The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested. It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio. (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Comments
Texas Schools Cope as Classes Expand and Staffs Shrink
Every minute is accounted for in her meticulously planned workdays. To some extent, that is true every school year. But last fall, for the first time in her 12 years of teaching, 23 students were enrolled in her San Antonio elementary school class — making those minutes even more precious.
Many Texas teachers have found themselves in a similar predicament. Texas Education Agency data for the 2011-12 school year show that the number of elementary classes exceeding the 22-student cap has soared to 8,479 from 2,238 last school year.
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WA state has large class sizes, needs a longer school year and longer school day for many students ..... and Rodney Tom comes up with charters and the Guv is all for Value Added measures incorporated into teacher evaluations.
The WA School System needs fixing ... unfortunately the needed fixing is not even discussed by the politicians.
I'm looking for a district in which central admin/school admin/teachers are all on the same page. Although they may disagree about the route, they're all heading towards the same destination (hopefully NOT Testville).
Any districts I should focus on (or avoid like the plague)? I live in north Seattle, so up to Everett-ish, maybe down to Highline, and no 520 or 90.
SpEd can be a stressful job, and I really don't want the extra stress of a combative work environment. Plus, I can put up with a lot of poo if I know admin has my back, and I know I'm going to be dealing with a lot of that (paperwork/procedures/etc-NOT the kiddos ).
It's not something I can really ask about at job interviews, and I know there's a lot of involved people here, so even if you don't know about other districts, I figure you can at least point me to places where I can find the info I'm looking for.
Thank you :)
Rachel
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More McClure mess (unedited):
From: Pritchett, Sarah J
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 2:19 PM
Over the last week there has been a lot of communication regarding ASB and
Yearbook being taught during the day as opposed to an after school club.
As I stated in previous emails, what a teacher teaches during the day rest with
the principal to make the final decision, however I feel that my choice and
reasoning behind my decision making has been misrepresented. Which has
caused the need to clarify and articulate.
My decision to place both of these programs into our schedule is based on
what is in the best interest of students; which sadly has been absent in most
of the comments that I have heard regarding the example schedule, i.e. "why
should this person get that and not me", "that's money I use for vacation", "I
don't like that person", etc . This process has been frustrating for everyone,
including myself, but we must keep our focus on students. Students must
be in the center of every decision we make.
Over the five years that I have been here I have had the opportunity to
see growth in our WEB program even beyond my expectation. By having a class
during the day every day, students have been able to gain valuable leadership
experience and training. The WEB leaders have developed their identity
and have become an indispensable part of our McClure community.
During that same time I have seen our ASB's growth become stagnant. I
believe that those students who run for ASB and who are class representatives need
leadership training, beyond once or twice a week after school. We have
the responsibility to our students to create the best opportunities for them
and having leadership training throughout the year will provide that
opportunity. This year our yearbook program almost dissolved completely, and now
students are scrambling to salvage our yearbook. This is not ok, if we have the
ability to have students have a guaranteed class during the school day to do this
work throughout the year and come with a phenomenal project it is my/our
responsibility to make that happen.
Sarah Pritchett, Principal
McClure Middle School
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Where to begin?
1 - The completely unprofessional approach to staff.
2 - The illiterate writing and composition.
3 - The preemptive use of power with apparently no over-sight.
4 - The promotion of social engineering over academics.
5 - Substantial budget resources spent on turning after-school activities into year-long full-time quasi academic classes. (Why not a language or art class or, hey, grammar instruction?)
6 - The lack of the district waiver process to institute curriculum changes.
7 - The lack of state standards for the creation of new “social engineering" classes during the academic day. How are teachers going to legally grade a WEB or ASB class without standards?
This is so off-the-wall even for Sarah.
-McClureWatcher
sss.westbrook@gmail.com
Student council was also a "class period" - for the same reasonings - there were a lot of things that dealt with writing, reading, poli sci etc that were imparted in that venue.
I know zero abou the situation re: McClure - I'm just saying it's not that unusual for those kinds of programs to happen within the class schedule time period - at least it used to be lonnnnnng ago ;o)
Better yet you could ask Sarah herself.
And all the info available so far is in the email.
-McClureWatcher
So is it the case that kids who want to do yearbook or run for student government will have to use their elective periods to participate? Will it be possible for kids to do Foreign Language and Music AND ASB or yearbook (or 'WEB'?) How many kids are on ASB at McClure, is it enough to fill a class? It seems like it would be hard to schedule 28-32 ASB reps over three grade levels all into the same period (same with yearbook) in order to make this type of thing cost effective.
-befuddled
I'm not even sure what the big overall issue is. That's why I asked you to write to me for clarification so maybe I could go and talk with the principal.
But I'm not debating something I don't understand nor am I writing a thread about it.
The Washington State principal's association endorses a strong leadership curriculum for both Middle and High school students. The programs differ for the level. Here's a link to check out
http://www.awsp.org/Content/awsp/StudentLeadership/Resources/Publications/default.htm
Having been a Middle Leadership and Yearbook teacher, it is not uncommon for those classes to be held during the school day. The amount of work it takes to produce a Yearbook cannot be done solely afterschool. Additionally, a well run Leadership program can make a big difference in school climate, students learning social skills, etc.
It sounds as if there is a disgruntled employee complaining making something out of nothing.
Please help us understand what the concern is.
Also, while some may think EVERYONE should be a perfect writer, unfortunately none of us are perfect. :0
"Charters are not about saving money but about spending it more intelligently."
Whaaa?
Then the piece demands that Frank Chopp push the charter bill. This is after the governor has said she absolutely will not accept charters and that they are not to be part of the budget.
There are a whole slew of other demands, too. It's a classic. There's a reason the Times editorial writers have never won a Pulitzer.
-skeptical-
http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-11/news/31145463_1_city-charter-schools-vanguard-schools-education-secretary-ronald-tomalis
Anonymous said...
Not sure if anyone saw this - more cheating, this time in Philadelphia. 20% of the schools affected, including 50% of their high achieving ones, plus three charters.
http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-11/news/31145463_1_city-charter-schools-vanguard-schools-education-secretary-ronald-tomalis
3/17/12 3:00 AM
--enough already
"• Allowing charter schools (SB 6202, Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue).
This would allow 10 charter schools, all in districts with persistently failing public schools. Charters are not about saving money but about spending it more intelligently."
And her observation about some not putting the kids first might be correct, given that the person who posted the email thinking it would damage her was a recipient, and likely on staff. That worries me more about the teaching staff than it does the principal.
Just sayin'
SLP2
I've been subbing up there a good bit, and my impression has been pretty favorable! Nothing that weirds me out on the union space in the staff rooms, and most of the people I've met have been really awesome and welcoming :).
So a random question-what's with the no Smartboards? The projectors are great, but they're a million times more great with Smartboards. Plus, you get at least 3 years of increased student involvment because they really really want to touch the board and if they're not paying attention, they don't get to touch!
Rachel
HOw Much Specialer Will it Get?
"...the debate over whether the Democrats are reform school enough rages on. Personally, and no one’s asking me, this discussion is long overdue here. Thank a small pink unicorn for the arrival of Democrats for Education Reform..."
HOw Much Specialer Will it Get?
"...the debate over whether the Democrats are reform school enough rages on. Personally, and no one’s asking me, this discussion is long overdue here. Thank a small pink unicorn for the arrival of Democrats for Education Reform..."
The issue for me is that WEB (a "leadership" class where a bunch of kids get picked to be "leaders", Where Everybody Belongs), ASB, and yearbook - are not classes that are going to have very many kids. And, right, they are NOT academic. When my kid is sitting in 38 kid classrooms for core subjects and we have these little boutique classes - doing very little - dedicated to what should really be a "club"... then you are relugating academics to a distant second priority by having the largest middle school classes in the whole district, especially for language arts. I mean really. It is pretty infuriating. And to think... we are wasting our LA and reading specialists on this baloney, it's just ridiculous.
What do the kids DO in ASB? Not much. It's a "club". How about WEB - a bunch of eight graders prance around the building wearing special shirts. They do a few tours. They run a few homeroom activities. Yearbook? Same with yearbook. This should definitely be a club. You think a bunch of kids are "saving the yearbook"? No. That is parents and staff. No, there isn't a lot of reading or writing or thinking or anything in these "electives". It was meant to save money by not spending on afterschool. Why not just ask the PTSA for this nominal amount?
OK - Just sayin. What you're considering is 38 kids per class. That IS pretty mediocre and it in no way "puts students first". And, how is it that "you're considering" this? Open enrollment is over. Either you signed up, or you didn't. But, if that's what you like, then I guess you will be pleased.
Another McClure Parent
I could totally back these classes if we could really afford it. In an obvious, bizarre cost saving measure - we are bring these classes back into the school day. We save a little money by NOT funding them at the very little they cost as afterschool programs. That was the real driving force for sure. BUT then - these classes will be taught by teachers who are really credentialed in core subjects. Therefore, those teachers will teach fewer core subjects than they could have. The results of that, inevitably, will be another year of HUGE classes.
So a few leadership etc classes AND HUGE classes vs offering these as after-school programs.
The other tremendous downside with having these enrichment activities be during the school day - many students will not be able to participate... due to their schedules. How fair is that? You want to be a "leader"? Too bad, you're in band. You can't take Spanish AND yearbook. Another: too bad.
We saved a few dimes to get even larger classes and exclude a lot of students from what could be worthwhile.
Another McClure Parent
Jane
One question, tho', AMP: You write that these classes are "meant to save money by not spending on afterschool."
But by having these small classes, isn't McClure spending FTE on them? If there were two sections of each, that's a full time cert, about $75,000 give or take.
Oh, wait, I see - they don't have to spend more money if they crowd other classes. Never mind, I get it.
Hmmm....
But try the Customer Service website or call 206 252 0010 between 7:30 and 4:30 weekdays.
Hope the below works for you...
If not - it is available on the Transportation page.
Link to Bell/Bus Times for 2012-2013
http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/transportation/APPROVED2011-2012ARRIVALDEPARTURETIMES%209-6.pdf?sessionid=40dc1697b00cd10ce9593cd61cbc5833
-StepJ
-StepJ
Here's the Link to Bell/Bus Times for 2012-2013 as a live link.
Oh, wait, I see - they don't have to spend more money if they crowd other classes. Never mind, I get it.
No SC, there won't be 2 periods of each. There will be 1 period. It will be available to a limited number of students (problem 1). And yes, they will just massively overcrowd the core subjects to pay for it.(problem 2) Parents won't mind. Will they? They probably will never even know about it. They won't have to have an "afterschool program" available to all. They won't have to pay for an afterschool program. (Hooray!) And, they can have classes of 38 students. Who knows? What really is the limit? Maybe they could even squeeze 45 into an LA, math, or science teacher. Maybe you could get away with just having 1 teacher per core subject. Wouldn't that be cool?
As to these classes (ASB, WEB, yearbook) really being classes - well, that's sort of a secondary question/issue. I'm sure that a great teacher could run them as real classes that were valuable. Who knows? It's speculation.
The real issue is that principals are being allowed to sell our students down the river - in clumps of 38 to a teacher. Where's the union when you need it?
If it is an issue affecting student performance, they seem to care - not so much.
Another McClure Parent
Thank you for the link SC.
-StepJ