tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3665373720057152734..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Assignment Plan Changes Being Discussed NowMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6062536733061752072009-03-21T13:32:00.000-07:002009-03-21T13:32:00.000-07:00According to the assignment plan framework on the ...According to the assignment plan framework on the district site:<BR/><BR/>5. Clusters that combine several reference areas would be modified to:<BR/><BR/>• Add the flexibility of staggered school opening and closing times as an additional choice element for families, with transportation provided within the cluster. This has an additional benefit of saving on transportation costs.<BR/><BR/>EH? this has the additional benefit of saving on transportation cost!!!Megan Mchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08526624057081098551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15629744810767403782009-03-20T10:56:00.000-07:002009-03-20T10:56:00.000-07:00There are some really interesting tidbits in this ...There are some really interesting tidbits in this "framework".<BR/><BR/>First, on slide 13, this element of the plan:<BR/><BR/>"<I>Make every school an excellent school; replicate successful programs and site new programs to increase access to excellent programs.</I>"<BR/><BR/>Do we have a definition of an excellent school? I don't think we do. Even if we did, how blithely do they regard this step in the process. I once had a service manual for my car. The car needed some work so I opened the manual to the instructions for the job. It read: "Step One: Remove Engine." I pretty much stopped there. This plan strikes me the same: Step One: Make every school an excellent school.<BR/><BR/>Second, do we have any example - ANY EXAMPLE - of the District replicating a successful program? [cricket... cricket...] Why do they keep writing this into their plans when they never plan to do it?<BR/><BR/>Slide 15 represents a rational and coherent plan for Special Education program placement. What a delightful surprise. I will look forward to the implementation of this reasonable plan.<BR/><BR/>Same for bilingual services on slides 16 and 17. Makes excellent sense.<BR/><BR/>Slide 18, the plans for Advanced Learning are all messed up. It begins by mandating that every reference area elementary school have an ALO. The District cannot monitor the quality or effectiveness of the ALOs they have now, but they are looking to double their numbers? They think they can mandate schools to develop a model and implement it when the schools don't want to? Bad, bad, bad idea. It just won't work. It will water down the definition of ALO even more than the vague amorphous definition it has now. This will mean schools that have ALOs in name only the way that schools now have Spectrum in name only.<BR/><BR/>Then comes the continuation of the mistake of locating north-end APP in the south-end. With the new assignment plan the District should find a north-end location for the north-end students. There is no excuse for this bad practice.<BR/><BR/>Now all middle schools will be required to offer Spectrum. Big mistake. This insures the continuation of weak Spectrum programs at Mercer and Aki Kurose. Spectrum requires a critical mass of students to form a viable program. If there are not enough students they should bring them together from a wider geographic area as they do for Special Education and bilingual. Also, who will provide the quality assurance for these programs? The District? Ha! Why aren't they doing that now? What will change to make them do it in future?<BR/><BR/>Slide 21 says that "<I>Middle schools that receive students from international elementary schools through the regular feeder pattern will become international middle schools.</I>" That means that Mercer will be an international middle school because Beacon Hill Elementary will be part of the Mercer attendance area.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90848039055425495382009-03-19T12:44:00.000-07:002009-03-19T12:44:00.000-07:00Central Mom, I also was glad to hear Michael DeBel...Central Mom, <BR/>I also was glad to hear Michael DeBell speak up. <BR/><BR/>But just to clarify, it is high schools that will go <B>first</B> (2010). It is apparently middle schools and elementary schools that will be delayed.Beth Bakemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16827919509722526726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55352274641062487822009-03-19T09:56:00.000-07:002009-03-19T09:56:00.000-07:00I was cheered to see Michael DeBell's comment that...I was cheered to see Michael DeBell's comment that he is uncomfortable voting on generalities and that he wants more detail, even if it means the high school portion can't be enacted for next year. How many years late are we already? We can wait another one if it means a process of true public engagement.<BR/><BR/>But, watching this start time rigamarole probably means that it will take additional public voices, and more board voices, to keep the details flowing pre-vote. So get ready to make your voices heard.Central Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05411595538958030193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45521269295667852402009-03-19T09:12:00.000-07:002009-03-19T09:12:00.000-07:00There's no way this can be voted on until people s...There's no way this can be voted on until people see what the new reference areas are. I know that won't be a fun time for anyone, but it should definitely not be sprung on everyone at the last minute or at any other time designed to escape notice or scrutiny.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00199045752800199947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37923019211667128112009-03-18T23:12:00.000-07:002009-03-18T23:12:00.000-07:00Seriously, the staff wants the Board to vote on a ...Seriously, the staff wants the Board to vote on a whole plan with only one part fully fleshed out? <BR/><BR/>Again, BIG RED FLAG. That is crazy talk and I personally would say, "Don't ever ask me to vote on any major plan if I only get to see part of it." <BR/><BR/>The district is, in effect, saying "trust us".<BR/><BR/>Charlie?Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14340848634801434042009-03-18T16:48:00.000-07:002009-03-18T16:48:00.000-07:00I think it's the same as for Comcast cable: Channe...I think it's the same as for Comcast cable: Channel 26.<BR/><BR/>And no, Board meetings are not streamed live online. But are available online later.Beth Bakemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16827919509722526726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17724520160520848722009-03-18T16:43:00.000-07:002009-03-18T16:43:00.000-07:00Can anyone tell me which Broadstripe channel carri...Can anyone tell me which Broadstripe channel carries the the Board meetings? Or if they are streamed online?Johnny Calcagnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12198948404356096884noreply@blogger.com