Open Thread Friday
I'll be doing an update on the Town Hall forum and hey! it's Friday. That seemed like a fast week gone by.
Saturday Community Meetings:
Saturday Community Meetings:
- Director Carr - 8:30-10 am -Bethany Community Church,8023 Green Lake Dr. North
- Director Martin-Morris - 9:30-11:30 am - Diva Espresso, 8014 Lake City Way NE
- Director Maier - 10:30 am-noon - Bethany Community Church, 8023 Green Lake Dr. North
- Director Sundquist - 11:00 am-12:30 p.m. - High Point Library, 3411 SW Raymond St.
Comments
:)
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
There is all kinds of searchable info on K-12 as well as post secondary education.
Anyone see Sundquist and Kathy Thompson's faces at the event. People in power = sudden deer in headlights. They usually live in bubbledom on the board and in HQ and simply do not see and recognize the reality on the street so apparent through this blog. A lot like Egypt.
There is a mom, MB, in North Seattle..won't out her further unless she wants to be public..who does an awesome rif on what Web communications and technology could mean to SPS public school advocacy for parents and ethnic populatgions who don't think they have a voice in the system. Maybe one of you bloggers who knows her can convince her to do a public opinion or training piece here. Given Mubarak it seems pertinent.
-skeptical-
I followed their links to the Interactive map and looked at my neighborhood as well. Interesting to see how the demographics for Southern half of NE Seattle show that the one census block that is diverse pretty much completely aligns with the Sand Point Elementary attendance boundary.
I don't know the geography of West Seattle well enough, but from folks here pointing out the issues with the way boundaries were drawn there, perhaps this data will be illuminating.
Not much has changed since 1962.
Here's what's happening and how the math can actually work. A few years ago, they started adding more and more kids to the incoming K classes, expanding to 5 K's a few times. As those bubbles move up thru the grades, they replace smaller cohorts of children. I think there are only about 70-80 5th graders right now, but there are 120+ K children this year (my numbers are probably no longer accurate, but I think this was how the year started, 5 Ks of about 25 each).
Even if they can have *only* 4 Ks next year, that is still going to be around 100 kids, but only 80 or so will be leaving for middle school. Hence, continued growth. The upcoming bubbles are bigger than the class they replace.
Something's gotta give. Last year, parents were talking about how dirty the kids' bathrooms were, which is not unexpected when you have 20, 30, 40 more kids in a building and don't increase janitorial services. Then you hear this year how the district is going to cut back janitors to save money, and I just wonder what's going to happen to these over-crowded schools who need more support services, not less.
any current Bryant families want to chime in?
Since basically this is out of her control anyway it would have been more refreshing to hear which compromise is going to be made rather than a lot of hedging.
What was also sad was the talk about the cannibalized rooms to make space for the bubble of classes moving up. (When the art teacher literally looks she's going to cry and begs off questions when asked about this I have to wonder if anyone is planning what to do when reality hits)
I also can't see how this is going to work unless the district flat out installs portables in the next few years or moves kids over to adjacent schools.
In several recent threads on this blog, custodians were the ones who saved the day.
( One story on 2-3-11 re:science , another on 2-1-11 re: music program)
How can we possibly afford to cut them?
I also TOTALLY agree with the comment about school lunches.
Students need to be well nourished as well as rested to be at optimum learning capacity.
Families who are low income, depend on the school breakfasts & lunches to help them nourish their children.
Those lunches are not appetizing, they are not desirable & they are not eaten by anyone who is not starving.
Take a tip from Berkeley schools- let the schools grow produce, let them cook it in their own kitchens, let them adapt their menus to suit their community.
( & while they are at it, they need to give students enough time to eat)
The first annual contract with NWEA was signed in 2009. Parents contend the predecessor (2009) contract was formed illegally. They assert that the 2010 renewal of the contract is illegal, by virture of the prior contract having been illegally formed. Furthermore, parents believed that the district failed to provide a legally sufficient sole-source justification for the renewal, and the board failed to engaged in an applicable statutory requirement to seek proposals or competitive bids. Parents claimed that, at minimum, the 2010 renewal was arbitrary and capricious, for reason that the product has poor statistical characteristics, and the board failed to make any reasonable effort to determine whether cost-effective, more efficacious alternatives exist.
Among the laws that parents allege were violated in the formation of the 2009 contract is a state statute that prohibits any public officer from holding any interest, whether direct, indirect, or remote, in any contract, without fully disclosing that interest before the contract is formed. Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson did not disclose her seat on the NWEA Board of Directors until four months after the 2009 contract was signed. State law requires that any contract in violation of this statutory provision is void.
If the court's ruling is allowed to stand, then the district can continue to violate procurement laws with impunity and, as long as they execute the contract immediately after board approval, the matter will be considered moot. In parents' opinion, MAP is still an inferior product that comes at a high price in both instruction time and cost. Its selection remains tainted by the Superintendent's affiliation with the vendor at the time of selection. Its proposed application as an evaluation tool for teachers and schools is misapplied and detrimental to the morale of the teaching force.
Parents are reviewing their options at this time.
As for school lunches. They are horrid. Neither of my kids will go near them, and they appreciate junk food. NOVA used to provide hot, vegetarian lunches for their students, but the district forced them to stop several years ago. Now Hale is using their greenhouse to grow food to supplement their school lunch program. Hope the district doesn't squash that too.
http://crosscut.com/2011/02/03/k-12/20601/How-a-school-custodian-helped-fire-up-one-science-program/
How much y'wanna bet he gets riffed or fewer hours or more work. Gimme more of him and less of Holly Ferguson or Cathy Thompson or MGJ.
Mr. Ed
"We cut the Strategic Plan!"
If so, show us the money. Show us the org chart. Meg, we need Meg
grumpy
I was also told by the principal that the APP "split" sending some kids to Ingraham is entirely voluntary -- that is, nobody HAS to go to Ingraham if they'd rather go to Garfield. I asked him how many APP kids he expected next year and he threw up his hands - who knows? He's guessing about 60 or so, but there's just no way to know.
On the whole, I'm impressed with the school, and impressed with the kids in the IB program I spoke with (a senior told me they're doing diff-eq and linear algebra in the math class. Wowzers!).
I wanted to let you know that I will be offering Architecture 101 classes for students grades 3 through high school during mid-winter break.
The classes will be:
A Fun Forest Project, An Art Park and Playground: The Seattle Center Foundation has proposed the creation and installation of a major new Art Playground on the grounds of the Seattle Center Campus. The Artists at Play Foundation will work with local artists to create original designs that are inspired by traditional playground structures. These playground structures will then be fabricated and installed in green space created on the Seattle Center Campus.
We will be developing ideas for the artwork playground and create drawings and models that will be presented to the mayor for his consideration.
A Hotel in the International District: We will look at hotel design and how different hotels fit the same requirements. There will also be a tour of three hotels in downtown Seattle to get a sense of how a hotel functions as well as the style of different hotels and their scale. Then, based on a specific program (a set of requirements), the students will design a hotel for a predetermined site within the International District.
For additional information, please visit Architecture 101.
It is my understanding that if you seek a temporary restraining order and have it granted, but then you eventually loose the case, you can then be held liable for expenses related to the delay.
In regard to the "Discovering" math adoption we initially thought about a restraining order and were informed by attorney Keith Scully not to do so.
{Father of Three}
I understand that there is a good summer program (Slingerland)at the school now at TT Minor... Any info into that would be great or on tutors or such would be very helpful.
We enrolled our D in the Hamlin Robinson summer program- as we had heard great things about the school year program- however, it is mainly set up to teach, teachers how to work with dyslexic students & not so much help for the students- not mine anyway.
Dyslexia affects issues besides reading- you might get more help if you are more specific as to what your child is having difficulty with & what their age is.
Our childs experience at Hamiln Robinson was not optimum, but she had other things to deal with besides dyslexia- and I think for some kids it could be very helpful.
They would be a place to ask about tutors.
My bad.
I admit I have a hard time keeping track of the programs & the buildings that are open or closed.( or what they are calling them)
:o
I don't know what part of the city you are in Geri, but while we didn't have a lot of luck finding private tutors that were helpful/affordable, the owner of the Greenwood Kumon had a teaching style that meshed pretty well with our daughters learning style.
Even though she had an IEP, it wasn't very effective & she ended up going to Kumon several times a week for several years.
Ya do what ya gotta do.
www.wabida.org
Rose M
Psychology department. They
have a renowned dyslexia researcher
(Virginia Berninger) on staff and
can provide some information.
Parents from Lawton Elementary in Magnolia have a very active group that is tackling dyslexia identification and treatment in the district and statewide. Check out readonforkids.com. Hey Charlie,this is the really bright side of Lawton!
Spectrum... another story we are still working on.
Signed,
mobious
Goodluck
Prior to NSAP and closures, we in West Seattle were making at least some progress with the "North/South" and "East/West" divide.
Sadly, the new boundaries have been gerrymandered to send the "view" houses North (regardless of proximity) and the aparment complexes and projects "South" (again, regardless of locale).
It's bizarre!
Or did Joeseph O. still have it?
Or Gerry Lim has in Hawaii and forgot to mention?
What concerned me after the revelation is the feeling of "well, it's better to cut more anyway." I'm not sure that the Board gets how cuts to schools destroys good will with parents and teachers. This isn't downsizing to increase profitability, folks. It's creating a fun, safe, creative, nurturing environments where children can learn!
Although I may have missed something, three of the seven texts appeared almost entirely inquiry-based (i.e., the texts consisted almost exclusively of outlines of procedures for investigations, with very little consolidation of knowledge and/or presentation of factual information): Interactions in Physical Science (published by It's About Time), BSCS Science: An Inquiry Approach, and Issues in Physical Science (pub. by Lab Aids).
A fourth text (Haber-Schaim's Introductory Physical Science, published by SCI) looked like it was written for middle school students, at best.
There were three texts that looked pretty good, including Physical Science: Concepts in Action and Conceptual Physical Science (both by Prentice Hall/Pearson). I neglected to write down the title of the third, but I believe it was another by Prentice Hall.
These texts will be with our kids for a while, so even kids currently in 2nd grade (or even younger if budget crises lengthen the adoption cycle), so I'd like to encourage everyone to monitor progress on this adoption. Not surprisingly, notice to the public about availability of the texts for review was minimal (a memo was posted to the district website on Monday that materials would be available through Friday...this was not publicized in either of my kids' school newsletters).
According to the district's website, review of the committee's top 3 choices is scheduled for 3/7-3/21.
Given that the BSCS physical science book seems almost entirely inquiry-based, I'm wondering if the biology book is, too, or if it's more balanced. Does anyone know? How has it worked for your kids or students?
We have several children at Queen Anne Elementary this year who chose us under a NCLB opt out. We would love to have you come and see what we are about and choose us for your school!
The school open house is at Lincoln on March 2nd at 6:30pm.
PAL
DS, thanks for the heads up. Needs a thread as soon as I can get to it.
Friday's Need to Know featured two high schools that have been successful at increasing academic achievement and one university's success at increasing the number of college students in math and science majors -particularly minority students. It is well worth watching. None of the usual ed reform group was there. No Gates, no Duncan, no KIPP, no TFA and it was quite refreshing. The principal of Brockton HS is truly an inspiration.
It Takes a Village, Not a Tiger
--Owlhouse
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/dilbert
-- Let Teachers Teach
Don Kennedy and company truly are jokes!!!!!!!!!!!
I like this paragraph in one thread:
in previous budget cycles, administrative positions were "shifted to grant" not because it was the best use of the money, but to reduce the burden on baseline money from the state.
And in the other thread:
The thing is, fashionable efforts cost gobs of money. In fashion and education, whether you pull it off well or badly, being at the front of a fashion is expensive. And in education, money spent on new trends always includes the following accessory: administration.
Some lovely "crappy charts" and a photo of shocking shoes back up her points. And don't miss the "Mad Lib!"
But some things he said H:Can't use OSPI's central admin definition for budget cuts because it's too narrow, just executives and their staffs. Me: Great, cut that! Executive FTEs have doubled over the last X years. He doubts me. I say Melissa said it and she's usually right on. He blinks.
I go on to complain about the new executive level hires, you know the press release a few months ago? You know the Chief Talent Officer who can't pull her head out of her, you know, on TV and all? Harium tells me they are not new hires, they are replacements. Oh.
Then he goes off on this riff (ooh, unfortunate unintended pun there) about grants in central, and how those aren't included, and I ask about what kinds of activities those cover. So he pulls our this giant spreadsheet of grants....in schools. Very interesting, but NOT my question, dude! It was interesting. But all I learned is that Title 1 needs to be "administered" so there is some FTE in that.
I did learn, that unlike thie kinds of federal grants I am used to (science) indirects (the money you need for infrastructure and administrative support of grant activities) are not separated out of Title 1 anyway, so you can decide you much you need to administer it. I am apparently in the wrong line of work.
Then he went off into how complicated and unfair the Title 1 formula is, and about his DC/DOE trip to get them to fix it. Then other people had showed up, so maybe someone else can take over. Otherwise, there were some interesting tidbits in the national discussion, so I'll be back.
Next time ask Harium if he is aware of the bonuses paid to those replacement "Executives" in order to lure them here.
You know how tough it is to find local folks willing to work for $150,000 a year. SSD has to set out bait.
I don't know about others but I was just happy to land a job. These people live in a different world!
PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!
Just a quick FYI - our Finance Department has discovered a miscalculation of approximately $3.3 million in our favor!
The Board will be discussing this in our next work session on
Wednesday, February 16th
4pm to 5:30 pm.
Based on our last work session, we can possibly make some new priorities.
I am sure the Board would be glad to hear from you!
Kay Smith-Blum, Director, District 5
Seattle School Board