tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post136701354056534056..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Releases Final Staffing AdjustmentsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22176551647872574532015-10-27T09:10:22.952-07:002015-10-27T09:10:22.952-07:00I just completed an analysis of these cuts. As man...I just completed an analysis of these cuts. As many have suspected, the Staffing Adjustments are DISPROPORTIONATE to the enrollment shortfall. <br /><br />A reasonable person would expect that when the district is funded on a per student basis and there are fewer students, then there would be a corresponding reduction, using the same ratio that is used for funding those same teachers. <br /><br /><br />* FTE were removed from buildings at a ratio of ONE FTE for every 15.5 students in the enrollment shortfall. This is dramatically different from the OSPI funding formula and SPS formula. <br /><br />* The staffing formula that is used during budget development, would have generated approximately 18 FTE for the 465 K8 students. However, the total adjustment was approximately 30 FTE. <br /><br /><br />During all the changes to transportation and boundaries and school closures, the message was, we have to protect the classrooms. These cuts are sending the opposite message. <br />kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322661098626555834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20901490291151563022015-10-25T20:57:23.953-07:002015-10-25T20:57:23.953-07:00Re unique exception schools: We were told at our l...Re unique exception schools: We were told at our language immersion school that the classes must have at least 28 kids to get a teacher. My child was at end of 2nd going to 3rd grade at that time, so I don't know if the higher grades had the same requirements. The rationale for this was the expectation that some kids would move away and leave each year, and since only heritage speakers and kids who can pass the language tests can enroll after 1st grade, the classes would get too small if there were less than 28 kids in each classroom. I don't know how many kids left or came, but my children's classes never had fewer than 26 kids throughout their 6 years at the school. In 3rd grade there were 33-34 kids in their classes. The poor teachers! <br /><br />I don't know if SPS still requires this or not. I do know that each year there were less money for Art/Music/PE/Library/Counselor in the budget. We never had an art teacher, the counselor was only .5 even though there were > 500 kids (and we almost lost him completely, until the decision was made to lose the Vice Principal instead). In the meantime there are more more assistant superintendents and directors created down in central admin each year.<br /><br />CCA<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27383387813150378872015-10-25T14:08:48.004-07:002015-10-25T14:08:48.004-07:00I work for the School District of Philadelphia as ...I work for the School District of Philadelphia as a teacher. A similar process of staffing adjustments takes place in my District, which is known as "leveling." It typically happens around mid-October. In large school districts, I understand why this process takes place, but it of course is very disruptive, especially when schools lose teachers. So it behooves school districts to minimize the disruption of leveling or staffing adjustments as much as possible.<br /><br />One problem that I observed really starts with parents. There were still parents registering children for school two weeks after school had started. We also have the problem of kids coming from charter schools (which isn't a problem in Seattle).<br /><br />Ms206https://www.blogger.com/profile/11815010211309994388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57937478406237944002015-10-25T11:04:19.390-07:002015-10-25T11:04:19.390-07:00I'd not be so quick to dismiss the impact of l...I'd not be so quick to dismiss the impact of lower grades on students. A middle school child is not going to have the big picture perspective of middle school grades not mattering in the long run. They do matter in the short run - you can't participate in sports if you don't maintain a certain GPA, private high schools look at middle school grades, and they do provide some external motivation (which has the benefit of students doing the work and learning). <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48457632444874795812015-10-24T19:24:14.390-07:002015-10-24T19:24:14.390-07:00I'm more concerned with limiting teaching to g...I'm more concerned with limiting teaching to grade level standards than what a middle school report card says.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25060317607393979882015-10-24T17:29:18.194-07:002015-10-24T17:29:18.194-07:00Lynn and Ranting,
There are some things I like abo...Lynn and Ranting,<br />There are some things I like about standards based teaching/grading. I like the focus on everyone working to meet specific standards. It seems clearer to me how one can be successful and it decreases the practice of grading on a curve. <br /><br />BUT, what I don't like about it is that some teachers interpret standards based grading to mean all you teach is the basic standard. If the student meets the basic standard, they get a "Meets Standards". The only way the student can get above a "Meets Standard" is if they are taught and tested on materials above standard, proving they are above standard. So if the teacher doesn't teach/test anything beyond standard, the student is never able to get more than "Meets Standard". <br />Convoluted<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67622571550277920432015-10-24T17:14:35.678-07:002015-10-24T17:14:35.678-07:00For those of you who think SpEd is a money sucker,...For those of you who think SpEd is a money sucker, read what SPS staff knows full well: SpEd subsidizes Gened FTE, especially at Ballard.<br /><br />https://www.scribd.com/doc/286878820/CSIHS-Sped-Funds-IB<br /><br />mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24437292512308231992015-10-24T09:55:26.111-07:002015-10-24T09:55:26.111-07:00Lynn, I already heard Sealth is losing someone. M...Lynn, I already heard Sealth is losing someone. Maybe they got started early.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61451555975034687392015-10-23T15:25:11.217-07:002015-10-23T15:25:11.217-07:00Don't forget - these aren't the final adju...Don't forget - these aren't the final adjustments. High school principals will be notified on Monday about their staffing changes.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66974585833965823632015-10-23T15:12:11.665-07:002015-10-23T15:12:11.665-07:00
I just read the SOS Staffing Adjustment Process t...<br />I just read the SOS Staffing Adjustment Process that mirmac posted and it was a rather shocking. <br /><br />Apparently there are TWO Staffing formulas. There is one formula for 26 elementary and K8 schools and then another formula for the remaining schools. <br /><br />Here is an average presumes that all grades are roughly equal <br /><br />* OSPI - 22.5 student per teacher for high poverty and 24.33 students per teacher for low poverty. <br /><br />* SPS funding FOR 26 SCHOOLS, NOT IDENTIFIED - 24:1 for high poverty and 24.67 for low poverty <br /><br />* SPS funding, everyone else - 25:33 students per teacher for high poverty and 26.67 for low poverty <br /><br /><br />So, wow! 26 schools get one formula, which is pretty close to OSPIs formula and everyone else, just gets the budget development formula. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322661098626555834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42029403720596175382015-10-23T14:56:00.575-07:002015-10-23T14:56:00.575-07:00SchoolFinance Newbie -
The short answer is no. Th...SchoolFinance Newbie - <br />The short answer is no. The long answer is still probably no, but so hard to ascertain and explain that most people would nod off long before they got through the entire thing. <br /><br />The state only funds base salary, and their allocation is based on a salary schedule they set up. Districts do not necessarily follow that salary schedule though. They don't have to. There are some specific minimums they have to maintain but otherwise they structure and fund their salary schedules as they see fit in coordination with their local union. <br /><br />The specific raises negotiated for the new contract are not for base salaries, they are for what is called TRI pay. That pay is funded from local (levy) money. <br /><br />FYI, we aren't at a 25%/75% split anymore. It's closer to 30/70 now. <br /><br />GarfieldMom Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11790749239054693752015-10-23T11:26:40.136-07:002015-10-23T11:26:40.136-07:00SchoolFinance Newbie,
Our local levies cover 25% ...SchoolFinance Newbie,<br /><br />Our local levies cover 25% of operating costs. As long as the state is funding 75% of our actual payroll for certificated staff, we should be able to staff at the levels included in the state budget.<br /><br /><br />Transparency Now,<br /><br />In the past unique exception schools were K-8s without enough students to create two classes per grade (Madrona), language immersion schools without enough students to provide a separate class at each grade for each language, schools with two separate programs (Montessori or Advanced Learning) and a school like JAMS that pulled students from two different schools and needed (temporarily) to provide more language electives than a typical school.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77409863010037077942015-10-23T10:44:17.965-07:002015-10-23T10:44:17.965-07:00I'm sorry if this question has been addressed,...I'm sorry if this question has been addressed, but isn't the state funding at a significantly lower teacher salary than the SPS negotiated salary? So, wouldn't that be a factor in the way SPS has to fund (30:1 rather than 28:1)?<br /><br />SchoolFinance NewbieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88513770932980627272015-10-23T10:44:00.335-07:002015-10-23T10:44:00.335-07:00Like Full Disclosure, I also would like to know wh...Like Full Disclosure, I also would like to know what the Unique Exception schools are and why they were exceptions and and what their numbers were. That information is in none of the charts, but should be as presumably those are schools that were underenrolled but still did not lose teachers due to being in this exception category. Is this something you have the bandwidth to ask the district about Melissa? You are awesome by the way.<br /><br />Transparency NowAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6990748245152609012015-10-23T10:26:33.448-07:002015-10-23T10:26:33.448-07:00I imagine you are right Kellie (as usual). So, if ...I imagine you are right Kellie (as usual). So, if I'm understanding you correctly, you are saying that somehow funds designated to fund classroom staff have "likely" been reallocated to fund Central staff, or at least that's the supposition involved.<br /><br />And they did this by staffing at less than minimum ratios in schools. Which means there are some dollars floating out there that should have been in the "designated for classroom staff" pot but have gone elsewhere. <br /><br />If any part of that is true, then logic would suggest the Board would be involved. But this is SPS-land, where logic doesn't apply....hmmmm...<br /><br />reader47<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42653418903850260152015-10-23T09:43:49.472-07:002015-10-23T09:43:49.472-07:00I need to leave this question to the folks who are...I need to leave this question to the folks who are more technical regarding policy than I am -- Shouldn't these staffing cuts have to be approved by the board as a significant deviation from budget???<br /><br />Here is my logic:<br />* The budget must be approved by the board. My understanding is that the entire point of having an elected board is to approve and oversee the budget<br /><br />* The budget was for a minimum set of standards for each building but there are now buildings receiving less than the minimum. <br /><br />* So what happens when administrators make a change that is substantial enough to actually change the approved budget. <br /><br />kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322661098626555834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88238973599810685092015-10-23T09:38:05.460-07:002015-10-23T09:38:05.460-07:00My analysis was limited to Elementary Schools as t...My analysis was limited to Elementary Schools as that was all the data I have. The situation is likely to be much worse at high schools. <br /><br />The state fundings high school at 28:1 but SPS funds at 30:1. That different is 3-4 teachers at most high schools. That is why the proposed teacher cuts at Garfield last year was so crazy. The WSS already does NOT provide enough funding for high schools. <br /><br />The WSS was intended to be the bare minimum and then high schools would be added back 2-4 teachers based on how complicated their master schedule would be. Garfield, Ingraham and Sealth have the most complex master schedules due to the vast range of types of students in their enrollment, combined with programming commitments for Advanced learning. <br /><br />kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322661098626555834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44146915803098796952015-10-23T09:35:27.804-07:002015-10-23T09:35:27.804-07:00Why does none of what Kellie points out surprise m...Why does none of what Kellie points out surprise me in the slightest. I don't pretend to understand the spreadsheets Mirmac just posted, but the one thing that strikes me is that the Enrollment planning folk see the number of students as data points, rather than flesh & blood kids who might be truly impacted by the loss of a particular adult in their lives.<br /><br />And since I have zero doubt these were indeed "opportunistic" rather than necessary cuts, I am, as always, beyond appalled at the callous way HQ treats what should be their NUMBER ONE priority - kids in the classroom.<br /><br />arrrrghhhhhhhhhhh!!!<br /><br />reader47Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13226887134891722792015-10-23T09:26:21.753-07:002015-10-23T09:26:21.753-07:00Here is more detail for anyone who is interested. ...Here is more detail for anyone who is interested. The Weighted STAFFING standards replaced the old Weighted Student formula back in 06 or 07. The intention for this shift was to manage, precisely what happened this year. The Weighted Staffing was supposed to be a GUARANTEED MINIMUM staffing so that schools would not lose staff in October but rather gain staff in September. <br /><br />The WSS provides LESS money than is provided by the State of Washington. I am OK with this conservative funding, because some schools do cost more. <br /><br />HOWEVER, the entire point of the WSS was that a school was GUARANTEED that they would NEVER fall BELOW that amount. <br /><br />That is why so many schools started the year with a sub. Many principals only want to make a permanent hire for a position that is guaranteed under the formula. <br /><br />The list of elementary schools that I provide are all schools who "most-likely" being funded at LESS than the WSS provides. I say most-likely because without a detailed list of per grade enrollment, I can't be 100% certain. <br /><br />However, that list is long enough that some of those schools and likely a few that have a lower ratio but special program should also be on that list. <br /><br />The bottom line here: These staffing cuts are opportunistic cuts, not policy based cuts. These are places where the Start of School team decided that it was more important to fund the 28.6 NEW staff that have been added downtown rather actually fund the buildings as promised. <br />kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322661098626555834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8284456153050881092015-10-23T09:22:51.544-07:002015-10-23T09:22:51.544-07:00@ Meg, Yes, you are reading that correct. These c...@ Meg, Yes, you are reading that correct. These cuts are purely opportunistic and are not in alignment with State Funding. So placing the blame on the State funding in this instance is not appropriate or correct. <br />kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01322661098626555834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55522150166581921952015-10-23T09:20:00.214-07:002015-10-23T09:20:00.214-07:00Middle school grades matter if you're trying t...Middle school grades matter if you're trying to get into a selective high school.<br /><br />-LCPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48075822555361699632015-10-23T09:06:15.452-07:002015-10-23T09:06:15.452-07:00ranting,
In what way do middle school grades matt...ranting,<br /><br />In what way do middle school grades matter? <br /><br />I think the problem with standards based grading arises when it's translated to percentages. If it's used correctly, progress on each standard should be reported separately with no summative final grade. The point of standards based grading is to refocus attention from grades to the skills/content a student is expected to learn in this class.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39963530127049935542015-10-23T09:01:44.258-07:002015-10-23T09:01:44.258-07:00Here are the Final ELL adjustments:
Final ELL Sta...Here are the Final ELL adjustments:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/286641735/Final-ELL-Staffing-for-10-12-2015-Updated-at-2-10pm" rel="nofollow">Final ELL Staffing Adj</a> <br /><br />Here are the SpEd FTE adj:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/285979012/10-1-15-Draft-SPED-Enrollment-and-Staffing" rel="nofollow">SpEd Oct Adj Summary</a> <br /> <br /><br />Here are the GenEd FTE "reassignments"<br /><br /><a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/286343335/Oct-Adjustment-Summary" rel="nofollow">Gened Oct Adj Summary</a> <br /><br />After the school allocations were developed which included mitigation (mega-spreadsheet provided earlier), and classrooms configured just so - the district applied two additional contingencies: all schools had ratios adjusted for smaller class size based on PASS recs (26 FTE), then SOS subs were hired.<br /><br />Then once school starts, the bean counters apply this process:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/286644080/Briefing-Staffing-Adjustment-1v6" rel="nofollow">SOS Staffing Adjustment Process</a><br /><br />I have a lot of problems with this kind of "right-sizing". Why pretend to offer mitigation or equity factors when you end up going with WSS ratios, overages, and # of butts in seats/classroom configuration anyway!? This is not "service-based budgeting", a practice that, believe it or not, Central based its (climbing) budget on. How's that workin' out?<br /><br />One thing I WILL say is good is the assignment of dedicated subs to some buildings. This should mean the district will stop misdirecting SpEd funding and harming students by pulling SpEd teachers out of their classrooms to sub in Gened classes. This would never happen the other way around and is a practice that must stop or the district will pay.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1902493304020203692015-10-23T08:27:48.752-07:002015-10-23T08:27:48.752-07:00Melissa, would you consider a post on standards ba...Melissa, would you consider a post on standards based grading, specifically for middle schoolers? Our child is incredibly demotivated by the practice. What normally would be considered an "A" - submitting quality, completed work on time - is MS (meeting standard), and translated as 85% in the grade book. ES (exceeding standard) is some unstated mystery, not to be attained. Students are told by the teacher that middle school grades don't really matter, but they do! Thank goodness not all teachers follow this grading practice. <br /><br />-ranting Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27417078471756644212015-10-23T08:23:10.863-07:002015-10-23T08:23:10.863-07:00Here's what I don't understand: SPS makes ...Here's what I don't understand: SPS makes it look as though John Hay lost a "sub," when the teacher we lost was hired at the end of the summer to teach a kindergarten class full-time. Nobody thought the individual we hired was a substitute, least of all the children and families in her classroom! Can SPS just decide retroactively to change the designation of its hires to fit the desired narrative? Wait, I think I know the answer. QA parentnoreply@blogger.com