tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post2150538402350899647..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Weighted Staffing Standards ContinuedMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40292328131425646442008-03-24T20:45:00.000-07:002008-03-24T20:45:00.000-07:00Our school used WSS as an excuse to cut special ed...Our school used WSS as an excuse to cut special education funding. We lost a half time instructional assistant. "They don't serve that many students you know."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81484397732028209262008-03-20T14:50:00.000-07:002008-03-20T14:50:00.000-07:00From a CPPS e-mail today: "WSS will not explicitly...From a CPPS e-mail today: <BR/><BR/>"WSS will not explicitly be on today’s [SPS Finance Committee] Agenda. Rather, today’s meeting will be focused on reviewing the first draft of the 2008/09 budget, eg, overall revenues, costs, etc. WSS may indeed come up as a part of that discussion, but not as a specific Agenda item.<BR/><BR/>WSS has been discussed in detail in a previous meeting(s), and Director Sundquist has offered to give the topic another hearing if parents and community members are interested."Beth Bakemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16827919509722526726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9258653150752315882008-03-18T10:31:00.000-07:002008-03-18T10:31:00.000-07:00The many districts serving diverse populations man...The many districts serving diverse populations manage their budgets using a combo of Weighted Staffing Standards in FTE's and layer additional supports for special programs or programs for higher needs students including special education, English as a second language, free and reduced.... and school improvement plans for underperforming schools.<BR/><BR/>Because school budgets all over the country have tanked... budgeting has become more process driven and not necessarily student- centered. <BR/><BR/>What really will come into play is the district's issues surrounding equity. This budgeting move is a step to deal with equity and foreshadows future possibilities:<BR/>- Schools, high schools included, may be required to all offer same basic courses and same level of instructional integrity for equity between schools. (Curriculum pacing guides and tighter curriculum controls- more centralized which is not all bad.)<BR/>- Schools with unique programs may cut programs to make their schools look more alike to the schools without such programs. <BR/>- This Weighted Staffing standards may not be easily done using a school of choice configuration because of equity. (Attending your neighborhood school may be the outcome.)<BR/>- If school of choice is not affected for the majority, it may be a diminished opportunity for those higher needs students who will be required to attend schools with existing resources... equity plays here again.<BR/><BR/>A prediction: This budget move is one step in a series of steps to level the playing fields forcing equity among schools and thus triggering an end to school of choice! <BR/><BR/>Sometimes School Choice thrives for all the wrong reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76242931556153434332008-03-17T10:06:00.000-07:002008-03-17T10:06:00.000-07:00Sorry -- I omitted that important piece of informa...Sorry -- I omitted that important piece of information. It's Thursday. And I've corrected the article as well.<BR/><BR/>Thanks.Beth Bakemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16827919509722526726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71168411782516807532008-03-17T09:44:00.000-07:002008-03-17T09:44:00.000-07:00What day is the Finance Committee meeting this wee...What day is the Finance Committee meeting this week? Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54061622166801419672008-03-16T17:25:00.000-07:002008-03-16T17:25:00.000-07:00Harium's blog also has a new thread for people who...Harium's blog also has a new thread for people who have witnessed large staff cuts at their school as a result of the change in formula to post them there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com