Superintendent Will Smile for Cameras (But Don't Ask Questions)
Tomorrow is the first day of school and naturally, the Superintendent likes to do a mini-tour of schools to welcome students, parents, teachers and staff back. So I wasn't surprised to get a media announcement of where he would be. But then there was this:
And, he's a busy guy.
That's a pretty hard ask for reporters (and I'm only a citizen-reporter).
Please note, Dr. Nyland is not doing any one-on-one interviews at these events. There will be no formal press conference on the first day. Please understand he’s very tight on time and at the schools to greet and welcome students, not to discuss the recent strike.So it's a photo op. Right after the first strike in Seattle Schools in 30 years. A strike where his major public role was to ask the Board for the ability to take the teachers to court for striking.
And, he's a busy guy.
That's a pretty hard ask for reporters (and I'm only a citizen-reporter).
Comments
You're the leader who for the 1st time in 30 years allowed a strike. That's right, we've had disengaged supes, divisive supes and downright inept supes in the last couple of decades, but never have we had one who failed so completely to engage with one's labor force that 3,000+ employees walked out the door for more than a week.
No shrugging your way through this debacle. And yes, it was a NATIONAL debacle.
DistrictWatcher
I am so sick of people criticizing him for every move he makes. He is actually a pro union guy who has done a lot of good in districts after strikes to heal. Do some research on him - if you give him a chance you might appreciate him. Coming into this district as a super is like walking into a 3 alarm fire with a garden hose.
I do think it would be important to Nyland to have a press conference at some point soon, to answer some questions.
QA Parent
"You're the leader who for the 1st time in 30 years allowed a strike."
So Nyland "Allowed" a strike? That is a bit harsh.
Did SEA Prez Jon Knapp also allow a strike?
More likely bigger fish like the Business Roundtable et al. had something to do with this as well.
Bewildered Mind
And I agree that tomorrow should be all about kids.
Teacher/Parent
Notafan
--annoyed by fakery
A strike doesn't happen suddenly. The reasons for a strike build over time and preparation for a strike is broadcast weeks in advance. For the negotiators under Nyland to have come to the table with such a weak first offer ----- for the SPS administrative team to have failed to understand the pressure our teachers and thus our schools are under because of lack of resources and coherent management via SPS administration ----- for SPS to have been so utterly clueless about the support teachers have and the skepticism nay anger parents have toward the JSCEE management and practices --- for all this and more, Nyland needs to acknowledge past mistakes and lay out a plan for moving forward.
Bottom line, the strike happened on his watch. Not on the watch of Olchefske, Manhas, Goodloe-Johnson or Banda, all of whom had serious flaws in their leadership, yet never reached such a point of animosity with its workforce that a strike took place.
Nyland needs to speak soon. And unless he has something substantive in terms of apologies and future planning, he also needs to move along soon. Ditto any board members who have supported him.
DistrictWatcher
You said it!! I'm a teacher and I think this strike could have been avoided. It's been building and the fact that the negotiators didn't realize it, or didn't care, does not speak well.
Teacher
-gobbledygook
To: District Leadership Team
From: Larry Nyland
Date: August 13, 2015
RE: Reorganization
Providing schools and families strong systems that support academic outcomes and meet student needs is central to our district mission. As superintendent, I am committed to make the necessary changes to support our students, schools, staff and families.
As I and previous superintendents have noted – Seattle has many silos. We also have many policies which require multiple handoffs between divisions. Due to the complexity of our silos we sometimes fail to make the handoffs between silos in a fluid and transparent way. My intent is to clarify division roles in a way that makes it easier for staff and the public to find support.
Earlier this year I asked for two reviews: one for the legal department and one for the other divisions. Between these two reviews, more than 50 central office employees were interviewed regarding: organizational structures and functions, strengths and challenges, and perceived administrative needs. Recommendations suggested that we continue to align functions and provide clear pathways for decision-making and provide needed support to the Instructional side of the organization.
To that end, as superintendent, I am organizing the administrative team to:
Purpose:
Support the strategic plan
Build further capacity in central office to support schools
Provide greater possibilities for succession
Reduce silos
Increase coherence
Minimize added cost
Results:
Support and clarify key initiatives
Work toward customer service improvements
Systems clarification
Simplifying collaboration
Implementation:
1. Make the shifts (re-org) for the 2015-16 year (now).
2. Evaluate results (Spring of 16).
3. Then, make necessary adjustments (June 2016)
Specifically, I will be making the following changes:
Increasing Teaching and Learning Support by elevating the existing Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning to an Associate Superintendent role and adding the new Chief of Schools position. This new Chief of Schools position will provide more coordination between schools, greater implementation of district goals, and increased support for parents and schools. The Chief of Schools also retains responsibility for leadership development. In addition, I will transfer to the Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning (from Operations) the Executive Director of Coordinated School Health and Positive Climate and consider added support for MTSS-B and Closing the Opportunity Gap. This will align those
functions with Teaching and Learning. Finally, the Director of Grants will transfer (from Business and Finance) – again to align categorical grants with the direction and focus of Teaching and Learning.
Consolidating Facilities and Operations by elevating the existing Assistant Superintendent of Facilities to Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Operations. The Assistant Superintendent for Operations (Logistics, Transportation, Food Service, Safety, Security, Crisis Team, Threat Analysis and Media Center) will become part of the Associate Superintendent team. This move combines the work of Facilities and Operations under one leadership team as is the case for most districts of our size. This will also allow for greater communications between enrollment services and enrollment planning.
Family and Community Engagement: is one of the three major goals of the district strategic plan. However, those functions remain scattered between Director of Equity, Director of Community Partnerships, Communications Office, the Ombudsperson and Customer Service. In order to strengthen our Family and Community Engagement efforts:
The Ombuds role will evolve to include customer service
The Chief Partnership Officer (renamed position) will be asked to further develop and coordinate the family and community engagement work
to be continued
Creating a Student Civil Rights Compliance Office that will report to the Deputy Superintendent. This will allow us to better comply with the OCR, Title IX, Title II, and HIB requirements that we are currently working on. This entails the hiring of two positions (Student Civil Rights Compliance Officer and Accessibility Coordinator); reassigning the Title IX position and one investigator position from HR and Student HIB from Operations. This change is driven by the field trip settlement of $700,000, the recommendations of the Title IX task force, OCR/ADA settlement agreements and increases in student HIB complaints.
In other moves:
Purchasing will move from Operations to Business and Finance where it will align with Finance functions
Customer Service will move from Operations to the office of the Ombudsperson
Audit Response manager will move to the Deputy Superintendent office where there will be district-wide oversight in concert with the strategic priorities of the district
Continuous Improvement and K-12 School Operations will merge to better serve schools.
The Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Partnerships will be retitled as Chief Partnership Officer and be asked to bring clarity and coherence to:
o Teacher partnerships, evaluation, support and development, including Career Ladder Coordinators
o Family and Community engagement as outlined above
Legal department adjustments will await the final determination of the administrative leave for the General Counsel
Finally, I will appoint an Implementation Team to address any concerns or feedback you have as we implement these changes. On my behalf, they will work out details, collect feedback, make necessary adjustments, and help with transition plans of new roles.
Our schools are doing great work and we want to support that momentum. It is my hope that these changes will increase our ability to meet the needs of our 53,000 students, their families and our dedicated staff.
And thanks gobbledygook for the Reorg info - I guess I'm a giant skeptic, but its not screamingly obvious how that isn't just a bunch of title changes with some minor moving of parts. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can chime in?
reader47
Had
Fremont dad
DistrictWatcher, you're just dead wrong about the district failing to avert this strike. Did you read Danny Westneat's column quoting Jonathan Knapp that the strike was planned from before negotations started to follow the Chicago Model: pander to a few hot topics with active parents -- recess and testing -- and stir up public support. SBAC refusals and McLeary rulings only stoked the flames. There was no way Nyland could have stopped this strike without giving away the store.
Emile
I am almost certain this strike was planned by the SEA before negotiations started. Talk to anyone who was at the WEA RA in April. They talked about it then. There was no way the district could have diverted this strike, without giving 21% raises, and fulfilling every other bargaining request. Before people start claiming it would have been good for the district to show up and bargain, I ask you to look at the SPS Proposal and Bragaining Timeline and then challenge the SEA to present any kind of data that refutes it. And also, why doesn't someone demand to know why SEA suspended bargaining from June 23-July 23. The same people who throw flames at this district based on rumors are unwilling to stand up to SEA about the misinformation they have backed from day one. I have lost all confidence in my fellow teachers, parents, and Seattleites, to think critically and make decisions based on evidence.
Teacher/Parent
I do think that the strike was avoidable. If they had taken the extended day off the table, most teachers I know would not have struck. Of course there were lots of concerns and lots of wants, but most teachers wouldn't have struck over them. The extended day was the final straw for many people.
Teacher
NE Dad
They now need to approve the TA that their leaders and bargaining team recommended and they need to keep kids in school. Support is waning.
QA Parent
You seem to be very familiar with the Superintendent's skill set - in a way they doesn't seem possible from an outsider. Do you work with him?
... sigh...must be nice to live and work in the glass palace. I have to go now, I have to take what extra money we have to go buy more pencils, paper and cleaning supplies for my student's school because there is no budget for things "like that".
reader47
Not sure what your point is. I've been attending school board meetings for over thirty years.
Emile