Raj Still Doesn't Get It
From today's Seattle Times article, Seattle alternative schools say their character is at stake, comes another quote that shows that Raj still doesn't understand what alternative schools are. He continues to confuse alternative structures, like K-8, with alternative teaching philosophies.
Manhas said concerns about combining schools are shortsighted. "We're not walking away from alternative schools, and actually we're expanding K-8s," he said, pointing out district plans to add middle-school grades to Orca Elementary and expand two neighborhood schools — Broadview-Thomson and The New School — into K-8s. "I think the demand for alternative K-8s either is constant or has gone down."
Comments
Mr. Manhas truly can't hear you.
They are structurally incapable of responding to the community because their is no place in their structure for the community to provide input. There is no place for you to show up and say "I think we should do this" or "I think we should stop doing that". There is no structure whereby they survey the community to discover teh community's needs or preferences. There is no place in any of their decision-making processes when someone - anyone - is supposed to consider what the community wants or needs. There certainly isn't any point in any of their decision-making processes when they consult with the community.
Community engagement, if there is even a sham costume theater version of it, comes AFTER the decisions are made. At that point they are invested in the decision and reluctant to change it. Sometimes they feel so much pressure to move forward with something - anything - that no amount of opposition can stop them. When their decisions are questioned, they defend them like mother bears. They equate criticism of the decision with a personal attack.
And why is this community engagement element missing from the structure? Because their culture doesn't value it. They don't care what you want. They don't care at all.
I had to laugh when I heard Board members bemoan the poor communication possible through the public testimony process. It's their process. They could change it if they wanted to. Since they don't change it, we can only conclude that they don't want to.
He doesn't hear your words, just your tone. He has no interest in the content of your talk because he knows that it just doesn't matter. He decides, not you. And he has already decided before you opened your mouth.
It's like when the person you're talking to isn't listening, they're just preparing what they are going to say and waiting for you to take a breath so they can jump in and say it.
It's like when people call up radio talk show hosts and disagree with them.
It's not communication.
I very much agree with his comments on process. Much of it is done months ahead by committee or departments and then presented, with a deadline for the Board, and then moderate public input but usually not enough time for the Board to:
-ask hard questions and get back fully realized answers from staff
-listen to public input, go back to staff and ask about these concerns, and consider them in their deliberations
Everything is rush, rush, rush for the Board. Staff likes it that way because they usually get the path they wanted to take in the first place. A good example is BEX III. I know, somewhere, there's a master list out by 10+ years of what Facilities thinks should be done and by gosh, they are sticking with it. It doesn't matter what promises have been made (unless it's to a foundation with deep pockets), how long others have waited, school closures are occurring, etc. No matter how much you tell the Board that things don't make sense, aren't fair, are not a good use of time or money, you have to find and out and out bombshell to stop them. For BEX III they have to vote on it Oct. 18th or it won't be on the ballot (the operations would, though, and frankly, that's the more important one). The sky won't fall if BEX III isn't on the ballot or is voted down. Some communities will be very disappointed but no, the sky won't fall and the money is there for any truly pressing maintenance needs (BTA). But not have a BEX III on the ballot? Not get more money from the voters? Nah, they'll pass it on the belief that no matter what anyone tells them, staff knows better. Chris Jackins knows where all the financial bones are buried but no one ever listens to him. (I do predict at least 1 Board member may vote against it.)
But, as Charlie, says, the Board could change this if they wanted to and they don't.
I did finally watch the public testimony from the last Board meeting. Actually, I've seen worse behavior and much worse language. I think Brita actually did the right thing (although she left Cheryl being the taskmaster and boy, what's up with the avid dislike of her so early in her tenure?)by leaving. That woman who was shouting and egging them on had to be shut down some way. Too bad she dragged her kids along for the show. There were some good, eloquent speakers and I think it just got lost in the din. I think if they go with the Cooper/Pathfinder idea after all the important words said about it, they are just asking for a disaster.
Type "Gates Foundation exec pans Seattle school district" into any internet search engine.
I've heard him speak a couple of times. No thanks.