Tuesday Open Thread
Update 2: I note that the Board Work Session for tomorrow has been expanded from talking about the superintendent search firm.
Update: the Seattle Times is reporting that Seattle school bus drivers will strike for one day tomorrow.
Bus service will resume Thursday, but the union said it could call for a longer strike if a deal isn't reached with First Student, the contractor that provides bus service to the district.
end of update
From #GivingTuesday's Facebook page:
The district says there could still be a school bus strike.
Certainly it is good that the district has firewalls on its computers but there are also very savvy people out there who may hack the computer before the wipe happens. I applaud the district for letting parents know because parents should always be notified if their student's data has been compromised. The person who foolishly left a business laptop with the personal data of students in a car should be held accountable. That's not just a "whoops" - that's a grave error.
Looks like many districts will be going to voters for various levy/bond measures, including Bellevue that will have three (one for operations, one for capital needs and one for new school buses). They are asking for a Feb. 2018 election.
What's on your mind?
Work Session: Meeting with Superintendent Search Firm 4:30 pm Location: Board Office Conference Room Work Session: Student Assignment Transition Plan 6:00 pm Location: Auditorium
Executive and Closed Sessions: Potential Litigation and Labor Relations 7:00 pm
Executive and Closed Sessions: Potential Litigation and Labor Relations 7:00 pm
Interesting. I will try to make this Work Session.
End of update
Update: the Seattle Times is reporting that Seattle school bus drivers will strike for one day tomorrow.
Bus service will resume Thursday, but the union said it could call for a longer strike if a deal isn't reached with First Student, the contractor that provides bus service to the district.
end of update
From #GivingTuesday's Facebook page:
If you are still looking to give back today, there's still plenty of time to have an impact! Donate to your favorite nonprofit or sign up to volunteer after #GivingTuesday. You can also give #probono, donate canned goods or clothing, or give blood. There's so many ways to give back - today is the perfect day to reach out to organizations in your community to see how you can help!Support your favorite non-profit today!
The district says there could still be a school bus strike.
In their FAQs, the district is pretty clear - if there's a strike, you are on your own for transportation. It's a bit unclear what happens to Special Education students; the district says students with provided private transport will continue to get that but that those students on the bus will be affected (how is not clear).First Student and the bus driver union have not resolved their labor dispute and continue to negotiate. All families who use yellow school bus service need to have alternative plans to get their student to school in the event of a strike.
Any potential strike affects yellow bus riders. If your student gets to school using other district-provided methods (e.g. taxi, American Logistics), those services will not be disrupted.
We will continue to keep you updated as more information is available. If a strike is called, we will alert you by email, phone, website, social media and local broadcast news.
If bus drivers strike, how will we find out?Then there is this letter (from the Seattle Special Education PTSA Facebook page) about a student data privacy breach:
Should a strike be called, the district will immediately notify families these ways:
Only the families of those students who ride First Student buses will receive a phone message and email from the district.
- Website posts (school and district)
- Our Facebook and Twitter pages
- A phone message and email, including messages in home language.
We will notify local media, which likely provide regular updates throughout any strike scenario. We also commit to announce the restoration of bus service as quickly as possible.
Certainly it is good that the district has firewalls on its computers but there are also very savvy people out there who may hack the computer before the wipe happens. I applaud the district for letting parents know because parents should always be notified if their student's data has been compromised. The person who foolishly left a business laptop with the personal data of students in a car should be held accountable. That's not just a "whoops" - that's a grave error.
Looks like many districts will be going to voters for various levy/bond measures, including Bellevue that will have three (one for operations, one for capital needs and one for new school buses). They are asking for a Feb. 2018 election.
What's on your mind?
Comments
EdVoter
http://www.tmz.com/2017/11/22/texas-congressman-joe-barton-nude-sexting-twitter/
A 68-year-old Texas congressman, looking like an anatomically correct Pilsbury dough boy, sent a naked picture of himself in full excitement, along with some undignified suggestions, to a former girlfriend by smart phone. Now the whole world is laughing its butt off. If any teenager is tempted to think of sexting as cool, romantic, edgy, or exciting, one look at Joe Barton should convince them otherwise. I am saving the picture, and when my son finally gets his hands on a smartphone, I plan to tape an 8x10 on the refrigerator.
Mom of 4
Kate
better way
Concerned parent
MJ
First Student – South Park Bus Lot:
8249 5th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98108
First Student – Lake City Bus Lot:
13525 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98125
Read more about what's behind the strike at:
http://teamsters174.net/teamsters-local-174-to-call-1-day-unfair-labor-practice-strike-tomorrow-at-first-student/#more-32923
school bus fan
school bus fan
Not a supporter
https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?u=39b563f2eb27cbdfce4c00437&id=f79d9e6475
Funding Matters
Dominos
There's not a whole lot that SPS can do otherwise.
We use to have an organization that pooled funds district-wide & raised funds for grants around the district and gave logistical support to fundraising efforts in all SPS schools. Then its board turned over, they fired most of the staff and decided to use their funds to try to influence decision making instead of supporting efforts originating at individual schools or from the district. That would be the alliance for education.
Instead such an organization could have helped distribute funds when we each donate to our own school, by offering additional donor options to specific projects in needier schools or a general grant fund or publicizing specific needs around the district. As well, of course, as fundraising from the broader community on behalf of all our schools.
-HS Parent
(complete history of Rhee's reign + Henderson) =>
School Reform Fiasco in WA DC
-- Dan Dempsey
HC
"State Law and Compliance: As the District investigates options to serve students identified as highly capable, we must take into account the compliance challenges that could potentially occur. State law for highly capable requires a “continuum of services”… for students…“from K-12”. An argument could easily be made that Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is out of compliance if there was not an International Baccalaureate Accelerated (IBX) program and we ended the existing pathway to Garfield High School. OSPI made it clear that only offering International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses does not fulfill that requirement. Any solution created needs to provide a HC pathway designation and continuum of service to ensure compliance.
WAC 392-170-078: Program services states, “Districts shall make a variety of appropriate
program services available to students who participate in the district's program for highly
capable students. Once services are started, a continuum of services shall be provided to the student from K-12.” The District already initiated this work by screening all 2nd grade student sat Title 1 schools.Another consideration is that OSPI has adopted new language this year, based on equity concerns.
WAC 392-170-075 Selection of most highly capable states, “(4) Consistent with RCW
28A.185.020, district practices for identifying the most highly capable students must prioritize equitable identification of low-income students.” Any solution created needs to begin the process of expanding access and move us into improved alignment with policy 0300.
I know of at least two Highly capable F& R lunch students (white) who were NOT at Title I schools. Both these students were identified late and faced significant challenges to access the process. One was homeless for awhile. They really need to be working harder to identify ALL free and reduced lunch students, INCLUDING the F & R lunch white and asian students and the students not at Title I schools.
HC
That's great they did ultimately identify those students you mentioned. Yes, we need to better at finding them sooner and making it easier. I think/hope they are working on it.
DisAPP
I found it informative that the district realizes the status quo has effectively barred equitable access for HC students via distance. It is not reasonable to expect kids to travel hours by bus. Ex. Bus service was eliminated from NW etc. That left no practical "designated HC option" for BHS kids but neighborhood school and Ingraham IBX/IB is not appropriate for all HC. They were told by OSPI simply offering AP courses or IB is not enough. They plan to do more at all the 4 regional sites, including adding AP courses, honors options, Garfield teachers etc. They recognize they can be sued for being out of compliance if they do not offer a seamless curriculum at the school.
http://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/District/Departments/School%20Board/17-18%20agendas/20171129/20171129_Agenda_Packet.pdf
HC