This may only be a partial list of reasons; please, add anything else in the comments. The deadline to file to run for the Board is May 19th. Entire Board Majority NOT vetting the Superintendent in any way, shape or form. Even the Seattle Times thought that was wrong. It was just absolute hubris and it was wrong. For the second time in just over a year , board members voted to negotiate a superintendent contract during a special meeting with no opportunity for public comment. This time, they showed an even deeper disregard for their responsibilities as public servants: Aborting a national search for a new superintendent and denying Interim Superintendent Brent Jones a chance to show students, parents and taxpayers that, indeed, he is the best person for the job. Government bodies can’t fast-forward through transparent processes just because they think they know the right answer. One other odd thing about the hiring of Brent Jones - most permanent SPS superintendent contracts ar
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FYI, there was this various back and forth about Hale's smokestack. Initially, it was "critical seismic" problem. Then it was going to be left standing. Now, it's going to partially come down. I checked the seismic reports and there are many schools with smokestacks that should either come down or be reduced because of seismic problems. Hale's is particularly problematic because it's on stilts built in a bog.
Regarding the Hale flooding closure...I too wondered what Hale did when they closed the building to make sure that their students got home safe? The creek came up over the banks, and two streets were closed immediately neighboring Hale, there was massive flooding in that area, and a huge sink hole a block away from the school. How did the school assure the students safety in such conditions? In addition, many Metro buses that the students take are "added service" that Metro has added specifically to accommodate the Hale students. That means that many of those buses wouldn't be running in the middle of the school day. In addition most of the buses that run on Lake City Way (popular route for NH HS kids) are express, work hour buses, that stop running at about 930A and don't start again until about 230 or 3P.
"I'm sure that when taking on the million+ dollar job of remodeling a high school the district will have the proper surveys and consultations done to assure that the building, bog and all, will be sustainable. You have to give them a little credit Melissa, please. They will do it, if for no other reason than to protect their investment."
We can presume that they will do these things, just like they did when they built the school in 1963 and when they did major construction work in '72 and 2005?
As a former teacher, I am sadly disappointed in the lack of support for the teachers in SPS shown by many of the contributors to this blog.
"What would be the use in living if not to peruse seismic reports and school board mtgs looking for something to complain about."
I have a post that I have been working on about seismic issues and the Facilities Master Plan for 2010. But hey, why bother if no one really cares about whether there kid is in a seismically challenged building? I know mine isn't so I guess I don't have to worry. (That would be my attitude if I wasn't an activist. But see, pouring over somewhat boring documents in search of the realities of building maintenance seems be mean something to me.)
It doesn't sound like people want to believe that there are far more buildings with major problems.
If you read those reports and saw the data on some of those schools (and your child was in one of those schools), your toes would curl. But really, what, me worry?
Even that old smokestack with the stilts built into the bog must have been built mighty well, as it is still standing proud.
I am optimistic. I think the district will do its homework, especially, as I said, if for no other reason than to protect its investment.
I think those are reasonable questions. I do not think they lack support for the teachers.
Thank you for answering the question. It sounds like Hale did a superb job of handling an emergency situation in a safe, orderly, appropriate manner.
No need to be so defensive.
I have not seen a lack of respect towards teachers and staff. I've mostly seen a lot of people who don't respect you or your comments.
The comment above is a perfect example. Does that help the conversation at all? Maybe if you quoted or pointed to threads where there has been a failure to respect teachers people would take you more seriously. Instead, it feels as if you just want to make very general comments and offer nothing to back them up.