What do you want to see on a candidate's platform?
There are now a lot of folks filed as candidates for the upcoming school board elections, including the four incumbents.
They will all say something about what they want to do if elected.
What do YOU want them to do if elected?
They will all say something about what they want to do if elected.
What do YOU want them to do if elected?
Comments
Proof in the pudding parent
I'd add that the budget is a mess and I want to see candidates commit to fixing the budget. In particular, I would like to see any budget allocation for anything that is not a teacher in front of a classroom questioned and cuts to come there first. Money spent in headquarters takes away from money spent in the classroom and needs to be treated that way.
No candidate should just take data/info at face value especially if it is a high priority issue or academic stats or community/school staff input is at odds with what adm staff says.
I want accountability and trasnparency to be more than words.
We need to re-open Fairmount Park as an elementary school.
We need to re-open Wilson-Pacific as a middle school.
We need to re-open John Marshall as the location for north-end elementary APP.
We need to take action to make Pinehurst, Jane Addams, Madrona and Rainier Beach into more attractive choices for families.
We have to start work on these things now - without further delay
We will soon need to re-open Van Asselt as an elementary school.
We will soon need to open another elementary school on the current Denny property.
We will soon need to re-open Lincoln as a high school.
Let's just face up to these facts and start taking some action on them.
Get rid of Discovery and Everyday math.
Terminate anyone involved with MLK sale.
Lowell Parents
The current block of 4 (weak) incumbents didn't look bad in the beginning, when they were running for their seats! In fact, they looked and sounded pretty good overall.
I think big money speaks, but what is the timing on public disclosure of campaign contributions? Will we be able to know far enough in advance who the shills are?
I want candidates who are independently minded.
* push for appropriate education for all students (interventions for struggling students, advanced learning opportunities, special ed services, etc.)
* take the fudiciary responsibilities of the district seriously (properly managing properties and assets)
* not abdicate their oversight responsibilities to the whims of outside donors
* approve quality materials and curriculum that best meet state standards and provide for a solid, well-rounded education
* not take the District's cherry-picked data at face-value
* listen and act on parent/teacher concerns
-parent-
They don't have to vote no all the time, but they need to be able to vote no when necessary. They need to vote no when they have unanswered questions, they need to vote no when they haven't been presented with adequate information to perform their oversight duties, and they need to vote no when the proposals make little sense.
Right now it takes it extraordinary circumstances for a board member to vote no.
Even if they don't vote no, the fact that the board member is a credible threat will raise the performance of the staff to make sure they've gathered all the data, and only bring up solid requests.
Pay Them
column and into the realm of reality.
I don't think this is any kind of general consensus. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it was a "mental typo".
KG: it is not enough to ask the question of "which is more important" - central administration or school employees. The current board all paid lip service to sending scarce dollars to schools, instead of downtown. They then proceeded to permit a delayed, opaque budget process that continued to permit the Superintendent and her lieutenants to funnel dollars downtown; they have permitted, without comment, the hiring of more administrators (extra executive directors, extra principals and assistant principals); they have not called the staff on "hiding" coaches and other staff who do not interact with students -- by billing them to schools, even though they work downtown and/or do nothing to actually contribute to student learning (as opposed to teacher micromanagement -- which is what they excel in).
In this budget climate, why are we still spending all this money for coaches, for MAP -- when all these directors "say" they are committed to keeping maximum dollars in classrooms. These are NOT CLASSROOM EXPENSES! (Sorry, don't mean to be shouting at you -- it is hard not to rant in the face of such nonsense).
We need directors who can demonstrate to us that they understand how the board is manipulated and ill served by allowing staff to set timing, agenda, etc. -- and are committed to a change in the process -- NOT just in the priorities.
www.weber4seattleschools.com
I pondered paying full time board positions in a 02MAR2011 thread: I know we aren't rolling in piles of money right now, but could it be time that we finally admit that we need real, paid, full-time board members? Is it time to acknowledge that this district is too much to manage for a handful of well-meaning (possibly unqualified), volunteers that have other jobs and distractions in their lives. Could we get a better pool of candidates if we paid them a salary such that they could afford to work full time cleaning up this mess? Just asking...
I understand a reluctance to throw what may be good money after bad at this problem, but I have to ask if we are simply getting what we pay for? My assumption is that board members get barely enough compensation to make it worthwhile unless they have a passion for some aspect of the job and that they can run for the board if they can fill out the paperwork. One of the old salts can educate us on what compensation board members receive and what the position requirements are (if any).
I think that some board members are there because they have a pet cause that drives them and that other aspects receive less attention. I think that some board members want to follow up/through on things, but really do have a day job that leaves them with little time or energy to deal with SPS. I think it's too easy for board members to be in a position to say to themselves that it's only a part-time commitment or that they don't get paid enough to do all of the research and leg work to keep administration honest. And it's too easy for us to sigh and acknowledge that one member's heart is in the right place, but they don't have the ability to achieve consensus on an issue, or that another member recognizes a problem, but doesn't have the skills or means to identify and fix it.
I'd be very willing to try full-time paid board positions (it would be a drop in the bucket compared to the waste, fraud, and abuse that's been going on), but I'd like to be able to come up with a set of minimum qualifications for applicants, too.
/WV=excess
maybe always the same poster).
People who control or influence district contracts cannot direct that contract to a business in which they have a direct financial interest.
That is the one and only unethical conduct that the Ethics Policy recognizes. That's a pretty narrow definition of ethics. We need a broader one. We need an Ethics Policy that prohibits cronyism - directing contracts to relatives, friends, and associates.
The NWEA contract was not found in violation of the Ethics Policy because although Dr. Goodloe-Johnson was a Director of NWEA and sat on their Board, she was not an officer of NWEA nor did she have a direct financial interest in it.
Maybe not, but it was still dirty.
I have one post and will have my second up soon. If you are interested in my take on the race and what I hope to accomplish if elected then check out my blog. Also, feel free to comment and/or email me directly at cummingsforschoolboard@gmail.com. I'll gladly answer any questions you might have. By the way, you folks are one of the reasons there is hope for Seattle Public Schools. Thanks for keeping the District's feet to the fire.
BTW, I am going to be at the Roy St. Cafe today @ 4:00 for the PAA meeting.
Next - Every time a staff member misses a deadline, I want the district to "miss" a pay check! Third time, fired! That's it . . .you've got a job . . do it! This starts at the board level; DEMAND that the staff do their jobs!
The sentence "I'll have to get back to you on that" should be illegal when applied to an action item. If you don't have the facts, you don't get the vote! Board members: NO VOTE WITHOUT FACTS AND COMMUNITY INPUT!
New Board Members, and I hope there are a lot of you: community engagement isn't just listening, it's responding, and taking action! If a school is projecting 200 students over enrollment, there can not be a "wait and see" attitude!
stu
My name is Terrence Menage and I am one of the candidates to replace Ms. Carr in District II; I would appreciate good people on this blog visiting my website at www.menage4seattlekids.com. I have written a couple of entries on my blog and would welcome comments or questions that can be left on the website.
Much appreciation and gratitude.
Terence