SW Growth Boundaries Open Thread
Let's hear your thoughts (I haven't read them yet.)
Tuesday Open Thread
The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested. It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio. (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Comments
Also the Geozone around K-5 STEM doesn't include the area right around Boren, but goes way up the hill to Highpoint.
It's like they don't realize that we're a hilly neighborhood are just looking at the flat map.
-K8
http://westseattleblog.com/2013/10/west-seattle-schools-next-draft-of-proposed-boundaries-goes-public/
-K8
There has been a lot of talk lately about the inequitable make-up of the FACMAC group. This is clear evidence why. The only people on FACMAC from the SW region are Schmitz Park parents. And guess what? The Schmitz Park boundaries basically got changed back to EXACTLY what they have always been- although it makes no sense because now that school is moving several blocks south. WHAT? So they were able to represent their community and have influence over who remains at that school- it's pretty clear that there was very little consideration to the geographic area west of California that is now supposed to go to Fairmont Park. Seriously? Most of us can SEE the new Genesee Hill site from our homes. Beach Drive kids are going to WALK UP and cross 2 main arterials to go to school? Most of this area was already switched once to go to Alki (also completely un-walkable.) The new boundaries finally made sense... walk the big kids to school, take the little ones to Ercolini Park on the way home. Because there has been no one to represent themselves from the Fairmont Park boundaries at the meetings, because we had no idea what they were going to be, and WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED that our neighborhood would be placed there. They can make this change with no challenge. Try to walk THIS area on the "walking tour". I was actually starting to think things were making sense from the district. Not so much!!
My name is Carl Sweetland (Schmitz Park/Madison Parent; FACMAC member). Both Fiona Preedy (Schmitz Park/Washington Parent; FACMAC member) and I took 30+ hours to review and submit our thoughts on the boundary lines in West Seattle and to attend several of the regional meetings. Every inch of the boundary 1.0 lines were driven. During that process we called out arterials, topography, communities and so forth. Some of our suggestions may have been considered, and many definitely were not. When we did our review we had a louder voice advocating for the schools with little representation (West Seattle Elem; Denny feeder schools, etc). We too called out the problem with finger-like projection down to Delridge; we suggested that Beach Drive feed to Alki, not up the hill to Genesee; We thought that east of California should go to Fairmount & west of California (somewhere south of the junction) would feed south to Gatewood; and so on.
Being part of FACMAC give both Fiona and I a lens to better understand all the challenges around setting boundaries. The District truly is trying to keep communities together while balancing the enrollment (and projected enrollment) into the schools that the students are attending.
I’m truly sorry that you feel that we are not representing ALL of West Seattle. I should also clarify, my role on the committee is as a technical advisor, not a regional representative. I work for Bellevue School District and do similar work there. My focus is more on the data, models and suggestions on how to best present the challenges. All this being said, at the end of the day, FACMAC only gives advice/acting as a sounding board before the District brings there suggestions to the Board/Public.
Sincerely, Carl
North Delridge Mom
CT