This And That, September 30, 2024

Seattle Schools has many clinics set up for vaccinations, both for the flu and for the latest COVID update.  The program started on September 20th and continues to the middle of November. The locations are throughout the district, depending on the day. 

The vaccinations are free at the school-based health centers while the vaccinations provided by the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association are by insurance or payment. The school-based health centers also offer childhood vaccinations as well. 

If you need assistance by phone or interpretation, call the Coordinated Vaccine Transportation Helpline at 425-943-6706 Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and press 5 for language assistance. 

If you have questions, please reach out to info@seattlevna.com for assistance.

 

The district has a volunteer opening on its Capital Programs Oversight Committee. 

We are looking for individuals with experience in capital programs, including expertise in areas such as planning, budgeting, cost estimating, project controls, and the organization and management of public agency capital programs.

Committee members should have professional backgrounds in one or more of the following areas: architecture, construction management, law, contracting, subcontracting, or related fields. Parents and other community members are also encouraged to apply if they bring relevant expertise.

This committee plays a vital role in supporting the School Board and the district’s strategic plan, which prioritizes students of color who are furthest from educational justice. To advance this mission, we strongly encourage applications from individuals and groups that have historically been underrepresented in district decision-making processes, including women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Applications are due on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

 

The district is also looking for committee members for the School Levy Voter Pamphlet Statement. 

At its regular meeting on November 19, 2024, the School Board will be voting on resolutions that would place two levies on the ballot in February 2025. Both replace levies that expire in 2025. 

About the Statement of Interest for EP&O and BEX VI Levy Pro and Con Committees

As required by state law, the district must appoint committees to prepare written statements in support of and in opposition to each levy. These statements will appear in the King County voters’ pamphlet. Each committee is limited by law to three members, although committees may seek the advice of others. 

If you are interested in serving on a committee advocating for approval or rejection of either levy, please submit an online application. The application will ask for the following information for each committee you wish to serve on: 

  • Your name and contact information 
  • Which of the following four committees you wish to serve on: 
    • For approval of EP&O 
    • For rejection of EP&O 
    • For approval of BEX VI 
    • For rejection of BEX VI 
  • A brief statement of why you should be selected to prepare the written statement you have selected. 

Committee applications are due Monday, October 7, 5 p.m. 

 

To note, at the Board meeting next Wednesday, October 9th, both the Operations levy renewal and the BEX levy renewal will be Introduced. 

The Educational Programs and Operations levy (E&O) will jump up a modest amount from $646.8M to $673.8 and BEX VI will jump up from $1.4B to $1.8B. I am always astonished by these amounts.


Comments

Benjamin Lukoff said…
SPS gets to choose who writes the con statements? Is this how political campaigns usually work?
9/30/24, 3:35 PM
Melissa Westbrook said…
I don't know the process well but the entity bringing the levy has to go out and do the work to find both sides. I think they have to take any one who asks. Chris Jackins generally takes this on but it would be great to hear from some parents this time around.
9/30/24, 3:56 PM
Frustrated Mom said…
I completed a polling survey this weekend about SPS Levy renewal messaging, presumably commissioned by SPS. Levy renewal is definitely on their radar. The questions asked me to evaluate different pro-Levy messages, I wasn’t asked how I intended to vote.There was an open ended question about what I thought was the source of SPS’s current funding issues. I said alienating parents by dismantling advanced learning opportunities and lack of any effort to attract back private school families. Was nice to have a chance to share that opinion.
9/30/24, 8:19 PM
Seattle is Lost said…
The district’s survey will be used to find effective messaging. I wouldn’t bother.
10/1/24, 3:33 PM
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