tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3566463150774670589..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: The District and Union Both Have a Problem: Exhibit A - Muir ElementaryMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61700209895581424582018-07-25T08:33:25.836-07:002018-07-25T08:33:25.836-07:00As I posted on the Supt. Juneau thread, the equit...As I posted on the Supt. Juneau thread, the equity policy DOES include disability. <br /><br />That doesn’t say anything about implementation, but as far as the policy (0030) goes, it’s in there. <br /><br />@ Samar—what, specifically, do you mean when you say the policy doesn’t include disability? Are you referring to a specific policy document, or something else? <br /><br />All typesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46057461406493089152018-07-23T11:47:08.900-07:002018-07-23T11:47:08.900-07:00Samar, I believe there has been a Sped task force ...Samar, I believe there has been a Sped task force but I'll check. Your second question is excellent.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55606328915989064482018-07-23T11:05:55.767-07:002018-07-23T11:05:55.767-07:00To NW Parent's point, the current SPS job desc...To NW Parent's point, the current SPS job description for a SPED IA lists minimal pay and minimal education equivalent to an associate's degree. Shockingly, no relevant work experience is required although previous work with children is preferred.<br /><br />The IAs I've seen in classrooms (admittedly a small sample size, so I'm not generalizing to all) seemed frustrated and inexperienced about how to effectively work with the behaviors associated with some disabilities. <br /><br />Has there ever been a SPED task force and why doesn't the Equity policy include disability? <br /><br />Samar <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25298853690714833842018-07-23T08:10:57.692-07:002018-07-23T08:10:57.692-07:00I was appalled to learn that "At the end of s...I was appalled to learn that "At the end of school year 2016-2017, the district sought to fire him but SEA filed a grievance challenging that." For me, SEA loses a lot of credibility when they care more about protecting a union member than they do about protecting children.<br /><br />JaneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46245008859629890592018-07-23T06:31:49.990-07:002018-07-23T06:31:49.990-07:00It's very clear that Virachismith should have ...It's very clear that Virachismith should have been exited much sooner and there seems to be no excuse for his continued employment. I think missing from this discussion is the general difficulty districts are having finding and retaining qualified IAs at the same time there are increasing expectations for more inclusion and increased rigorand for students with SpEd needs. Schools need IAs to accomplish those goals. I don't know the entire thought process in this particular case but it may have been a factor. <br /><br /> People demand a lot from our schools when it's realistically not entirely possible to do everything. How to solve this issue? For one, pay needs to increase-by a lot.<br /><br />NW ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77204487079501516032018-07-22T21:06:15.185-07:002018-07-22T21:06:15.185-07:00Yes, I'm stumped by this as well. I've wit...Yes, I'm stumped by this as well. I've witnessed lunch in several SPS cafeterias and have never seen kids bringing backpacks to lunch. Always just their lunch boxes that they bring from home brought to the lunchroom from the classroom all together by class in some kind of large bin or basket or the students get in the line to get hot lunch. At some schools the students have recess before lunch and certainly don't take their backpacks to recess. But even when they have lunch first and then recess, they don't bring their backpacks. Lunch Helpernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60591897991433521332018-07-22T12:40:15.732-07:002018-07-22T12:40:15.732-07:00I'm thinking back to my own days of elementary...I'm thinking back to my own days of elementary school and trying to understand this (maybe schools have changed drastically since then): Why would anyone need to bring backpacks in the first place? Where would a policy even come from? <br /><br />I moved around a lot as a kid and no elementary school had backpacks in the cafeteria. No student would want them. You grabbed your lunch from home if you brought one, but otherwise you left your stuff in the classroom. Same as you would leave them when going to PE or music or whatever. Is there something I'm missing? <br /><br />-Pragmatic Xennial Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27348120299977851492018-07-21T15:11:17.880-07:002018-07-21T15:11:17.880-07:00Kids cause other kids to spill when they wear back...Kids cause other kids to spill when they wear backpacks in serving lines or sweep followers meals off plates entirely.<br /><br />Not helping another employee when they repeatedly ask for assistance is an adult problem most prevalent at Muir.Elsanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87845169279728560832018-07-21T08:56:51.152-07:002018-07-21T08:56:51.152-07:00It happens, okay but that wasn’t the real issue he...It happens, okay but that wasn’t the real issue here.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78695407375330431852018-07-21T07:16:13.475-07:002018-07-21T07:16:13.475-07:00I am not saying anyone was stealing food, in this ...I am not saying anyone was stealing food, in this particular case. Only noting how difficult it is to watch a student try and eat lunch, and have other students take their food.It Happensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-56856845753292937542018-07-21T07:03:52.922-07:002018-07-21T07:03:52.922-07:00It is not uncommon for students to steal food from...It is not uncommon for students to steal food from each other. Very difficult for the kid that is afraid of being bullied.It Happensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83086519627310330182018-07-20T20:12:07.855-07:002018-07-20T20:12:07.855-07:00The "backpack rule" was not a District r...The "backpack rule" was not a District rule or guideline but a "Muir rule" concocted by the Principal. When the Kitchen Manager tried to enforce it she was ultimately run out of the District (four staff sent to testify against her?!). Similarly the one child in the rest room was a "Muir rule".McBeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36354789328852675182018-07-20T19:50:41.344-07:002018-07-20T19:50:41.344-07:00Under the current construct where principals make ...Under the current construct where principals make up the own rules, the Muir boys bathroom rule was only one that deviated from overall policies (Board, superintendent OR administrative) at that school. Rather than enforce those policies, headquarters administrators consistantly back principals.<br /><br />The DISTRICT bears the blame for tragic events such as these. The Board consistently scapegoats workers at the lowest economic strata. Not "unions" in general. David Westbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39374418619025204402018-07-20T17:26:24.694-07:002018-07-20T17:26:24.694-07:00The board was and has been well aware of the event...The board was and has been well aware of the events surrounding the cafeteria worker and the failure of Muir's principal to act in any way to protect her as they concluded there was no substance to her harassment/bullying/socio-economic discrimination (she was "only"a cafeteria worker) complaint and denied her appeal last July. She had to move out of state to escape with sizeable (tax dollar) settlement. A mother of 4 Seattle Schools students. That's how 'nobodies get treated by the 'somebodies' at SSD.David Westbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54304881365541202972018-07-19T19:35:47.305-07:002018-07-19T19:35:47.305-07:00The bottom line is that both the union and distric...The bottom line is that both the union and district prioritized the needs and interests of adults over children. <br /><br />Not just any children, but our most vulnerable children - disabled at a high needs school, 69% FRL. <br /><br />In addition to the horrific abuse - that could have been prevented if the union and district prioritized children, the child lost at least a year's worth of learning and therapy, because this guy was not doing the essential focus of his job -implementing and monitoring the IEP goals. <br /><br />So where was SEA's and the district's commitment to equity? <br /><br />The status quo of protecting the inner ranks that intensely rankles some about police unions is the same issue with teacher unions. According to SEA's FAQ, the reason for becoming a member is you're given legal protection if charged by a crime. <br /><br />I'm not anti-union, but I will be if the union doesn't take this opportunity to change their policies. I'm not interested in any status-quo solutions. <br /><br />Read the attached article on CA where both Randi Weingarten and the LAUSD Superintendent agree that while due process is needed, it also should be easier to fire the bad apples.<br /><br />https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/06/firing-bad-teachers-a-superintendent-and-a-teachers-union-official-debate/373651/<br /><br />If you have the stomach for it, read the LA Times story on LAUSD. The taxpayers are being fleeced to pay salaries for some incompetent and criminal teachers, and, just like the Vatican, there were instances of sexual predators being moved to other schools instead of fired. <br /><br />Ultimately, children are being harmed and the taxpayers are paying the salaries and lawsuits, so why shouldn't we have a say in how union tenure and termination policies are structured.<br /><br />http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-teachers3-2009may03-story.html#page=1<br /><br />s//Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com