tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post1178367386611318861..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Who Is Paying for Teach for America?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32951346033446688452011-04-06T20:10:39.234-07:002011-04-06T20:10:39.234-07:00wseadog: I am not sure Peon is trying to "wh...wseadog: I am not sure Peon is trying to "whitewash" Gates. I look at it more as an exercise in focusing on who is ultimately responsible AND whose behavior/performace we can ultimately affect -- in both case, the Board's, not the Gates Foundation's. <br /><br />A little venting here and there is ok, but we have elections coming up, and board meetings to attend, etc. etc. Foundations will be foundations; unions will be unions; bureaucracies will be bureaucracies. In each instance, we need to figure out what change WE can effect, and how we can make it happen. Excessive time spent railing at all the other bad actors (and I am guilty of this) gets us nowhere.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09923777229601243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63289726941371707412011-04-04T08:42:50.977-07:002011-04-04T08:42:50.977-07:00Peon: Why the whitewash for Gates? Following you...Peon: Why the whitewash for Gates? Following your mistress analogy, Gates is clearly the home-wrecker. <br /><br />It always takes two to tango, and while SPS indeed makes repeated bad decisions, I see nothing wrong with calling out Gates and TFA for abusing their privilege and taking advantage of SPS's faults - at our expense. <br /><br />Buying influence is typically called "corruption" in the public sphere. Have we forgotten that?<br /><br />wseadawgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-89582003953620598582011-04-03T19:23:27.269-07:002011-04-03T19:23:27.269-07:00No, actually I have an email from Brad Bernatek as...No, actually I have an email from Brad Bernatek asking that the BTA III proposal be reworded to take out MAP and say instead assessment software so they wouldn't get in trouble.MAPsuckshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043019493554551794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46802392478243729772011-04-03T14:57:25.584-07:002011-04-03T14:57:25.584-07:00MAPSucks, isn't MAP part of Performance Manage...MAPSucks, isn't MAP part of Performance Management, and didn't that get a nine-million dollar grant from Gates/Broad/Boeing et al?<br /><br />I thought MAP was part of PF (it would make sense, no?)<br /><br />Maybe it's just sunday and I'm not fully in gear!<br /><br />What caught my eye intitially was what seemed to be a good set of parameters for the grant procedure, and I wondered if all the various requisites were met. If they were, then that would be a good system, where there us specific use and targets, benchmarks, goals, measurement of the effect of the grant....seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7646553854841215852011-04-03T14:43:17.111-07:002011-04-03T14:43:17.111-07:00Actually 2008 MAP pilot was inappropriately funded...Actually 2008 MAP pilot was inappropriately funded by state grant monies for "diagnostic assessments." 2009 MAP was paid for...?!, don't know, SPS won't reveal it despite public disclosure requirements. (This may hurt them very much, in the end.)2010 MAP was paid for 2/3 BTA III levy and 1/2 General Fund. Gates didn't pay for it. Broad didn't pay for it. But Broad likes all "its" districts to use MAP so that it can keep track of how its superintendents are doing. Too bad for them and us, MGJ's stats sucked big time.MAPsuckshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10043019493554551794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68268035959277057572011-04-03T13:56:43.513-07:002011-04-03T13:56:43.513-07:00Thank you, Mirmac1, for the link to the Superinten...Thank you, Mirmac1, for the link to the <a href="http://district.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/procurement%20and%20distribution%20services/procedure6.pdf?sessionid=e29adbfacca9ff7c1041eeec220838eb" rel="nofollow">Superintendent Procedure G45.06 SP; Staff Procedure for Contracting, Miscellaneous Contracts</a>. The part on the terms and conditions of grants interested me.<br />MAP is funded by a grant (I believe it is a part of the Performance Management initiative, which is funded by Gates at seven million, Broad at one million, Walton, Boeing, et al.) MAP was funded to assess students; it is now being used to assess teachers. Does the assessment of teachers by MAP meet the terms and conditions below? When the district “requested funding” for MAP, was the district goal of teacher evaluation included in the “specific purposes” of the request? In other words, the district had to ask someone to fund MAP; did it know, initially, that it would evaluate teachers with it? If not, then what did the Board approve in the initial request for outside funding for MAP? <br />It’s interesting to think about MAP and its two distinct purposes when considering the grant requirements below. Is MAP consistent with district values and board policy? Does it cost district too much in unfunded mandates? Does it create inequity in meeting student needs? Does it divert District from mission? What happens when a teacher sues based on faulty MAP data in their evaluation? Can the district sustain it without a grant?<br />From the policy:<br />“….The Seattle School District welcomes grants that assist the District in meeting students’ academic needs and the District’s goals.<br />The term “grant” refers to an award of funding to a department, a school, or an individual within the District Based upon a request for funding…[omitted - list of “not a grants”, including revenue generating, gifts, and donations: separate policy considerations for them].<br />Grant awards are designated for specific purposes and are usually accompanied by a statement of terms and conditions that guide the District or school on the use of these funds. The award document usually includes a written description of the approved program, a statement of the specific terms of conditions of the award, and information about how funding for the award can be accessed by the District. In accepting the award, the District accepts and honors the obligation to expend the grant funds in accordance of the terms of the award.<br />…..<br />1) It must be consistent with the District’s mission, core values, beliefs and goals;<br />2) It must have a value or benefit that is great than the obligation under the grant award;<br />3) It must be consistent with Board policies and administrative procedures;<br />4) It cannot create or increase inequities in funding;<br />5) It cannot violate bargaining unit agreements;<br />6) It cannot usurp management rights;<br />7) It cannot carry any conditions that would divert school or district effort away from the District’s primary mission;<br />8) It cannot expose the District to insurance losses or risks;<br />9) It cannot commit the District to unbudgeted or unplanned expendituresseattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68777443565287750012011-04-03T09:41:59.837-07:002011-04-03T09:41:59.837-07:00Here it is, Procedure 6, Miscellaneous ContractsHere it is, <a href="http://district.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/procurement%20and%20distribution%20services/procedure6.pdf?sessionid=e29adbfacca9ff7c1041eeec220838eb" rel="nofollow">Procedure 6, Miscellaneous Contracts</a>mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69554964539549639582011-04-03T08:25:46.532-07:002011-04-03T08:25:46.532-07:00Thank you, mirmac1.
Here's a link to the Proc...Thank you, mirmac1.<br /><br />Here's a link to the Procurement Policy, <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/area/policies/g/G45.00.pdf" rel="nofollow">G45.00</a><br /><br />Here is a link to the <a href="http://district.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=0e0d3027d3e8115293c23603b9526858&pageid=211193" rel="nofollow">Purchasing Department</a>. I don't see anything there about a policy or procedures that speak to grants.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44936900864365582452011-04-02T19:52:24.681-07:002011-04-02T19:52:24.681-07:00Interesting statement:
"They signed it becaus...Interesting statement:<br /><i><b>"They signed it because staff thinks TFA will be good for SPS. So do several of the board directors. They have said so publicly."</b></i><br /><br />YUP .. no argument there ..... what these people think is rarely ever based on relevant data.<br /><br />The Staff and the Board are frequently wrong in their thinking. {They buy crap and open and close schools rather whimsically.}<br /><br />Why the Staff and Directors think so many things that are contradicted when the intelligent application of relevant data is used.... is a puzzlement.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40795771051599619092011-04-02T10:36:38.895-07:002011-04-02T10:36:38.895-07:00HERE is my take on the Stritikus CoE thinking abou...HERE is my take on the Stritikus CoE thinking about TFA 5 week wonders.<br /><br />Maybe the Math Science end of this ... finally was a data based decision. LESS TIME with UW in MATH ED produces better results ... clearly over the last few years more time ==> poorer results.<br /><br />It seems from examination of the data at RBHS (over the last two+ years) and Cleveland (over the last six+ years) ..... Clearly more involvement by UW and more help from UW radically lowers OSPI math test scores....for Black students ( and others).<br /><br />So instead of a long four or five year program of preparation from UW CoE .... 5 weeks is better with occasional help in process during the two years.<br /><br /><b><i>But would not any help at all from UW CoE (for math) be the Best?</i></b><br /><br />The Idea that teachers in math need professional development from either UW CoE or Dr. King's program (which spent $200,000 NSF funds per year for 5 years) is contradicted by the lower results that came from both UW CoE Math Education Project and Dr. King's program on OSPI annual math testing of grade 10 students.<br /><br />CHECK the Data<a href="http://mathunderground.blogspot.com/2010/09/uw-professional-development-gone-bad.html" rel="nofollow"> HERE</a>.<br /><br />I think the Teacher Quality issue that brought TFA is ridiculous.<br /><br />Let us look at <br />UW CoE quality(?) (guidance)<br />School Director Quality<br />Superintendent Quality<br />SPS Math Program Director Quality<br /><br />Superintendent of Public Instruction Quality<br />SPI Math Director Quality<br /><br />......<br /><br /><b><i>The idea that we have a Teacher Quality problem, while neglecting to look at the quality of the leadership sector is typical of exactly how leaders (who remain largely unaccountable for much) want this game played.</i></b><br /><br />It seems Sundquist thinks more experimentation in math is in order .... now that all the money has been blown on defective instructional materials and practices.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68357282579521335382011-04-02T09:26:15.756-07:002011-04-02T09:26:15.756-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62960247109424711842011-04-02T07:54:33.822-07:002011-04-02T07:54:33.822-07:00Peon, yes, SPS is ultimately responsible for Gates...Peon, yes, SPS is ultimately responsible for Gates (and Broad...and Walton...) grants, but Gates is paying the Alliance and LEV millions, and they are obviously doing things to impact public perception (Waiting For Superman, for instance) and there is also obvious politicking (sp?) going on (Burgess and Urban League, for instance) and probably other back room shenanigans that are drivne by the external reformers.<br /><br />I mean, we hired a Broad superintendent. How complicit is THAT? It could be argued that the board is responsible for this, and they are, but what's to be done about it?seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72385568535336680712011-04-02T00:07:28.497-07:002011-04-02T00:07:28.497-07:00Charlie said: I sure hope our Chief Talent Officer...Charlie said: <i>I sure hope our Chief Talent Officer is pre-screening the applicants to keep non-qualified people out of the candidate pool.</i><br /><br />Hahaha!! I almost choked and had to stifle my laughter for fear of waking the kids at this hour! Great one.none1111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53262085412295060962011-04-01T22:24:41.207-07:002011-04-01T22:24:41.207-07:00The new procurement policies address grants and MO...The new procurement policies address grants and MOUs. Check on the Procurement department website.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66213809307977523122011-04-01T21:41:20.956-07:002011-04-01T21:41:20.956-07:00Not unreasonable at all to have a policy. In fact ...Not unreasonable at all to have a policy. In fact it's hard to believe that there is no policy currently.<br /><br />So what would that policy look like?<br /><br />I don't have much vision in this area, so help me out here.<br /><br />Could policy be to have a grant vetting committee made up of staff, board, and community members?<br /><br />Would it be to provide adequate public engagement informing families of the grant and disclosing any strings attached?<br /><br />Would it be more specific to power and influence the grantee would have over their donations?<br /><br />Hmmmm.....anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69689926937142896072011-04-01T21:05:59.920-07:002011-04-01T21:05:59.920-07:00The District should have a policy on accepting gra...The District should have a policy on accepting grants.<br /><br />Is that unreasonable?Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1749404145714492242011-04-01T21:03:09.733-07:002011-04-01T21:03:09.733-07:00"I don't trust the Gates Foundation (or B..."I don't trust the Gates Foundation (or Broad..."free" residents to "help" admin!) as far as I can throw them: "<br /><br />That's like saying I don't trust the mistress as far as I can throw her. Well, yeah, duh. Of course you don't trust the mistress. <br /><br />But the blame here lies with SPS, not Gates. SPS is in charge. They have complete control. They should be making decisions that are in the best interest of the district, the teachers, and our children. They should be able to say "no thanks" to Gates when they don't like the strings.<br /><br />This is no more Gates fault than it is the mistresses fault when the husband cheats.<br /><br />There will always be mistresses ready to lure, it is up to SPS to ward them off.<br /><br />Your blame is misplaced. The blame, if any, should be with SPS.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6504285091982951462011-04-01T20:16:25.325-07:002011-04-01T20:16:25.325-07:00And if the board and/or admin is merely doing what...And if the board and/or admin is merely doing what it's told by outside interests....<br /><br />Who's in charge?seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-264344774315297762011-04-01T20:14:13.359-07:002011-04-01T20:14:13.359-07:00"The problem here is bad management by the Bo..."The problem here is bad management by the Board and the staff, in saying yes to bad proposals, or saying yes to good proposals that the SSD can't afford to support."<br /><br />Exactly what Charlie has been saying. Getting money is no good if you have to match it AND the overhead is a lot.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40348190623978512312011-04-01T19:11:03.608-07:002011-04-01T19:11:03.608-07:00"In this case, Gates isn't dictating educ..."In this case, Gates isn't dictating educational policy in any way. SPS is in full control."<br /><br />Right. I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you...<br /><br />:)seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90119396631196715312011-04-01T19:09:25.850-07:002011-04-01T19:09:25.850-07:00My concern is that the district isn't acting o...My concern is that the district isn't acting on what's right for its students based on its own sound observations and beliefs (specifically those of the board, who set policy) but rather is just going along with the bill of goods that is "reform." Somebody is whispering in somebody's ear, and all of a sudden Gates and Broad are "helping" fund TFA, Performance Management, Our Schools to influence contracts...It's demonstratably not the case that admin or the board have, in the past, made sound decisions about TFA, Perfromance Management, or even asked LEV or the Alliance or whoever WHY they illegally gave information to OSC...<br /><br />What does LEV do with a million dollars? What does the Alliance do with 30 million?<br /><br />I don't trust the Gates Foundation (or Broad..."free" residents to "help" admin!) as far as I can throw them: they're reformers to the nth degree, they are part of back-room deals, and I wouldn't take money from them for nuthin'. But that's just me.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11551118149876238802011-04-01T18:00:36.940-07:002011-04-01T18:00:36.940-07:00I agree that the analogy wasn't great, Seattle...I agree that the analogy wasn't great, Seattle Citizen, but I still stand by my position. If Gates wants to give SSD 100,000 to pilot a MAP test, that is fine. It is up to the District to say no. Either they think the test is bad, or they think it is too time/space consuming, or they think that too many District resources would be consumed taking care of implementation, or whatever. <br /><br />I would be charmed right now if Gates came along and said they wanted to fund Singapore math at 5 elementary schools, and 2 K-8s, and then do an analysis of math scores for the next 10 years. But, I think that the District would have to analyze whether that fit with the District's goals, whether it would consume additional time/money resources and if so, where they would find the money, whether they had sufficient buy in from 5 elementaries and 2 K-8s to do it, etc.<br /><br />If the answer is -- the District hates Singapore, or the District will not consider it because aligned/standardization trumps all, then the conversation ends. If the deal is money, then the answer is no unless the grantor comes up with additional money to defray costs.<br /><br />This district's problem is that they LIKED what Gates was peddling, so they were happy to bleed other programs to pay the extra costs. That and the fact that I don't get the impression we have the level of competence to effectively analyze grants this way. <br /><br />Unfortunately,Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09923777229601243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72583688771970350592011-04-01T17:59:21.318-07:002011-04-01T17:59:21.318-07:00Gates and STEM grant want to pay for TFA recruits ...Gates and STEM grant want to pay for TFA recruits with science and math degrees.<br /><br />SPS gets to decide, yes, we'll take your money, we want TFA recruits with science and math degrees here in SPS, or they can say no thank you, move on, we don't want it. <br /><br />In this case, Gates isn't dictating educational policy in any way. SPS is in full control.<br /><br />You are going to get hypertension if you allow donors, donating to public institutions (with strings attached), to bothers you. It is as common place as MConalds. Has been for a long time.<br /><br />But remember that the district always has the right to turn down the donation if they don't like the strings attached. I'd aim your frustration at SPS not Gates. It is SPS who decides what "strings" are acceptable and what strings aren't. It's like getting mad at the mistress instead of the husband that cheated.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41777799672852279672011-04-01T17:37:18.216-07:002011-04-01T17:37:18.216-07:00I disagree, Jan - a displayed art piece is differe...I disagree, Jan - a displayed art piece is different than educational policy. To all appearances, Broad and Gates have designs that they are enacting by funding them within SPS. How is this possible? It isn't: "Management" (board or admin) makes decisions, so to say that, no worries, Gates is funding TFA in SPS is wrong: Management agrees to spend the funder's money on this, so in effect it is spending ITS money.<br /><br />I'm not very clear on this, I know, but "accountability" lies with the board, not with Gates or the Alliance. ALL money spent on behalf of SPS is SPS money: They have control. One hopes. But it appears that they don't, if outside agencies are paying for district policies.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18573996030639737572011-04-01T17:29:17.632-07:002011-04-01T17:29:17.632-07:00seattle citizen: I totally agree with your observ...seattle citizen: I totally agree with your observed concern -- that a lot of money flows in via Gates, and that it may be causing the District to operate programs, run initiatives, etc. that we dont really want done at all. <br /><br />But I don't agree that all money has to come in "no strings attached." All schools, colleges, museums, cities, etc. get donations, or offers to donate, from time to time -- and they may come with strings. <br /><br />If I am a museum, and a donor wants to donate a priceless native american art/artifacts collection -- with the stipulation that it be kept intact and displayed -- in fact, they want a wing built to display it -- then the Museum has to sit down with their long term strategic plan, their budget, etc., etc., and figure out whether to say yes or no. If this is what they always dreamed of, and they can afford to build and endow the wing, they say yes. If they really want to be a European art collection, with a focus on 20th century multimedia -- they say no.<br />The district needs to do the same. The problem here is bad management by the Board and the staff, in saying yes to bad proposals, or saying yes to good proposals that the SSD can't afford to support.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09923777229601243321noreply@blogger.com