Odds and Ends
Principal movement again: Looks like TOPS is losing its principal Jo Lutz-Ervin, to Lafayette. The current principal of Lafayette, Virginia Turner, is going to Coe. No idea who will lead TOPS.
Congrats to Ballard High for its Fifth Avenue Theater award for Outstanding Orchestra for excellence in High School Musical Theater.
At the Washington State Dems luncheon today, both Governor Gregoire and Senator Ed Murray said that if they had $1 left in the budget, it would have gone to education. $2 - it all would have gone to education. I get that they are sorry but I'm not sure saying that helps.
One School Board candidate has dropped out. According to the Stranger Slog, Michael Maddux, in District 3 (Martin-Morris) has stepped off the list. He has endorsed challenger, Michelle Buetow. "I think Buetow will consider what's best for the kids instead of just what's best for the administration," says Maddux, citing Buteow's positions on textbooks and Teach for America as strong points.
Congrats to Ballard High for its Fifth Avenue Theater award for Outstanding Orchestra for excellence in High School Musical Theater.
At the Washington State Dems luncheon today, both Governor Gregoire and Senator Ed Murray said that if they had $1 left in the budget, it would have gone to education. $2 - it all would have gone to education. I get that they are sorry but I'm not sure saying that helps.
One School Board candidate has dropped out. According to the Stranger Slog, Michael Maddux, in District 3 (Martin-Morris) has stepped off the list. He has endorsed challenger, Michelle Buetow. "I think Buetow will consider what's best for the kids instead of just what's best for the administration," says Maddux, citing Buteow's positions on textbooks and Teach for America as strong points.
Comments
That policy requires the superintendent to get community input before appointing a principal to an alternative school.
The Policy reads:
"School community participates in the selection of instructional, support and administrative staff." The principal is part of the administrative staff of the school.
The Board, charged with the duty to enforce Board Policy, needs to step in now and assure compliance with this policy.
That seems like a lot. .5 FTE for counselors throughout the district was $2.6M.
While I'm no great fan of the current principal's rigid approach to nearly everything, this looks like a vast step downward. The district easily could have chosen a much better principal.
There will be mobs of angry parents gathering with pitchforks in the streets of West Seattle over this. Not necessarily to get Turner back, but to see someone who is a decent principal step into that job, and stop Enfield from ruining Lafayette.
-Steveroo
Mr. Ed
They must really believe good schools run themselves. How else could they make so many stupid moves at schools that work fine for most who attend them? Talk about creating problems where they don't exist. Nuts.
And one more huge reason to fire Sundquist! He represents the district, not his constituents.
WSEADAWG
Forget the $1 and $2 .... these clowns have embraced the adoption of the Common Core State Standards initiative, which will require funding from local school districts ...... to the tune of $165 million over 5 years.
Remember, the achievement "gap" can be closed from either end: Raise the bottoms, or cut off the tops. Either way, admins can claim success and fail upward as they do. WSEADAWG
You do have to wonder sometimes if the district IS trying to run schools into the ground.
Dear TOPS K-8 community,
Today I am announcing a leadership change at TOPS. Your principal, Jo Lute-Ervin, has been appointed as principal of Lafayette Elementary School, effective July 1, 2011. I know Principal Lute-Ervin will be missed at TOPS and I want to thank her for her hard work and dedication to your school.
The TOPS Planned Site Council is holding a meeting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 16 in the TOPS library to discuss the next steps in hiring your new principal. This is a great opportunity for you – staff, students and families – to talk about the qualities of your next instructional leader.
As we move forward to fill this position we will keep you informed of the process. If you are unable to make the meeting, please contact Janis White, Site Council Chair, at xxxx@xxxx.xxx with your feedback.
Thank you for all you do for our students.
Sincerely,
Susan
Susan Enfield, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools
Your comment is very intriguing to me. My kids go to an "L" school that is having some serious issues. I wonder if it's the same one? I am very curious to hear your info.
curious
Nice communication...NOT. How is this any different than a bully knocking your books out from under your arm, just because he can? I'm switching your principals, and there's nothing you can do about it! Ha, ha!
Note to Suzy: This is not community engagement. This is token, cynical, minimally compliant "community engagement" that makes a mockery of what parents want and need. (With a healthy dose of "Kiss my A$$ if you don't like it" tossed in. When is enough disrespect and bullshit enough?
Good grief. Boy-o-Boy, can I not wait for the upcoming elections.
WSEADAWG
Their frustration at the problems in the school is completely misdirected.
Annoyed Middle School Parent
Now, I know that the SSD has a monopoly on "free" schools, so they can ignore the "customers" (the parents) -- but wouldn't it make more sense to have a policy/expectation/whatever -- of many fewer principal changes?
Or is it the case that we want to use "high performing schools" (ah, those smart bricks) as training grounds for new but promising principals, who then can maybe move on to more complicated schools, with stupider bricks and mortar? Is that what we are doing? I can't say I would like it, but I have never been able to ferret out any overarching theme to principal selection and movement in Seattle's schools. I do know that in the much smaller town where I grew up -- principals were in place for decades at all levels. Love em or hate em, families (and teachers) knew JUST what to expect from each school in terms of leadership quality and style.
central parent
I think that if Goodloe-Johnson, Enfield and their scaly winged minions hadn't come along, it wouldn't be nearly so much that way. Yes, the principal was predisposed toward that, but previous administrations' fear-inducing minions weren't quite as craven, and I think it wouldn't have gotten to nearly that point if Goodloe-Johnson hadn't taken control. It makes me all misty-eyed for the good old bad old days.
-Steveroo
Annoyed Middle School Parent
If this is the same principal that was the reason Spectrum moved from Leschi to Muir, parents at Lafayette better grab your marching boots, or its bye-bye Spectrum as you know it.
Charlie! Somebody! Tell me I've got the wrong person. Please! WSEADAWG
I and I'm sure many other Lafayette parents look forward to new leadership and a fresh approach.
Yes, but do you think this particular new principal is someone with the verve and diplomacy to buck the rising tide of centralization, alignment, standardization and testing, and bring freedom and joy to teachers, parents and bored little children everywhere? I would say not.
Maybe Turner bowed too eagerly to the advancing waters. But you might end up with someone who's determined to save herself by mightily heaving buckets of the stuff at you.
That this is someone who has already seen one Spectrum program into the ground is something that Enfield seems to consider trivial or perhaps a plus.
-Steveroo
"Worksheet mania" at Lafayette existed when we did the K-tour 15 years ago (my kid is in college now). The worksheets were a big negative to us as most of the kids looked very bored.
I remember many parents being impressed with how quiet the clasrooms were...maybe the positive benefits of boredom and worksheets are impressive to some but it was not for us. With our 2nd kid (touring 10 years ago) I hoped to see a change, only to hear the mantra that "we teach to the tests"---
allergic to "worksheet mania"
That's a pretty strong accusation about a person's behavior.
Worth pointing out that, to my knowledge, "Ed Doc" and "Doc Ed" are two different people. In fact, I don't recall seeing "Doc Ed" on here before, and I wonder if this is simply an attempt to be inflammatory and strew confusion. Pay attention, y'all.
Things I've read about Lute-Ervin that seem like strengths include her support of music and enrichment programs and alternative education. As the parent of a Spectrum student, I like the fact that one of her kids went through the APP program; it likely means she understands the challenges involved in meeting the needs of so-called highly capable kids. I also like the fact that she supports differentiation in the classroom (which is not, in my experience, incorporated into many teacher's classrooms at Lafayette).
To the point of her working to eliminate the Spectrum program at Leschi...if teachers are differentiating in the classroom, there is no need for a separate, tracked program for so-called highly-capable kids. But that's another philosophical argument altogether.
I hope others can join me in embracing our highly-coveted school's new leadership. It would be a shame not to.
SME2003
Until Tuesday, I am an active Lafayette parent. The issue remains, how the heck much change can a system handle before it collapses into chaos. methinks Enfield and crew are juggling too many balls and should leave well enough alone (actually Lafayette is better than well enough). We've seen where the constant tinkering is costing $$$ and uncertainty among the consumers, namely us.
Shoot, SPS has got bigger problems than leadership at Lafayette (and that wasn't even a problem)! They're looking at pissing away $4.5-$6M to reopen Fairmount Park, closed barely 3 yrs ago. The number of crises would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.
That makes it sound like the TOPS parents are at fault. I can say with all certainty that is not the case. It was very apparent from day one that Ms. Jo Lute-Ervin was not the right person for the job.
If Board policy on assigning a principal to this alternative school had been followed last year TOPS would have had a much better chance of having a successful principal in place.
Most folks I've talked to w kids at WS elementary schools are in favor of re-opening Fairmount Park. Schmitz Park and Lafayette are way over capacity and re-opening FP appears to be a good solution (frankly, they shouldn't have closed it in the first place). I wonder why you think doing so is "pissing away" money.
SME2003
WV: putze
As long as the Board fails to make evidence based decisions the net result will likely be "pissing away" money.
A.. The school closures are but one huge example.
B.. k-12 math program
C.. bonus for Superintendent
D.. Teach for America ... total BS.... as 99.5% of classes taught in Seattle Schools are taught by Highly Qualified teachers .... and the UW application states that TfA is needed because of a chronic teacher shortage.
E.. Facilities planning, remodels, maintenance etc. --- the NSAP mess
-------------------------------
Fairmount Park needs to be reopened because Steve "the tool" ....gave Cooper to Pathfinder. .... ya there is a lot of "pissing away" money .... reelect no one.
Jo Lute-Ervin was extremely unpopular at TOPS, especially among families who'd been there for a long time. I don't necessarily share that view, but I haven't been particularly impressed, either. Hopefully Lafayette will be a better fit for her.
"That makes it sound like the TOPS parents are at fault. I can say with all certainty that is not the case. It was very apparent from day one that Ms. Jo Lute-Ervin was not the right person for the job.
If Board policy on assigning a principal to this alternative school had been followed last year TOPS would have had a much better chance of having a successful principal in place."
I totally concur, and I think it would be wise at this point for Alt school supporters (TOPS, and non-TOPS) to email both the Superintendent AND the Board members to point out that the failure to follow Alt policies last time was NOT ONLY a breach of a Board policy (and a breach of faith with Seattle school parents, who rely on the Board to follow and enforce those policies), it was ALSO a failure -- for PRECISELY the reasons that the policy exists.
Many schools have strong parent groups -- but Alt schools in particular are likely to have, and foster, strong vocal parent groups in support of their alt missions and styles. That was why the policy existed in the first place -- to make sure that those schools got administrators who fit.
That MGJ was a fool (and worse) is ground we don't need to cover again. SE needs to reset this one to zero -- and do it right, according to the policy -- this time around. I am heartened by the fact that her press announcement indicated that she would be meeting with the school. I am also heartened by the Floe reversal, as it gives some hope that she has the maturity, self-confidence, and wisdom to realize that following well-thought-out policies, ones that exist to make students successful, and their parents happy, does not weaken her or threaten her "authority" -- which always seemed to be one of the many problems with her predecessor.
The posting of the new/revised policy should be made the Friday before the vote.
SPS parent
While anything is possible, I do not understand how one teacher could teach 3 different levels at once, or teach effectively to three different levels devoting 20 minutes to each, per hour.
If there's a practicing teacher doing this right now, I want to hear from you, rather than PhD's and former educators. I want to hear it from somebody in the trenches.
So please, somebody, explain to me how this is all possible "if teachers are doing their jobs, correctly and 'differentiating' properly."
How do you get around the problem of "less time and attention for all" when you mix groups working at different grade levels? How does it help a struggling kid below grade level when teach can only spend 15 minutes of an hour with them, instead of 60?
Seems to me its alwasy easier to work with cohesive groups with less differences in abilities between them, versus more. Easier to do lesson plans and targeted interventions for too.
Somebody educate me on this, because it makes no sense to me at all. WSEADAWG
WSEADAWG
The reason given was that staff's going to take another look at the policy and submit a possible revised version for the next meeting.
SPS parent
Parent
Elementary Mom
It is not likely to improve. Jo Lute was sent to TOPS at the same time MGJ sent three other "challenging principals" to other schools. The folks at McGilvra organized quickly, played hard ball, enforced rules and their do-nothing principal was replaced in 4 months.
However, TOPS played nice, since their people are so nice and they had Jo Lute for two years.
I would not bet on anything changing without lots of parent organization and as you know, that is exhausting.
- been there, done that.