School Board Notes for September 20, 2017

I watched about half the Board meeting last night and it was worth it because of the interesting comments made, particularly by the Superintendent.

I will highlight topics but there was some information on enrollment numbers as well as high schools that you might want to look for and read.


Highlights
- For the third year in a row, Hawthorne Elementary has been recognized with a 2017 Partnership School Award from the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University. 

Hawthorne was recognized for making excellent progress in strengthening and sustaining a comprehensive program of school, family, and community partnerships.       

Superintendent Nyland had principal Sandra Scott come to the meeting to apprise the Board on the progress this school near Columbia City has made.

Principal Scott explained that she had come alone as her teachers and staff were doing coffee chats with families (this probably explains why her school has made such stellar progress - families come first).  She explained how, several years back, her school barely had 200 students but is now up over 400 students.  The PTA had about 8 parents and now has about 80.

Frankly, none of what she said was particularly innovative. What is really is about is tenacity and making connections.  She said that once some parents were in the fold, they brought others along.  Those parents then told non-Hawthorne parents about how welcoming the school was and those new parents came in.  They had potlucks.  They found computer classes for parents at local libraries and provided childcare.

I think that Principal Scott looks like one of many "gem" principals this district has.  Congrats to that school community.

- The district also recognized its long-term partnership with El Centro de la Raza, which has been 30+ years.  An irony to me is that about 15 years ago, the district was, once again, not being supportive of a program - Proyecto Saber - which is a program for Hispanic students to keep them in school.  Ballard and Chief Sealth were desperate to keep their programs and the district kept saying there was not money for the program.  I'm glad the program prevailed.

A diverse district has to stand by its partnerships with groups affiliated with the populations it serves. 

- The Supreme Court is to hear oral arguments on the final fulfillment of the McCleary case on October 24th.  I hope to be in the audience to listen.

- Directors Patu, Peters and Burke met with City Council members Juarez and Bagshaw about the Seattle Center agreement that the district and City signed.  The big news seems to be a change in plans.  The stadium would be rebuilt (maybe with City help) and the City would help find an adjacent location for a new high school.  Hmm.

- The City's Families & Education levy is up for renewal in November 2018.  The Superintendent, as he does sometimes in his comments, diverted to mention the Pre-K levy and then laughed.  I wish he could make his comments shorter and more succinct.   He did stated that it would be important to sit down with the next mayor to talk about "how we partner." 

Again, to note, if the new mayor decides to include charter schools in levy funding as they are "public" schools, I suspect that levy might have some problems.

- He talked about the Student Assignment Plan and its discussion at the last Board retreat a couple of weeks ago.  He said there needs to be "a lot" of community engagement, clarifying language on "school choice," SPED, capacity and designated pathways for high school HCC.  Oh, and boundaries.

- He stated that SPS had grown by 8,000 students over the last 10 years.  (Editor's note:This is a lot of growth especially for a mid-urban district.)  He said, "Now it has slowed" and "looks steady."  He said the current enrollment is "about what it was last year" and is "considerably" below projections.  He said the Board had allocated $4M for mitigation; $2M for fall enrollment and $2M for "race and equity mitigation."  I'll have to ask how those spending choices will be determined. 

He said there are about a dozen teaching positions affected and stated that no one would be let go but those staff would have  to change schools. 

- He said the district had dedicated funding to earthquake safety and that the repairs have been done "on all schools."  I don't think that can be so because all of BEX IV and BTA IV dollars have not been spent on their projects, some that include earthquake shoring up.

Board Comments

- Director Geary's son, Henry, gave remarks on the dais as the Roosevelt representative.  He stated that students have concerns around parking at RHS because the one parking lot has portables in it and is restricted to staff.  He said that the surrounding neighborhood is zoned and that students can't park there more than two hours without getting a ticket.  He also said that there are 100 (!) girls on the swim team and there is not enough room/time for practice.  He also noted that the later start time means less time after school for activities.

I miss that the high schools seem to have lost their Student Senate, perhaps to complicated schedules.  But if ever there were a time for high school students to speak in one voice, it's now.

- Director Geary said that that she would be trying to have her community meetings at Solid Ground, the housing development where SPS parent, Charleena Lyles, killed by police earlier this year. 

- Director Burke, in what I would consider a kindness, said about the enrollment shortfall that staff shouldn't beat themselves up but look for what data might have been missed and get better from each experience.

- Director Blanford, in an odd turn of phrase, thank Henry Geary for his mother's time and said "we'll give her back to you soon."  Does he know something we don't?

Part Two will be speakers' voices which were fairly evenly split over two issues - HCC and the use of the land at Fort Lawton.