Updates
Reminder: sign-ups for the School Board meeting next Tuesday (not Wednesday because of the 4th of July holiday) are tomorrow, Friday the 29th starting at 8 am. The agenda is not yet available.
Call 252-0040 or boardagenda@seattleschools.org
This will be the first "official" Board meeting for Superintendent Banda. I note that there has been discussion here over the K-5 STEM program, late-breaking principal placements and our favorite, the math curriculum. This is a good opportunity to get his attention.
There is also a Executive Committee of the Whole today from 5:10-6:30 p.m. It could be quite interesting.
Speaking of Banda, the event in his honor at El Centro de la Raza (with the Alliance) was very nice. I realize now that the Alliance needed a head count as they generously served food and drink. It was a big crowd when full (I'd say at least 200+ people). The Mayor attended as did Michael DeBell, Sherry Carr, Kay Smith-Blum and I think Director Martin-Morris.
There were a few interesting comments from the speakers.
Sara Morris, head of the Alliance - "Bringing communities together" has been the Alliance's bedrock. Really? I would not have thought that at all, at any time in the Alliance's history and particularly not now.
Tom Stritikus, Dean of the College of Ed at UW - He chose, for whatever reason, to give his entire speech in Spanish. It was at a Latino group's building but as Estela Ortega said, it was room that was a rainbow of diversity. I thought it odd but I believe the Dean wanted to make public a link with Banda but I think it was off-putting to many (at least three people asked me what was up with it).
Michael DeBell - Also spoke some Spanish but switched back to English. He talked about Banda's ""journey to Seattle" and how Banda was the "CEO" of the district. He asked the crowd to give him time to "make connections, to allow him to learn what he needs to know."
Jose Banda - Relaxed, friendly, good at making connections. He stood for at least an hour, greeting everyone who stood in line to meet him. It was a great start.
Call 252-0040 or boardagenda@seattleschools.org
This will be the first "official" Board meeting for Superintendent Banda. I note that there has been discussion here over the K-5 STEM program, late-breaking principal placements and our favorite, the math curriculum. This is a good opportunity to get his attention.
There is also a Executive Committee of the Whole today from 5:10-6:30 p.m. It could be quite interesting.
Speaking of Banda, the event in his honor at El Centro de la Raza (with the Alliance) was very nice. I realize now that the Alliance needed a head count as they generously served food and drink. It was a big crowd when full (I'd say at least 200+ people). The Mayor attended as did Michael DeBell, Sherry Carr, Kay Smith-Blum and I think Director Martin-Morris.
There were a few interesting comments from the speakers.
Sara Morris, head of the Alliance - "Bringing communities together" has been the Alliance's bedrock. Really? I would not have thought that at all, at any time in the Alliance's history and particularly not now.
Tom Stritikus, Dean of the College of Ed at UW - He chose, for whatever reason, to give his entire speech in Spanish. It was at a Latino group's building but as Estela Ortega said, it was room that was a rainbow of diversity. I thought it odd but I believe the Dean wanted to make public a link with Banda but I think it was off-putting to many (at least three people asked me what was up with it).
Michael DeBell - Also spoke some Spanish but switched back to English. He talked about Banda's ""journey to Seattle" and how Banda was the "CEO" of the district. He asked the crowd to give him time to "make connections, to allow him to learn what he needs to know."
Jose Banda - Relaxed, friendly, good at making connections. He stood for at least an hour, greeting everyone who stood in line to meet him. It was a great start.
Comments
Thank you
Carol
Can you be specific?
Parent
They were all there when I arrived at about 5:30. The meeting ran late - til nearly 7:00 - and Mel and Dorothy left around the scheduled end time.
I stayed for the discussion of the program placement policy.
The meeting was pretty unremarkable and it would be difficult to offer any sort of report. As for the discussion of the program placement policy, the board seemed much more concerned that they be forewarned about program placement changes, such as the Middle College to Boren, than they were concerned about the process being open, fair, or honest.
I don't get the sense that the Board directors really understand or appreciate the critical elements of the issues before them.
or 425-891-6705
It was because of your monitoring and speaking to the Board directly that they did not pass the motion and withdrew it. Thank you. Melissa, I will be so interested in the Race and Equity discussion at the C and I committee meeting. Did they do or say anything of substance?
Thank you
Carol
Helen Schinske
http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/school%20board/11-12%20agendas/070312agenda/20120703_Agenda.pdf?sessionid=52d15e0276a8343143ae99e5539f0832
On a Mac keyboard it is shift/option/? — have no clue where it is on a PC.
¿Dónde está la biblioteca?
Solvay Girl
Try the HTML iquest character. That should work with any keyboard.
I'm offended and I wasn't there. For years people have ASSumed I speak Spanish based on appearance. Once they know me they understand that brown has it's variations thanks, but I speak English fluently. Tagalog and Spanglish came later.
Never ASSume a language based on color or appearance. I think most folks understand this. DeBell and Stritikus? Mr Banda knows all he needs to know about these two. They're a joke.
Mr White
Stritikus and DeBell? You're not my homies.
Mr White
gringo