Seattle Schools Community Forum

Interesting story from The Seattle Times on Seattle Schools' declining enrollment. The article does include a questionnaire from the Times so do let them know your thoughts. The Seattle school system lost nearly 4,000 students in about five school years, and the district’s most optimistic projections do not forecast a significant rebound in the next decade. Now, SPS is hoping that a $100,000 state grant to conduct a survey and do other market research will help it understand why families are opting out — or not enrolling their children in its schools in the first place — and find ways to attract and keep families and students. Oh so now, the district is actually trying to figure it out in a real way?  And, they finally admit it's not just housing costs or lower birthrate: Fred Podesta, the district’s chief operations officer, said SPS will likely use the grant, secured in this year’s legislative session , to understand why it was getting fewer kindergarten- and elementa

Linda Jacobson writes for   The 74 , an education news site, and is interested in talking to families about   Check Yourself   — a mental health survey that several King County school districts give to middle school students.  Some people, including parents, have complained for years that there are privacy risks. Others say they're not too concerned.  Linda is just looking for more input, especially from parents whose children recently took the survey. Or from a parent who opted out.    You can reach her at   linda@the74million.org

A parent has let me know about this transgression that should trouble all SPS parents. Here's what happened. In January of 2020, a Garfield parent received a call from then Vice Principal Gregory Barnes. She was told her child had been accosted by Barnes and asked to come to his office. Also in the office was the former Resource Officer, Rosel Ellis, a Seattle Police officer. Ted Howard II was the principal in school year 2019-2020. I can't discuss the issue at hand for that day. However, the parents of the student were not happy about the events of that day and, later in the year,  began asking for more information about that situation. In the course of doing that, the public disclosure officer of the SPS legal department received requests from the parents in August 2021 that included Vice Principal Barnes' emails. In fulfilling that request, the public disclosure officer had found that in February 2021, Vice Principal Barnes at downloaded 1903 student transcripts. Onto hi

One issue is the financial situation for Seattle Schools. According to the last Budget Work Session held during the last Board meeting: SPS faces a projected deficit of $104M - $111 million for 2024-2025.  I am unsure what raised that amount that had been $104M to $111M but it's not good news.  Now SPS is suggesting an "interfund loan " where the district would "borrow" about $25-35M from the Capital side to shift to Operations. And "to be repaid by June 30, 2026." (This is a legal option via state law.)  The district hasn't even made a move to repay the rainy day fund they used up and we are to believe they will repay this money? I'm absolutely against this so that means SPS is likely to do it. (Not meaning I have sway but I tend to not agree with many SPS moves.)  I also see "Capital fund interest" which I would be okay with if only because Capital monies seem to have a whiff of being a slush fund.  Looking at the district timel

 Here's the list of days when national parks are free ! The next one coming up is Saturday, April 20th.    Just viewed the oath of office for the two new Board directors , Sarah Clark and Joe Mizrahi. They both made statements. Clark spoke about fighting rush hour traffic on less than 24 hours notice to be there. (To note, the date of the oath had been up for nearly a week.) She spoke vaguely of overcoming being separated from her parents at birth and childhood PTSD.  She said she was looking forward to listening and learning from communities and advocating for more state funding. She said she wanted to do "a deep dive" into Board policies. As well, she didn't want to continue the status quo. Mizrahi said he was speaking from the heart in saying that the process had allowed him to talk to so many people about education. He said there are big issues but that SPS has a lot to offer.  He said he was joining a board that is taking on opportunity gaps and "not shyin

Per usual, this Special meeting did not start on-time. The number of times any given Board meeting has not started on time - within 5 minutes of stated time - grows and grows. I find it disrespectful. So I missed that they are discussing the candidates in Executive Session and THEN voting at the Board meeting. I'm not sure that was made clear. So we don't get to hear any of their reasoning for their choice.  President Liza Rankin ends Special Meeting at 4:27 pm.  Board Meeting - also not starting on-time. I think when directors are not present there should be an explanation (travel, ill, etc) because otherwise it looks like they can't be bothered to attend the business meeting of their group. And, given they are down to 1-2 Board meetings per month, why not? President Liza Rankin starts the Board meeting at 4:39 pm.  So that Special Meeting "when longer than scheduled." Hmmm. Couldn't find agreement on new members? Superintendent Comments Work Session on Budg