Tuesday Open Thread
Went to the "State of the District" event yesterday hosted by the Alliance for Education and sponsored by Group Health. (I'm sort of kidding about the the sponsorship but somebody paid for that.) There were some interesting things said from the Superintendent (frank talk, very long and a reference to God), Mayor (how many times can he say "collaboration" until you realize that it may just be a talking point) and Washington State Teacher of the Year (tests are NOT everything but he likes Common Core).
You will not hear all this today when the Superintendent gives his speech again at JSCEE at 4 pm. It's a 20 minute speech. Also, no food or wine for you as at the Alliance event (but I was rushing out the door to see David Sedaris so I didn't get any either).
All part of the SPS puzzle (especially around enrollment) - the City announces community open houses around housing. (What? no love for West Seattle or NW Seattle.)
South Seattle
Ethiopian Community Center
8323 Rainier Ave S
Wednesday, November 19, 20146 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Central District
Garfield Community Center
2323 E Cherry St
Thursday, November 20, 20146 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Northgate
Olympic View Elementary School
504 NE 95th St
Thursday, December 04, 20146 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Learn more: http://bit.ly/seahousing
Good article from The Atlantic Monthly on national graduation rates.
Last year, 86 percent of students took home high school diplomas, while only 7 percent dropped out—down from 13 percent two decades ago, according to Census Bureau data.
The national average reflects improvements across all demographics but is boosted by significant gains among black and especially Latino high-schoolers.
What's on your mind?
You will not hear all this today when the Superintendent gives his speech again at JSCEE at 4 pm. It's a 20 minute speech. Also, no food or wine for you as at the Alliance event (but I was rushing out the door to see David Sedaris so I didn't get any either).
All part of the SPS puzzle (especially around enrollment) - the City announces community open houses around housing. (What? no love for West Seattle or NW Seattle.)
South Seattle
Ethiopian Community Center
8323 Rainier Ave S
Wednesday, November 19, 20146 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Central District
Garfield Community Center
2323 E Cherry St
Thursday, November 20, 20146 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Northgate
Olympic View Elementary School
504 NE 95th St
Thursday, December 04, 20146 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Learn more: http://bit.ly/seahousing
Good article from The Atlantic Monthly on national graduation rates.
Last year, 86 percent of students took home high school diplomas, while only 7 percent dropped out—down from 13 percent two decades ago, according to Census Bureau data.
The national average reflects improvements across all demographics but is boosted by significant gains among black and especially Latino high-schoolers.
What's on your mind?
Comments
Does anyone know what the policy is for girls to be allowed to compete at another school (ie: Roosevelt), or if they are just out of luck?
Seems like they should have an opportunity to compete, especially since it seems like the administration really hasn't put a lot of effort into recruiting a coach.
They didn't have one last year either, but the Roosevelt coach allowed them to come to Roosevelt and she coached both teams. The situation was not ideal; however, it allowed them to compete. She apparently is no longer there, so that option is not on the table.
GHS also asked about the girls joining Hale, but were told "No thanks" by the Hale team.
My daughter is upset, understandably, so just wanted to reach out to see if anyone has run into this situation before.
-GHS Gymnast Parent
This is yet another black mark for Howard's leadership and I say you kick up a Title IX huge fuss.
One idea for you since Howard seemingly cares less is to contact UW for recent gymnastics alums and local gyms for their coaches. Coaches don't make very much. Surely there's someone wanting some extra money. Local gyms could view the use of one of their own parttime employees - paid by Garfield for Garfield activities of course -- as a way to turn around and get more business for their gyms during private lessons or clinics using the public school contacts as their base.
What a disappointment to hear Garfield does not value this Strong Girl sport.
---competition mom---
I would go to both Ex Directors on this one and Eric McCurdy, Athletic Director and ask.
As well, I agree on the Title IX issues. GHS leadership would need to provide that they work as hard on girls' sports as boys.
- concerned mom
Let's remember the 'special 3 person Spanish class - he set up for Tony Wroten. Skated out of that one too.
If there really are 30 qualified girls ready to compete in gymnastics Howard himself or his delegate needs to get off their butt and get this situation fixed. It's solvable.
An additional idea: Someone needs to call the Seattle Times sports desk. Immediately. This is a great story for a columnist to chomp on.
Aghast
tami
HP
HP
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/18/school-districts-sexual-assault_n_6154386.html
HP
The trip to Roosevelt took 45 minutes on the bus and the girls were sometimes late to practice. Ballard would be even further.
We suggested talking to Holy Names, but not sure what happened with that....I will follow up.
We will keep trying, but as it is already the second week of the season and the girls need 15 practices to be eligible to compete, we are becoming resigned to the fact that it is a done deal.
Thanks for the support though - and justifying my outrage and disappointment.
-GHS Gymnast Parent
Very sorry Garfield is not supporting these girls.
The Garfield coach position was advertised at Seattle Gymnastics Academy. It is hard to get a coach from there or the UW because all gymnasts compete in the Winter so if they are coaching or participating on a team elsewhere, it is hard to add another team to coach. Roosevelt was without a coach until very recently.
Right. I know from experience that hiring school coaches and specialists for the small number of workday hours under consideration can be difficult under the best of circumstances. I'm not sure if that is the problem in this case, but I wouldn't necessarily jump to the conclusion that there isn't support for a gymnastics team.
Perhaps this spotlight on the issue might help the recruiting. I hope so.
-sps mom
There's West Side Gymnastics in West Seattle, Metropolitan in Kent, Seattle Rhythmic (may know of coaches who do more than rhythmic)...
I agree that you wouldn't see admin just throwing their hands up and calling defeat if this were a football, basketball, or baseball team. How about making sure that the compensation being offered to the gymnastics coaches is comparable to that of coaches of other sports? I'm guessing there is a big difference and closing that gap might make the part-time position more worthwhile.
Double-agree that this slack would never happen with a boy-centric sport. Is there really no way to ensure the Garfield athletics department gives it an acceptable portion of due diligence?
Level 5
Those concerned about bus rides, wouldn't Hale be even further? I wonder if they talked to the coach for Ingraham. Ingraham doesn't practice at Hale until 5:30 or 6 after Hale practices. Currently Hale's team is 46 girls so no room for 30 more gymnasts. I am not sure how big the Ingraham team is but it is usually smaller than Hale's.
HP
We were told that the SGA coaches are not allowed to coach high school if they have any contact with the high school girls outside of season - it is against policy for them to do both...?
Thanks for any and all help.
-Leslie
curious
HP
Historically Eckstein had 3 lunches including a split period. Not sure what they are doing this year.
-hs parent
The Baseball coach at Garfield has made it clear that he can have absolutely no "baseball" contact with the boys off season. They can do physical training - but cannot pick up a baseball when he is around.
I think coaches are breaking this rule all over the district and in private schools. It is not being enforced too much for any sport.
Another issue that came up during this gymnastics coach search is the fact that high school athletes should not be participating/being coached by their club coaches during high school season. I know for a fact that the girls swimmers all over the district are attending club practices during season. Again - another rule that is being broken widespread, so everyone is keeping "hush, hush" about it.
I have been learning all kind of fun things during this process.
-GHS Gymnast Parent
Another issue that came up during this gymnastics coach search is the fact that high school athletes should not be participating/being coached by their club coaches during high school season. I know for a fact that the girls swimmers all over the district are attending club practices during season. Again - another rule that is being broken widespread, so everyone is keeping "hush, hush" about it.
This is true for gymnasts too. There is a JROlympic gymnast on Holy Names team who still attends team practice at SGA as well as HS practice in Kent. We were told that as long as she attends all high school team practices that what she does in her off time is her business. My own kid has attended cheer tumbling at SGA before Hale got its spring floor. She is only attending Hale's practice during the season but goes to SGA in the off season.
It doesn't seem fair that Garfield would be denied a coach for one rule when others are being flouted.
HP
Part of the problem may be the pay. Being a high school coach is a labor of love. I was paid $2200 for the season. I put in a lot of time outside of the gym: organizing and running a large invitational, planning practices,travel time,time at very long gymnastics meets,etc. I figured out I was making around $2/hour when outside time was taken into account.
20+ years later, the position pays $0-3300 season, depending on the number of athletes. Club coaches at least make minimum wage.
One more thought, club practices will overlap high school practices and meets. So the coach would have to choose between club and high school during the season. Most likely, their club position would not be waiting for them when the high school season wrapped up.
Here's part of the position description from the Seattle Schools site:
Gymnastics Head Coach – Winter Season. Requirements: Must have a valid Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR and First Aid certification and have taken or scheduled the Adult Sexual Misconduct Class provided by Seattle Public Schools at least within 2 months of hire date. Stipend range is $0.00-$3,313.00.
All coaches are volunteers until allocations have been received and is determined by the number of participants on the team.
-LP