FYI on School-Level Concerns
Some of you SPS parents may not be aware but there is a procedure to follow if you have aschool-level concern and if you don't follow it, you may be spinning in circles (without knowing why).
Here's a link to our SPS Ombudsman page that gives many helpful details.
I put this forth because a parent from one school got up at the most recent Board meeting and said that 22 parents had phoned Superintendent Banda with a concern and he hadn't answered one call.
As it turns out, he couldn't. There is a clause in the principals' contract that says a chain of command has to be followed and district staff have to first allow principals the opportunity to solve their own problems.
Meaning, if you have a teacher problem, go to the teacher first.
If you have a principal problem, go to the principal first.
THEN, you can get district staff involved.
You can, of course, always write to the the principal and also cc staff and/or the Board (and I recommend that always).
But you need to start at the school level first.
Here's a link to our SPS Ombudsman page that gives many helpful details.
I put this forth because a parent from one school got up at the most recent Board meeting and said that 22 parents had phoned Superintendent Banda with a concern and he hadn't answered one call.
As it turns out, he couldn't. There is a clause in the principals' contract that says a chain of command has to be followed and district staff have to first allow principals the opportunity to solve their own problems.
Meaning, if you have a teacher problem, go to the teacher first.
If you have a principal problem, go to the principal first.
THEN, you can get district staff involved.
You can, of course, always write to the the principal and also cc staff and/or the Board (and I recommend that always).
But you need to start at the school level first.
Comments
That used to be considered really petty and unacceptable behavior. When did this change?
So many molehills get turned into mountains this way -- stuff like calls from a parent to the superintendent about a school secretary who reportedly said a certain child isn't allowed to eat lunch anymore. When, in fact, the secretary loaned the student money because he/she forgot theirs and simply said, "please repay it tomorrow so we can use it to pay for another student to eat lunch."
When people start playing the "telephone game" things get mistranslated and blown out of proportion.
I know parents aren't the only ones. Even teachers do it now with each other. Instead of one colleague asking another to switch times for using a computer lab, they will immediately run to the principal ordering a switch because that time is the only time their class can use it.
Just ask first!! We're all human being and we're all in it together.
I've even seen cases where parents immediately filed complaints with the ombudsman and/or OSPI about the most simple, basic misunderstandings that could have been solved by a phone call.
MGJ died.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Report-Former-Seattle-superintendent-Goodloe-Johnson-182285691.html
-- Kat
Sped staffer (who appreciates the chain of command but understands the frustration of parents).
For special education students and families there is no chain of command. That is a fact. That is why special education families should ALWAYS start with the School Board and the Superintendent until he and they fix this situation.
The whole chain of command thing is nonsense where special education is concerned.
Frustrated NE parent
Erika Ayers, Daniel Bagely. Also, Stacey McCrath both when she was a principal and in her new role. That woman works her butt off, approaches things from a perspective of helping kids, and doesn't treat parents as the enemy. I am not a Polyana, but I can't deny how hard at least these two women try.
-CM
Ok that's 2. Out of ... ?
Any others?
FNEP
-CM
- reader
per SPS policy in cases of abuse and theft for example, concerned public or parents are directed to take it to the principal first.- especially if child safety is part of the concern ( even if it's a classroom , and not school wide issue)
This is good sense too, as it allows the admin, ostenisbly, to fairly investigate the matter before tipping off the potentially criminal employee. I don't know if policy and principal contracts are in conflict here...
I had a situation at my neighborhood elementary school where the teacher, principal and ombudsman all had three different takes on the policy, and argued about which was correct -- leaving me wondering why no one was worried about the kids first & foremost...
N.seattleparent
-CM