Seattle Schools This Week

Monday, March 11th
Curriculum&Instruction Committee meeting, 4-5:30 p.m.
Hey, they're going to discuss Advanced Learning; I'm calling this one a "must attend."  Also, they will be discussing a math adoption timeline.   I appreciate an agenda that doesn't look like overreach on the part of how much a committee can get done and discussed in the time available.

Tuesday, March 12
Special Education Advocacy&Advisory Council Meeting from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 13th
Executive Committee meeting, 8:30-10:00 am.  Agenda.   Review of agendas for upcoming Board meetings, "timeline for community engagement for BEX projects", Race&Equity PD training request, Strategic Plan.  Wish I could go to this one.

Operations Committee meeting, 10:30 am- noon.  Agenda.  Discussion seems to be around construction contracts and technology plan.

Oversight Work Session - Human Resources, 4-5:3-0 p.m. Agenda. 
This is a basic overview of the entire department.  Note: this will end on-time as they have an Executive Session right after it.

Thursday, March 14th
Audit&Finance Committee meeting - Finance.  Agenda.
Basic financials that includes 2013-2014 budget development.

Friday, March 15th
No School

Saturday, March 16th
Community Meeting with Director Martin-Morris from 9:30-11:30 am at Diva Espresso at 80th and Lake City Way.
Community Meeting with Director DeBell from 9-11 am at Caffe Appassionato, 4001 21st Ave W.

Also to note, the Assistance League is offering Enrichment Scholarships for Summer 2013.  This is open to middle and high school students, grades 6-11 in SPS.

Almost any area in which students display a keen interest will be considered. Exceptions not covered by the program include religious studies, sports exclusive camps, foreign study or exchange programs, private lessons or any transportation affiliated with a program.

Last year we awarded 70 summer scholarships for a total of $32,000 to students in seventeen of the Seattle School District middle and high schools. This year we hope to hear from all the schools and even more students.

If you know a youth that would benefit from the assistance of a scholarship toward their summer program of choice, please direct them to our site for the application form. Our goal is to enrich their interests and efforts with a monetary reward.

The deadline for applications is Monday, April 8, 2013. Please click HERE to download the application package. 

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need help:
Mickey Sweeney at msweeneym@comcast.net or Carol Singler at simone4@comcast.net

Comments

Anonymous said…
First agenda link is a gorilla reunion. Intentional?

-I like gorillas, too
3/11/13, 9:49 AM
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
3/11/13, 10:41 AM
Melissa Westbrook said…
Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting:

http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/school%20board/committees/C&I/2012-13/20130311_Agenda_C&I.pdf

The Advanced Learning topic is Policy 2190. The original policy had wording about not expanding the number self contained program sites and "In the event of substantial disrict wide enrollment growth, such program sites shall be distributed geographically and among clusters to provide equitable opportunities for program access." The new policy strikes out the language above.

Next time, a name please.

Well, this is interesting as (1) I had to hunt down the policy because it is not at the Board Policy page and (2) as the comment says, the wording around program sites is gone.

3/11/13, 10:51 AM
Anonymous said…
HSPE testing at Nathan Hale this week. Is that true for all high schools?

I am confused about this test. Do all 10th, 11th and 12th graders take it or do 10th graders take and then only those who don't pass the first time take it again?

Thanks,
HP
3/11/13, 10:59 AM
mirmac1 said…
Interesting that the HR Oversight presentation makes no mention of the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent investigating teachers like Jon Greenburg. One would think that is their primary duty.

The list of contracts is incomplete. Besides employment lawyer Curman Sebree, there are personal service contracts for other individuals and well over $50K paid to the city Ethics and Elections Commission.
3/11/13, 11:08 AM
Anonymous said…
Link to HSPE exam dates (from OSPI):

http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/StateTesting/HSPE.aspx

Writing and reading are scheduled for this week; math and biology EOC's are scheduled for May 6 - Jun 21.

fyi
3/11/13, 11:12 AM
Anonymous said…
All 10th graders must test HSPE in Writing and Reading. Any 11th graders who have not already passed would also be testing. Those who have passed are excused from testing.

-- A Building Testing Coordinator from a Neighboring District
3/11/13, 4:18 PM
Anonymous said…
* Any 11th AND 12th graders.

Typing too fast.

-- A Building Testing Coordinator who's had a long day.
3/11/13, 4:19 PM
Anonymous said…
There is a nice set of photos in today's Seattle Times on the Ballard High School production of the Sound of Music.

http://seattletimes.com/html/picturethis/2020531558_ballard_high_singalong_sound_of_music.html

-proud mama
3/11/13, 5:00 PM
Charlie Mas said…
Mel and I were both at the C & I meeting this afternoon. Not much to report. There was a half hour of discussion about the Advanced Learning Policy which brought the status right back to where it was in July.
3/11/13, 7:51 PM
mirmac1 said…
I would venture that I am in the minority in thinking an AP discussion doesn't require mandatory attendance...
3/11/13, 8:16 PM
Anonymous said…
Charlie, 'brings it right back to where the policy was in July'

Pardon my total confusion: so what is the policy NOW? Does this mean they can (as oppose to 'will') break up APP middle school further into bits because absolute enrollment in the District as a whole is growing? Did the Committee even mention program
Integrity?
--confused
3/11/13, 11:09 PM
Melissa Westbrook said…
Boy, did that meeting make me mad.

I'll probably do another thread because Advanced Learning parents need to know what was said (and not said and not done).

The absolute truth in this district about advanced learning is that it is 98% lip service.

And, I will never defend Bob Vaughan again.
3/12/13, 1:28 PM
suep. said…
Sadly, Melissa, I think a lot of AL parents are also coming to this conclusion. But yes, please do start a new thread on this. Do you feel that AL also needs new leadership?
3/12/13, 2:06 PM
Charlie Mas said…
confused wrote: "Charlie, 'brings it right back to where the policy was in July'

Pardon my total confusion: so what is the policy NOW?"

The current policy is still the same as it has been since 1994, D12.00.

It is, however, suspended. The Board voted to suspend the policy on January 29, 2009. So I guess that for the past four years there has been no functional policy. Then again, I doubt any of the Board members are aware of the fact that the policy has been suspended.

And, of course, in the end, the policy doesn't matter since no one in the district leadership feels constrained by policy.
3/12/13, 4:55 PM
marufhosen said…
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4/26/13, 8:27 PM
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