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
Looking at the history of alternative ed in Seattle is rather interesting.
Whatever happened to the Seahawk Academy?
Why did Marshall close exactly?
What was the reasoning for the Summit K-12 closure
Why did South Lake and South Shore get such maginificant buildings why Rainier Beach sits under-utilized.
Why was Sharples closed and re-named Aki Kurose another under utilized school?
Why was Madrona re-built its logistics are terrible for housing a K-8 yet was?
What was Operation Skyway? Is it still that?
What is the difference between the Middle Colleges and the Interagencies?
Why was Meany closed? Why did they integrate the World School and Nova there?
Why was Lincoln closed and yet the building lives on?
What is Pathfinder? Whatever happened to the Native American school?
Where is Pinehurst aka Licton Springs going as the old Jane Addams now Hazel Wolf is going in that building?
Lots of money poors into these programs, building sites and closures only to re-open them?
Who is accountable?
_ Just Curious
Testing. Testing.
New chart outlines High school test, pretty clearly I might add.
http://tinyurl.com/o4b6jac
Except for a couple of things:
*Tenth-graders in the graduation classes of 2017 and 2018 who score high enough on the Smarter Balanced ELA will not need to take the test again in 11th grade.
What is high enough?
And:
In 2014-15, Washington state requires all juniors to take Smarter Balanced tests, the state assessments in ELA and math that match our College and
Career Readiness Standards (Common Core). These tests help teachers measure how well students are meeting these standards.
Do 11th graders have to sit for this test to earn a diploma? Or is this just a way to get students sit for the test just to "test the test" before it is required at 11th grade to graduate? (starting in 2019)
I can't speak to all the others, but "Just Curious", it is Opportunity Skyway, part of the Interagency program. My son was a student there many years ago and it saved his life and turned him around. He was inspired by one of his instructors to not only take up welding but to join the military and is a successful young adult now. I believe back then King County was also involved-I don't know if that is still the case. Whatever the district spends at this school, it is worth it. Lives are saved.
Grateful
HP
Is that the program there today? Is that what is going on in Operation Skyway right now in Georgetown?
Visited it lately? Know anyone who is enrolled there today?
-Just Curious
Interesting part is what my student told me he was told about why they switched. He said the district was sued by parents of students with visual impairment, because Fusion is inaccessible for the visually impaired. And the district knew that when they chose Fusion. The switch only applies to Garfield and Washington because those are the schools attended by the students of the family. The notice we got specifically stated "As an added benefit, the new site is now fully ADA-accessible."
I don't know if the district plans to roll out the new system to all schools, but I would say if you have a child unable to use Fusion due to disabilities, you might want to make some phone calls.
The manner in which proposed division of district is uncertain. It is possible for district to be split by "grades".
Gerry Pollet asked about expectation of involving community. Tomiko Santos answer was basically- nothing. A task force will be assigned; the state will use the Educational Service district. The ESD report and recommendation to be given to the Legislature.
It is time for Tomiko-Santos to be voted- out of office. The lack of respect for community is shameful.
Hugs, Melissa.
Fed Up
Themes revolved around the fact that we are not having a discussion. The abuse of the "emergency clause" would make this bill a law, and there has been a stunning lack of community involvement.
Last night Tomiko-Santos's district voted inopposition to HB 2048
Grateful
Of course, that SPS tech head is long gone, the superintendent's full staff has turned over a couple of times, and the project was awarded to a company who did not at that time nor at any time since provide the federally mandated service.
Anyone who works at the intersection of tech and govt.-funded education knows that the site should have been ADA compliant. SPS shirked its duty and deserved to be sued. Sadly, this means hundreds of hours of wasted time and potentially tens of thousands of dollars of wasted money redoing the site yet again, not to mention the inevitable horrid customer service that will happen when the user interface changes again, documents are "disappeared" from the existing site, yadda yadda.
Insider
"Why is it that every time a witness testifies, Dick Cheney has his hand on their back and his water glass in front of his mouth?"
Great visual for what's going on here? Who actually wrote these bills, with who's consult, input and direction? LEV? Stand for Children? Or that mysterious new org DeBell is now part of? WSDWG
Ken Goetch showed-up to testify on HB 2048,It was very nice of him to make the trek to Olympia. Unfortunately, he wasn't one of the lucky few to make it into the TEN minute comment period. I would have liked to hear a fiscal analysis.
She's told me that you can zoom in on the Smarter Balanced tests as they took a practice one a couple months ago.
NE Mom of 3
Woefully_bad_at _math
"Each year, serious injuries are inflicted on school staff
by special education students whose violent behavior
is often substantially related to or caused by their
disability. In the past several years, MEA members
have suffered injuries including broken teeth, scratched
corneas, dislocated jaws, disabling spinal injuries, bites,
scratches, and bruises, among others. Among the
primary reasons that teachers and paras are repeatedly
injured by the same student is misunderstanding on
the part of the school district about whether students
with disabilities can be removed for safety reasons. Even if a staff person’s injuries do not require medical
attention, where the aggressive behavior is repeated
throughout the day, every day, the constant anxiety
associated with the fear of the being hurt causes
teachers and other staff to suffer psychological injury
and burnout.If any student, whether in special or regular education,
attacks any staff member, the staff member may report
the attack to police and can seek to press charges
against the student, whether or not the attack resulted
in physical injury. Staff may also call police if they
witness an attack by a student.
Similarly, if any student threatens the staff member or
someone else, the staff member may call the police to
report the threat.Injuries, both physical and psychological, to staff
and students by special education students must not
be tolerated. The degree to which public schools
provide a safe teaching and learning environment
depends on a number of factors, including 1) whether
administrators, staff, parents and communities
remain in a state of denial about violent behavior and
the injuries inflicted on others by special education
students because of their disabilities; 2) the degree to
which school administrators and staff work together to find solutions rather than tolerate violent special
education students’ behaviors; 3) the education of the
community about the existence of special education
student’s violent behaviors and the resulting injuries
to staff and students; 4) the determination of the
community to provide the programs, resources, and
personnel with sufficient appropriate expertise to
teach students to stop violent behaviors; and 5) the
willingness and ability of school districts to make
available the continuum of placements for special
education students required under the IDEA."
Seattle Public Schools you need to do a better job of teaching your Special Education Students and stop putting them into situations that put the safety of teachers and the regular ed students at risk. Tell the district to do the right things and fund our schools so that this violence will stop. We parents will fight to make this right. Stop setting up schools, teachers, special ed for failure and creating a scary and fearful environment for all of our children. End this now. Get off your and start taking this seriously. Now.
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025668796_charterdeadlinexml.html
I was stunned to learn recently that no immunization compliance is required by SPS. They send out notices to let you know about required/missing shots and ask for a form to be returned to prove the vaccinations have been administered, but they don't do anything beyond that. Why not?
Our rates could be as low as those in many of the schools listed on the Colorado site for all we know. My friend has a daughter with a compromised immune system, and they learned through this site that her school has a 37% compliance rate. They're now reluctantly looking at changing schools.
If anyone knows of a compliance list for Washington state, please post it.
-SPS parent
http://co.chalkbeat.org/2015/02/09/immunization-database/#.VNt3wy5BEXj
-SPS parent
Enfield is grooming it. In the Seattle Times today she is quoted as saying "Our job now is to find a solution to our overcrowding that is least harmful to our students...we will have to consider portables on play fields, double-shifting, and busing students out of their neighborhoods." Ouch! Maybe you can go back to DC and get some advice. Or... you could see if Seattle will split in two and share!
-my crazy ideas come true too often
My deepest condolences to you and your family. Unfathomable your loss and please know there are many in this community sending heartfelt wishes to you. Beyond sorry for your loss.
SPS facebook page and the Times had posts recently. Is this what you want?
http://publichealthinsider.com/2015/02/06/look-up-immunization-levels-in-your-neighborhood/
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2015/02/04/explore-this-vaccine-exemption-rates-for-every-washington-school/
other sites
https://data.kingcounty.gov/dataset/K-12-Immunization-Coverage-by-Most-Recent-School-R/h2ef-byuh
-katydid
I think you are taking that quote out of context. Enfield was talking about how to handle the district growth in relation to the two failed bond measures.
If voters won't pony up to build or refurbish schools to make room for students, the district needs to find other solutions. I see nothing sinister in her response.
What solutions would you have on the table if you were in this position?
This is true, I'm heading to court this Friday. Again, SPS failed to comply with an order from the OCR, twice. Now SPS will possibly paying 2-3 hundred thousand dollars, plus punitive damages. We attempted to settle asking only for SPS to follow the law, they refused and now they will most likely pay and also lose a few teachers for at least 6 months. Bad Risk Management points straight at SPS legal.
Risk Management
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2015/02/04/vaccine-exemptions-exceed-10-at-dozens-of-seattle-area-schools/
Cold Elephant
--waste not
--waste not
-SPS parent
Second Use has salvaged 44 pallets of glass blocks from the Chief Sealth High School gym. 8/3/11
or this:
THIS BLACKBOARD was salvaged by the RE Store from Garfield High School's chemistry labs as part of the school's major renovation, completed two years ago. The school opened in 1923, and this piece is likely just as old. 9/25/10
???
Hamilton Middle School (2008)
Garfield High School (2006)
Cleveland High School (2005)
Roosevelt High School (2004)
Madison Middle School (2003)
http://re-store.org/salvage-services/salvage-work-history-cv/
???
As a couple posters point out, this has happened under Sundquist's 'leadership'. A heaping helping of We Told You Sos from this blog's longtime readers seems in order today.
DistrictWatcher
Mom of 4
If it's in the dumpster than does that mean someone can just go rescue it? Weird.
reader47
If charters as currently allowed in WA are supposed to solve our problems, then where's the money required to make this work? If you continue starving public schools while introducing competition for the same pool of funds, with a built in kick back, you're not aiming to "fix" the problem.
We have an ongoing, institutional refusal to fully fund education. We solve nothing by accepting this refusal as the best way to educate a successful society.
Westside
Also, I really wish that the descriptions of the Middle College program were better. Our daughter's current academic counselor describes it as for bright, committed students who want a smaller, alternative setting. The websites for MC describe the program for "at-risk" kids--which is not what my daughter is. Gack.
Thanks,
Roosevelt Mom
It is interesting to note that Murray seeks to hire Jesus Aguirre as Superintendent of {arks.
It is interesting to note that Murray's pick- Arguirre- was a former science teacher, has executive experience with Teach for America in NY, owned a charter school- which was closed due to federal non compliance, worked under Michelle Rhee in operations and was appointed Superintendent of Education in DC.
Interesting choice.
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2015/02/jesus-aguirre-is-seattle-mayors-nominee-for-new-parks-department-superintendent/#.VNu0uM4y6Dg.facebook
Are you kidding me? Is it April 1 already?
Later start times for high school?
Nope.
You have a better chance winning a lottery.
President Peaslee totally snowed everyone with her babble last year. However, she did manage to screw up bell times for those on the last tier. And, deny a middle school from starting on the appropriate tier (all so that she could move her precious K8 from the 1st tier - where elementaries belong - to the middle tier - SWEET!).
With Director Carr in charge (what staff wants, staff gets) (oooh! the money, the money!), no bell time 'flip' is going to happen anytime soon. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
But, all of the sleep doctors, keep plugging away. You are on the side of the angles. Eventually, they will get it right, but, not without skillful, credentialed advocates.
Thank
MCHS are at risk kids, kids who do not like conventional academics. They do most of their work online and have a self directed concept of what they need to finish to graduate.
Each of them have slightly different approaches and that allows for some variation of a theme. But they are Interagency "lite" meaning less at risk more tuned out to conventional settings academically.
- In the know
westie
Catherine makes an excellent point. Another reason to disallow the mayor of Seattle- Ed Murray- from appointing school board members.
Of course, we know that he is carrying-out the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the League of Education voters.
Is it the intention of Ed Murray to use the parks and recreation department to install charter school prek programs?
I've noticed that a lot of local schools news that should have been covered (capacity, has not been as this "solutions journalism" approach seems to restrict the coverage to aspirational topics.
Anyone else looking for our local paper of record to actually do some regular education reporting?
FYI
Re Just Curious and Alternative Schools:
What is the difference between the Middle Colleges and the Interagencies?
Re Roosevelt Mom: "Also, I really wish that the descriptions of the Middle College program were better. Our daughter's current academic counselor describes it as for bright, committed students who want a smaller, alternative setting. "
---
It used to be that young people who were expelled from regular schools went to Sharples (now Southlake) or Marshall.
There were also other programs at Sharples and Marshall including GED programs, young parents trying to finish school, etc. Night School was there as well.
I remember this story about Interagency:
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2018513097_lastchance24m.html
Interagency is a last chance opportunity for young people who are at risk. There are also programs for incarcerated youth.
The Middle College concept started in 1974 in New York. Seattle's Middle College High School was inspired by this project. The idea is to increase the numbers of youth going on to AND completing college. Seattle's MCHS started in the early 1990s at Seattle Central Community College; additional MCHS branches were created over time.
Each Middle College site or program in the district is very different. There are currently four sites. The one on the U.W. campus (created nearly 20 years ago) is for 11th and 12th graders; it follows the principles of the original MCHS concept. It is college preparatory and was created for students who'd be the first generation to graduate from high school and attend college (Students don't have to be the first generation).
People I know whose kids went there were really interested in having a smaller learning environment.
The newest branch is at Seattle University.
The site that was at South Seattle Community College was for youth interested in the trades, especially as these opportunities no longer exist in the comprehensive high schools.
It would be lovely to have a thread about the disappearing of/lack of support for alternative programs in Seattle.
One size fits all does not work for all students.
Interestingly enough Seattle had all of these opportunities BEFORE the invention of charter schools. How many of these schools/programs are left?
Just Curious (and Roosevelt Mom), thanks for the post!
Just Curious, one more question to add to your list:
What does Night School in the District no longer exist? It was well -used by those youth needing it.
There was one in the Northend (@Marshall) and another in the Southend (Sharples building).
--Modern Sound
**WHY does Night School in the District no longer exist?**
Sorry for that!
--Modern Sound
The MCHS once at SSC is now at Highpoint Neighborhood Center. As for college prep I don't think that is what they do now. It is like Interagency where they mostly do online work and some of the schools do have them do some other work but it is still largely online.
As in all the MCHS schools they have a flexible enrollment as many drop in/out for credits.
The former night school which was relocated to Lincoln after Marshall closed and the summer school programs (placed in varying schools) were cut for budget reasons 2 years ago and the idea is that the can be funneled to intergency, MCHS or South Lake
Sharples closed and became Aki and in turn moved to a location in West Seattle for a few years until the new location was created. It like many of the alternative programs are mini fifedoms of the women admins who run them... as was the Seahawk Academy.
Marshall was closed like Summit with no real plan and no respect to staff, the same as African American Academy and the Hertigate Academy (which after their dynamic leader died it left it foundering w/out an advocate) Some staff remain scattered throughout the system many don't.
Instead of quoting the press releases and materials online go to these schools and see for yourself what they do, who they serve.
- In the know