This Week

This is late but if you want to be on speakers list for this week's School Board meeting, call the Board office tomorrow morning starting at 8 a.m. at 252-0040 or e-mail boardagenda@seattleschools.org.

Calendar This Week

Monday
Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee - 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Tuesday
Executive Session from 4-6 p.m. (not for the public but I'd love to be a fly on the wall)
and (oh no)
Diversity Speaker Series: Dr. Barbara J. Love "Bending the Arc of the Universe; How Young People Change the World - 6-8 p.m. at the Stanford Center

Wednesday
Board Meeting from 6-9 p.m.
I hope the room is full of watchful eyes and ears. I don't think going down there with pitchforks and burning torches will help. I think good signage can send a message.

Thursday
Another Executive Session - this one is labeled "complaint against public employee" and reading that I can only ask, "Only one"?

As I mentioned there are no community meetings for Saturday the 5th.

Looking down the road, I see on March 9th there is an Executive Session on the Superintendent's Evaluation. Here's hoping they won't even need to have that one.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Moral and ethical issues aside, the central office personnel assignment of a convicted felon and now accused crack dealer to oversee Section 504 disability plans districtwide (IEP disability plans are coordinated separately) shows that a huge fiscal red flag was ignored by former General Counsel Ikeda and ultimately by Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson.

By delegating the District's Section 504 disability plan compliance to Ronnie Bryant, Gary Ikeda and Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson potentially jeopardized *ALL* Seattle school district sources of funding from the federal government, because federal funds are cut off from any school district that is not in full compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other federal disability laws.

As parents of a Seattle public schools student with a disability, we were appalled to learn of the arrest and prior felony record last Fall through public reports. This was only after the Seattle school district had already dispatched Mr. Bryant as its controlling representative to our own sensitive Section 504 disability committee student meetings, which unbeknownst to us were being conducted by a convicted felon.

Participating in those meetings, we found Central Office Section 504 Plan Coordinator Mr. Ronnie Bryant to be abusive and domineering. Despite his actual lack of formal legal qualifications, Mr. Bryant constantly comported himself as something equivalent to an attorney or even a judge, making repeated authoritative mischaracterizations of federal disability law, in which he consistently understated the district's federal obligation to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE). On critical points, Mr. Bryant misled those teachers and health professionals participating on our child's Rehabilitation Act Section 304 committee.

Why is the Ronnie Bryant story relevant now? Because Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson and General Counsel Gary Ikeda chose to entrust this particular central office legal department employee with the fates of Seattle's disabled schoolchildren, and indeed the district's federal funding too!

Shame on them. Shame too on Seattle Times education reporter Linda Shaw, and for that matter the entire School Board, for never addressing this shocking betrayal of the public trust. Are you still reading, David Boardman?

Section 504 Family
Anonymous said…
ARGGGGH! What a wonderful Monday morning to go into work to......note the sarcasm although, we are hopeful that good change is right around the corner. Keep the faith.

From within
Anonymous said…
The whole legal department ought to be audited by the federal government for the way it manages disabilities law. It's like entering into a primitive land down there. It was hardly on Ikeda's radar at all. This disrespect and negligence is a reflection of the leadership and knowledge vacuum that runs through the whole of the executive administration.

Experienced
Inside as well said…
You all left out that Bryant worked directly for Fay Chess-Prentice, a "Senior Assistant General Counsel" (like Ron English), who also was put in charge of the Human Resources Department when all big shots jumped ship there last spring.

What has been described seems to reflect our experiences with Ms. Chess-Prentice as well.

Kee pulling, there's lots more as you get nearer to the core.
Anonymous said…
The titles for Ron English and Faye Chess-Prentice are Deputy General Counsel. And both of them as as honest about reporting thier time as Ronnie Bryant was. Mr. English takes at least two days off a week most of the time, and if he sends an email or make a call, poof, full work day. Ms. Chess-Prentice has a side job, and has long been known to be on both the district's dime and the city's at the same time. Mr. Bryant would just dispear, and Gary Ikeada didn't do a thing about it.

To be fair, the two Senior Assistant General Counsels, John Cerqui and Kevin O'Neill, work hard and are good guys.

Skeptical in Seattle
This discussion is a little off-topic and for future reference we try to stay on topic.

Fay Chess-Prentice was interviewed for Pottergate by the State Auditor.
anonymous said…
I think HR should re do background, and criminal background checks on all district employees. It appears that convicted felons are allowed to work amongst our children, in positions of authority, and that shouldn't be.
Maureen said…
(Re 504 discussion, I posted something related under the District Investigation thread-maybe we can move the discussion there since Fay Chess-Prentice was interviewed.)

Re meetings. The C&I agenda is posted now (couldn't find it last night). I may go to listen in on:

Teacher Incentive Fund consulting services contract

I also noticed this in the 'parking lot:' Waivers for the 3 new elementary schools (Peter) Does anyone know what this means? I remember Peter acting as though it should be easier for new schools to get waivers (because they need new materials), but I don't know if it has gone anywhere. Personally, I think that is silly: Give waivers to the schools that really want them and have the best plan, then give those schools materrials (or budget for them) to the new schools.
Anonymous said…
Speaking of 504's (which of course has been mischaracterized consistently by the district) let's not forget the scads of underqualified people hired, and promoted to high levels in the special education department in general. Let's not "clean house" without a full investigation and house cleaning due all of our students with disabilities, whether they are on a 504 plan or an IEP. Our students deserve highly qualified people and administrators working with them too. The current hiring environment means the district has many opportunities to hire the best. So far, anybody, and I do mean, anybody, can be hired in that arena... without regard to qualification, experience, or simple ability.

SPED parent
ArchStanton said…
I don't think going down there with pitchforks and burning torches will help. I think good signage can send a message.

I'm visualizing a bunch of parents actually carrying pitchforks into the meeting - I'm sure they wouldn't let you in with real pitchforks, but you could make one out of cardboard or get a fake one at costume and display.

Alternately, I would suggest that an enlarged photo of MGJ flanked by Stephens and Potter would make an excellent sign. A picture is worth a thousand words. (Hmm... that sounds like a fun photoshop wanted poster project.)
Bird said…
I hope that it would be difficult for the school board to vote for anything other than termination of the Supe's contract when that photo is staring at them.

I recommend including it as visual reminder when writing the school board on this issue.
truth now said…
I COMPLETELY concur with Section 504 Family's comments above. Keeep pulling on the thread. Faye Chess-Prentice is now in charge of SPED legal: responsibility has been switched from Kevin O, an experienced SPED law attorney. Ron English and Faye have had a poor reputation in the district for some time.

On another note, Gloria Mitchell, the former ed director who was not known for her people skills or abilities, is on the personel report to the Board (see agenda) as a retire-rehire. Someone tried to clean house but apparently a backdoor opening has been located...

Patricia Eakes is clean as a whistle and very well respected. Hopefully Board members will utilize her in ongoing investigations as this unravels.

There are MANY good district employees and I believe the good folks HATE the mediocre/corrupt/slow-pace workers. Good folks, time to stand up and show strength and backbone. It would be perfect timing for disclosures-- you are nearly guaranteed not only no retaliation, but probably promotion. Let the truth come out now-- it will speak for itself if you just get the shovel out and unbury it. Bebrave-- the community will back you.
Anonymous said…
I don't think the comments on Ronnie Bryant are off topic at all. The topic of the day, (fingers crossed) week, month, year is overturning rocks and seeing what slithers out. If a convicted felon and accused crack dealer is in charge of a swath of paperwork for our special needs students then I want it daylighted. Yesterday.

-skeptical (and getting more so every day) -
Anonymous said…
In regards to the photo posted by Bird:

It would be great if someone planning on attending the Board meeting could have access to printing a large poster (like 24x24)of that photo and taking it to the meeting.
Anonymous said…
WTH on G. Mitchell being rehired as Replacement Principal at Dearborn (effective 2/14 ?).

I was just going through old files and thought it was time to shred some files on a complaint we submitted a few years back when she was supervising our cluster. You know, let bygones be bygones. Nothing came of it (in part due to her inaction). She and the then Principal seemed unwillinging to take any action.

Spitting mad
Charlie Mas said…
I notice that the agenda for the Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee doesn't indclude any Policy work. The Committee was supposed to be pretty deep into their Policy revision schedule, but they just can't seem to get any traction on that front.

The Board was supposedly working on going through the entire set of policies and making needed revisions. Each Committee had a number of policies they were supposed to review and revise, and they were all supposed to have a calendar for when they were supposed to do that work.

The Board adopted a resolution on April 22, 2009 in which they committed to having a Policy revision calendar by September 1, 2009. Despite all of the talk about doing policy revision and despite a number of attempts at writing a calendar for policy review, the Board just hasn't done the work.

Now another month goes by withiout them making any progress on this work.
Maureen said…
I notice that the agenda for the Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee doesn't indclude any Policy work,

Isn't C 21.00 Review “preview of materials” from the agendaa review of Policy C 21?
cascade said…
Policy revision was Harium's Big Thing.

Meh.
ArchStanton said…
(Hmm... that sounds like a fun photoshop wanted poster project.)

Quick and dirty wanted posters for anyone who cares to use them:

Small jpg: http://tinyurl.com/4zsvrrd

Large pdf: http://tinyurl.com/4n5gqes
Charlie Mas said…
Maureen, the discussion of Policy C21.00 won't be with an eye to review or revise it. It was just recently re-written. The Committee will merely be refreshing their memory of the policy because it will be applied in the coming months.
Maureen said…
Thanks Charlie, 15 minutes to do that, you'd think they could do it via email.
Inside as well said…
Truth now:

You obviously don't know anything about living under a brutal regime as we have been under since 2007.

Ron English has let it be known that he will do anything to track who is communicating on the blog, talking to others or seen with the auditors.

Managers are making it clear that anyone so observed will be the first to go when this all blows over.

We are doing what we can to help but its very hard, they monitor our computers and phones and a vast network of loyal Charleston folk.
Observer said…
Everyone "on the inside" - please keep meticulous records of what you see and hear, particularly about the intimidation tactics used to shut down communications with state auditors, and keep your records offsite in a safe place. It may not seem worth it now, but it will prove to be useful in the future. So sorry to hear how terrible it is on the inside right now.
On the Inside, keep the faith. This is much bigger than the district and if the district thinks it will be the only decider, well, I know some other elected officials who might think differently.

I sent that white paper I wrote (and I promise to attached it soon) to elected officials more than two weeks ago. I know for a fact it is on the radar of at least 2 City Council members and the Mayor's office. I'm thinking that some of these people might be a little tired of a district that is not in control (and not the control that Ron English thinks he has).

Thanks for the heads up - I will be extra careful in who I talk to and where.
Dorothy Neville said…
Meetings this week: I heard from Sable Verity Blog that the Urban League has announced a press conference for Wednesday at 10AM. I didn't see anything on their site yet. Details? Are things like this open to the public?
Anonymous said…
Working on this currently as well. More vendors wanted by SPS


http://district.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/procurement%20and%20distribution%20services/contractorinfo/rfp01116.pdf - 191.1k


Public School Parent
ma'am said…
Arch, that poster is awesome. I put it on my FB!
ArchStanton said…
@Megan: Thanks for the props.
Share and enjoy!
Anonymous said…
Sadly, Ronnie Bryant set the tone for other departments in responding to special needs. School administrators, health services/nurses, and nutrition services, even the science department, offer minimal accommodations for students at risk for anaphylaxis, and the policies in place, if any, vary from school to school. This is despite a Washington State law requiring districts to develop policies for managing anaphylaxis in schools; the state even developed guidelines. If SPS had a district policy for anaphylaxis and other life-threatening conditions, all schools would be safe(r) for these students. Why re-invent the wheel in every school?

Here is the link to the OSPI doc that states the requirements:
http://www.k12.wa.us/HealthServices/Publications/09-0009.aspx

From page 9
"RCW 28A.210.380 Anaphylaxis–Policy Guidelines–Procedures–Reports
This law directs the OSPI, in consultation with the DOH, to develop anaphylactic policy
guidelines for schools to prevent anaphylaxis and deal with medical emergencies
resulting from it by March 31, 2009. By September 1, 2009, each school district shall
use the guidelines to develop and adopt a school district policy for each school in the
district to follow to assist schools to prevent anaphylaxis. See RCW 28A.210.380 for the
entire law."

If there is a district policy, it has not been communicated to parents. Just because no students have died in SPS due to anaphylaxis doesn't mean that these conditions are being adequately managed; rather than setting a high standard for safety and inclusiveness throughout the district, the 504 office set the bar pretty low, advocating for only minimal accommodations. I have a substantial list of near misses. This may be true for other life-threatening conditions as well.

Signed,
- Tired of the fight
Anonymous said…
Dear Tired of the Fight,

That's truly frightening. Please do send your "substantial list of near misses" to the Seattle school district's Risk Manager, Richard Staudt.

From the emerging documents, Mr. Staudt seems to have been the only senior central office manager who tried to rein in Silas Potter. My guess is that he would take your potentially fatal data even more seriously than that. Appearances to the contrary, this is not the time to lose heart.

Section 504 Family
Anonymous said…
Dear Skeptical (and getting more so every day),

You say: "If a convicted felon and accused crack dealer is in charge of a swath of paperwork for our special needs students then I want it daylighted. Yesterday."

Agreed, but in fact the district's top brass put Ronnie Bryant in charge of much more than a swath of paperwork. The central office assigned Mr. Bryant to be its definitive voice in sensitive Section 504 committee meetings in school buildings all around the district. Mr. Bryant "ran" these meetings with an iron fist, somehow serving as the the district's advocate and judge all at once.

In the words of rbn1234 (Seattle Times comment 9/22/10): "He is/was the gatekeeper for the program, you didn't get a 504 plan if it didn't go through Ronnie."

And as just noted by 'Tired of the Fight,' Ronnie Bryant regularly set districtwide disability policies with his restrictive misreadings of controlling federal Rehabilitation Act Section 504 requirements that do require the district to provide each disabled student with an individually appropriate education.

Tired of the Fight's experience is one telling instance of what was at stake in the sensitive disability cases the SPS central office entrusted to its representative, Central Office 504 Coordinator Mr. Ronnie Bryant.

Section 504 Family
Anonymous said…
Melissa, could you please put tags on this thread for Section 504, Special Ed, SPS Legal, and accountability? Thank you.

Concerned parent
Anonymous said…
Report to Seattle School Board, Part III, Management Awareness of Problems in the RSBDP, Section E? General Counsel Ikeda’s Knowledge of and Involvement in the RSBDP:

"We could not locate Silas Potter, the former manager of the RSBDP, and thus did not interview him. The SPS Board requested that we interview Gary Ikeda, SPS’s former General Counsel. Despite a request from Noel Treat, SPS’s current General Counsel, for Ikeda to cooperate, he refused to do so and abruptly terminated the conversation with our office." Page 3, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

– A reader
Anonymous said…
Report to Seattle School Board, Part III, Management Awareness of Problems in the RSBDP, Section E? General Counsel Ikeda’s Knowledge of and Involvement in the RSBDP:

"On February 8, 2007, the current SPS Risk Manager [Richard Staudt] drafted a memorandum to [Facilities Manager Fred] Stephens about concerns he had relating to the RSBDP," because "he had serious concerns . . . and felt it was important to bring those concerns to his superiors." Page 4, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

"At the time of the [2/07 Staudt] Memo, the Risk Manager had a dual reporting relationship to the General Counsel, Gary Ikeda, and Stephens. For this reason, the Risk Manager shared his concerns and the [2/07 Staudt] Memo with Ikeda prior to approaching Stephens. Based on advice from Ikeda, the Risk Manager limited the issues he addressed in the [2/07 Staudt] Memo. However, the Risk Manager explained during our interview that he verbally addressed other concerns with Stephens, including his concern that, at the very least, the contracting issues raised the potential for fraud against the District." Page 4, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

"Based on advice from Ikeda," (p.4) Risk Manager Staudt's concern of potential fraud (which he expressed to both General Counsel Ikeda and Facilities Manager Stephens) among certain "concerns" that were “limited” out of Risk Manager Staudt's final written 2/07 memo?!?

– A reader
Anonymous said…
Report to Seattle School Board, Part III, Management Awareness of Problems in the RSBDP, Section E? General Counsel Ikeda’s Knowledge of and Involvement in the RSBDP:

"In hindsight, the Risk Manager stated that he wished he had done more to follow-up on the issues he raised in his [2/07 Staudt] Memo, but he trusted Stephens to provide necessary oversight of Potter. Moreover, he brought the issues to the attention of Ikeda, the District’s General Counsel." Page 5, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

"The Risk Manager did not discuss his [2/07 Staudt] Memo or his concerns about the RSBDP with Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson or CFOO Kennedy. Because Ikeda was unwilling to speak with our office, we were not able to determine whether he [Ikeda] took any action to follow up on the [2/07 Staudt] Memo. Other members of the SPS legal staff did not recall Ikeda taking any actions in response to the [2/07 Staudt] Memo. Both Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson and CFOO Kennedy stated that they were unaware of the [2/07 Staudt] Memo until the SAO began its current investigation. We found no evidence that the SPS Board was aware of the Risk Manager’s [2/07 Staudt] Memo prior to the current SAO investigation." Page 5, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

– A reader
Anonymous said…
Report to Seattle School Board, Part III, Management Awareness of Problems in the RSBDP, Section E? General Counsel Ikeda’s Knowledge of and Involvement in the RSBDP:

"In the summer of 2008, . . . Stephens spoke with the legal department, which began looking into [a] suspect contract. Shortly thereafter, Stephens and a lawyer in the SPS legal department hired the Sutor Group to review the RSBDP’s SWR contracting practices. The Sutor Group only reviewed SWR contracting processes and did not investigate contracting procedures for RSBDP personal services contracts. Likewise, the investigation did not examine whether there was fraud or any other illegality, such as the use of 'kickbacks,' even though the SPS legal counsel acknowledged that those issues were an obvious concern. It was Stephens who dictated that the [January 15, 2009] Sutor Group investigation would be limited to the scope described above." Page 5, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

"On March 2, 2009, the Executive Management Team apparently discussed the [1/09] Sutor Group Report. An e-mail from Ikeda attaching minutes from this meeting is attached . . . . As noted above, Ikeda refused to be interviewed, so we were not able to ask him about this briefing." Page 7, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

– A reader
Anonymous said…
Report to Seattle School Board, Part III, Management Awareness of Problems in the RSBDP, Section E? General Counsel Ikeda’s Knowledge of and Involvement in the RSBDP:

"None of the employees with whom we spoke took their concerns regarding the RSBDP to CFOO Kennedy, Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson, or the SPS Board. All of the employees felt they had acted appropriately by taking their concerns to their direct supervisors. Most of the employees were not familiar with the District’s Ethics Policy or the Whistleblower Policy . . . . In fact, one long term employee within the legal department reported that when Ikeda was the General Counsel and Ethics Compliance Officer, he had a 'closed door policy' and conveyed that he did not wish to have problems brought to him." Page 10, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

"Potter made at least one inaccurate report to the SPS Board regarding RSBDP’s accomplishments in 2007. An attorney with SPS’s legal department raised concerns with Stephens about the accuracy of the results Potter attributed to his program, but was told that it was important for the program to 'look good.' The attorney then took this concern to General Counsel Ikeda, [FN*] who stated that the attorney had fulfilled his obligations by notifying the 'client,' i.e. Stephens, of his concerns about the accuracy of the report, and that there was no need to notify the Board directly. We found no evidence that the report to the Board was corrected, although Stephens recalled telling Potter to change the information." FN*:"As noted above, Ikeda refused to participate in an interview with us. We therefore do not know what he recalls about this conversation [with the legal department attorney under his direct supervision]." Page 12, Report to Seattle School Board on Investigation into RSBDP by Special Ethics Counsel Patty Eakes & Cristin Kent, 2/25/2011.

– A reader
Anonymous said…
If General Counsel Ikeda “refused to participate in an interview” with the Seattle School Board’s Special Ethics Counsel Eakes, did he cooperate with Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag’s Investigation into RSBDP and that office’s current Draft Report on Seattle Public Schools?

"John Cerqui is the District audit liaison for this investigation." Page 46, Record of Work Done, Report to Seattle School Board on Special Investigation into Seattle School District No. 1 (Seattle Public Schools) King County by Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag, 2/2011 draft.

Washington State Auditor Sonntag’s report and supporting documents do show that SPS Senior Assistant General Counsel John Cerqui worked extensively to assist the State Auditor's RSBDP investigation, producing documents, etc. The State Auditor's investigators also interviewed SPS Deputy General Counsel Ron English (and not General Counsel Gary Ikeda?) as part of its factual investigation, so that he could describe his own earlier conversations and interactions concerning Fred Stephens, Silas Potter and the RSBDP.

From the Washington State Auditor's draft 2/2011 report and all its supporting documentation, is there any indication that the State Auditor's investigators ever spoke in person to the Seattle school district's now departed General Counsel Gary Ikeda? Can anybody figure that out? Is it buried somewhere in WSA Sonntag’s draft report or interviews as currently written? If Washington State Auditor Sonntag's investigators did not speak directly with General Counsel Ikeda, why not?

– A reader

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