Here's the agenda for tonight's Board meeting. I note that people can no longer sign up to speak at a Board meeting by phone. It is strictly by online sign-up. Not good. Public Testimony seems to cover two topics. Apparently, the Chinese program at West Seattle High School is in jeopardy and there are several speakers for that issue. The other issue is, of course, school closures. There are six people on the waitlist. Here's the latest from the Times which says that " Seattle Could Close about a quarter of its elementary schools." First, that would be a heck of a lot of schools (17) and two, only elementaries? My cynical side is that the district is throwing out a big number so they can "generously" only close 10-12. The article claims that the district is taking "$32M from its reserves" which is not true; they have no reserves. I think the reporter means capital reserves. I'll be tuning in with updates. 4:15 pm and has the 4:15
Comments
All I can say is...
"DON'T Surrender Dorothy!"
:)
The November 2 is just one time point. I've attended most of the audit and finance committee meetings since August and I plan to continue all year. I hope to be a presence and a witness to the board following through on their promises and finally addressing the culture of entitlement.
(but immediately after the election
I am going on a knitting retreat. Not Disneyland, not OZ, just some wool, two sticks and the camaraderie of other knitters.)
http://kuow.org/program.php?id=21714
It includes guest call ins on the topic. Unfortunately many voters, like the enthusiastic "YES all the WAY" mom from Phinney Ridge, believe that they won't suffer cuts to classroom services by passing the levy.
That is simply not the case. I hope voters, on whichever side they land on this issue, understand: THIS LEVY AS PRESENTED WILL NOT RESTORE PAST CUTS to teachers, IAs, and other classroom service providers. In addition, IT MAKES ZERO PROMISE THAT IT WILL BE USED TO PREVENT FUTURE CUTS. And by future, I mean basically now. Coming within this school year and hitting next fall.
But it is always easier to believe the person telling you it just might help rather than the grinch telling you there's no santa claus.
The Establisment has Bill Gates, Alliance for Ed., LEV, Schools First etc...Yet, your voice is definately out there!
I am impressed. You've got the District on the run.
I have two kids in SPS and my wife is an SPS teacher, we are both voting No on this levy. for the very reasons you pointed out. this levy, save for the textbooks, is not putting money in the classroom. Had the district not spent their $ on closing schools only to reopen them costing more $$ than it cost to close, they could have a bit of a leg to stand on. How about the 1m they had to take from the general fund to cover the missappropriated $ they used to train contractors in how to submit a bid on a contract proposal to the district. that 1m$ could have been used to purchase books.....We all need to stand up and call a halt to this..
JPR/Seattle
But I do not speak for the PTSA or the PTA. Guy Nelson got that bio information and made assumptions. The RHS PTSA actually voted to endorse the levy. There were only about 20 people in attendance, but sure, why not, it's for the kids.