Waitlist Work Session/Native American Program Reduced at RESMS

 Here's the agenda which includes the BEX V Work Session on the Facilities Master Plan (which was something of an irritant as it was advertised as BEX V but was really about the FMP).  The Waitlist presentation starts on page 99.

I fear that this thread may disappoint some of you as the actual movement of the waitlists was not the focus of the Work Session on June 25th.

Of interest (in random order):

- Enrollment knows that some schools lose students thru the year but a few - like Interagency - continue to gain students thru the school year.
- On page 101, we see "June Updated Enrollment Projections for 2018-2019".  There are two columns "revised per June" and "revised per February."  The district's count is down by 51 for K-3, up by 48 for grades 4-5, down 18 for 6-8 and up 26 for high school.  Work those numbers and the district is up by ....5 students since February.  Their count for the district is 52,889.
- On page 102, there is a page -  "Projections - Outliers" - something of a catch-all page of stats.  I suspect that the district has always had these kinds of swings among schools but the important fact is at the bottom of the page - "In total, 26 schools identified in one or more of the measurements above. Eleven schools would have a change in teacher allocation of more than 1.0."  
- Waitlists will dissolve on August 31st. Director Mack asked why the waitlists could not be preserved longer but I didn't hear a clear answer. 
- On page 104, there is 2018-2019 School Choice and Waitlists.  As of mid-June, over 2400 students received a new choice assignment.
- Also on page 104, there are 2,736 students on waitlists. That's about 5% of enrollment.

- Page 105, 2018-2019 School Choice and Waitlists is a bullet list of statements. One seems a bit tortured - "Some schools may have seats available overall but not at the requested grade based on the staffing allocated to the school and in these instances a waitlist exists.

I venture that means that the school is not staffed enough at some grade levels to take on new students.  But does that mean the space isn't there?

- Also on page 105, "Nearly half of all schools have reached or exceeded the operational capacity of the building, limiting choice seats."  That's a lot of crowded schools.

- Page 106 is titled, "Waitlists Move for Schools Overcapacity (top 10)".  For example, Ingraham - capacity 1271 has enrollment of 1336 BUT 52 of those enrolled are on waitlists for other schools (in this case, primarily Ballard).

Hamilton, which was always meant to be smaller because of its small facility footprint, has capacity of 978 but enrollment of 1031 but also has 25 kids on a waitlist for other schools.

Interestingly, Roosevelt - capacity 1869 - has an enrollment projection of 1938 BUT has 45 kids on waitlists for other schools.

- page 107 is "Waitlists at Schools with Capacity (top 10)"
Van Asselt has a capacity of 480 and yet has only enrolled 403 students.  But let me point out that the district moved VA into the old African-American Academy which was a K-8.  I really am not comfortable with how the district repurposes buildings and crosses their fingers.

One school on the list - Lafayette - surprised me because I thought it was a popular school.  They are underenrolled by more than 100 students.

The biggest surprise to me on this list?  That Rainier Beach is not there.  I'm sure it's still underenrolled but not enough to make the top ten.

So what high schools are there?  Franklin and West Seattle.  Franklin is underenrolled by almost 150 students which I find very surprising.  And there are 73 students waitlisted to get in which should have prompted a question from the Board but my notes don't reflect that. West Seattle is even more underenrolled - capacity 1215, with enrollment at 937 and they, too, have a large waitlist of 68 students.

Meany, Washington and Whitman Middle Schools are all woefully underenrolled.  There is something wrong that the numbers are off by that much.  What has happened at Washington that so many parents are not choosing it?

- Ballard will be the biggest high school - at 2077 - followed by Roosevelt (1968) and Garfield (1833).  Roosevelt has a large waitlist at 91 but who has the most for high school?  Cleveland at 116 students.  Not sure if STEM-related issues are keeping staff from filling the school - they could take at least 50 more kids according to their capacity.

Nova's numbers continue to drop and that's worrying.  They have a capacity of 400 but couldn't meet their projection of 335 (from their enrollment this year of 312).  They have just 228 students enrolled.  The World School appears to have the same issue. 

- For middle schools Hamilton has the biggest waitlist, 76, while Eckstein which is about at capacity for next year, only has 17 kids on their waitlist.

- For K-8s, there seems to be a huge popularity for some of them.  Pathfinder has 176 students on their waitlist while Hazel Wolf has a whopping 323 kids on their waitlist.  Boren STEM has 132.  Maybe someone should point this out to our new superintendent and talk about replicating successful programs.  Salmon Bay and TOPS both have significant waitlists but they also used to be the most popular K-8s.

- For elementaries, there is a clear away favorite and that's Thornton Creek with a huge waitlist of 110 students.  The closest two after that are Thurgood Marshall at 57 and Fairmount Park at 79.   Here's an interesting on - Cascadia - built for 612 and is slated for 518.  Little Cedar Park will growth from 55 this year to 125 next year with space for 290. 

Several specific school issues:

- so called "tiny schools" like Licton Springs.  It appears that LS K-8 is finally growing but given that the district/Board never had clear expectations for growth, it's hard to justify closing it OR keeping it open.   And, it seems like staff didn't think it would grow because their space has zero growth space.

- From the discussion at the Session, there is growing concern over the rising enrollment at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School.  I see a storm brewing there because it is unclear if just portables are going to solve this problem.

They had 716 students this year for a building that holds 750.  But enrollment has exploded with the projection at 824 but with 842 students enrolled. 

Additionally, RESMS principal Marni Campbell abruptly changed after-school use of her school by the Urban Native Education Alliance.  From a press release by the UNEA:

Urban Native Education Alliance (UNEA) was given email notice by Eagle Staff School Principal Marni Campbell on May 22nd stating the UNEA ‘Partnership Agreement’ will be reduced (cut in half) for the new school year and this decision is “non-negotiable”. 

“This displacement of the Clear Sky tutoring and cultural program and Native Warrior Athletics will impact hundreds of Seattle Public School Native learners, families, volunteers, Robert Eagle Staff/Licton Springs learning community and members of our intertribal urban community”, stated Sarah Sense-Wilson, (Oglala), Urban Native Education Alliance, Chair.

Robert Eagle Staff School is located on culturally significant sacred land (Licton Springs). This site is where both Seattle Clear Sky and UNEA birthed as grassroots community driven organization. Our connection to this land transcends time and is a sacred relationship. It is ironic district officials accepted traditional star quilts, Eagle Staff Sculpture and other items of cultural importance in ceremony, as an exchange in good faith to honor the legacy Robert Eagle Staff and in tribute to the urban Native community’s ties and connection with this sacred site. 

Jon Halfaker, Seattle Public Schools Area Executive Director, noted that alternative spaces may be offered at adjacent Licton Springs or Cascadia school. However, UNEA finds these spaces are insufficient for their basketball, fitness, health, tutoring and cultural programming. 

UNEA requested the reversal of the decision, which remains in place for the fall school year despite its opposition to Seattle School’s Educational and Racial Equity Policy #0030, and SPS strategic Plan for eliminating Achievement gap, and its Racial Equity Analysis Tool to ensure equitable access. 
 
I went over to check the space at Licton Springs and it is very small and tight especially for older, bigger kids.

What I find troubling is that UNEA is a real partner to the district - and has been for years - not just someone renting space.  They partner with many other groups including UW.  So this sending of an email to let UNEA know they no longer can run several programs at RESMS - with no face-to-face - seems odd.

I do recall Marni Campbell - on the opening day of RESMS - participating in a Native American ceremony and she seemed deeply moved.  I have to wonder why a school that is dedicated to a Native American educator and leader, that has - from Day One - put Native American focus to the building would just decide to not have as many programs that serve Native American students in that building.