tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post2250574048626888729..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Class Size Initiative Clings to Affirmative LeadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8283604475559494512014-11-11T20:44:32.506-08:002014-11-11T20:44:32.506-08:00Given the above and Lynn's always useful contr...Given the above and Lynn's always useful contributions, why does the legislature get away with this deception over and over and why don't people know that it isn't about the money? Or is it?nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16092990265512481102014-11-09T13:10:29.211-08:002014-11-09T13:10:29.211-08:00Thanks, Lynn, I just read the overview.
That is d...Thanks, Lynn, I just read the overview.<br /><br />That is definitely good news. <br /><br />--enough alreadyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20134291466783336192014-11-09T11:03:26.561-08:002014-11-09T11:03:26.561-08:00Enough already, then there is confusion because I ...Enough already, then there is confusion because I was told, directly by the campaign, that this would be for support staff. <br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88618347738920986212014-11-09T09:28:38.858-08:002014-11-09T09:28:38.858-08:00(ii) Districts that demonstrate capital facility n...(ii) Districts that demonstrate capital facility needs that prevent them from reducing actual class sizes to funded levels, may use funding in this subsection (4) for school based-personnel who provide direct services to students. Districts that use this funding for purposes other than reducing actual class sizes must annually report the number and dollar value for each type of personnel funded by school and grade level.<br /><br /><a href="http://sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/initiatives/FinalText_578.pdf" rel="nofollow">Initiative 1351</a>Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78652730606012954862014-11-09T07:59:50.641-08:002014-11-09T07:59:50.641-08:00David Edelmen, I did mean there aren't enough ...David Edelmen, I did mean there aren't enough classrooms to reduce class sizes. They could bring in more portables, however.<br /><br />Melissa, I believe the initiative calls for fewer students per classroom. IAs would not be part of this equation and neither would support staff.<br /><br />--enough alreadyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1231542629884362172014-11-08T11:45:06.467-08:002014-11-08T11:45:06.467-08:00Of course there isn't space and districts can&...Of course there isn't space and districts can't afford to add it.<br /><br />But that is so short-sighted. The ONLY way to reduce class size is by more space? <br /><br />Again, you could have an IA in the room who works with groups/specific kids. I'd be willing to bet most teachers would be very happy for the help.<br /><br />(And, in fact, for a couple of dual-language schools, this is what they tout when asking parents for the dollars to pay for the IAs. They also say the IAs are great for extra lunch/playground and school activity uses.)<br /><br />As well, did everyone forget that many schools had to give up counselors, nurses and librarians during the recession? This would help put them back and add them to schools who need them.<br /><br />Do you need space for those people? Of course, but it's not a whole classroom.<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75957894775899352522014-11-08T11:11:51.857-08:002014-11-08T11:11:51.857-08:00"there was room" - sorry"there was room" - sorrynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43660732193416341172014-11-08T11:10:32.287-08:002014-11-08T11:10:32.287-08:00David, at my school a representative for WEA told ...David, at my school a representative for WEA told our small group that clearly the legislature told the Court that the reason class size was not reduced was that there were not enough classrooms to accommodate those reductions. The legislature told the Court that they had the money but could not distribute it until their was room to provide the space.<br /><br />Now that might not be true but that is what WEA said at our meeting last year. I asked them to repeat it myself. They did. Beyond that, I'm clueless.<br /><br />If the legislature did tell the Court that space was the barrier, I do not understand the lack of reporting such information. Or maybe it has been reported and I missed it?nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32359954529493894652014-11-08T10:59:17.332-08:002014-11-08T10:59:17.332-08:00enough already,
There's not room at SPS for w...enough already,<br /><br />There's not room at SPS <i>for what</i>? Are you saying that we can't have smaller class sizes at SPS because that would entail having more teachers in more classrooms, and we don't have the building space for that?<br /><br />David EdelmanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69047030062765653552014-11-08T09:16:40.946-08:002014-11-08T09:16:40.946-08:00I'm the master of stating the obvious: There&...I'm the master of stating the obvious: There's not room in SPS.<br /><br />Other districts, who have better and/or functioning unions, negotiate class size as part of the teacher contract.<br /><br />Seattle teachers are so traumatized and cowardly that they don't even go there. Which, again, is why many people with a spine and conscience go elsewhere. The ethics of the leadership tend to trickle down into the trenches.<br /><br />--enough alreadyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com