tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4441031741025546837..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: District Announces Co-Principal for LowellMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45576381506935689162012-10-23T16:47:55.282-07:002012-10-23T16:47:55.282-07:00All the tenants at JM have notice to vacate for Ma...All the tenants at JM have notice to vacate for March 2013. <br /><br />- it is already done. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66016311701125764572012-10-23T16:42:34.982-07:002012-10-23T16:42:34.982-07:00FWIW: The John Marshall Building is currently not ...FWIW: The John Marshall Building is currently not vacant. SPS has been renting it out. Current tenants include Liftime Learning Center (for seniors), Seattle Youth Soccer Association, NW Girls Choir, SAGA School (German preschool), another preschool plus others. While SPS probably has a clause so that they can break the leases anytime they want, people should be aware that these organizations (mostly non-profit) have invested a significant amount of time and money to move into the building. Some of them might even benefit yourself. In that regard, a truly empty building (Wilson-Pacific?) would be less harmful for the APP program to move into.Erinhttp://www.uniquehoodiareviews.net/unique-hoodia/uniquehoodia-gordonii-lipo-succulent/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30696704870226988192011-10-25T19:51:59.187-07:002011-10-25T19:51:59.187-07:00To Anonymous 9/28/11
Is the SPS Evening High Schoo...To Anonymous 9/28/11<br />Is the SPS Evening High School still using the south part of Lincoln? They used to have that space. Marella Francois was listed as the principal of that school last yearNESeattleMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14685367298254415469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84361810522189056902011-10-02T23:18:42.404-07:002011-10-02T23:18:42.404-07:00I'm sorry, I don't see the ethical issue, ...I'm sorry, I don't see the ethical issue, is there one? All those tenants signed their leases with their eyes wide open, a fact presumably reflected in their rent.<br /><br />More importantly, isn't the whole point that these are actually Seattle public school buildings? Is somebody arguing that they have now been turned over to private hands without any public process? Why should't they be used again for the very purpose for which they were built -- teaching school age-children?apparentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51080888851628555472011-10-02T14:38:37.616-07:002011-10-02T14:38:37.616-07:00The JM discussion is potentially moot. All of the ...The JM discussion is potentially moot. All of the tenants have already been warned that the leases are short term and notice will be provided at some point. <br /><br />My son plays for Seattle United and SU is one of the tenants. SU knows they are going to need to find a new home when the district takes back the building. <br /><br />ne parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55531237865209882612011-10-02T13:19:43.511-07:002011-10-02T13:19:43.511-07:00Not sure if anyone is still reading this post, but...Not sure if anyone is still reading this post, but I will put in my two cents. To Apparent, what SeattleMom is saying is that just because the district can take Marshall back, does not mean that it is an ethical thing to do. Just as you did not like having your child displaced at the last minute from Lowell, people who are using that building now would not like losing their building at the last minute and scrambling hastily to find and fix up another space either, it is a hardship especially for those with children in the preschools. Now, I must admit to a bias, my children have all tested into APP and we're planning to join the program at Hamilton, but if the middle school APP program is put into a school that only has APP, then we will probably stay at the neighborhood school, as we believe it is more important to attend school with kids from all backgrounds and different abilities. Marshall would not be big enough to hold APP and another program. If APP does move from Hamilton,I hope the district would put the SBOC there with the language immersion kids, then it will be a real international school<br /><br />SPS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82975277819452246112011-10-01T17:29:34.547-07:002011-10-01T17:29:34.547-07:00Don't all such leases include an explicit clau...Don't all such leases include an explicit clause allowing the school district to regain possession whenever it needs to return the school to its original purpose, signed knowingly by each of those organizations?apparentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71929812529824665872011-09-30T17:12:42.223-07:002011-09-30T17:12:42.223-07:00FWIW: The John Marshall Building is currently not ...FWIW: The John Marshall Building is currently not vacant. SPS has been renting it out. Current tenants include Liftime Learning Center (for seniors), Seattle Youth Soccer Association, NW Girls Choir, SAGA School (German preschool), another preschool plus others. While SPS probably has a clause so that they can break the leases anytime they want, people should be aware that these organizations (mostly non-profit) have invested a significant amount of time and money to move into the building. Some of them might even benefit yourself. In that regard, a truly empty building (Wilson-Pacific?) would be less harmful for the APP program to move into.Sabine Meckinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17894106929137582679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74581665157692263512011-09-29T20:12:37.537-07:002011-09-29T20:12:37.537-07:00John Marshall is not that big. It is not tiny but ...John Marshall is not that big. It is not tiny but it is not that big. <br /><br />A big issue with comparing buildings is that capacity changes based on age specific programming. A middle school is very space efficient. The capacity of the building can be set for each homeroom having 35 students and every room being used. Elementary schools are not nearly as space efficient with an average class size of 25 and specialized program rooms. <br /><br />The rule of thumb is that a building that could be a 1,000 student middle school would only work for about 750 as a K8 and about 600 as an elementary. IIRC, JM was set at about 750 as a moderate sized middle school. That would make it a very large elementary or a Salmon Bay or TOPS sized K8. <br /><br />- north seattle momAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57238332183395556062011-09-29T17:18:25.833-07:002011-09-29T17:18:25.833-07:00The John Marshall School Building on Ravenna Boule...The John Marshall School Building on Ravenna Boulevard and 65th Street between I-5 and Greenlake is a beautiful old building (needing renovation) that is vacant and large enough for what you suggest.apparentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2519548528632897552011-09-28T13:14:48.616-07:002011-09-28T13:14:48.616-07:00when Lincoln was used as a high school, afterschoo...when Lincoln was used as a high school, afterschool sports used the fields and tennis courts and tracks/trails at lower woodland and greenlake. its a 5 minute walk from Lincoln. Lower grades can be put on main floor to reduce stairs. lockers look like same size as the ones at Lowell to me. Does Lowell have a field for playground? don't remember seeing it on my tour. lunchroom used to be much bigger. Lincoln has many gyms and one could probably be converted to an extra cafeteria. i'm not conversant with facilities inventory, unless the district kick out another school pop., is there even an empty building now that is completely suitable for elementary kids that APP can move into?<br />SPS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6925499056669962622011-09-28T12:49:29.594-07:002011-09-28T12:49:29.594-07:00I have a question about Lincoln, and I wonder if s...I have a question about Lincoln, and I wonder if someone here knows the answer. My kids are in APP at Lincoln, and we are told there are two groups in the building - APP and MacDonald. I wonder if there isn't another program there, too. I have parked on the south side of the main building and there are older kids and adults sitting on the stairs there frequently, and the double doors there are open. Anyone know what that is?<br /><br />CuriousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55039943876348041902011-09-28T12:41:28.583-07:002011-09-28T12:41:28.583-07:00Lori-
We are also at Lincoln. Early in the year ...Lori-<br /><br />We are also at Lincoln. Early in the year I asked why the lunchroom was so small. I knew larger schools had used Lincoln, Garfield and Hamilton, and I wondered how they dealt with lunch. The answer was that Kidsco was put in the basement and took up some of the lunchroom space. If Lincoln were to be used as a true elementary school, Kidsco could be moved to another part of the building which would allow the lunchroom to be larger again.<br /><br />I hope the district looks at something long term very soon for north APP. My kids are on their third elementary (k in neighborhood, Lowell, Lincoln) and I wouldn't want them to start Hamilton just to move again. The district needs to realize our kids are not widgets, and they deserve a real school.<br /><br />Lincoln ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60401658350135520542011-09-28T12:27:54.179-07:002011-09-28T12:27:54.179-07:00Using Lincoln as an APP 1-8 and middle school lang...Using Lincoln as an APP 1-8 and middle school language immersion program is intriguing, but I think logistics might be a problem.<br /><br />I know the school was designed for 1,000 or more high schoolers, yet it can barely handle 600 elementary students right now when it comes to lunch. There are 3 crowded lunch shifts, with some kids having to eat lunch in the hallways because the cafeteria doesn't hold them all. We've also been told that we can't have any evening events with food at the school because the cafeteria is too small to handle it. Kind of a bummer when you're used to having nice community-building events with potluck meals on site.<br /><br />Maybe staggered start times would help if you tried to make this a 1-8 school, but ultimately, the school wasn't built with little kids in mind. Half the lockers go un-utilized because the kids can't reach them this year. And this will sound silly, but a lot of time is spent going up and down big staircases; from a kid's perspective, the "long distances" to get to lunch, to recess, to PCP activities means less time to enjoy those things. <br /><br />Then there's the playground. Parents worked hard to get access to the grassy frontlawn area instead of the concrete areas where the district wanted the kids to play, but we can't put permanent play structures in place due to the trees. It'll work these next 2 years, but it's not perfect or even up to snuff with what other schools get.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong; I am pleased with how Lowell@Lincoln is going so far this year, but I'm not convinced I'd want it for a permanent home for elementary northend APP. And yeah, these sound like minor complaints, but lunch, recess, etc are not minor things to our kids. I'd really prefer to see elementary aged kids in an elementary school designed for their needs.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777580098975083499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35842134058459799012011-09-28T11:48:03.090-07:002011-09-28T11:48:03.090-07:00I really, really hope they start pumping birth con...<em>I really, really hope they start pumping birth control into the water supply up there!</em><br /><br />I'm assuming that's a joke, but really, lots of kindergartners does not equal lots of big families. They could all be only children for all you know.<br /><br />Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40019077027071023512011-09-28T11:41:10.025-07:002011-09-28T11:41:10.025-07:00Charlie,
I agree, that is a good idea. I have a ...Charlie,<br /><br />I agree, that is a good idea. I have a daughter in 1st grade APP. I've heard lots of parents with older kids saying the 1-8 idea sounds good now, but not when our kids are older. The addition of the immersion kids should help, though, right?<br /><br />My question is what do those kids do for field space/after school sports, etc.? If I understand the concerns of parents with older kids not wanting the 1-8 it's due to lack of middle school programs. I'm not starting a sports debate, I'm simply curious about fields since band, etc. could easily be accomodated at Lincoln. Lunch? That's another story!Carlieghnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47807958192866082062011-09-28T11:12:24.937-07:002011-09-28T11:12:24.937-07:00"So there are 14 classes of K and 1 between J..."So there are 14 classes of K and 1 between JSIS and McDonald? Wow! I really, really hope the north end gets a new middle school soon."<br /><br />I really, really hope they start pumping birth control into the water supply up there! WOW-it's like the 50's baby boom all over again!zero population growthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14543900351210280932011-09-28T11:09:16.562-07:002011-09-28T11:09:16.562-07:00Oh! Bonus from SPS Parent's idea: north-end el...Oh! Bonus from SPS Parent's idea: north-end elementary APP students won't have to move again. They are already in Lincoln.<br /><br />Middle school students, APP or language immersion, would only have to move as they enter sixth grade - when they would change schools anyway. The school is already a 1-5. It could start as a 1-6 next year and roll up to a 1-8 over three years.<br /><br />That would also mean that the District would have three years to complete the build out.<br /><br />The District could put the S.B.O.C. at John Marshall temporarily (instead of Lincoln) while they are fixing up Meany.<br /><br />They could just move NOVA back to Mann right now.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57079279757405510172011-09-28T10:23:24.452-07:002011-09-28T10:23:24.452-07:00Damn! SPS Parent, that is a really good idea.
APP...Damn! SPS Parent, that is a really good idea.<br /><br />APP 1-8 at Lincoln along with language immersion middle school with an all-city draw.<br /><br />That would pull a lot of kids out of Hamilton - about 400 - and, perhaps, relieve the need for an additional middle school in the north-end.<br /><br />It would also relieve some of the enrollment pressure on Mercer and Denny, the other schools that roll up from language immersion programs.<br /><br />It would allow APP students to be in their own school for elementary (as it was) and in school with other students - the language immersion students - for middle school (as it is).<br /><br />Lincoln, centrally located north/south with good access from both I-5 and Highway 99, is an ideal location for an all-city draw school.<br /><br />The building has a capacity of about 1600 (or more) depending on how it is utilized. The north-end elementary APP would be about 450 students, north-end middle school APP would be about 250, and I think the language immersion middle school would be about 500 if it drew from all of the various language immersion elementaries. Let's remember that not all of the students in language immersion elementary schools would choose to continue to a language immersion middle school - particularly if it were at Lincoln rather than in their neighborhood.<br /><br />That's about 1,200 students. They should fit very nicely into Lincoln. Even if I'm off by 20% there would still be room for all of them.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55918311052747942842011-09-28T00:07:20.687-07:002011-09-28T00:07:20.687-07:00we are at JSIS and my understanding is that there ...we are at JSIS and my understanding is that there is currently NO language immersion program after 5th grade. while parents would like the immersion to continue on through at least middle school, so far the district has shown no desire/ effort to make it happen. Hamilton is an international school (global focus), not an immersion school. Under the old assignment plan, JSIS students had priority to attend Hamilton which offers some advanced language classes (but no immersion classes). This is moot under new plan as now Hamilton is their neighborhood school and they are guaranteed seats there anyway. So, it would make little difference to capacity problem to make it an option school. Kids in that neighborhood have to go somewhere. Only other choice is Salmon Bay which is in Ballard. <br />I think the district should open up Lincoln to co-house language immersion and APP. 1-8th grades for APP and 6th-8th for language immersion. Then Hamilton can be a third middle school in the north end to take the pressure off Eckstein. Wilson Pacific can be the interim school instead of Lincoln.<br /><br />SPS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65085766573147662512011-09-27T20:31:49.807-07:002011-09-27T20:31:49.807-07:00So there are 14 classes of K and 1 between JSIS an...So there are 14 classes of K and 1 between JSIS and McDonald? Wow! I really, really hope the north end gets a new middle school soon.Erinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47134678422678882872011-09-27T19:33:35.870-07:002011-09-27T19:33:35.870-07:00NE Mom
McDonald has 2 1st grades, 4 K classes. JS...NE Mom<br /><br />McDonald has 2 1st grades, 4 K classes. JSIS has 4 1st grades, 4 K. It is a lot, but not quite 5 classes each. <br /><br />Something will have to be done regarding Hamilton soon. <br /><br />JessicaWallingford Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39937947899746075842011-09-27T18:21:18.676-07:002011-09-27T18:21:18.676-07:00As a person who was at Meany MS in 96, I know many...As a person who was at Meany MS in 96, I know many others on staff that did not regard Ms. Francois as bad or ineffective. May just be a matter of perspective or the disruption of vested interests. The administrators that followed her brief tenure certainly were in the running for worst administrators in district history.in the knownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44338331432957348722011-09-27T16:27:50.962-07:002011-09-27T16:27:50.962-07:00The competition for John Marshall is going to be f...The competition for John Marshall is going to be fierce. The language immersion programs are going to blow out of their buildings any second now and will potentially require their own middle school if they are maintained as an assignment rather than option program. <br /><br />I think both JSIS and McDonald have 5 classes each for K and first grade. That is 10 total classes that need to roll up somewhere. They are going to quickly be the next Lowell style emergency.<br /><br />- ne momAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83735240316076308592011-09-27T16:08:34.855-07:002011-09-27T16:08:34.855-07:00The John Marshall School building, on Ravenna Boul...The John Marshall School building, on Ravenna Boulevard by Greenlake, just off I-5?apparentnoreply@blogger.com