Yes, I'm Leaving

Some of you might have seen the Board meeting or even been there but others might have heard through the grapevine.

I am leaving Seattle and thus ends this blog as it currently is focused.  It will likely close after Thanksgiving unless there was some breaking news that I think important for readers to be able to talk about and discuss.


I want to get settled in my home before I decide whether to revamp it into place to discuss, in depth, higher level public education issue.

I had been considering this move for some time and my exit reasons are personal.   I can say that while I do love Seattle, I find today's Seattle frantic and unsettled.  Maybe it is just a reflection of our national disquietude matched with ennui about what to do with ourselves.

It makes me think of Moonstruck when Nicholas Cage's character can't stop professing his love for Cher's character and she slaps him across the face and says, "Snap out of it!"  I wish there were that magic wand that might make us all be Americans rather than factions upon factions.

But I digress.

I have many people I want to thank but that will be another post.

But naturally, I have to thank you, the readers of this little blog that could.  You have challenged me, kept me on my toes, some have been informers (thanks!), with a few pests.

I do appreciate all the kind words of appreciation that you have sent my way as of late.

I cannot offer you more than be in good health, watch over and love your children and please, please, continue to support public education.  It is the backbone of this democracy.

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday Open Thread

The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested.  It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio.  (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Read more

Breaking It Down: Where the District Might Close Schools

Update 2: an absolutely fabulous interactive map made by parent Beth Day (@thebethocracy on Twitter - she covers Board meetings and is fun to read).   end of update    Update 1: Mea culpa, I did indeed get Decatur and Thornton Creek mixed up. Thanks to all for the correction. end of update   I suspect some who read this post will be irate. Why do this? Because the district seems very hellbent on this effort with no oversight skid marks from the Board.    To clearly state - I do not believe that closing 20 schools is a good idea. I think they hit on 20 because they thought it might bring in the most savings. But the jury is still out on the savings because the district has not shown its work nor its data. I suspect closing schools and THEN leasing/renting them is the big plan but that means the district really has to keep the buildings up.   But this district, with its happy talk about "well-resourced schools" is NOT acknowledging the pain and yes, gr...
Read more

Education News Roundup

From the ever-amusing Washington Policy Center : Vouchers are Pell Grants for students under 18.  Vouchers are no different than Pell Grants or GI benefits, except the money goes to the families of students younger than age 18.  Except they are. Pell Grants were created to help needy students and that's not really the goal of the voucher program.  The Pell grant website does have a couple of great studies on why low-income students drop out before finishing their higher ed and what makes a difference.
Read more