MGJ online chat, city's role in schools
Busy day today.
First we have an online chat with Seattle Public Schools superintendent, Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson. It will be hosted by the Seattle P-I at this address: http://www.seattlepi.com/chat/viewchat.asp?chatID=29 from 1130 to 12:30. You may submit questions in advance.
Also, tonight, from 6:30 to 9:00 at Eckstein Middle School, there will be a City Council Town Hall Meeting to discuss the City's Role in Seattle Schools.
These Town Halls are a public forum for community discussions. They will focus on prevention of youth violence, legislation to protect trees, and the City’s role in public education and Seattle Schools. The Town Halls will begin with brief presentations on the City’s work on these issues followed by discussion groups around each of the issues. The groups will then come back together to share their conclusions with the other groups and the Council. We are looking for your input on actions that the Council should work on.
First we have an online chat with Seattle Public Schools superintendent, Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson. It will be hosted by the Seattle P-I at this address: http://www.seattlepi.com/chat/viewchat.asp?chatID=29 from 1130 to 12:30. You may submit questions in advance.
Also, tonight, from 6:30 to 9:00 at Eckstein Middle School, there will be a City Council Town Hall Meeting to discuss the City's Role in Seattle Schools.
These Town Halls are a public forum for community discussions. They will focus on prevention of youth violence, legislation to protect trees, and the City’s role in public education and Seattle Schools. The Town Halls will begin with brief presentations on the City’s work on these issues followed by discussion groups around each of the issues. The groups will then come back together to share their conclusions with the other groups and the Council. We are looking for your input on actions that the Council should work on.
Comments
One, by Jerry Large, focuses on the Harlem Children's Zone, and how it networks the entire community around supporting students:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrylarge/2009338953_jdl15.html
The other is a positive article about an alternative school, unfortunately an EASTSIDE school and not one of our own...sigh.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009338949_enviroschool15m.html
WV is loyal to its sibling, because sistru.
Contrast this "all hands on deck/whatever they need" approach with the propoganda of educational reformers like NYC's Chancellor Joel Klein who claims all that stuff is irrelevant, and that the only thing that really matters is having an "effective teacher" in the classroom.
Imagine how much more "effective" teachers can be with community and parent support.
It's nice to see the rest of the story getting out. Maybe we can stop scapegoating teachers now.
This document was quite extensive. It's floating around there somewhere...
How do we get to be one of the 20?
Money is always helpful, but it seems like there has to be the community engagement, commitment, and maybe even sacrifice to make the thing work.
wseadawg- Thanks for reminding us that the success of HCZ is a direct result of a personalized approach- surveying the needs of each individual, then building a program, finding the support to fill those needs. This is possible in part, because of small class size- 18 in K-6th grade, and 12 to 20 in the middle school. While this is fantastic, I am concerned that HCZ enrolls only 1% "limited-English-proficient" students. I don't have the numbers, but would guess that there is also a limited sped student population. More food for thought- with the economic down turn, the private funds helping to feed the schools are reduced and the program was facing a 10% cut in staff at the close of this school year.
Complex issues. Anyone planning to raise the issue of "community schools" with DR GJ today?
Nick Eaton
seattlepi.com
Unless you're very diligent, all of these methods thus far have been hard to follow. My email address is up-to-date with the district, and I don't think I've had many e-newsletters about the SAP decisions that are being made now (mostly just notifications about the meetings, I think). I'm betting that at least 1/3 of parents do not know a thing about the proposed changes. The district is an ineffective communicator.
Also, she got the answer to the Roosevelt parent somewhat wrong. She said,
"Students attending a school will remain at that school through the highest grade offered (this is what we call grandfathering) unless you chose to request a different assignment or the school does not meet your daughter's needs."
BUT this only applies to current (grandfathered) students and not students using the new assignment plan for the first time. If you move you can finish the school year but will have to reapply next year to stay in the school. So the daughter in this case would be grandfathered but not the son. That's my read of it.
Sadly, my question:
Will you commit to not looking at your Blackberry during Board meetings and listen to the speakers?
was not part of the chat. Oh well.
She also said,
..the program at T.T. Minor is moving to the Leschi building and will expand."
Did I miss something?
And, I think her answer to "grandfathering" was there, just not clear. The key is that only current students in 2009-2010 are "grandfathered." The rest operate under the new rules.
Remember how "Design Teams" were the answer to everything related to closures. "Grandfathering" is the new "Design Team"
A hunger strike happening in LA to protest cuts to education....
WV's grandfather answered, but he's got stonth in hith moufth an' you can't understand him...either
If your family is in attendance at a school for the 2009-2010 year or earlier you can stay in the same school even if you move.
If you enroll in 2010 or later - no grandfather for you. Need to reapply.
Thursday, June 25, 6:30-9 p.m.
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Avenue SW