Tuesday Open Thread

Big night for Seattle for election results.   We could see a major shift in the make-up of both the School Board and the City Council.  Any predictions? 

It is also a hugely important election for Colorado and, in specific, Jefferson County, where a recall election of several school board members is being attempted.  From Aljazeera America:

But this battle has ramifications far outside the school district, and it’s drawing attention on a national scale. It is a battle pitting heavy hitters like AFP, the small-government advocacy group founded by billionaire businessmen Charles Koch and David Koch, against teachers’ unions and their supporters.

It’s a battle being closely watched by educators and political operatives across the U.S. because JeffCo is the ultimate swing county in the key swing state of Colorado. That means success — or defeat — there could be replicated across the U.S.

Interesting article about tweens/teens and use of digital projects from the NY Times, "The Digital Disparities Facing Lower-Income Teenagers."  This is scary:

Black teenagers spent a daily average of eight hours and 26 minutes on screens for entertainment purposes, according to the report. That was two hours and eight minutes more than their white peers. Within that screen time, black teenagers spent most of their time — an average of about four hours daily — on smartphones, compared with about three hours for Hispanic teenagers and two hours for white teenagers.

And teenagers in lower-income households typically spent about eight hours on daily screen media use compared with less than six hours for those from higher-income families, the report said.

The Seattle City Council Budget Committee is considering a bill that involves amending:

the proposed bill reorganizing DPD into a new office (OPCD) and a new Department (SDCI) to add a function to work with Seattle Public Schools when planning for growth.

5. In coordination with the Department of Education and Early Learning and in partnership with the Seattle School District No. 1, OPCD will develop planning strategies that support the District’s public school facility needs for anticipated student population consistent with adopted comprehensive plan policies and growth forecasts.

This would involved coordination with the Office of Education and Early Learning.  I believe that SC PTSA Board member (and professional whirling dervish) , Eden Mack, was involved in getting this to happen.

Have you seen these Star Wars in the style of NW Coast Indian Art?  Pretty cool.

Also, hilarious news - Amazon is opening its first bricks-and-mortar bookstore at U Village today. 

What's on your mind?