Harium's Re-election Campaign
Director Martin-Morris' campaign is off and running and he has a new website to prove it. There are several striking features to it.
* Refining of a predictable student assignment plan
* Improving the partnership between the city and the district
* Producing district and school report cards
* Reducing the number of redundant and outdated school board policies
This list in an interesting one because I'm not sure any of it (except maybe the NSAP) would fall into my top 5 things I want a director to concentrate on. What's interesting is that he says him staying on the Board would further these items more than if a new person came onto the Board. Except for the partnership with the City (which I don't think is really based on personal relationships in a big way), I'm not sure I agree.
Contrast this with his priorities:
As we move ahead, there are several key priorities for the coming years I plan to work as a board member.
* Ensure we have the capacity to handle the enrollment growth within our district
* Build the framework for the creation of schools of innovation built from our Alternative Schools
* Aid in the creation of the BEX IV levy that supports our capacity needs and the need for updating of some our oldest build
* Streamline board policies that allow for better enforcement and oversight
* Create better and more diverse channel of communicating with our families and citizen about the work of the district
This section is somewhat different than the list on why he should remain on the Board. Several issues:
Even if he has other priorities, it should be pro forma for ANY candidate to say that better academic outcomes for all students is number one on their list.
Harium is currently endorsed by Lauren McGuire (of the SCPTSA but they haven't endorsed him) and Councilpersons Burgess and Clark. Hmm, might have to ask the councilpeople about that.
- He uses a serif font for Seattle School Board where the crossing of the multiple "t" in Seattle goes through the "l". It's a little thing but your eye keeps going there because it reads wrong. (Little things can be big things in a campaign especially in what the public sees.)
- He states this on his home page:
* Refining of a predictable student assignment plan
* Improving the partnership between the city and the district
* Producing district and school report cards
* Reducing the number of redundant and outdated school board policies
This list in an interesting one because I'm not sure any of it (except maybe the NSAP) would fall into my top 5 things I want a director to concentrate on. What's interesting is that he says him staying on the Board would further these items more than if a new person came onto the Board. Except for the partnership with the City (which I don't think is really based on personal relationships in a big way), I'm not sure I agree.
Contrast this with his priorities:
As we move ahead, there are several key priorities for the coming years I plan to work as a board member.
* Ensure we have the capacity to handle the enrollment growth within our district
* Build the framework for the creation of schools of innovation built from our Alternative Schools
* Aid in the creation of the BEX IV levy that supports our capacity needs and the need for updating of some our oldest build
* Streamline board policies that allow for better enforcement and oversight
* Create better and more diverse channel of communicating with our families and citizen about the work of the district
This section is somewhat different than the list on why he should remain on the Board. Several issues:
- the sloppy grammar some of us noticed in the past in Harium's writing on his blog show up here. "create better and more diverse channel of communicating...families and citizens", "updating of some of our oldest build", "..I plan to work as a Board member."
- no definition of "schools of innovation". If this is the district's new mantra, then define it. We never got a definition of quality schools so what's an innovation school. (My idea, that I haven't fleshed out and want to talk to Dr. Enfield about, is for an innovation DISTRICT, not just a few schools.)
- the only overlap between the two lists is streamlining and updating Board policies.
Even if he has other priorities, it should be pro forma for ANY candidate to say that better academic outcomes for all students is number one on their list.
Harium is currently endorsed by Lauren McGuire (of the SCPTSA but they haven't endorsed him) and Councilpersons Burgess and Clark. Hmm, might have to ask the councilpeople about that.
Comments
When Harium unlocks his old blog, voters will be able to see for themselves his commitment to communication. With the blog locked down for no new readers, well that says something as well.
If it is Harium's mistake then that says something. Something not good.
-skeptical-
* Create better and more diverse channel of communicating with our families and citizen about the work of the district.
Harium has far too often sided with Central Admin in opposing the families and citizens.... Often he cherry picked data in an attempt to support indefensible positions so he could push the Admin Agenda.
If an endorsing individual is not representing the organization, he should not be including the name of the organization. Typical of how business gets done.
I wonder if Tony Martinez of the SAO will be endorsing Harium? How about Brian Sontag?
Perhaps MGJ can phone in an endorsement?
Or Brad Bernetek? Maybe Silas Potter?
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I remember that Harium discontinued his Blog because of increased work responsibilities, so why is he running?
They are all for increased communication. Say What?
During the campaign Harium has now written=>
Create better and more diverse channel of communicating .
When it is blog written, it is hard to tell different stories to different folks. Perhaps "more diverse channel" means plural => "more diverse channels" ... it seems like a Blog has a lot more accountability than the normal SPIN FACTORY operated by the SPS.
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I vote for INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY as the really important piece of communication that is needed.
The Slam dunk 22 hour buy-out of about $400,000 instead of waiting for the full facts to be publicly disclosed ..... How did that increase "communication"?
I'd say equally dumb!
Folks,
Don't just sit there. Dash of a quick check (any size) to Michelle Beutow's campaign. Like New Hampshire, any campaign must demonstrate electability. I've put in a few $$.
Mr Ed
http://www.petermaierforschoolboard.com/endorsements/
As you can see, Peter is heavily endorsed. Let's think back to the June 2010 State Auditor's report which stated public assets were at risk; Peter voted to EXTEND MGJ's contract...we all know how that turned out.
Peter has consistently voted for spending at administrative levels while eliminating classroom funding and support.
Peter likes to hide his voting patterns behind the veil of diminishing state funds.
I sure wish our city's leaders and Lauren McGuire had a higher regard for public assets and classroom support. So disappointed.
He is the weakest link of the four up for re-election, and with Peter and Steve in the mix, that's a strong statement. Does he really think he can coast to a re-election in the name of "board stability"?
I am making a donation to Buetow and if someone would get off the pot in West Seattle and NW Seattle they could have my money too.
I wish there were some way that we could put pressure on the elected officials who endorsed these candidates.
I'm not sure how you can endorse a candidate without knowing who is running against them.
Sally Clark at: sally.clark@seattle.gov
Tim Burgess at: tim.burgess@seattle.gov
Bruce Harrell at:
bruce.harrell@seattle.gov
--Spellchecker
I specifically cited Director Martin-Morris' scolding of his Board colleagues on November 17 for the insubordination of actually checking a statement made by Dr. Enfield.
-voter
District Truancy Representative, Drug/ Alcohol Intervention Spec., Family Services Provider, Family Support Worker (not sure why), Instructional Assistant, Interpreter for the Deaf, Re-entry Intervetio Student Assist (4), Substance Awareness Training Specialist, Violece Preventio Specialist and Youth Services Assistant.
Let's not forget about counselors and per pupil funding exiting our schools.
I've included this information a letter to those endorsing pro-ed. reform candidates. Individuals endorsing ed. reform and/or ed. reform candidate needs to take responsibility for losses related to student support.
I HAVE to believe- those endorsing ed. reforming candidates are not fully aware the depth of services exiting our schools.
bleah.
And then there is Kellie LaRue. In a meeting last year I heard her say she supports Buetow's campaign, so someone needs to ask her the same thing. That Harium endorsement page may get an update real soon.
Furthermore, that his support of Director Martin-Morris reflects a very low standard of expectations for elected officials and that I fear that he might hold himself to that very low standard in the performance of his duties on the Council.
Finally, his support of Director Martin-Morris reflects a disdain for public accountability that, if reflected in his practices on the Council, also speaks poorly of how he performs that duty.
It makes me wonder about the authenticity of all of Harium's endorsements.
I believe Harium is a person of intergrity (even if I do not agree with his most recent stances.)
And Lauren is a very sharp lady who most certainly would not misspell her own name.
Something is not quite right.
WV: briver
My 2 cents: Lauren McG is entitled to endorse anyone she wants. It is not SCPTSA endorsing, it is just a person who happens to be its prez, who puts in around 35 hours a week of volunteer time both at her kids' school and for SCPTSA. Stop the whining and get out and volunteer yourselves, then endorse or not as you will. By the way if you are looking for somewhere to volunteer, if you want to spend energy on something real and not just blog spouting, the following schools need your volunteer help: Hawthorne, Wing Luke, Maple, Olympic Hills, Roxhill.
Work not Warble
Why do you presume that no one here volunteers? That's kind of self-righteous of you, wouldn't you say.
It's also rather disingenuous to say that SCPTSA' President Lauren McGuire's endorsement of Martin-Morris doesn't carry with it the implicit possibility that she represents the SCPTSA. Cause she does. That's one of the complications of holding office. She no longer just represents herself. Also, don't you think Harium would especially want her endorsement because of her association and influence with the PTA? It would be naive to assume otherwise. So it's understandable and justified that people on this blog would want to try to decipher the significance of her endorsement.
--Spellchecker
Your assertions are off.
You should do some fact checking.
Community involvement is welcome at the school level, but not at the District level.
The Community involvement that is welcome at the school level is in the form of donations of cash or labor at the direction of the school staff.
Community involvement at the District level is only welcome in the form of cash donations, but not directly. Cash donations at the District level are only welcome if they are funnelled through approved organizations suchs as the Alliance for Education.
I disagree. I think that community involvement should also be at the District level. I think that the work that many of do at the District level is, in fact, work. Budget analysis is work. Policy analysis is work. Reporting on meetings is work. It is all work and work that members of the community should do.