Wednesday Open Thread
Busy day yesterday and missed Tuesday.
With the release of the boundaries presentation for today's Work Session, we see quite a lot of change. I think the discussion today should be quite interesting.
Still don't see an agenda for Saturday's Board retreat but perhaps the Alliance (who appear to be large and in charge of the retreats) hasn't quite decided what it will be.
Attended the Charter Commission meeting yesterday. They are a brave group trying to get a huge volume of work done but not making a lot of progress. As well, you cannot miss the appearance of the Gates Foundation almost everywhere you turn in the work (they even provided a speaker who some eye-opening things to say).
What's on your mind?
With the release of the boundaries presentation for today's Work Session, we see quite a lot of change. I think the discussion today should be quite interesting.
Still don't see an agenda for Saturday's Board retreat but perhaps the Alliance (who appear to be large and in charge of the retreats) hasn't quite decided what it will be.
Attended the Charter Commission meeting yesterday. They are a brave group trying to get a huge volume of work done but not making a lot of progress. As well, you cannot miss the appearance of the Gates Foundation almost everywhere you turn in the work (they even provided a speaker who some eye-opening things to say).
What's on your mind?
Comments
http://www.seattlepi.com/lists/slideshow/Washington-s-kids-Private-school-enrollment-63385.php#Washington-s-kids-Private-school-enrollment-63385/photo-4697532.php
Curious
We have capacity management problems and many, many schools are full including the Option schools.
For gifted programming, you have to test in during October.
You might contact Enrollment for more details.
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/pilot-test/
GMG
I can barely wrap my head around the boundaries info and now this? I suspect this is probably something serious and is going to fly right under the radar.
Curious, you can also note that the bigger the district (or wealthier), the higher the number. That percentage has many factors, not just what district you are in.
Interestingly, the district's long-time construction management consultant is (wisely) veering away from the costly, duplicative GC/CM alternative contracting method for new construction. A new CM firm, SOJ, is recommending that process for W-P. I say, go hard-bid and manage the work effectively!
Reasons we went private for K-8 for both kids: too much gambling for what school you would get (my eldest is a junior), too much standardized testing, too much media and commercialization in the public schools, and no sense of community. My son was in Cub Scouts at Bryant and I can remember how just walking into the school was an over stimulating assault on the senses even for a jaded adult.
Now my eldest is in private high school while my youngest is in public high school. My eldest chose private because of the math program and standardized testing in the public high school. My youngest chose public high school because of wanting a change so my youngest is at Nathan Hale and we have been very happy with Nathan Hale itself but not so happy with the district headquarter's choices at times ie MAP testing.
HP
HP
reader
That is an embarrassing vote of no-confidence by Seattle parents. Those parents going private instead of putting their time and donations into public schools is also a huge loss of resources for those of us in the public schools. You would think Seattle Public Schools would consider this one of the biggest problems they have, but I don't think it is even on their radar.
Public, understand a couple of things.
1) this has been going on for decades
2) there is a big "name brand" issue for many parents in Seattle - Lakeside, Bush, etc.
3) then, there are parents sending kids to religious schools
That SPS is full at this point speaks to the point that they might not even be able to take that many more students.
That said, I'd like to see that number down by 10 points but that has never been an SPS priority.
On behalf of the Nathan Hale Lacrosse Club, we want our Nathan Hale family to be aware that tonight's game(5/29), the Division II boys lacrosse state semifinal playoff match between Nathan Hale and Ballard will be televised. Here is a link to the information on how to watch the a replay of the game if you are a Comcast customer.
Comcast to air Wednesday’s Ballard, Nathan Hale boys lacrosse state semifinal | Washington State Prep LacrosseWashington State Prep Lacrosse
Tonight's game is at 5 pm at Summit Field.
Thanks
Nathan Hale Lacrosse Club
HP
Yes, I had read here that Ingraham was disaffiliating from the WSPTA. I think it is highly likely that Nathan Hale will too. They sited politics and cost being the two reasons to disaffiliate. Nathan Hale has a separate group that raises funds for the school, Nathan Hale Foundation so WSPTA is kind of pointless for the Nathan Hale PTA to belong to.
HP
http://www.geekwire.com/2013/state-education-suck/
Some interesting tidbits regarding the federal High School Graduation Initi:
Some of Phil Brockman's time was inappropriately charged to the grant - $30K
District used over $200K of the grant funds to pay for software upgrades, site and computer license fees.
The Exec Dir of System Integration was charged ($16K) in July and August, even though no grant approved activities were performed during that time.