenging you, I'm just curious as to how exactly the over crowding stressed your daughter out? I have a kid at Eckstein this year, and I don't think he even realizes it is over crowded."<br /><br />Girl stuff, medical stuff, lost a ton of weight. Somewhere between chronic stomach ache and an eating disorder. She is pretty sensitive and felt overwhelmed by all the bodies in the hallway, lunchroom, etc. <br /><br />She is now in a smaller school and it all seems to have gone away. She is eating and keeping food down and basically OK. <br /><br />I don't think the school needs to cater to my student. But at some point, you can't keep adding bodies and not expect for things to be more complicated. <br /><br />- ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67204937803716162082011-10-13T12:22:04.584-07:002011-10-13T12:22:04.584-07:00@ne parent
What grade was your child in? My son ...@ne parent<br /><br />What grade was your child in? My son is a 6th grader and we would love to go to Eckstein. Before the NSAP, our house was in Eckstein's reference area. Now we are sent to Whitman. He has an older sister who is currently an eighth grader at Eckstein. She gets a school bus while he has to take the METRO to Whitman. <br /><br />Just wanted to get the correct info so we can do an apppeal for Eckstein.Linh-Conoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49289135047780426852011-10-13T12:18:56.976-07:002011-10-13T12:18:56.976-07:00BTW, I apologize if I am jumping on anyone. I just...BTW, I apologize if I am jumping on anyone. I just don't understand the whole, portables will be OK thing. One or two portables is probably just fine, not great but manageable. <br /><br />Endless portables as the solution to everything just seems silly to me. And multiple planned portables at some of the most over crowded schools just seems crazy. Am I the only one that thinks it crosses a line somewhere?<br /><br />The issues are different at each location. Portables for PCP classes seem reasonable. Portables as the homeroom for half the school seems crazy at Thornton Creek. Portables at a recently rebuilt building that was specifically built to a very large size leaving no lot coverage to preclude the use of portables. That smells of last resort plan. <br /><br />More portables at the largest middle school in the state? Where is the line? <br /><br />At those NSAP meetings, the district clearly stated they couldn't put portables at Bryant so there would be no room for siblings. Why is OK to put portables there now? <br /><br />- ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64893143001488696582011-10-13T12:06:13.419-07:002011-10-13T12:06:13.419-07:00"FWIW, I had a student at Eckstein and we nee..."FWIW, I had a student at Eckstein and we needed to transfer this year because the stress of overcrowding was really hurting my daughter. "<br /><br />Could you expand on that? I'm not challenging you, I'm just curious as to how exactly the over crowding stressed your daughter out? I have a kid at Eckstein this year, and I don't think he even realizes it is over crowded.<br /><br />"What about moving Spectrum out of Wedgewood or View Ridge and into Jane Addams where there is room."<br /><br />Fantastic idea, and I'd be all for it. Not sure if View Ridge neighborhood families would be happy about shipping their kids all the way up to 110th every day, and it wouldn't help over crowding at Thornton Creek, but hey, something has to give.<br /><br />"What about rebuilding some of these tiny schools? Rebuilding John Rogers"<br /><br />John Rogers isn't tiny - they have over 480 kids. It's one of the larger elementary school in the NE.<br /><br />"I went to that capacity meeting at Roosevelt three years ago, and there were a lot of creative ideas that night that were completely and totally dismissed"<br /><br />Yup, that was good ole MGJ. Luckily Enfield is at the helm now, and she seems to be much more responsive to the community. In all fairness though, MGJ did open two new schools in the north end, Sandpoint and McDonald. In addition she grew the middle school at JA, and rebuilt Hale with an additional 250 seats. So you could say not enough is being done, but to say nothing is being done, is, well, just not true. <br /><br />There are still district owned buildings in the NE, like University Heights, and Cedar Park. And I like the idea of leasing space at Magnuson - would be great for another environmental science school.<br /><br />You have a lot of good ideas NE. <br /><br />momsteranonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87759223364375599812011-10-13T11:44:24.537-07:002011-10-13T11:44:24.537-07:00My entire point is that there needs to be a conver...My entire point is that there needs to be a conversation about new ideas. Continually adding portables to Eckstein is not an answer. I would make the same argument about Eckstein as I did with Bryant and Thornton Creek. <br /><br />I think that Eckstein, Bryant and Thornton Creek are hideously overcrowded right now and that adding portables crosses the line from complicated and crowded to reckless endangerment. Is anyone even considering the student experience at these schools?<br /><br />FWIW, I had a student at Eckstein and we needed to transfer this year because the stress of overcrowding was really hurting my daughter. <br /><br />Opening Sandpoint helped but SP has over 200 students this year and should be full by next year. I am pretty angry that they sold University Heights just days before announcing that they were opening Sandpoint. UHeights is huge and would have helped a lot more. <br /><br />I don't know what they answer is but I know there are a lot of smart people in this area and someone has to have a better idea. What about Magnuson? There is a lot of property there. Can something in Magnuson become a school?<br /><br />What about rebuilding some of these tiny schools? Rebuilding John Rogers and Laurelhurst was originally on the last BEX so they likely already have the building plans to rebuild. Is there a way to fast track that? <br /><br />What about moving Spectrum out of Wedgewood or View Ridge and into Jane Addams where there is room. They are already dismantling Spectrum at WW at least by moving it to Jane Addams there would both be a critical mass of spectrum student and enough room at WW to move some of the Bryant zone to WW or VR.<br /><br />I went to that capacity meeting at Roosevelt three years ago, and there were a lot of creative ideas that night that were completely and totally dismissed by the district. People were so angry three years ago about the crowding and even with Jane Addams and Sandpoint, the crowding is even worse today. <br /><br />- ne parent (I probably should sign as angry ne parent)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36714106399786595332011-10-13T09:49:03.828-07:002011-10-13T09:49:03.828-07:00I was just sharing an idea NE parent. No need to j...I was just sharing an idea NE parent. No need to jump on me. <br /><br />Note I said one portable could have bathrooms (with running water), not port a potties.<br /><br />And a courtyard can be covered, though I agree, our weather isn't the greatest.<br /><br />For the record, and since you asked, my kid is currently at Eckstein, an over stuffed school with a huge portable city in it's parking lot - I know it's not ideal, but it can be manageable. <br /><br />Lastly, I'm puzzled as to why you are comparing Bryant to Thornton Creek? Thornton Creek has the largest site of any elementary school in SPS. Have you seen it? It is massive. Even with 100 portables they'd still have a HUGE play area with play structure, hills, covered outdoor courtyard with climbing wall and basketball court, a baseball field, and a soccer field - for 350 kids. That's a far cry from Bryant's tiny and cramped play ground, and covered basketball court, that has to serve 550 kids. So, no, of course Bryant shouldn't have portables. But that begs the question, where do you put all the kids? It's a neighborhood school and has to take everyone within the boundaries. What is your solution NE? It's easy to yell no, not as easy to offer solutions. <br /><br />bemenaanonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51107366664743519932011-10-13T09:23:39.718-07:002011-10-13T09:23:39.718-07:00Hi Melissa - I didn't take notes, just relied ...Hi Melissa - I didn't take notes, just relied on my memory, but Kellie is probably right. A couple of Bryant people were talking about a small site, and when some folks mentioned Thornton Creek was small I didn't know if they meant the site or the building fixtures. There were many comments about inadequate bathrooms and other spaces for the existing students.<br /><br /><br />Montlake does have a portable for a lunchroom...so the other poster's idea is possible. It's old, no bathroom, and definitely not cozy - but beter than nothing.klhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10896882443894592502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81862797351624278262011-10-13T09:22:41.471-07:002011-10-13T09:22:41.471-07:00bemena - sure, put in a 9th portable! And while y...bemena - sure, put in a 9th portable! And while you are at it, why not put in a row of port a potties, kids don't need bathrooms, running water or sinks to do hand washing.<br /><br />The portable village idea might be wonderful idea in a place like California where it doesn't rain so much but in Seattle it gets more challenging.<br /><br />But I imagine you are not at a school slated to become a portable village. So what do you think about adding 4 portables to Bryant. A school bursting at the seams, where they would put 4 portables that would take at least half of the outside area., making an already challenging recess situation nearly impossible. <br /><br />Adding 13 portables to the already over-crowded northeast to simply manage two years of over-flow only delays the inevitable. According to their own projections, these portables are a stop gap measure to cover two years worth of growth. So what happens in two years, another 13 portables. <br /><br />Two years ago, the City said it was unsafe to put portables at Bryant and TC. What changed??<br /><br />- ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69301145083729917142011-10-13T08:59:54.755-07:002011-10-13T08:59:54.755-07:00If the district is willing to put 8 portables on a...If the district is willing to put 8 portables on a school site, then maybe they should put in a 9th one. It could be used as a small lunch room, a "stage", a room to have dance or band class, and it could have a bathroom. I kinda like the small "village" idea, with a nice courtyard in the portable area with tables and benches, and a garden. It could actually be sweet. It would cost of course, but far less than a rebuild and expansion - which is what is really needed on the TC site.<br /><br />bemenaanonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10998791880193283492011-10-12T21:11:54.264-07:002011-10-12T21:11:54.264-07:00Thornton Creek School is on a large property that ...Thornton Creek School is on a large property that has a bunch of fields that are used extensively by the Parks department. There is a shared use agreement and I am honestly not certain who owns the fields any longer. <br /><br />I think the poster was trying to say that TC has a small footprint. The building is tiny and it was intentionally built for tiny people as a K-2 overflow building. The cafeteria is small. The bathroom is unbelievably small. <br /><br />Portables provide a classroom but nothing else. This year the school is having an incredibly hard time trying to manage rainy day recess. The common areas of the building were designed for 200 students. Just because you put down 4 portables, doesn't mean that there is room for 350 students to have rainy day recess. <br /><br />Even before the growth spurt, there were two shifts for rainy day recess due to the small spaces. <br /><br />There are currently 4 portables on the playground and this plan was to add 4 more for a total of 8. The point really is that portables are supposed to be temporary measures for "surge capacity." They are not infrastructure. 8 portables is a little village (without bathrooms or water)kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322661098626555834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51692474720632242662011-10-12T20:00:54.421-07:002011-10-12T20:00:54.421-07:00Thorton Creek "a small site?" Someone s...Thorton Creek "a small site?" Someone said that? My recollection is a rather large site.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37880535065183185552011-10-12T16:01:10.155-07:002011-10-12T16:01:10.155-07:00Contact the SPS Research, Evaluation and Assessmen...Contact the SPS Research, Evaluation and Assessment office at 252-0140, they should be able to email MAP results.<br /><br />parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87384267736971375112011-10-12T13:54:59.701-07:002011-10-12T13:54:59.701-07:00For the MSP test I'm pretty sure you need to c...For the MSP test I'm pretty sure you need to contact OSPI. They have links that tell you how to review your child's test, so there's got to be a way to get the score as well.<br /><br />No idea for MAP though.<br /><br />TesterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com