Times Article on District Closure Presentation
The Times has an article this morning that has better information in the comments than the actual story. They don't even link to the presentation the article discusses.
A few items stick out:
The new approach was informed, in part, by four community sessions and a community survey in May and June. One of the common themes from those meetings was that the community wanted more transparency from Seattle Public Schools and they wanted to be included in the process. Another big theme was that many opposed the district’s plan to close schools.
I actually missed that last finding from the community meetings. Funny, the district isn't going to listen to parents who don't want schools closed.
“This is frankly scary for us,” Jones said. “We’re going to articulate when we’re struggling. We’re going to articulate when there’s a mismatch. We’re going to articulate when we don’t have the information. We will do that along the way so that there’s not going to be a surprise.”
Well, it's scary to hear the top leadership say he is scared. I'm not sure I see the statements above leading to the Board giving him a raise.
Decatur Elementary, for example, had 188 students last year and can fit roughly 236 students at capacity, fewer than the district goal of 400. It’s in poor to fair condition and gets a 3.18 (fair but below SPS standards in some areas) in the learning environment rating.
So a Decatur parent said - both at the Board meeting and the public hearing on the budget - that it appears the district is deliberately withholding enrollment. She stated that they had 45 children on the waitlist for kindergarten! And about 90 on the list overall. I have heard this same complaint from Salmon Bay K-8.
The district has long cited declining enrollment as one of the reasons for its current predicament.
“That isn’t really the main issue,” said Fred Podesta, the district’s chief operations officer. “The reason we’re having the discussion is, how many buildings do we need to serve the students we have? Finances are related to this, but it’s not as causal as people think.”
Even if SPS somehow managed to get back the 4,900 or so students it lost since 2019, the district could still be in a financial bind. At best, it could break even; at worst, the cost of educating those students could put the district further in the red.
Wait, what!? This is new and hey Superintendent Jones "a surprise."
I put in a comment at the story but it's mostly what I have said here at the blog.
But someone else did some number crunching and it's interesting. Please read the statement line carefully as it's important to why a school is on that list. This data is in the presentation on page 34 (it is not numbered but comes after the complete presentation).
First stat:
Second stat:
Fourth Stat:
Comments
Curious
Similarly, Leslie Harris shared at the school board meeting that Seattle has a 40% principal turnover rate. This is shocking! It is expensive and tragic for the school communities who rely on their principal to be their school leader. The District (and legislators like Sen Jamie Pedersen who just found $100K to study it) wonder why kids aren't coming back to SPS. Principal turnover is part of the equation. So how do we hold the Head of HR (Dr. Sarah Pritchett) accountable for this expensive HR crisis? It feels like we need outside accountability.
With an SOFG-intoxicated school board unwilling to effectively govern, District staff taking advantage of a leadership void from our superintendent and ignoring bread-and-butter issues like sustainably staffing schools, and a Seattle Council PTSA keen to underfund schools citing equity but practicing equality, we need outside help.
If you keep doing the same things, you'll keep getting the same results. I would be curious how we can demand a higher level of outside accountability to stop this gerbil wheel of drama.
Ideas?
Concerned
-just checking
Leslie asked if “it is true…” anyone can come and try a Perry Mason moment. Especially interesting to try that if you just left the school board - the dysfunction predates your exit, and my question for you Leslie is (because I know you read and comment here)
What did YOU do to correct the principal turn over?
How many of your District 6 schools did YOU visit? I know you never came to mine.
Along with Vivian SM, stop your grandstanding and pretending you know better than your former colleagues. What was your legacy? For sure you did not leave the district better than it was when you came to the board so…
Just Facts
Who’s with me?
Vote No
"An assessment of the functional ability of facilities to support SPS educational programs including:
• Spaces: Adequate size and quantity
• Configuration: Educational priorities, program flexibility, community connections
• Environment: Aesthetics, safety, responsive to human needs"
This is scored from:
1.0 00 1.99 - excellent
2.0-2.99 - meets most SPS standards
3.0-3.99 - Fair - below current SPS standards with some criteria lacking
4.0-4.99 - Poor - far below SPS standards with many criteria lacking
5.0-5.99 - Unsuitable - severely lacking support for SPS standards
I think I'll put this in a post along with the Facilities Master Plan.
Thanks for the question.
Just Checking, I have no idea why my brain knows Thornton Creek but I type Decatur. I'll fix that. Thanks
Just Facts, I'm pretty sure that in 8 years former Director Harris visited every single school in her region. She probably can document that.
Harris hasn't been gone that long; she knows that district probably better than anyone up there on the dais. She's qualified to comment.
Vote No, I concur with fighting the next BEX levy. There will be a lot of ammo on your side and it's bound to happen sometime. That would certainly get the district and the board's attention.