Seattle School Board Meeting Tonight
Update 2: Sue Peters is the new School Board president. VP is Leslie Harris and Member-at-Large is Scott Pinkham.
End of update
Update: Guess who is getting a raise? Superintendent Nyland.
He has generously offered to only take a COLA of 1.8% of his base salary of $289,878.75. The BAR states that no public engagement was needed and that research had been done around other superintendents' salaries. There is no such data attached to the BAR.
This information was put up this afternoon, less than 24 hours before this BAR has intro/action. That is completely wrong to put this up in this timeframe. Like this is an emergency or something.
I cannot believe anyone can believe – with a straight face and that kind of salary –that you will have any support from the public or parents when you come and say that big cuts must be made to schools and personnel.
To say I am aghast and disillusioned is putting it mildly.
End of update
A couple of things to look for:
- The quick no to any contract change/raise for Superintendent Nyland. I'm fairly sure of this outcome because there is no link to anything about this on the agenda despite it being there.
- As I mentioned in the Blanford post, if you watch the meeting on tv, look at his body language. He tends to keep his back to his colleagues even as they speak. Given what he wrote in the South Seattle Emerald with no notice to his colleagues, there may even be discussion about what he wrote.
- The speaker list is full but with just one person on the waitlist. The majority of input is to be about the Student Assignment Plan. I am the first speaker after the student speaker from Garfield. As well, former director Sharon Peaslee is on the list and may speak about Licton Springs K-8 which she fought mightily to save.
End of update
Update: Guess who is getting a raise? Superintendent Nyland.
He has generously offered to only take a COLA of 1.8% of his base salary of $289,878.75. The BAR states that no public engagement was needed and that research had been done around other superintendents' salaries. There is no such data attached to the BAR.
This information was put up this afternoon, less than 24 hours before this BAR has intro/action. That is completely wrong to put this up in this timeframe. Like this is an emergency or something.
I cannot believe anyone can believe – with a straight face and that kind of salary –that you will have any support from the public or parents when you come and say that big cuts must be made to schools and personnel.
To say I am aghast and disillusioned is putting it mildly.
End of update
A couple of things to look for:
- The quick no to any contract change/raise for Superintendent Nyland. I'm fairly sure of this outcome because there is no link to anything about this on the agenda despite it being there.
Approval of Contract Discussions with the Superintendent - Approval of this item would approve the results of the contract discussions with the Superintendent. (to be posted prior to action) (this item is for introduction and action at the same meeting)That there is no link 24 hours before this item would indicate to me that no action can be taken. They cannot just put it up there without any ability from the public to review it. (As well, how would it look to give him a raise?)
- As I mentioned in the Blanford post, if you watch the meeting on tv, look at his body language. He tends to keep his back to his colleagues even as they speak. Given what he wrote in the South Seattle Emerald with no notice to his colleagues, there may even be discussion about what he wrote.
- The speaker list is full but with just one person on the waitlist. The majority of input is to be about the Student Assignment Plan. I am the first speaker after the student speaker from Garfield. As well, former director Sharon Peaslee is on the list and may speak about Licton Springs K-8 which she fought mightily to save.
Comments
Happy face
-- Ivan Weiss
Done
LOL
As unhappy I will be with the school board if they approve the raise, I'm more appalled at what a lack of leadership this continues to show from Dr. Nyland. If he really cared about and understood how frustrated the families are in this district, he'd realize that stepping forward and choosing to waive adding another $5200+ to his nearly $290K salary could go aways toward engendering some good will towards him and the central admin from the community. It's pretty dismaying.
It's time for a big changes in how we allow our schools to be administrated.
Viva revolution
-North-end Mom
Bandaid "fix"
-North-end Mom
Bandaid Fix
-LostFaith
The representation of minority students appears to be shrinking. I would think the over representation of white students would be noted and compared to other similar cities, but they need to quickly focus on bringing new participants in to the program. Maybe smaller sites closer to where these populations live, and easier access to testing. Or offer pullout services so these students don't have to move?!!
Pumpkin Pie
Dianne S.
-FireNyland
"In its evaluation, the board praised Nyland for adjusting school-bell times this fall to better align with teens’ sleep cycles. They also credited him with improving special-education services to the point where the district regained $2.5 million in federal funding that had been withheld. And they noted that Nyland oversaw a shift toward earlier hiring, which the board says will help the district attract more qualified job candidates."
“To fully realize this goal, stronger visible leadership from the Superintendent is imperative,” board members wrote.
"Board members said they have had more discussions this past year about the district’s work to eliminate opportunity gaps. But they wrote they aren’t certain about whether the strategies about closing the gaps have been successful, because they haven’t seen data about any progress.
Though progress may be difficult to quantify, the board emphasized that Nyland will be expected to track results of the district’s initiatives “more consistently and comprehensively in the future.” Board members also would like to see the district apply some of the strategies it’s now using to help black male students to other groups of students who have been historically underserved, such as Native American students."
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/seattle-school-board-gives-chief-a-mixed-grade-smaller-raise/
Wow this type of intro/action does not inspire confidence in the populace. We have seen this evasion of the dictates of policy so often that one really wonders if all the policies are just optional?
-- Dan Dempsey
Clearly, the school board seems to have a relationship with and view of Larry Nyland of which none - or very few of us in the Seattle Public Schools community has seen an inkling.
I have to say, my daughter is currently at a private all girls middle school in Seattle. This is a decision my husband and I made and planned for long before we ever had any experience with Seattle Public Schools. Our intention has always been that she would return to a Seattle public high school after eighth grade. However, the incompetence, ridiculous bureaucracy mismanagement, tone-deafness, and complete lack of self reflection and real accountability in this district-and with the board-seems to be systemic and completely unbreakable, and the option of moving to another district, like Shoreline, although I would prefer to live in Seattle, is looking better and more necessary for my sanity all the time.
It's either that, or I become one of those parents who is solely focused on my own kids' welfare, use any privilege and resources I have to to make certain she goes to the best high school possible, and remove myself from caring or activating toward any change for the better in this district as a whole. Because watching history repeat itself over and over again with Seattle Public Schools is completely demoralizing.
Changes Coming
Our family has decided to stay put and work for the greater good.
HP
The money was withheld because SPS did not follow federal policy. The district had to earn those dollars back; they didn't "regain" them.
Staying Put, you are entitled to your opinion. People often don't like to tell me they have one kid in SPS and one in private school. I NEVER offer a judgment because everyone has to do what is right for THEIR child. You only get one chance. Richelle is part of Soup for Teachers and has worked very hard for other people's children.
The most absent, disengaged, disinterested, ill-informed, Supt around Special Education in recent memory credited with "improvements" in SPED? What improvements? Name one. Maybe there is an error in this report?
From JSCEE
Unlike a number of folks who have already commented, I don't see the COLA as a raise. It's just what everyone else got. It's the default choice. To grant the COLA to everyone else, but to deny it to the superintendent would shame him, which the board can't do since the man is under contract for another two years. Isn't it enough that they didn't give him a raise? Is it really necessary that they strip him of his COLA for people to get the blood they seek?
it's okay. He will be taking home more money this year anyway - and I don't mean the COLA. Last year Dr. Nyland got a raise and he promised to donate the amount of the raise to the school district, which I understand he did. I didn't hear a repeat of that promise this year, so this year I guess that this year he will keep the raise he was awarded last year, resulting in higher net pay.
Also, unlike every other superintendent contract adjustment I have ever, ever seen, his contract was not extended. There's a rule that precludes the board from granting a superintendent a contract longer than three years. So every year the board extends the superintendent's contract by a year so they always have a three-year contract. But there was no contract extension this year. That's never happened before and I can only see the decision not to extend his contract as a strong rebuke.
-- Ivan Weiss
Conversely, the numbers in the NE have gotten so large and could just keep getting larger with a NE site. Adding another site and potentially growing the NE numbers only makes HCC more unsustainable.
If you look beyond two years this split looks like a bad idea. Much better to get some standard advanced options going in the ALO schools and keep one strong HCC school in the north.
Beyonder
As well, his contract WAS extended last year AND the BAR last night also allows another six months to that so the Board can find someone to replace him. So you are wrong on that.
Did I also mention this COLA is retroactive to September 1? It is.
I loved the part where Wyeth used the inherited card, he's used car salesman slick.
I could tell Sue wasn't buying it, good for her.
I appreciate the board slowing down the SAP process and trying to do what's best for everyone.
On my reevaluation of the logic for Nyland's raise, $5200 seems like a drop in the bucket to keep him in place while the board grabs more and more of the reins.
I wish a few of the board members would stop with the rhetorical speak and weird facial expressions, maybe they could watch the replay on Seattle channel and adjust their style.
MJ
As to my daughter currently being in a private school, as I mentioned, this was a decision we made long before we had any experience with SPS - and is not necessarily reflective of my frustrations with the district. I have long believed in the benefits of an all-girl environment, particular for middle school girls. If SPS offered that option, we would have worked to place her there. And, although my daughter is currently not part of SPS, I still continue to work and be active with the SPS community - because I would like to return. I just can't imagine much will really change in the few years before that would happen.
Shame you decided to leave the district. There are wonderful high schools in Seattle. There are always pros and cons to any school and I'm not convinced private is better.
Our family has decided to stay put and work for the greater good.
reader
MJ
Look around the state and country. Nylans's COLA is minuscule compared to other districts and states.
Superintendents are in high demand. They leave one district and get paid higher amounts for doing so. State superintendents get paid more than the governor.(!!) Would Nyland have left if he didn't receive a COLA? We don't know. If so, what are the costs of hiring another superintendent? I'm sure another would have cost the district much more.
I'm not thrilled with any type of administrative raise- at all.
I continue to believe that this board will push for more accountability from administrators and I won't throw them under the bus for several thousand dollars.
https://tip.duke.edu/about/news/new-analysis-finds-two-measures-boost-k-12-academic-achievement
DURHAM, N.C. -- A new, comprehensive analysis of a century’s worth of research shows that grouping students by ability and providing opportunities for students to progress at a more rapid pace can increase overall student academic achievement.
The study was conducted by researchers at the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) and Northwestern University.
This latest study examined the equivalent of nearly 300 original research studies and found that both educational techniques work.
“After looking carefully at 100 years of research, it became clear that acceleration and most forms of ability grouping can be powerfully effective interventions,” said study co-author Matt Makel, research director at Duke TIP. “They help increase academic achievement for both lower- and higher-achieving students.
“Moreover, these practices can yield significant academic benefits without being expensive and can even save schools money.” (thanks to benjamin leis at the discussapp blog)
so detracking is wrong for the district. glad sue is going to fight for hcc and the district.
-nc
???
Parent
KA BOOM
Think again
-SickOfCasualLies
-ShakingHead
--Fine_Print_Matters
Nyland did NOT get an extension. That is the big news here. He got his COLA because everybody else got one. While many of you are already mustering your torches and pitchforks, the other side also is doing so. The other side has its Gates-produced, tsk-tsking, head-shaking, finger-wagging "dysfunctional school board" editorials all written and ready to go (see Blanford, Stephan). "Let's put the 'adults' in charge," and that sort.
This Board has made Nyland a lame duck, and is determined to choose his successor, without having that successor be chosen by senior staff of the business community. Let's concentrate on the Peters, Patu, and Blanford seats, which will be on the ballot for 2017.
-- Ivan Weiss
I see that it is scheduled for further discussion at C&I on December 12 and for introduction on January 4.
I like to give them until the motion's introduction before pointing out missing bits from various CSIPs.
I heard they will all be open seats. yes/no? Maybe Murray would like to run, I think he will need something to do soon.
New Mayor
I have no idea who will be running for the Board next fall. I suspect that Patu won't because she has put in 8 long years but she also seems to thrive on the work. Peters probably will because she seems to be doing well and probably wants to do more. Blanford strikes me as someone who is lining up to do something else but if he has no good competitor (as he didn't last time), he may well stay.
Whata Joke
Yes, it's very sad and unfortunate. Geary gave signs of this kind of thinking along the way, but the 2 choices in her district were:
someone who understands SpEd, not particularly AL-friendly, but not an ed-reformer
vs. someone who understands AL, but appeared to be in the ed-reform camp.
I'll say that as a previous (election-time) Geary supporter, I'm much less supportive now.
Fix AL
I completely agree that families should be able to choose between different types of programs for different learning styles, and that includes good quality local "standard" education. The problem, of course, is that it's impossible to provide all the different kinds of alternatives in all parts of the city, let alone provide transportation. I don't think that's a solvable problem.
Some amount of testing is not just okay, but necessary. Too much is clearly a Bad Thing. But when we bring in third party for-profit corporations to manage our testing, there are a wide range of problems with that, including: money, reliability, student privacy, logistics, etc. Many districts, and states, are being very wrong-minded about this, ramming certain providers down our throats.
I think you and I probably agree on much more than we'd disagree, especially given your moniker. Fixing AL is a huge problem, and most staff don't get it At All. And remember, that there are a good number of people for whom "fix" translates to "eliminate".
Why does Tolley still have a job and how was he selected?
Fix AL
Really? Even someone living in, say, Ocean Shores? Or Index?
Public schools are tasked with educating the public. Every student isn't entitled to a program that perfectly matches their desires or abilities (or the desires of their parent or guardians.)
Yes, we are blessed to be a city that has almost a hundred schools, and can thus play around a bit with a variety of offerings, but many people aren't so lucky.
I'm not saying that choice is bad, far from it, but your statement presumes that the public education system "should" provide this variety of school culture, etc, when in fact this is a luxury.
This is the benefit and cost of public education: we all contribute to it so all can be educated, but in that process we have to make concessions to costs, etc. So no public school system is perfect for every student, but districts do what they can.
Nobody is suggesting that every student is "entitled" to a program that perfectly matches their desires and abilities. C'mon, really? Of course public education involves concessions, and I believe every parent realizes that no public school system is perfect for every student. I'd venture to say no private school is perfect for every student, either. I disagree, however, with your conclusion that "districts do what they can." In the case of SPS, I think the district could--and should--do much more, on many fronts. To think that this is the best we can do is pretty depressing. There's a lot of room for improvement.
DisAPPointed
FixAL is similarly ridiculous. Her claim is: some people just don't want a rich academic experience. How absurd. Everyone values academics. Otherwise, they simply wouldn't be in school. They'd be homeschooled.
2%Not20