tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4983188465654105275..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Around the Horn at Seattle Public SchoolsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38994132631810937742021-09-18T18:51:29.851-07:002021-09-18T18:51:29.851-07:00The new AL (didn't they retire that term; make...The new AL (didn't they retire that term; makes me angry just off the bat) identification process is completely ridiculous. It provides no definition for what HiCap learners are (the state gives a better description), no indication of what sorts of things will qualify a student, and relies on super fuzzy desires of un-trained staff members. (Teacher identification is notoriously biased.) There is no way for a family to understand what the program is and whether or how their kid may be qualified. Additionally, without the ability to provide cognitive evaluations (or have the district administer them), the identification becomes an amplification of students who are just responding well to their current school. My heart breaks for all the kids who really need HiCap services who will be left out here.<br /><br />Two upsides - 1) they have finally managed to eliminate the byzantine gate-keeping by stating that they will evaluated every kid. 2) they will be able to identify a representative population trivially - if they are short in some area just choose a couple more kids.<br /><br />The only thing keeping me from exploding in anger over this ridiculousness is that they have already so neutered the HC program that there is no point to the identification anyway. Why not have a bogus system to provide kids with bogus services?muhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07841682595015012741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44742822823020535162021-09-18T18:44:06.068-07:002021-09-18T18:44:06.068-07:00I am sad about the math survey. This is precisely...I am sad about the math survey. This is precisely the type of 'community engagement' that the district loves to use - its basically non-sense. They propose a number of different feel-good concepts they want the public to support, and then ask those to be organized in preference. And then they will use the results of the survey to back up whatever decision they wish to make anyway.<br /><br />Its infuriating.muhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07841682595015012741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2327622937432710522021-09-17T07:28:44.425-07:002021-09-17T07:28:44.425-07:00I’m very curious to find out what you here about t...I’m very curious to find out what you here about the HIB allegations (findings?) against DeWolf and Hampson. I read the letter alleging anti-blackness but don’t understand the bad thing that happened: what was said or done that was the offense. Thanks for looking into this!<br /><br />What HappenedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25282517036306198302021-09-13T18:20:31.409-07:002021-09-13T18:20:31.409-07:00Just calling on a clarification about the upcoming...Just calling on a clarification about the upcoming Operational Levy and BTA V Capital Levy.<br />1): Why is it still necessary to ask another almost billions of dollars for Operational Levy from the locals when McCleary has passed ensuring basic funding?<br />2): How did the McCleary* victory in 2018 still create such huge "funding gaps"?<br />3): Who must explain the above #2) to adult members of the community without indoctrinating the students?<br />4): SPS is still collecting $1.4 billion BEX V Capital levy (in addition to Operational Levy)** from the locals from 2019 thru 2025, and why should another BTA be warranted??<br />5): As enrollment declined, and transportation issues kept students from the buildings, why does it make sense to pour another hundreds of millions of dollars into new physical buildings?<br />6): Do the City of Seattle Dept of Transportation or the EPA know that SPS wants our money for it's own environmental protection gigs w/o experience?<br />7): Shouldn't the current Board resign to allow oversight for such hundreds of millions of dollars more of levy dollars from the locals?<br /><br />* McCleary:<br />https://www.washingtonea.org/advocacy/mccleary-school-funding/<br /><br />** 2019 BEX V Levy & Operational Levy:<br />https://www.king5.com/article/news/over-2-billion-in-seattle-school-levies-on-february-ballot/281-9d78b1c5-f68b-482b-a0ae-ddb9cd5e0192<br /><br />Once-fooledAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87222160198601786562021-09-13T15:56:02.128-07:002021-09-13T15:56:02.128-07:00My daughter (7th grade, north end middle school) t...My daughter (7th grade, north end middle school) texted me because she had a very runny nose and was feeling very uncomfortable. Before I could take her home, she had to take a COVID test and is staying home until the results are in. She is vaccinated. CKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50089808813489589252021-09-13T15:34:02.698-07:002021-09-13T15:34:02.698-07:00To answer your question about when SPS says to kee...To answer your question about when SPS says to keep kids home: We (Eckstein Middle School student) have gotten repeated emails and texts saying:<br /><br />"As a reminder, please keep your student home when they have a known exposure to someone with COVID-19, or new symptoms that are not caused by another condition.<br /><br />"If you want to learn more about how SPS is working to keep students, staff, and our community safe during the school year, visit our 2021-22 School Year: 180 Days of Excellence resource page.<br /><br />"Office of Public Affairs"<br /><br />There's a link embedded in the "new symptoms that are not caused by another condition," taking you to https://www.seattleschools.org/news/covid-19-symptoms/<br /><br />That page says, "Please don’t send your student to school if they have any symptoms. If they do arrive at school feeling ill, they will be sent home." They then list symptoms:<br />- Chills or Fever of 100 F (37.8 C) or Higher.<br />- Cough<br />- Fatigue<br />- Headache<br />- Sore Throat<br />- Nausea or Vomiting<br />- Congestion or Runny Nose<br />- Diarrhea<br />- New Loss of Taste or Smell<br />- Muscle or Body Aches<br />- Difficulty Breathing<br /><br />So that *sounds* like even one of those symptoms (but, yikes — fatigue? headache?) "should" keep your kid home. However, the endgame — what you need to do to return to school — is not explained.Robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14582049406998358870noreply@blogger.com