Tuesday Open Thread
Not often, but sometimes, newspapers allow their political reporters some free reign and here's one of the best on the current legislative session from reporter Melissa Santos of the News Tribune in Tacoma. Pretty funny. (And I'm going to miss Kyle Stokes of KPLU who has the funniest tweets ever. That traitor is moving to Southern California.)
Also from the Tribune comes the story that their superintendent, former CAO for SPS, Carla Santorno, has been nominated for a top award, Women in School Leadership, from the American Association of School Administrators.
Speaking of the legislature, did you hear about the GOP legislator, Rep Mary Dye, who had some visiting teens advocating for Planned Parenthood in her office and asked them about their virginity.
She intimated that one student was not a virgin. From the Times:
“After she made the statement about virginity, all of my teens looked at me,” Rachel Todd, a Planned Parenthood education specialist, told the newspaper. “And I said, ‘You don’t have to answer that. You don’t have to answer that.'"
“I’ve never been in any type of meeting, especially with teens,” Todd added. “Where an adult, especially an adult legislator, was so incredibly disrespectful and inappropriate.”
Dye's response to criticism:
"In hindsight, a few of the thoughts I shared, while well-intended, may have come across as more motherly than what they would expect from their state representative," she added. "If anything I said offended them or made them feel uncomfortable, I apologize.”
I'll have a separate thread on legislative action as there are a number of education bills coming out and now, per McCleary, some Republicans are balking at a timetable.
I keep saying this- because I believe it will happen - that at the end of this session, barring some kind of turnaround in some legislative quarters - the Supreme Court is going to say, "Hammer time." They have been very patient and taken a lot of slings and arrows from all directions.
I believe they will use the full force of their branch of government to compel the legislature to act on McCleary. And, some in the legislature will be glad for it because 1) it put the heat on the Court and 2) it allows them to actually get McCleary done because "the Court forced us." Some in the legislature think that they can then strike back at the Supreme Court (defund them, reduce their numbers) but it's hard to fault the Court for taking the higher ground on acting to defend the constitution.
What's on your mind?
Also from the Tribune comes the story that their superintendent, former CAO for SPS, Carla Santorno, has been nominated for a top award, Women in School Leadership, from the American Association of School Administrators.
Speaking of the legislature, did you hear about the GOP legislator, Rep Mary Dye, who had some visiting teens advocating for Planned Parenthood in her office and asked them about their virginity.
She intimated that one student was not a virgin. From the Times:
“After she made the statement about virginity, all of my teens looked at me,” Rachel Todd, a Planned Parenthood education specialist, told the newspaper. “And I said, ‘You don’t have to answer that. You don’t have to answer that.'"
“I’ve never been in any type of meeting, especially with teens,” Todd added. “Where an adult, especially an adult legislator, was so incredibly disrespectful and inappropriate.”
Dye's response to criticism:
"In hindsight, a few of the thoughts I shared, while well-intended, may have come across as more motherly than what they would expect from their state representative," she added. "If anything I said offended them or made them feel uncomfortable, I apologize.”
I'll have a separate thread on legislative action as there are a number of education bills coming out and now, per McCleary, some Republicans are balking at a timetable.
I keep saying this- because I believe it will happen - that at the end of this session, barring some kind of turnaround in some legislative quarters - the Supreme Court is going to say, "Hammer time." They have been very patient and taken a lot of slings and arrows from all directions.
I believe they will use the full force of their branch of government to compel the legislature to act on McCleary. And, some in the legislature will be glad for it because 1) it put the heat on the Court and 2) it allows them to actually get McCleary done because "the Court forced us." Some in the legislature think that they can then strike back at the Supreme Court (defund them, reduce their numbers) but it's hard to fault the Court for taking the higher ground on acting to defend the constitution.
What's on your mind?
Comments
-Looking for Tutor
S parent
https://www.seattleschools.org/students/athletics/sports_schedules/
Our principal has started the 2016 SBAC drumbeat.
DistrictWatcher
You can also ask other parents you know. Even though your kiddo doesn't have dyslexia or dysgraphia, many of those kids use a tutor that works on the same things you're looking for. Those parents will have some suggestions.
Many tutors will do a free meet and greet so you can talk about your needs and whether it will be a good fit.
Good luck!
-Looking for a Tutor
Yes, vote for the Operations levy; it's 25% of the budget so the district would be in big trouble without it. That said, would we? Because no matter how the district twists it, more money is going to central adm. That fact gets us in a lot of trouble, 1) because the money isn't going to schools and 2) that those who don't want to fund to McCleary point to Seattle and see how much we spend and yet...where does it all go?
The district is far from transparent on this issue and it's troubling.
BTA IV, well, again the need is surely there. But the district was not upfront about $8M going to pay off the bonds at JSCEE. The bonds have to be paid and I know this was discussed BEFORE the public meetings and yet, not a peep to the public. This is wrong.
As well, I think too much goes to technology in lieu of building needs.
My theory is that if one capital levy failed, the district would listen to parents and community about how the money is spent. But we keep passing them and so the district really doesn't feel a huge need to listen. Look at capacity management.
Last thing - the district pays about $1M for this levy because it is a stand-alone. (At least that's the cost they publicly state.) If the levies were attached to a regular election cycle, there's 1M the district would probably not have to spend. Of course, they would have to compete with other ballot issues AND a larger number of voters.
Something to ponder.
A couple months later Mayor Nickels was the figurehead leader of the school levy campaign.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/science/article/Megathrust-earthquake-tsunami-cascadia-subduction-6779190.php
With the East Coast buried in snow from a megastorm sparking our natural-disaster competitiveness, we on the Pacific Rim can counter with an ocean-crossing tsunami generated by a historic megathrust earthquake. (more with video)
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World geography still cut from all middle schools curriculum.
-McClure Watcher
https://www.gofundme.com/ku8kzwjc
It is a Go Fund Me site trying to raise money to hire a lawyer to work on behalf of parents in talks with the Highline School Board regarding charters (the group is against them).
-Random
I thinking about voting AGAINST the capital levy because I don't want to bail out the state. Besides, the state wants to distribute Seattle's levy dollars, and I'd rather the state find a different way to pay for education.
I am not seeing this levy heavily promoted.