tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4984346671592789921..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Gates Grant for Preschool at Bailey-Gatzert; One Mighty Big Hole in the AgreementMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91421300683010099202014-11-28T12:11:09.437-08:002014-11-28T12:11:09.437-08:00Melissa,
As an ethics issue, the legal office is ...Melissa,<br /><br />As an ethics issue, the legal office is supposed to be serving the interests of the board, not the superintendent or staff. That is because under the ethics rules for lawyers, the "client" is the district, not the superintendent or administrative leadership. That is one of the things that bothers me when it is said the board only has one employee. Technically, the legal office has to follow the direction of the president of the board if the board and the superintendent have different interests. The last GC in SPS who seemed to get this was Mark Green. Everyone since has viewed the job as facilitating the relationship between the superintendent and the board, to push the superintendent's view on the board.<br /><br />-IMHOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10947861866353708472014-11-26T09:30:51.130-08:002014-11-26T09:30:51.130-08:00I have to wonder what would happen if a Board memb...I have to wonder what would happen if a Board member felt he/she was unable to clearly understand an agreement and paid for/went to outside counsel.<br /><br />That might make some heads spin. <br /><br />Because it's a huge problem that the Board's legal counsel is the same as the district's. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-56436518592649695672014-11-26T09:07:55.359-08:002014-11-26T09:07:55.359-08:00Correction: Gates will terminate if the district ...Correction: Gates will terminate if the district does not made adequate progress. Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69245138205773075162014-11-26T08:27:18.227-08:002014-11-26T08:27:18.227-08:00The Gates Agreement/Narrative linked the grant, ci...The Gates Agreement/Narrative linked the grant, city and district. The language was clear.<br /><br />Nyland: The language in the grant is "unfortunate". This, after he signed the grant and before the board was aware of his actions that brought $250K Gates dollars into the house.<br /><br />District: Toner argued the "intention" of the grant is to place a prek in Bailey Gatzert. An agreement with the city was needed before transferring the Bailey Gatzert program to the city.<br /><br />Have you ever heard the saying about "intentions"? The road to failure is paved with good intentions.<br /><br />Time will tell, but the language in the Gates grant was clear.<br /><br />Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45848434723833709832014-11-26T08:05:52.530-08:002014-11-26T08:05:52.530-08:00Doh,
Don't be so sure. There is NO terminatio...Doh,<br /><br />Don't be so sure. There is NO termination clause in the Gates Agreement/ Narrative.<br /><br />We'll see what happens, but if this deal goes sideways BOTH SPS and 5 members of the BOARD will look stupid....;)<br /><br />Let's not forget that Nyland and the district's response to the board.<br /><br />FWIW...It's not my fault that 5 members of the board didn't read the Gates contract and/or took the district's word over actual contract language. The board as provided fair warning and the majority of the board ignored citizen voices.Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32054540998923560162014-11-25T15:16:29.443-08:002014-11-25T15:16:29.443-08:00I am sure there is a termination clause for either...I am sure there is a termination clause for either side to back out of the deal. Wouldn't SPS look stupid but it would be their own fault.<br /><br />Doh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-131751580239710452014-11-25T11:00:41.516-08:002014-11-25T11:00:41.516-08:00Rotten, c'mon, it's deception.Rotten, c'mon, it's deception.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81922380070459049162014-11-25T10:32:35.408-08:002014-11-25T10:32:35.408-08:00reality check is correct.
The Gates grant is seed...reality check is correct.<br /><br />The Gates grant is seed money and Nyland couldn't change a contract that had already been signed, by him, nearly two months ago.<br /><br />Who was the staff person(s) that brought the contract to Nyland? Were correct procedures followed?<br /><br />Are we looking at incompetence or attempt to deceive?RottenInDenmarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4544440868918660852014-11-25T10:24:01.213-08:002014-11-25T10:24:01.213-08:00I suppose the funds for 2015-16 could go towards s...I suppose the funds for 2015-16 could go towards seeding a second preschool classroom at Bailey Gatzert?<br /><br />I might have to go back and watch the tape of the preschool discussion, but while there were assurances made that the preschool classroom scheduled to open with the 2014-15 grant funds would not displace the SpEd preschool classroom at Bailey Gatzert, there were no assurances that I recall that the SpEd preschool would remain at Bailey Gatzert in 2015-16 or beyond?<br /><br />I'm sure that putting two (eventual) City preschool classrooms at Bailey Gatzert will be seen as a necessity for "equity" reasons, so that there will be more seats for low-income families.<br /><br />- reality checkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7346206750917204882014-11-25T10:08:36.133-08:002014-11-25T10:08:36.133-08:00Yes. There were probably toasts all around.
- re...Yes. There were probably toasts all around.<br /><br />- reality checkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67947726110359399832014-11-25T10:04:16.214-08:002014-11-25T10:04:16.214-08:00Reality Check, yes, all the new buildings should h...Reality Check, yes, all the new buildings should have a preschool classroom according to ed specs. But it's still problematic because (1) it's only one classroom and the City wants at least two in each location and (2)generally those classrooms in SPS are multi-purpose for both childcare and preschool. I don't think the City will want to share.<br /><br />Yes, how Peaslee thinks enrollment will work out is beyond me. But that's what you get when you sign off on vague agreements.<br /><br />The Gate Foundation must laughing very hard at easy this was. Ditto, the City.<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52912314432932094252014-11-25T09:44:05.580-08:002014-11-25T09:44:05.580-08:00I watched the School Board meeting. My take on it...I watched the School Board meeting. My take on it was that after the first year, the Bailey Gatzert preschool program would become part of the City's preschool program, and the remaining Gates grant funds would be used to "seed" other preschool programs in SPS.<br /><br />Despite repeated questioning from Director Peters, this possibility/likelihood was never ruled out. Ms. Toner just kept repeating the party line, and not answering direct questions. The superintendent's comments about the language being unfortunately unclear were just bizarre. He should have demanded clarity, but oops...he had already signed the grant!<br /><br />I seriously doubt the Gates funding will be used for 3 full years of preschool at Bailey Gatzert.<br /><br />The only thing that might get in the way of the seeding of programs elsewhere would be space constraints. Is there anywhere with space for the 2015-16 school year? There will be several new BEX buildings coming online in 2016 (Arbor Hts, Genesee Hill, Thornton Creek, Pinehurst). Perhaps they will "save" the Gates $$ to start multiple preschools in new BEX buildings?<br /><br />Also, the City's program doesn't allow for low-income only preschools. Does Director Peaslee really expect they will make an exception for Bailey Gatzert's preschool?<br /><br />- reality checkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7255908082843968372014-11-25T09:03:20.782-08:002014-11-25T09:03:20.782-08:00This is very complicated with many layers. The per...This is very complicated with many layers. The person who said that with the Gates Foundation, "progress must be made or funding will be pulled". You know the studies about sports teams and month of birth and how each month of age of player improves the teams success? Well, progress is naturally made as kids get older. But some kids learn things at an older age and it takes time. Also kids with some learning challenges take more time. I'm sure they know this. How will they know if progress is made? (testing?) What kind of tests? What a pain in the xxx to be testing preK kids. Do people know that a high quality preschool needs to have play, face to face communication, etc? Computers and electronics are the thing the most not needed for that age.<br />NEmom<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79181656936957973382014-11-25T08:21:09.994-08:002014-11-25T08:21:09.994-08:00uxolo, you're optimistic. The Masters of the ...uxolo, you're optimistic. The Masters of the Universe don't need to listen to the wee folk.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13498738122968792732014-11-25T06:50:44.699-08:002014-11-25T06:50:44.699-08:00Could someone knowledgeable please suggest a list ...Could someone knowledgeable please suggest a list of people and email addresses to whom we can write at:<br />the city and at the Gates Foundation? We can each write one email to city, Gates, and individual Board members and perhaps request that those people have a moderated TV discussion (on the Seattle Channel). Who in city govt and Gates actually read and respond to email? They all need to know that this plan should be clear to the public.uxolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01595802010492801183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85792426000468035412014-11-24T23:55:34.599-08:002014-11-24T23:55:34.599-08:00The Gates grant is clear: Progress must be made o...The Gates grant is clear: Progress must be made or funding will be pulled.RottenIn Denmarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30915218719638387762014-11-24T23:29:38.563-08:002014-11-24T23:29:38.563-08:00"Wright also said something kind of odd which...<br />"Wright also said something kind of odd which others have raised to me - he said that there are 64 preschool classrooms now in SPS and that "those programs could have their quality improved" if they took on the City program."<br /><br />Well, to start, virtually none of those programs are 6 hrs a day so if that is partially how they are defining quality, sure. Most of the developmental preschools (unless your child gets extended day) are 2.5 hrs a day, 4 days a week - and they have 2 teachers, and up to 12 kids on IEPs, possibly adding up to another 4 who aren't on IEPs. No matter how high quality the program is, that is 1) just not a lot of time to fit in everything, especially considering most of those kids need receive some combination of PT/OT/ST, etc during that time as well and 2) not inclusive which is simply going to bring down the quality of education overall.<br /><br />OTOH, I can't be sure how they are measuring quality. I am fairly certain most of the preschool's we considered wouldn't meet their "high quality" standards, though seem higher quality and more developmentally appropriate than the snip-its we've heard about the proposed city program.<br /><br />In terms of who gets in...I do think they need some disclosed approach and quickly. I also wonder - if they don't ever end up enrolling many/any higher tuition paying families, how will that affect the overall tax levy required? Looking at the city plan, it would cost us just as much as preschool costs us now, so there isn't any real incentive to switch. If I needed full time care, there would be even less incentive to switch for higher income families unless the "preschool" program was just a part of their daycare center. Why go through the hassle of covering before/after/summer/plus all of the random days off school (let alone making your preschooler have to move around so much) for what amounts to the same coverage as daycare at very similar costs?<br /><br />NE parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53977757081709236902014-11-24T23:28:53.294-08:002014-11-24T23:28:53.294-08:00Here is what Tolley and Heath had to say in the Fr...Here is what Tolley and Heath had to say in the Friday Report:<br /><br />"The grant supports this classroom and program alignment at no cost to the district, and is not dependent on whether the City and the district choose to form a preschool partnership. SPS will be the primary manager of the grant. The principal of Gatzert Elementary School will supervise staff on-site.<br />The district is only in the beginning stages of discussions with the City on the Seattle Preschool Program and the grant was written so that the program could accept financial support from the Seattle Preschool Program in the future, which would allow grant funding to be used on other priorities related to the district’s early learning priorities. A partnership with the city would only occur if the district was able to reach agreement on a clear, and specific Memorandum of Understanding and partnership with the City for the duration of the grant. The district is only in the beginning stages of discussions with the City on the Seattle Preschool Program, and the district recognizes that issues such as facilities, staffing, oversight and conflict resolution must be clearly addressed before any decisions are made."<br /><br />Which staff member(s) brought the contract for Nyland to sign? Staff know, full well, that grant funding in excess of $250k requires board approval.RottenInDenmarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49113820664969939172014-11-24T22:11:52.933-08:002014-11-24T22:11:52.933-08:00Sad. Peaslee and McLaren should have known better....Sad. Peaslee and McLaren should have known better. I'd love to hear their excuses for ignoring all the huge warning signs and moving ahead with this flawed grant. Also, my bet is that all the hedging here is related to the Gates Foundation/City of Seattle belief that by this time next year the City will have taken over the school district and these questions won't matter. It's clear that Toner and the others were just trying to avoid actual answers and treated board approval as a mere formality. Unfortunately, Peaslee and McLaren validated that approach.Greenwoodynoreply@blogger.com