tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3323372696577228615..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71400040816532654622015-05-03T23:56:47.945-07:002015-05-03T23:56:47.945-07:00If there's a problem with a specific student, ...If there's a problem with a specific student, then the proper channel for addressing the concern is actually the IEP team. Alert the case manager (special ed teacher), the parent, and the principal. SDI can be delivered by any school staff - general ed teacher, IA, or special ed teacher. But that should be listed in the IEP. How, where, and when students receive services is in the service matrix on the IEP. As a regular ed teacher - you are fully empowered to deliver SDI to a specific student. There are plenty of resources available to sped students. Walk into any class with special education students and you will often find 3, 4, or 5 adults. But what are they doing? A teacher who stands and delivers a lecture - does not use the resources in the school. And where and what exactly is the special educator doing? That person's schedule should be known and public too.<br /><br />Been ThereAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55569749400701526822015-05-03T20:16:49.928-07:002015-05-03T20:16:49.928-07:00Unions are legally authorized to bargain, wages, h...Unions are legally authorized to bargain, wages, hours and working conditions. That's what they do. Yes, I agree that we should all be advocating for all our kids, parents, teachers, admin, union every single citizen in Seattle. Please don't place it all on the teachers. <br /><br />Who better to rattle cages than parents - you are the clients. Make demands. Get out in the streets if you need to. Don't ask somebody else to do it. Spin this is not speaking on behalf of children. That poster is blaming teachers and unions. That poster is a reformer. I ignore those posts because blame isn't solving anything. I can't be everything to every kid. Much as I wish I could. <br /><br />Get the money out of John Stanford and put it back into the schools. That at least would be a start.nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10553696856328904592015-05-03T17:22:24.808-07:002015-05-03T17:22:24.808-07:00But if you contact your union rep, don't share...But if you contact your union rep, don't share student records or FERPA protected materials. You can tell them your concerns, but don't give student specifics or you will find yourself being the one in trouble. Better to raise the issue to the ED copying the head of HR and the two top people in Sp Ed so you have proof of raising a concern in writing if you get retaliated against by your principal. BTDTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31285578873716770472015-05-03T14:28:13.129-07:002015-05-03T14:28:13.129-07:00Fired Up, who to contact? Well, you could start w...Fired Up, who to contact? Well, you could start with your union rep or OSPI. I would tell you to ask the Ex Director of your region but frankly, I think it will fall on deaf ears.<br /><br />You reminded me of one huge issue I'd like to start a thread on - PD for teachers. <br /><br />What I have heard - in just the last few weeks - is that teachers need PD to support both ELL and Sped students as well as training in socio-emotional issues.<br /><br />Where is the time and the money for this? And, on the latter, I'm not sure at what point we are trying to make teachers into counselors. I think they should have the training to have the basic understanding of what stages/issues students may have but I cannot believe they have the time to adequately address those issues.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67045471775283650352015-05-03T13:55:57.167-07:002015-05-03T13:55:57.167-07:00Can somebody please advise me on who I should cont...Can somebody please advise me on who I should contact (as a teacher) if sped students are not being served adequately? I am appalled at the number of sped children at my school who only receive sporadic in-class help from IAs and no SDI from a credentialed sped teacher. Many of us have reported it to the principal.<br /><br />As for the Steven's EBD teachers not having knowledge of Social/Emotional curriculum; it is heartbreaking, but probably more common than you think. I think the better question is- Why doesn't SPS provide all EBD teachers with a Social/Emotional curriculum? <br />Fired UpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45615582871817387942015-05-03T11:00:30.099-07:002015-05-03T11:00:30.099-07:00How well did your union work for the Stevens stude...How well did your union work for the Stevens students? Are you going to claim not one card caring professional educator knew of the gross violations? Did any of the teachers report the violations to OSPI or better yet to the DOE OCR?<br /><br />I have nothing against unions except when they are used as excuses for not doing the right thing.Where does WEA and SEA officially stand on the IDEA.<br /><br />Spin this<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32299666447694070502015-05-02T22:00:55.365-07:002015-05-02T22:00:55.365-07:00Thanks, nh. I just watched the video and am thinki...Thanks, nh. I just watched the video and am thinking of forwarding the link to my classroom parents.<br /><br />Also, I hope you watched Ravitch question Weingarten and Eskelsen at the same gathering. We don't hear from these two enough in Seattle. Gives me some hope that our union is still viable. Our leadership is so lame. Parents and teachers should watch both.<br /><br />https://vimeo.com/126322770 (I hope it comes up on this link. Part of NPE conference.)nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47610651880205303822015-05-02T12:43:01.209-07:002015-05-02T12:43:01.209-07:00Michael,
I understand your comment better now. I...Michael, <br /><br />I understand your comment better now. I totally can see how OSPI and DOE are more forthcoming with the district-specific documents related to closed cases then SPS is. But I bet if you for example, ask OSPI for all of the emails between their in-house attorney and Doug Gill on things like the conflict of interest contracting issue that OSPI would be withholding those documents as privileged. My experience is that agencies are more forthcoming with other agencies documents that have come into their possession then their own documents. <br />BTDTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50903717543153008022015-05-02T11:11:38.459-07:002015-05-02T11:11:38.459-07:00Yes, a figurehead drawing quite the retirement sal...Yes, a figurehead drawing quite the retirement salary. Letting everybody down. <br /><br />Buildings and JSCEE running amok on sped. Nyland MIA. School Board content with the Happy Talk. <br /><br />reader Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54341577114454010262015-05-02T11:04:36.909-07:002015-05-02T11:04:36.909-07:00Not, where is Nyland? Out visiting schools to writ...Not, where is Nyland? Out visiting schools to write up his Friday Memo. I AM all for him visiting schools but I believe he is just a figurehead and not a leader. <br /><br />He has not, on his own, lead on one single thing.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48203956761901663712015-05-02T11:00:09.354-07:002015-05-02T11:00:09.354-07:00Michael -- how many due process cases are withdraw...Michael -- how many due process cases are withdrawn, roughly speaking? And are you saying that the only way that parents/community will know what OSPI says about a citizen's complaint or even if one was ever filed is if you know what to ask for from OSPI? <br /><br />All these strategies feel like they have one purpose: to mislead and manage parents/taxpayers. <br /><br />CuriousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91992507341716573542015-05-02T10:51:36.005-07:002015-05-02T10:51:36.005-07:00Concerning lawyer client privilege abuse. Recently...Concerning lawyer client privilege abuse. Recently I requested the same information from SPS, DOE, OSPI regarding civil rights violation complaints. SPS could only produce a limited amount of documents compared to OSPI and DOE, but what was irritating and possible a violation of the PRA was the use of LCP.<br /><br />Everyone of the Districts responses to OSPI or DOE were 90% redacted to the point that the majority of the pages were 100% blacked out with WAC 44-14-06002 inserted. In contrast, the DOE and OSPI documents only had redacted students names and parents name.<br /><br />So, I could easy contrasts and extrapolate the redacted information. Why would SPS want to block public citizens from reading their defense or denials. <br /><br />Another abuse of LCP is when SPS refuses to release SPED citizen complaints they have received. They site they involve possible employee discipline, however OSPI will send to a lightly redacted copy if you know what to ask for. The same goes for due process filings regardless if they where withdrawn.<br /><br />On that note parents thinking of filing should request from OSPI copies of all withdrawn due process filings, because these are the cases SPS mostly settles and are never published on OSPI website.<br /><br />--Michael Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43430651660445568612015-05-02T10:31:41.802-07:002015-05-02T10:31:41.802-07:00GL, exactly. And where is Nyland on this Stevens s...GL, exactly. And where is Nyland on this Stevens situation? Has he been out there to meet with the parents and staff? Does he even know about it? Are these administrators going to be allowed to keep their jobs? What about EBD teachers who don't know anything about social skills curriculum after how many years on the job? Thank you Seattle Public Schools for all of your integrity and professionalism around special education. Not. <br /><br />Not. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79857158552633542442015-05-02T10:07:38.574-07:002015-05-02T10:07:38.574-07:00I want the Seattle School Board to develop a polic...I want the Seattle School Board to develop a policy that if a principal COMMITS fraud with intent to commit fraud in regard to provision of special education services (such as at Stevens and a few other schools that I could name) that that principal suffers the same consequences as a principal who does not following proper procedures regarding tests. Which causes greater harm? <br /><br />GLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62139545361281586702015-05-01T23:18:26.381-07:002015-05-01T23:18:26.381-07:00Diane Ravitch has a link to Yong Zhao's speech...<br />Diane Ravitch has a link to Yong Zhao's speech to Network for Public Education regarding standardized testing. <br /><br />http://dianeravitch.net/2015/05/01/the-final-best-cut-of-yong-zhaos-great-and-funny-speech-at-npe/<br /><br />-nhAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23440619388096110782015-05-01T22:53:43.691-07:002015-05-01T22:53:43.691-07:00There are 5 principal openings posted on the distr...There are 5 principal openings posted on the district website. TOPS, Emerson, John Hay, Sand Point, and South Lake HS.<br /><br />--CameoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31671522559602243152015-05-01T22:03:04.548-07:002015-05-01T22:03:04.548-07:00
Seattle opt out Facebook page has post on House B...<br />Seattle opt out Facebook page has post on House Bill 2214 regarding high school graduation requirements. <br /><br />-nh Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44683660483604319232015-05-01T22:02:36.054-07:002015-05-01T22:02:36.054-07:00TOPS principal is headed to Bellevue. My personal ...TOPS principal is headed to Bellevue. My personal experience with him is that took a lot of vacations (which I didn't think principals got to take during school) and that he didn't really know what was going on at the school. His buddy from back east was the Salmon Bay principal who left suddenly last summer. I don't think it was a good fit.<br /><br />-Hope Next One SticksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63264569370095561502015-05-01T21:57:36.842-07:002015-05-01T21:57:36.842-07:00OSPI has an in house attorney and is represented b...OSPI has an in house attorney and is represented by the AG's office. I am pretty sure that the assert privilege just like districts do. <br />BTDTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40235641355733977552015-05-01T21:27:04.641-07:002015-05-01T21:27:04.641-07:00I have heard that the 'new' (3 years?) TOP...I have heard that the 'new' (3 years?) TOPS Principal is leaving. Not sure if he is moving internally or out of District. I hear the community will get some say in hiring the new principal (but not much time to recruit.)Maureennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44321825468379801232015-05-01T18:11:02.760-07:002015-05-01T18:11:02.760-07:00Is there a link to this EBD/Access Stevens decisio...Is there a link to this EBD/Access Stevens decision? Near as I can tell, Stevens is just exactly like every other school in the district, stealing funds and staff out of sped for every other thing.<br /><br />Sped ReaderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43167282044106733932015-05-01T17:50:01.081-07:002015-05-01T17:50:01.081-07:00I agree, whole-heartedly, Michael.
I'd also ...I agree, whole-heartedly, Michael. <br /><br />I'd also like to know where the buck stops?<br />-Will the EBD teacher and IAs who failed all of their students loose their jobs? <br />-Will the principal finally be be removed?<br />-Will Bill Keating's insufferable apathy get him the boot or will it yield another promotion?<br />-Will Wyeth Jessie continue to be praised and talk of how much better things are and will be under his leadership?<br />-Will Nyland waste more time threatening teachers to administer SBAC while turning a blind eye to doing anything to those administrators, principals, and staff that violate our most vulnerable students' rights. <br /><br />-Tired of the lack of accountability Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59402673528635204882015-05-01T14:12:46.834-07:002015-05-01T14:12:46.834-07:00I would like to see the current board pass a resol...I would like to see the current board pass a resolution to wave the districts lawyer client privilege(LCP). Changing to the same model OSPI uses. SPS is abusing LCP hiding gross violations by the district across all departments specifically with SPED.<br /><br />--Michael Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17437000154368882362015-05-01T13:56:50.322-07:002015-05-01T13:56:50.322-07:00Overpaid, no, I think we got about what we paid fo...Overpaid, no, I think we got about what we paid for. We should be paying more. Sorry to hear her grousing about it, though. It's not like the salary was a secret when she ran for office.<br />Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16260807460417787614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77261915557040952712015-05-01T13:50:19.342-07:002015-05-01T13:50:19.342-07:00I think Carr got overpaid!I think Carr got overpaid!ConcernedSPSParenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15225940383725947861noreply@blogger.com