Try To Do This Today

Please consider calling Washington state Senator John Braun at (360) 786-7638 and ask him to schedule a hearing and vote on the senate floor for HB 1059.

I called today and explained about this blog and the aide said they are "getting a LOT of calls" so please keep it up.  

Comments

Anonymous said…
Speaking of a lot of calls: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/316321-anti-devos-calls-jam-senate-phone-lines

-Interesting
1/26/17, 11:22 AM
Anonymous said…
Speaking of DeVos:

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/39222-betsy-devos-ethics-report-reveals-ties-to-student-debt-collection-firm

Public education advocates are demanding another hearing on Trump nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, after her dismal performance in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee (HELP) January 17th and after the late release of her ethics report on January 20th.

The report, available here, details some 102 companies that might pose a conflict of interest for DeVos and sheds new light on the nominee's investments and ethics. (more)

-McClureWatcher
1/26/17, 12:29 PM
Melissa Westbrook said…
Yeah, and if they confirm her and then it's found that she still has conflicts , what then? She should withdraw.
1/26/17, 12:41 PM
Watching said…
Senator Maria Cantwell has not taken a position on DeVos. Please call her at 202-224-3441 and urge a NO vote.
1/26/17, 1:23 PM
Eric B said…
Speaking of lots of calls, Maria Cantwell hasn't yet taken a position on DeVos. Readers of this blog might wish to let her know what they think about that. Cantwell's Seattle office number is 206-220-6400, but it was utterly jammed when I called. I got through to the Everett office (425) 303-0114 or you could also try Tacoma (253) 572-2281.
1/26/17, 1:36 PM
Anonymous said…
I just called 206-220-6400 and got through.
-T
1/26/17, 1:56 PM
alex said…
Call Cantwell's DC office...202-224-3441. You'll get through. I reminded her aide that Seattle voters are watching this closely, and that we are aware that she's up for election in 2018.

I also asked what piece of information she was waiting for before making up her mind. A meteor shower? What could it be?
1/26/17, 1:56 PM
Anonymous said…
Called. They asked my district, that was about it.
1/26/17, 2:09 PM
Melissa Westbrook said…
I called and explained:

- she's not in any way qualified
- too many conflicts of interest that have not been cleared/explained
- the NAACP says no
- she seems to not understand/know that students with disabilities DO have to be served

1/26/17, 2:53 PM
Watching said…
Adding to Melissa's list:

-DeVos did not attend public schools.

-DeVos's children did not attend public schools.

-Devos is not qualified to manage a $1 trillion dollar student loan office

-DeVos supports vouchers.

-The DeVos family has a long history of supporting groups that espouse anti-gay rights views.
1/26/17, 4:28 PM
Anonymous said…
Cantwell is voting no on Devos.

https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-to-vote-no-betsy-devos-nomination-for-secretary-of-education

- No Devos
1/26/17, 4:40 PM
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
1/26/17, 5:24 PM
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
1/26/17, 5:25 PM
Jet City mom said…
Cantwell stalled, IMO, because she wanted more of her constituents to put themselves on her mailing list. ( for fundraising purposes?)

Why go to them, when they can come to you?
1/28/17, 7:21 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday Open Thread

The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested.  It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio.  (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Read more

Breaking It Down: Where the District Might Close Schools

Update 2: an absolutely fabulous interactive map made by parent Beth Day (@thebethocracy on Twitter - she covers Board meetings and is fun to read).   end of update    Update 1: Mea culpa, I did indeed get Decatur and Thornton Creek mixed up. Thanks to all for the correction. end of update   I suspect some who read this post will be irate. Why do this? Because the district seems very hellbent on this effort with no oversight skid marks from the Board.    To clearly state - I do not believe that closing 20 schools is a good idea. I think they hit on 20 because they thought it might bring in the most savings. But the jury is still out on the savings because the district has not shown its work nor its data. I suspect closing schools and THEN leasing/renting them is the big plan but that means the district really has to keep the buildings up.   But this district, with its happy talk about "well-resourced schools" is NOT acknowledging the pain and yes, gr...
Read more

Nepotism in Seattle Schools

Update: Following a scandal at Aki Kurose Middle School, apparently the district has pulled the principal, Caine Lowery who leaves Aki for a promotion to Central Office to support/train/guide principals. Hmm. I also note that former Rainier View Elementary principal Anitra Jones, who was removed from that school, still doesn't show up on the staff roster at Rainier Beach High School where it was stated she would be. Where is she? Who knows?  end of update   This is going to be a difficult post to write because it is sad to see what looks like a norm now at JSCEE. The norm I speak of is largely an occurrence with principals as well as JSCEE senior staff. I also know that this is not going to surprise most who works at JSCEE. The norm I'm referring to is the one where some personnel have personal connections within the district that sees them moving between jobs and even getting promoted based on those relationships. In short, nepotism.  This district is risk-adverse wh...
Read more