This and That District News

 From SPS Communications via Twitter today:

1/2) Student transportation is impacted by several factors that SPS is working to address. These challenges make it impossible to provide transportation to all eligible students at this time.


(2/2) If additional bus drivers become available, we will focus on establishing limited transportation based on the highest needs. The Transportation Department is also looking into alternative solutions to provide families as many options as possible.


Also, of interest, SPS is to have an official deputy superintendent. This would be Rob Gannon who worked for several years for King County, left and moved to Montana and somehow Superintendent Brent Jones (who also worked for King County) got him to come back. I have to say that Mr. Gannon looks very qualified. I sense from this appointment that Jones will leave a lot of the operational issues to Gannon and Jones will work on social justice issues and be the public face for SPS.


FYI, the district has changed some questions in the student survey. 


Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Question for Student Surveys

Elementary

Which of the following best describes your gender identity? (Check all that apply)

  • Girl
  • Boy
  • Non-Binary
  • Transgender
  • Cisgender
  • Questioning/not sure
  • Something else fits better (please write in here):

Secondary

Which of the following best describes your gender identity? (Check all that apply)

  • Non-Binary
  • Transgender
  • Girl/Woman
  • Boy/Man
  • Cisgender
  • Questioning/not sure
  • Something else fits better (please write in here):

Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation? (Check all that Apply)

  • Bisexual
  • Lesbian
  • Gay
  • Queer
  • Pansexual
  • Asexual
  • Heterosexual (straight)
  • Questioning/not sure
  • Something else fits better (please write in here):
  • I do not know what this question is asking
The Board and Superintendent are revising use of force like isolation and restraint and are having a couple of online forums. It is unclear from the posting if there will be Q&A.

The district is in the process of revising Policy 3246: Restraint, Isolation and Other Uses of Physical Intervention to align to our values of anti-racist actions and working towards de-escalation and trauma-informed responses. Our goal is to ensure our students are treated with dignity and respect while providing staff with essential de-escalation strategies and response techniques that do not cause physical or social emotional harm to the student, family, or the school community.

We will share the draft policy to be brought in front of the board during this session. These sessions will be facilitated by district staff and Director Rankin and Director Hersey.

Student and Youth Community Meeting
Thursday, May 6, 2021, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 859 3952 0312
Passcode: 432087
Or join by phone: +1 253 215 8782

Community Member Meeting
Thursday, May 13, 2021, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 826 7044 0535
Passcode: 842418
Or join by phone: +1 253 215 8782

Comments

Anonymous said…
If the district wanted to be representative of the student body, they’d push to hire more male educators, especially at the elementary school level. 80% of educators at SPS are white females; there’s no way they show up bias free and culturally competent to meet the needs of 50% of the student body. Enough with this tired stereotype of only females as caretakers. C’mon SPS.

-Go Away
5/5/21, 7:40 PM
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