Seattle Schools Week of Feb. 11-16, 2019
Update, Monday night from SPS Communications:
end of update
I'm not going to be posting all the meetings and so forth because it's likely everything will be rescheduled.
Please post any cancellations/rescheduled events that you know of in the comments section.
On Monday, Feb. 11th, Seattle schools will be closed. However, JSIS will be open.
Tuesday, Feb. 12th is election day for the Seattle Schools' levies. Clearly, with the weather difficulties, I think there may be concern about ballots getting into ballot boxes/mail boxes AND getting counted on-time.
Also, I thought I understood that for a special election such as this one, the election is required to get a percentage of the ballots from the last election in order for it to count. I'll try to call King County elections tomorrow to see if I have that right and, if so, what that percentage is that SPS needs to meet.
Naturally, with all the snow days - and only two snow days built into the school year - I see that some parents on Facebook are getting concerned with the Winter break, the Spring break and end-of-school plans.
To note, the state requirement is 180 days of instruction. The calendar is negotiated with labor partners, primarily SEA, so that is not easy to change. And, the district has a policy that each school's principal can make decisions on allowed absences for issues like travel.
That's a lot to juggle to figure out the solution to this problem. And you can add to it that when days get added to the end-of-the-year solely to make up snow days AND kids are watching movies, then it's just the district trying to tell OSPI "yes, we had 180 days of instruction" rather than actually delivering it.
Personally, I think they should take the days out of the Winter Break. Given that it's a whole week this year (it changes every other year), I would think the SEA would say yes to putting back in days in order for the school year not to stretch nearly to July.
Thoughts on any of this?
We recognize that school closures create schedule changes that are challenging for students, staff, and families, and appreciate your patience. Make up days are determined though a bargaining process with our labor partner, Seattle Education Association. All options will be considered. We will also explore alternative instructional hours with the state Superintendent's Office of Public Instruction (OSPI). Graduation dates will be reviewed once we have clarity on snow make-up days. No decisions will be made this week (Feb. 11-15) as we continue to manage inclement weather that could result in school delays and closures.
end of update
I'm not going to be posting all the meetings and so forth because it's likely everything will be rescheduled.
Please post any cancellations/rescheduled events that you know of in the comments section.
On Monday, Feb. 11th, Seattle schools will be closed. However, JSIS will be open.
Tuesday, Feb. 12th is election day for the Seattle Schools' levies. Clearly, with the weather difficulties, I think there may be concern about ballots getting into ballot boxes/mail boxes AND getting counted on-time.
Naturally, with all the snow days - and only two snow days built into the school year - I see that some parents on Facebook are getting concerned with the Winter break, the Spring break and end-of-school plans.
To note, the state requirement is 180 days of instruction. The calendar is negotiated with labor partners, primarily SEA, so that is not easy to change. And, the district has a policy that each school's principal can make decisions on allowed absences for issues like travel.
That's a lot to juggle to figure out the solution to this problem. And you can add to it that when days get added to the end-of-the-year solely to make up snow days AND kids are watching movies, then it's just the district trying to tell OSPI "yes, we had 180 days of instruction" rather than actually delivering it.
Personally, I think they should take the days out of the Winter Break. Given that it's a whole week this year (it changes every other year), I would think the SEA would say yes to putting back in days in order for the school year not to stretch nearly to July.
Thoughts on any of this?
Comments
School in July?
WMS GHS mom
Wondering Allowed
SP
Unclear
almost college
Federal funding won't cover special education costs.
Parents dream.
The levy campaign has NOT told you that PART TIME employees will be receiving generous health care packages. Districts must help cover these costs. Across the state, part time health insurance costs are estimated to cost districts $100M. The legislature is trying to figure out how to pay for their portion of these benefits ($900M).
To cover part time health insurance costs, the legislature is looking to increase LEVY funding. Having the state pick-up these costs looks like a long shot.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/feb/10/legislature-looking-for-ways-to-fix-the-mccleary-f/?fbclid=IwAR3tp5IJml2wTo8YW28kwDl-woKZDI5eRfoC3oODxJQmOzT-KxOIXCSBlis
Assurances that the levy will pay for counselors, nurses and librarians ring hollow, to my ears. Passing the levy will not produce Shangrila for your children. Those dollars will be used to supplement additional employee benefits.
Is there protected bucket of funds for students?
As a teacher I'm torn on the issue, but also the reality of trying to force kids to be productive as June drags out with no end in sight means students may not actually lose that much content. Every day after memorial day is the repetition of "Yes, school is still in session, we are still doing work."
I also try to point students to a number of free summer programs that start too close to the end of the school year (curious what districts they base off, since we all end within a day or two of each other), and I don't want my students missing finals or losing a spot in these programs that they desperately need.
OuttaSeattle
WEA Swipe, where is your evidence that this will happen? You make many claims without evidence.
I think districts can ask for waivers but I saw at Facebook that it's for smaller districts.
I believe the district (and SEA) will have an announcement in a couple of days to clarify all this.
55m55 minutes ago
"Big question put to @govinslee at briefing - will state be able to waive making up all these missed school days? He says it's up to Supt. of Public Instruction."
Here are a few excerpts:
-But the Legislature is looking at proposals to give districts “a little more levy capacity” to cover those costs, Sullivan said.
-If the Legislature doesn’t increase the districts’ levy capacity, some will have to choose between a mixture of cutting programs their families want and reducing employees, he said.
-But Wellman believes lawmakers will come up with a plan that it works for big school districts like Spokane and Seattle, as well as medium and small districts, then spend time explaining it and getting input from the districts. Still, she warns:
“Nobody’s going to be completely happy.”
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/feb/10/legislature-looking-for-ways-to-fix-the-mccleary-f/?fbclid=IwAR3tp5IJml2wTo8YW28kwDl-woKZDI5eRfoC3oODxJQmOzT-KxOIXCSBlis
Do people want levy funding to support healthcare benefits for part time workers?
For the school districts, the benefits contract that the state negotiated without them only multiplies their problems."
"On top of those salaries for employees not covered under the model for basic education, districts also face a change in 2020 on the cost of health care. The state has negotiated a new School Employees Benefit package for all public school workers, whether they are basic education staff paid by the state or other staff paid by the school district. Patterned after the Public Employees Benefit plan for state workers, it includes health insurance that is more expensive than many districts currently provide.
The contract the state negotiated also has a different calculation than many districts use for determining when a part-time employee is eligible for full-time benefits.
“It’s a punch in the gut,” Jim Kowalkowski, superintendent of the Davenport School District, said of the higher cost of health care benefits. “Full-time benefits for part-time people? No business does that.”
Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, said the better employee package – which is comparable to what legislators have – helps equalize benefits for school employees and their families across the state by giving them more affordable health care."
So the district has to figure out how to fix issues that the State created and you are mad the district is going to do that? What they are legally obligated to do because the State set it up that way?
"House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, noted the state will be picking up the cost of 31,000 basic education employees in schools all over the state. The districts will only be responsible for the employees they add to the basic education model.
But the Legislature is looking at proposals to give districts “a little more levy capacity” to cover those costs, Sullivan said."
So the district should not hire part-time IAs or part-time nurses?
It's a bit of a Sophie's Choice NOT of the district's doing.
I think people don't understand how many part time workers have huge impacts in students lives. Most of the paras I work with are part time--a 5 or 6 hour/day contract. A good para makes *everyone* in class more successful. A bad para is worse than no para by an indescribable amount. I can't get rid of bad paras if a student has para minutes assigned in their IEP the para stays -- even if the para consistently has the student doing the work incorrectly or interrupts class. Anything the state can do to attract better candidates top to bottom through the system I'm in favor of...
OuttaSeattle
unclear
"State Supt. Chris Reykdal tells me OSPI is looking into the waiver option.
State law appears to allow a max 3 waiver days."
"The percentage issue you’re talking about applies if it’s a bond. It doesn’t apply to levy ballots. A simple 50 percent plus-1 majority is what is required for passage.
As for the question about the weather: we hope all voters get their ballots in on time, taking extra care and precaution to stay safe as they navigate the icy roads and sidewalks."
Also just saw Shorelin email saying snow make-up days will NOT be out of mid-winter or spring break and they are waiting to hear from OSPI. So I'm guessing 1 or 2 days will be waived in the end.
NW Parent
Tired of Snow
"As this snow persists, we’re very grateful for the @Alliance4Ed RightNowNeeds funds that helped us get Safeway cards to several very grateful families for provisions before the storm."
That Right Now Needs fund is still there; consider asking your principal to ask for help when school starts.
What happens to districts that don't have the capacity to pass state levies? Do those in poor rural districts not deserve part time benefits to support special education?
A problem exists when collective bargaining agreements exceed state funding.