Upcoming Meetings

The excellent Summit parent group website has a very good list of upcoming meetings which they have posted previously but I thought I'd point out the meetings this week.

It is interesting that Hawthorne is having two meetings (one on Monday and one on Tuesday). As well, there's one each at Bailey Gatzert, Madrona and Leschi. Michael Tolley, the High School Director, will be Summit's guest on Wednesday - it would be interesting to hear what he has to say about closures.

Monday, December 8th,

  • 6:00 - 7:45 at Douglass-Truth Library, 2300 E Yesler Way: A meeting of the alternative, all-city draw schools (Summit, Nova, AS1) to strategize around closures and consolidations, and school assignment issues. For this meeting we need to be out promptly at 7:45 so we should try to get started as close to 6:00 as possible. Please help get out the word to families from these schools (Nova and AS1).
  • 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Bailey Gatzert Elementary, 1301 E Yesler Way, Community Meeting
  • 8:00 - 9:30 p.m., Hawthorne Elementary (library), 4100 39th Ave S, Community Meeting

Tuesday, December 9th,

  • 4:00 p.m. (no set end time), John Stanford Center, 2445 3rd Avenue South, School Board Workshop, The work shop will focus on capacity management and building closure. The Superintendent and staff will provide additional information and analysis related to options.
  • 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Rainier Beach HS, 8815 Seward Park Ave S., Community meeting with Michael Tolley
  • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Hawthorne Elementary (library), 4100 39th Ave S, Community Meeting
  • 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Arbor Heights Elementary, 3701 SW 104th Str., Community Meeting

Wednesday, December 10th,

  • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., Madrona K-8, 1121 33rd Ave, Community Meeting
  • 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Summit K-12 in the Library or Little Theatre, 11051 34th Ave NE, Community meeting with Michael Tolley.
  • 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Thurgood Marshall Elementary, 2401 S. Irvin Str., Community Meeting

Thursday, December 11th,

Comments

Jet City mom said…
The District is committed to using this opportunity to strengthen and expand services for special education students consistent with recommendations from the "Special Education: Organization, Program and Service Delivery Review" and recommendations identified by the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAAC) and supported by the Special Education PTSA Committee. The Review document can be found on the Special Education Department's District Website.

We would like to invite you to attend one of two meetings being scheduled to update you on preliminary relocation of special education services currently housed at each of the schools identified for closure and give you an opportunity to provide input as to considerations, concerns and suggestions that need to be addressed as relocations are identified and finalized.

The meetings are scheduled for:

Thursday, December 11, 2008 6:30 - 8:30 PM; Auditorium,
John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence

Monday, December 15, 2008 9:30-11:30 AM; Room 2765,
John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence

Again, the purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for parents to hear current information regarding preliminary activities connected with relocation of services and for us to listen to your concerns and ideas.

My internets are a little spotty- so I apologize if this has already been mentioned.
I don't know if I can make either of the meetings- but I would encourage anyone who is interested to attend.

Parents of kids with special needs, are stretched very thin & if you think you have a hard time staying informed- imagine what they go through- some on very, very little sleep.

IMO, this is one reason why the district finds it easy to lose track of their concerns- but the more people who stand up for their rights- the harder it will be to keep downplaying their role.
12/8/08, 10:51 PM
hschinske said…
I heard today that at least one source had the Rainier Beach meeting tonight (Tue. Dec. 9) starting at 6:30. I think the 6:00 time is more likely to be accurate. Do double-check and tell others to do so.

Helen Schinske
12/9/08, 7:33 AM
Beth Bakeman said…
Helen, the RBHS web site has the following info:

"There will be a Parent, Student and Community Meeting on Tuesday, December 9th, regarding possible changes to Rainier Beach High School as proposed by Seattle Public Schools. The meeting will be held at 6:00 pm in the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center on campus."
12/9/08, 7:39 AM
hschinske said…
As far as I can make out, there is no public hearing scheduled for Rainier Beach, only the community meeting tonight (the time confusion probably happened because all the public hearings start at 6:30). Presumably the hearing schedule is based on the previous closure list, that Rainier Beach wasn't on? They will have to have a public hearing for RB sometime, won't they?

Helen Schinske
12/9/08, 8:24 AM
Beth Bakeman said…
Whether or not a public hearing is scheduled for RB depends upon whether the building is slated for closure.

No formal proposal has been made yet that includes RB. Of the two possibilities being discussed, only one would involve closing the building. The other would move Aki into the RB building.
12/9/08, 8:38 AM
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