Seattle Schools This Week

Update: A&F Tuesday meeting agenda.    

The minutes from the previous meeting reveal that the next district audit will include Ballard High and Special Education.  (The previous audit included Garfield and guess what?  They were found to have several volunteers not screened or had no application at all. )

Also, the Internal Auditor, Andrew Medina, said this:

Mr. Medina spoke about an additional finding for personal service contracts (PSC). He noted that there have been instances where work started before the PSC is approved, as well as sole-source contracts that lack adequate supporting justification. Mr. Medina also noted a lack of administrative procedures, an employee handbook, and clear channels of communication. The audit also cited that the District lacks procedures covering the delegation of purchase approvals to administrative staff. 

Ms. Technow listed some of the forms, contracts and checkout lists currently in place, noting it is typically the same departments allowing work to begin before contracts are finalized. 

For anyone new to the district, understand these are concerns that have been going on for years.  Why do they continue?  Because staff knows no one will hold them accountable.  I can remember this issue of personal service contracts (shades of Silas Potter) coming up several times.    And, per Technow's remarks, they even know which departments start work before contracts are approved/finalized.  

Directors noted their disappointment that previously chronicled internal audit findings are recurring. Directors asked about corrective action for individuals and departments not in compliance. 

Really?  They're disappointed?  And, will they actually do anything about that disappointment?  Nope.

On data security:

Mr. Dizon thanked Directors for their recommendation to better protect staff privacy by having restrictions on access to and storage of sensitive information. Directors noted incidences where laptops have been stolen from cars leading to personal identifiable information being compromised. They asked that work be done with the Department of Technology to develop indestructible controls to ensure data cannot be shared or stolen. Directors spoke about systems and controls to protect data and employee training. 

But there are no "indestructible controls" that I know of.  What's odd is that the Work Session on Technology made it sound all under control and Board members didn't do much challenging on that issue.  It's very confusing.

There's also a fascinating section of the A&F minutes about private schools and input from them on Special Ed students they serve. 

End of update. 

Tuesday, September 16th
Audit&Finance Committee Quarterly Audit Meeting, 4:30-6:30 pm.  Agenda not yet available.
As Charlie noted elsewhere, this is the meeting where staff has to report back on various issues raised.  I am hoping to see Director Carr hold some feet to the fire but we'll just have to see.

Wednesday, September 17th
School Board Meeting starting at 4:15 pm.  Agenda

I am aware that the Stop Sexual Harassment group will be attending this meeting (rallying before the meeting and likely to speak/silently protest) about the Garfield field trip incident.

I still take issue with the use of Rental/Lease money into the General Fund budget BEFORE getting the Board's approval.  Even when Director Carr called this out at both the last A&F committee meeting AND the last Board meeting, her words seemed to get a shrug from staff.  I'll state what she also stated: it does not necessarily follow that the Board will continue to approve this money being used for the General Fund.  

As well, staff hasn't said - nor has the Board asked  - one salient question: what are you going to use that $2.6M for? 

This is a Board  resolution and here's the kicker line in that resolution:

WHEREAS, Capital Projects funds are sufficient to meet the demands for new construction and improvements, and

I predict this will pass 7-0 but I also predict that later on - like when people are running for re-election or the district is trying to pass BTA IV - it may come back to haunt them.  (It doesn't make for great governance to say "Oh, this was already in the budget and we passed the budget BEFORE we made this resolution so it was just a pro forma thing."  Nope.)

One interesting item is a change in Board policy around Audience Participation at Board meetings.  Here's one addition;

Further, the Board may schedule special hearings to receive additional public testimony, for topics of special public interest or as required by law.

Good to know because sometimes I believe the Board, on some issues, should take more public input.

However, a change has been made that the Agenda doesn't have to be posted the Friday before the meeting, but three days before the meeting.  Three full days before the meeting would make that Sunday. That's significant because (1) citizens would have less time to read, ponder, and/or give input on the agenda and (2) it's not three business days but just three days. 

There is some irony in one Intro item - the resolution to Congress to reauthorize NCLB (known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act).  The "alternatives" to the Board NOT passing this resolution were a bit droll.

1. Do not approve Resolution 2014/15-5. This is not recommended because this resolution is designed to highlight and support the desire of school districts to reauthorize the Act. Failure to pass the resolution will mean that Seattle Public Schools remains silent on this issue. 

But what is great is what the Resolution says (mincing no words) - basically, Congress, your law stinks, it hasn't worked and get off your butts and revise it. 

Also on the Intro list is an agreement with Mathematica Policy Research on "data-driven instruction."  The district has agreed to work with this group and eight schools will be participating.  The "treatment" group of schools will be Schmitz Park, Arbor Heights, Sandpoint and Leschi.  The "business as usual" group will be Hazel Wolf K-8, B.F. Day, Alki and Northgate.  This work would start in December 2014.

From the BAR:

Although data-driven instruction is receiving increased attention as a promising approach to improving student achievement, there is little evidence of its effectiveness. In September 2012, the Education Department engaged Mathematica as the prime contractor to conduct this important study (Contract No. ED-IES-12-C-0086), which will evaluate the impact of data- driven instruction on student achievement and other outcomes. 

The schools selected to participate were identified using state summative assessment data. Schools falling into Seattle Public Schools segmentation levels 2, 3 and 4, with a large number of students scoring a level 2 on the Measurement of School Progress, were put forward for consideration.

I guess this is okay.  (Good news; the student data privacy protections are actually much better than usual.)  

There is also a RttT item around Prek-grade 3.  I'm going to save that item for a separate discussion.  

There is an item for hiring a Sped "educational consultant" for between $400K-500K.  There is no person/company named for this item yet but the Background Info section of this BAR says that the RFP closed on September 5, 2014 and there were two applications received.  The decision has to be made by September 30th but the Board won't vote on this until Oct 1 (they are hoping OSPI is okay with this).  

Good news - another Intro item is the acceptance of a grant for nearly $850K for an emergency response system and training of staff to use it.  This sounds really great as it would use a schools version of the system that the City of Seattle (including police and fire) already use.  It would put the district in-sync with them (the district calls this "having the same Common Operating Picture solution.") 

Also in good news, is the BAR for the acceptance of an Energy Efficiency Grant from OSPI for $500K.   Along with other BTA III funds, this grant will be used for "a green project and mechanical upgrades for Adams Elementary.  (Yes, that does seem like a lot of money directed at just one school but they are putting in a geothermal ground source heat pump system.)

Thursday, September 18th
Operations Committee meeting.  The meeting is from 4:30-6:30 pm.  Agenda not yet available.

Executive Committee Meeting of the Whole from 6:30-7:30 pm.  I don't know for certain what this is about but I suspect it might be to discuss their guidelines around looking for a new superintendent.  

Saturday, September 20th
Community meeting with Director Peters at the Magnolia Library from 11am-1 pm.