Seattle Schools for the Week, April 2-7, 2018
Monday, April 2nd
The first of several meetings on the BEX V Capital levy. This one is at Aki Kurose Middle School from 6:30-8:15 pm.
Tuesday, April 3rd
BEX V Capital levy community meeting at Madison Middle School from 6:30-8:15 pm.
Seattle Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council meeting from 5:30-7:30 pm at JSCEE.
Highly Capable Services Advisory Committee at JSCEE from 6:30-7:30 pm.
Wednesday, April 4th
Regular Board meeting, starting at 4:15 pm. Agenda
Except that there will be a huge item on the agenda - the naming of the person that the Board wants to offer a contract to be the next superintendent. I'm hoping that before that happens - it's the first thing on the Action agenda - everyone else on the dais will keep their comments to a minimum.
I am a bit irritated at how the Board has not been clear on announcements about this process. I was told by Communications that the first time anyone will hear a name is at the Board meeting but another source said he was told that the Board might name someone on Wednesday morning.
Also, on the Board agenda is a contract for MTSS assessments for grades 3-10 for LA and math.
They have been/will be field testing it (they state that they have gone thru the LA questions for racial/cultural bias and have decided on a second field test for that portion). Embedded in this BAR is a listing of all assessments the district gives, starting on page 9.
Thursday, April 5th
Operations Committee Meeting from 4:30-6:30 pm. No agenda yet available.
Saturday, April 7th
Community meeting with Director Harris from 3-5 pm at the High Point Branch Library.
The first of several meetings on the BEX V Capital levy. This one is at Aki Kurose Middle School from 6:30-8:15 pm.
Tuesday, April 3rd
BEX V Capital levy community meeting at Madison Middle School from 6:30-8:15 pm.
Seattle Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council meeting from 5:30-7:30 pm at JSCEE.
Highly Capable Services Advisory Committee at JSCEE from 6:30-7:30 pm.
Wednesday, April 4th
Regular Board meeting, starting at 4:15 pm. Agenda
Except that there will be a huge item on the agenda - the naming of the person that the Board wants to offer a contract to be the next superintendent. I'm hoping that before that happens - it's the first thing on the Action agenda - everyone else on the dais will keep their comments to a minimum.
I am a bit irritated at how the Board has not been clear on announcements about this process. I was told by Communications that the first time anyone will hear a name is at the Board meeting but another source said he was told that the Board might name someone on Wednesday morning.
Also, on the Board agenda is a contract for MTSS assessments for grades 3-10 for LA and math.
They have been/will be field testing it (they state that they have gone thru the LA questions for racial/cultural bias and have decided on a second field test for that portion). Embedded in this BAR is a listing of all assessments the district gives, starting on page 9.
Thursday, April 5th
Operations Committee Meeting from 4:30-6:30 pm. No agenda yet available.
Saturday, April 7th
Community meeting with Director Harris from 3-5 pm at the High Point Branch Library.
Comments
At noon on the day before the Board meeting, public testimony slots will be filled according the following priority levels on a first-come, first-served basis within each level:
1. Individuals speaking to action items on the agenda
2. Individuals speaking to introduction items on the agenda
3. Individuals giving comments of a general nature
Sign-ups received after noon on the day before the meeting will be added to the end of the list on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hopefully the change will prevent repeat public testimony of a "general nature" from displacing that on action and introduction items, though it seems introduction items should be prioritized first (action items would have been introduced weeks prior).
reader
reader
The noon on Tuesday note is not a change to signup schedule, it's just the cutoff for the prioritization process. That remains 8:00 AM on Monday.
It means that at noon on Tuesday, staff can order all testimony signups received-to-date and prepare the agenda documents. Everybody added after that time just gets put onto the end of the queue. This is the process that the Board office has been using for some time to allow document processing time, but it hadn't been formally defined until this policy update.
-Rick Burke
You might want to save that "quick clarification" for the board meeting.
This forum is political, biased and not open to all members of the public
(due to how it deletes opposing views).
You are a public servant who was elected.
Head Up
Tool check
@Tool check - That wasn't the slogan, but hey we're all working on greatness, right?
-Rick Burke
Since the questions posed indicate that this is likely to be a generalized misunderstanding, why did you not correct this on the Board page? By only dealing with the confusion here, you are contributing to a blog that has actively discriminated against opposing opinion by deleting them. This occurred especially during the debate about high school pathways (as I'm sure you recall).
The fact that you are having a dialogue with a group of selective constituents, on a forum that has a documented history of deleting and barring comments from those who have differing opinions from the moderator, is an ethical problem for you--at a minimum.
This blog discriminates against citizens who have differing opinions by barring their comments. That makes it worse than those other "outlets." It is not an open blog.
Head(s) Up
-Rick Burke
First, the votes on the consent agenda are before public testimony, so public can’t weigh in. Second, the consent agenda items aren’t given a spot in the speaking order. There has been times where there is significant public interest in getting items removed off of consent agenda to a full discussion, but the current alignment doesn’t allow the public to give their voice. I urge this to be amended.
- QueenAnneDad
"..you are contributing to a blog that has actively discriminated against opposing opinion by deleting them."
First, any Board member can make a clarification here. No matter that you are unhappy with this blog, does not make it a valid voice in this community. And again, you must be new because the amount of vitriol that Charlie and I have let go thru the years is large. I have recently taken a harder line on attacks against me because they generally have nothing to do with the topic and I'm just not taking them any longer. But if you can put forth a civil argument that disagrees with me or anyone else, I don't delete it.
Also, you can define "open blog" anyway you want but I don't run a rant and rave blog. So if that is what you seek, go elsewhere. Or, start your own and learn how tough and tedious this work can be.
Queen Anne Dad, your statements are often what long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins says. What you can do is contact Board members and ask that items be taken off the Consent Agenda. Any Board member can do this and it has to be done if requested.
Melissa states that she only deletes posts that are personal attacks. Anyone who reads this blog knows that is not correct.
In addition to the classic attempt to get people who disagree to leave ("maybe this isn't the blog for you"), many posts were deleted during the high school pathways debate--for no other reason than because the moderator disagreed.
Anyone who has read this blog knows this is true.
This is not an open forum and has actively barred citizen voices from being heard.
Board directors, public servants, have an ethical obligation to not participate in such a forum since it excludes some of their participants.
Heads Up
Heads Up
You have made your point, move on.
A responsible blog would NOT censor comments based on content.
A responsible blog would state basic rules of civility and enforce them fairly.
This blog is biased to the point where some people wonder if Melissa gets Amazon gift cards to plug her pro self-contained gifted attitude.
She allows the most vicious attacks on those who find the program misguided but happily deletes contrary comments or just closes the thread when she finds the comments don't go her way.
Anyways, Happy Spring everybody,
Mrs. Dash
I do miss the witch hunts and histrionics. Funny how this time no comments on the retirement of WMS Admin or that of the Hamilton Principal. They hold no interest at this time. But in the good ole days it was game on. He who accuses excuses and all that.
- Carry On
HP
Also, we have now gotten off topic so I'll be deleting any more discussion of the blog. If you don't like it, don't read it. Don't like Board members here? Go tell them.
Does the head of AL attend?
Mary
Too Cozy?
It would be interesting to see a group emerge for families who opt their HC students out of the cohort.
Group Dynamics
Thanks Board and Staff!
- Queen Anne Dad