Seattle Schools This Week

Tuesday,  July 30th
Charter Commission Meeting, 10 am - 5 pm in Tacoma.  Tacoma Public Schools, Central Administration Building, 601 South 8th Street, Tacoma. Agenda not yet available but I do know a couple of things:

- Public Hearing on proposed rules: Tuesday, July 30 from 10:15am to 11:15am.  Written comments can also be submitted to RaShelle Davis by mail or email before Monday August 19, 2013 to the following addresses: PO Box 43113, Olympia, WA 98504 or rashelle.davis@gov.wa.gov
- After both the Public Hearing and Public Comment period (from 11:15 am to 11:30 am), the Commission will go into Executive Sessions from 11:40am on.

A bit troubling is that the first Executive Session is about "potential litigation" about the Commission and/or a member.  That seems quick for a group that hasn't existed even a year.

Then there are four Executive Sessions to discuss the candidates for Executive Director.  I am not happy to say that one of them is a former Alliance for Education person.

So if you are interested in attending, the meeting is only open to the public in the morning and then for about 10 minutes at the end of the day. 

The Rainier Beach Boys and Girls Club is hosting Superintendent Banda for a discussion of student discipline.  It's from 5:30-7:00 pm at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club., 4520 MLK, Jr. Way South.

Jane Addams K-8 Project Meeting about the Pinehurst building project from 7-8:30 pm @ Jane Addams.  
The meeting will be presented by representatives of Seattle Public Schools capital projects team and the architect and will include information about the project’s early design progress. You will be able to learn more about the project scope, schedule, and design explorations and ask questions. We hope that you can join us! For more information, please visit: http://bex.seattleschools.org.







Comments

mirmac1 said…
From Director McLaren:

Happy summer, all. I hope you and your families are enjoying this lovely weather.

The decisions about Seattle Schools Growth Boundaries in West Seattle will be very important for our community, and I’ve scheduled two informal West Seattle meetings so that community members can gather to discuss the issues:

Saturday, August 3, from 10 to 12 noon at the Southwest Branch Library, 9010 35th Ave SW

Wednesday, August 14, 6 to 7:45 PM at the West Seattle Branch Library, 2306 42nd SW (behind the Metropolitan Market)


If you are concerned about capacity, particularly in the Fairmount Park area, I recommend that you attend.
Eric B said…
There is already a lawsuit filed on the charter law, so it seems reasonable that the commission would be concerned about being involved in that lawsuit or another one if they haven't been named already. That's not to say that there isn't another issue, but there are non-concerning reasons as well.
Anonymous said…
Just a clarification that the Jane Addams meeting is concerning the K-8 design at the Pinehurst site, not the design of the Jane Addams Middle School.

~clarity
mirmac1 said…
Which reminds me. Lots of snarky comments about $$ at Pinehurst last week, led by Carr and DeBell. Sorry.

I also noticed the snide remarks regarding special ed costs were toned down. I didn't have to go ballistic. Maybe sped parents are getting through.
Clarity, thanks. I updated that.
Patrick said…
When are JA K-8 and JAMS going to get different names? Who's going to keep the JA name?
Anonymous said…
mirmac1,

What do you think about K-5 STEM's placement at Schmitz Park? I think the Hughes building would be a better spot - it's more centrally located for the families currently attending STEM. They're interested in Boren too - but I think we'll need it for high school seats pretty soon.

Just wondering what someone outside of STEM is thinking .

Lynn
John S said…
Last I heard, Jane Addams Middle School will keep the name with the building, and the K-8 at Pinehurst is working on a name.
mirmac1 said…
Hi Lynn,

I've expressed my opinion before on this. I think a STEM-focused school is an option and should be treated as such, with a geozone and transportation. Typically, "central location" is not a deal-killer (WS is not that big, I know because I live in the south end and my child matriculates in the north end).

Schmitz Park is ideal for an option school because enrollment can be controlled (vs. a neighborhood school). The Schmitz family are insistent that the property they granted SPS remain a school.

I believe EC Hughes will soon need to be used as a neighborhood school. WS Elem is crammed, and the super-sized Arbor Heights will only be able to take some of Roxhill's enrollment (yes, because the district will again try to dissolve Roxhill).

Finally, I would prefer to invest in improved math and science in all schools (particularly at MS-level), then focusing on a boutique effort.

Just my opinion. Thanks for asking.
Anonymous said…
As posted on the Pinehurst (neighborhood) blog:

Conceptual Design for the new JA K-8 @ Pinehurst building:

http://bex.seattleschools.org/assets/bexiv/13P37-ConceptualDesign.pdf

-Kermit
Watching said…
Melissa,

Can you expand about potential litagation regarding the Charter Commission? Who will be paying the fees?

Yes, it is a bit early for litagation. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Watching, I have no idea what it's about - that's why they have Executive Sessions. Who will pay for the legal fees? Well, it's a governmental entity so that would be you and me.

FYI, the Commission was approved for $9016k over the biennium for their work by the Legislature (they had wanted about $.12M but seem satisfied with what they got).
dan dempsey said…
About the math in the post above...
Clarification of the numbers needed...

FYI, the Commission was approved for $9016k over the biennium for their work by the Legislature (they had wanted about $.12M but seem satisfied with what they got).

$.12M => $120,000
$9016k => $9,106,000

Must be pesky decimal points?

If I expected $120,000 and received $9 million ... I'd be really happy.
Sorry, $916,000 for the biennium when they wanted about $1.2M.
dan dempsey said…
This comment has been removed by the author.

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