Friday Open Thread
It looks to be a busy day in Seattle Public Schools. Banda is now officially going to Sacramento (and boy, that lack of enthusiasm from the Sacramento Bee) and we await the discussion/announcement today of an interim who is likely to be in place for the next 6-9 months.
I have found out some interesting things about one of the potential interim candidates that I will post in a separate thread. I can only say that anyone chosen needs to devote their entire attention to this district and not other outside work. That's the least an interim can do.
There are no Board community meetings tomorrow.
I'll put in a plug for a great (and free) outing for the family, namely, the Olympic Sculpture Park. They have summer events on Thursday evenings and Saturdays. We went last night and it was fun to look at the huge sculptures, lots of room for kids to run and play, live music, food trucks and art projects for the kids. (Only the food trucks cost money but you could also bring a picnic.) Stellar views as well.
What's on your mind?
I have found out some interesting things about one of the potential interim candidates that I will post in a separate thread. I can only say that anyone chosen needs to devote their entire attention to this district and not other outside work. That's the least an interim can do.
There are no Board community meetings tomorrow.
I'll put in a plug for a great (and free) outing for the family, namely, the Olympic Sculpture Park. They have summer events on Thursday evenings and Saturdays. We went last night and it was fun to look at the huge sculptures, lots of room for kids to run and play, live music, food trucks and art projects for the kids. (Only the food trucks cost money but you could also bring a picnic.) Stellar views as well.
What's on your mind?
Comments
Photo album from a recent visit:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joebehr/sets/72157644667961429
Stunning. You think there aren't little hidden pots of money that staff has no hesitation in using for less-than-SPS uses? You'd be wrong.
There are people working in this district who are on a mission but who's calling the shots? That's up for debate.
Maybe we need to have that debate BEFORE any new permanent superintendent comes on.
Here's hoping we don't see Principal Greg Domingos or Superintendent Steve Bodnar or T/L Scott Nieman applying in Seattle Schools.
How many students does Marysville have? Waiting for press conference - TV stream indicates it will be broadcast?
Leslie
-west seattle parent
http://seattletimes.com/html/education/2024071216_edlablakeridgemathxml.html
The district holds back funding from our classrooms.
I very much look forward to seeing these e-mails and subsequent discussion.
Is there a mechanism to access Scribd?
Julian says click here:
www.scribd.com/SPSLeaks. I suggest you save it as a favority.
The Pre-junket emails are here
Why does the district feel it ok to use funding to support the city's initiative? We don't receive dollars from the city to support early learning.
It is beyond a stretch for the district to fund the city's preschool program and consider the city's program as part of the "Strategic Plan".
Isn't it weird that the district spent $13K sending the principal from Graham Hill, S. Shore and others on the east coast trip to visit preschools? Isn't it weird that the city didn't pay for this trip? Isn't it weird that Codd recommended funds from the Strategic Plan?
Isn't it weird that the district considers the city's plan as part of the Strategic Plan, when we only receive funding from the feds and state?
Isn't it weird that Charles Wright is the go-to guy and the board hasn't been briefed on preschool for all? Any chance Wright is Gate's gatekeeper?
Isn't it weird that Wright didn't mention preschool for all on his "to do" list at the Board Retreat?
Isn't it weird that district officials are meeting with the Gates foundation?
Isn't it weird that LEV advocates for the district leading the preschool professional development effors- even in the community?
Isn't it weird that the city rejects the district's preschool funding model because it is too high and recommends that rental fees will cover costs?
Isn't it weird that Gates and LEV knows more about the city's preschool program than the board?
The district receives federal and state dollars for early learning. We should not be contributing K-12 dollars, from the Strategic Plan for the city's preschool for all program--especially when it means flying, feeding and housing multiple people to Boston, New Jersey and Washington DC.
Burgess took folks to DC to meet the Pooh= Bahs. The delegation met with someone below Arne Duncan and representatives. They all must have felt very important on the taxpayers dime.
Charles Wright is the Gatekeeper, here.
Good golly!
Did Wright approve expenditure to Ypsilanti?
It is pretty stunning.
I have already let the State Auditor know about this issue.
There are some truly dangerous people with agendas at JSCEE.
In the right
Thank you so much for reporting these expenditures to the State Auditor. The district is trying to fund preschool as part of the Strategic Plan. Over the past 6 years, the district had to close a budget gap of $125M and the state is under a court order to fund K-12.
I hope there are FOIA requests between Burgess, Wright, League of Education Voters and contacts from the Gates Foundation.
The district created a funding model which was rejected by the city.
It is absolutely outrageous that preschool hasn't been heard in Audit and Finance, operations and C&I. It is absolutely outrageous that the board has not been briefed on this issue.
But a couple of e-mails stated that the City wanted to see buy-in from the district via money (just like TFA).
For a non-core mission of the district? I don't think so.