Friday Open Thread
Police in Bothell locked down Bothell High yesterday because of an attack on a shop teacher after school. The school is closed for today as the investigation continues. The police have not arrested anyone. The teacher is in satisfactory condition at Harborview. The police say the school has many cameras so they hope they will be able to piece together what happened.
Those slowdowns on the Viaduct for the next week (which SPS said may slow some bus routes)? Apparently it's for the sequel to Fifty Shades of Gray.
Pasco School District had a "High School Reimagining Forum" this week about the 24-credit graduation requirement. Good for Pasco.
What's on your mind?
Those slowdowns on the Viaduct for the next week (which SPS said may slow some bus routes)? Apparently it's for the sequel to Fifty Shades of Gray.
Pasco School District had a "High School Reimagining Forum" this week about the 24-credit graduation requirement. Good for Pasco.
Because of these looming changes, the Pasco School District is taking a proactive approach as they develop plans for the district’s secondary schools to meet the college and career ready state requirements and reimagine educational programs for the 21st century.Speaking of high school graduation requirements, Virginia just passed a law to help kids who aren't going to college succeed after graduation.
Each high school invited a cross-section of representatives to attend this forum to ensure broad stakeholder input. A second forum will be held in Spanish on June 15 at the same time and location.
The feedback gathered at this forum will be used by a steering committee comprised of 33 community members, students, parents, secondary-level staff and local business partners.
The late state Sen. John C. Miller (D), who sponsored the legislation, had envisioned that high school students would have a choice in their junior and senior years. Either they could go down a track that would lead to post-secondary education, or they could work toward earning credit for internships, apprenticeships or industry certification.Tom Redman in Communications for Facilities and Capital was kind enough to update the earthquake safety building list for seismic upgrades. By my count, it's every school in the district that has or will have work for earthquake safety. I think he may be sending this to the City so they'll have it in their records.
“Rather than sitting in an algebra 3 class where they can’t see any relevance to what they want to do in the future, they will be able to take courses that best prepare them for their career choice,” Miller said in February.
What's on your mind?
Comments
They used to move the wait list in alphabetical order by school name by region. I'm wondering if this method is still in use, and if in fact any wait lists are being moved. There is very little time before May 31.
Thank you,
-StepJ
http://ecowatch.com/2016/05/17/mass-climate-change-lawsuit/
Historic Victory: 4 Teenagers Win in Massachusetts Climate Change Lawsuit
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court found in favor of four youth plaintiffs, the Conservation Law Foundation and Mass Energy Consumers Alliance Tuesday in the critical climate change case…
“This is an historic victory for young generations advocating for changes to be made by government. The global climate change crisis is a threat to the well being of humanity, and to my generation, that has been ignored for too long,” youth plaintiff Shamus Miller, age 17, said. (more)
-McClureWatcher
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/05/20/abandoning-doubt-denial-school-district-officially-embraces-climate-literacy
In what may be a first in the nation, this week the Portland, Oregon school board passed a sweeping “climate justice” resolution that commits the school district to “abandon the use of any adopted text material that is found to express doubt about the severity of the climate crisis or its roots in human activity.” The resolution further commits the school district to develop a plan to “address climate change and climate justice in all Portland Public Schools.” (more)
-McClureWatcher
SPS Parent
-SendIntheClowns
2) The majority of the Board agrees with Patu and Peter so it's not just them. I listened to that meeting and I hope to blog on it soon but I heard some calm and reasoned discussion. (Patu was particularly passionate but then again, she has been in the district over 30 years, working for change.). That Director Blanford says the same thing over and over - that he seemingly wants to rubber-stamp the job - seems to not resonate with other directors.
I don't endorse name calling - uncalled for. Can you please share some facts around this investigation of Patu?
Melissa, what is the role of the board in your eyes? and what is the role of superintendent?
-SendClowns
I know of movement on the waitlist at Thornton Creek Elementary.
MSB
BT
NEmom
SendClowns, there are definitely different views on what the role of a school board is. I'm not sure there is as much difference in views for the role of a superintendent.
I think there is a dynamic tension in the role of the school board. They hire a superintendent because they believe in his/her ability to do several things. In that way, they must have faith in the superintendent and staff and work with them collaboratively.
But I believe it IS their job - as elected officials who are responsible to voters - to follow thru.
So what should they be doing?
1) listening to constituents, especially parents, about issues large and small. They can check with fellow Board members to see if an issue could be a larger one to the district or confined to one school or region.
To note, in my experience, it is quite rare for an issue to be confined to just one school. For example, a less-than-effective principal is an issue that pops up throughout the district on a regular basis. Parents have a right to know what kind of process is used to select principals, if parents can have input and what the process is when a principal is not being effective.
We have seen - thru not one, but two - issues at Garfield around field trips how that rippled out to the district and the Board asked the Superintendent to help reexamine field trip policy and procedure.
2) Being visible supporters of the district, throughout the city and in the legislature. Serving the largest school district in the state, Board members have an important role to play in advocacy for both SPS and public education in general. They are also the liaisons in work with the City.
3) reviewing best practices around the country to see if there are other models that might serve our district
4) working with the Superintendent to craft a strategic plan that is both viable (especially in terms of cost) and meets the needs of Seattle school students
5) making sure that the policies they oversee are followed. This one is Charlie's #1 and I agree. Why have policies if they are not followed?
6) overseeing expenditures. The Board in Seattle is dealing with about $1B a year, between the operating budget and capital projects.
The Board has to respect staff as professionals who know their jobs. However, that respect is a two-way street. The Board may not be paid (but they should be) but they are elected and that gives them the power/duty to make sure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely.
So where is the line between doing the above and the dreaded "micromanaging?" It's hard to say but, at the end of the day, the Board, collectively, should decide (not just one person.)
I listened to both the discussion at the Board meeting of assessments and program placement/school closure. I thought there were valid things said on both sides.
However, Director Blanford tried to make it sound like the other directors were trying to get rid of assessments entirely even as they said they supported assessments. But we all know that some kids will not succeed with testing so why wouldn't there be an alternative assessment available to show mastery?
As for program placement and school closure, well, this adjustment was a long time coming to the district. No superintendent has ever revealed how they truly decide on program placement, many used different terms like program, service, school in different ways. Many changes to programs/services appeared to come from the tail wagging the dog (facilities or money) rather than what would be best for student outcomes.
It is fine if the Superintendent makes most of the big decisions. But they have to have some frame of understanding for parents, the public and the Board.
The way to create friction and trouble is to have policies that aren't enforced and respected. The way to not move forward in this district is to have confusion and uncertainty in program placement.
Asking for clarification on these issues isn't micromanaging.
At HIMS academic classes of 36 or more are not unusual. My student has 38 in one academic class this year (confirmed by teacher, not just my student). Other classes are similarly huge.
"Does my 8th grade Biology Class count toward high school?"
Students have the option to add their Biology grades and credit to their high school transcript, and once added, those grades and credits cannot be removed. As such, most students choose to wait until their junior year to decide whether or not to add the grades and credit to their transcript. Once the class is added to the high school transcript, it factors into the high school cumulative GPA, counts as 1.0 lab-based Science for both high school and college entrance requirements.
Their students have the option of deciding junior year whether or not to add a MS class for high school credit. In SPS, policy dictates an earlier decision. As part of the new 24-credit graduation requirement, I hope SPS revises procedure to allow for later decisions on taking the HS credit. It's worth a letter to the Board, parents.
-comparing
I'm not getting the dings for misinformation others spread.
Overages over 150 are compensated, but I suspect that it's cheaper to pay overages than to hire more FTE.
All numbers below are approximate:
165 students = $2,000/yr
so one period with 35 = $400/yr
3 over x 10 = 30 (a full class)
$400 x 10 = $4,000
So with that figuring:
A school with 30 extra students could pay $4,000 in overages (divide the students into ten classrooms) or pay for another 0.2 FTE, which costs at LEAST $10,000.
-SPS tired
-realist
-SPS tired
Here is the Implementation Guide. I just glanced at it, but it appears that these extra teachers are also required to undergo formal training. So no saving there either.
There are no school application or registration fees to be part of the AP Capstone Program, and there are no annual ongoing fees charged by the College Board to participating schools or districts.
What about for IB?
-realist
For those interested ask SPS for a copy of the public records request log and you will see what this is all about.
Bad President
Note from school:
TO SENIOR STUDENTS: Your time at Hale is coming to a close. You MUST do the following things by June 3rd:
Complete and PASS all required classes.
Complete and pass any on-line credits. Get transcript to school counselor.
Complete and turn in 60 hours of community service OR 15 per each year at Hale.
Complete and turn in the Beyond High School Plan.
Complete and pass PE CBA.
Complete and pass HAP.
Complete and pass Washington State History.
Settle any/all outstanding fees/fines.
For any failed mentorship: must rectify that through Ms. Grimes. Grade must be changed.
Earn 23.50 credits (if not, meet with your counselor).
Earn 2.00 GPA and above (if not, meet with your counselor). Required letters due.
24 isn't that much different than 23.5.
HP
DoingTheMath