tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5241294023082202897..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Public Education This WeekMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36990417383133843122015-11-22T23:20:33.687-08:002015-11-22T23:20:33.687-08:00Authentic Assignment Writing Reviews get reliable ...<a title="Authentic Assignment Writing Reviews" href="http://www.essaywriting.reviews" rel="nofollow">Authentic Assignment Writing Reviews</a> get reliable analysis of academic websites and find your desired choice.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152955333443651907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85772782928214997962015-10-13T08:42:15.497-07:002015-10-13T08:42:15.497-07:00Garfield Mom, Thanks I got it! I didn't quite ...Garfield Mom, Thanks I got it! I didn't quite understand what you were saying in your earlier comment. I'm with you!<br />Frustrated Math<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9055861064421149942015-10-13T00:52:38.313-07:002015-10-13T00:52:38.313-07:00Frustrated Teacher, I think that's where my br...Frustrated Teacher, I think that's where my brain was trying to go...why, after adopting a new curriculum, would you write the scope and sequence and not use that curriculum as the starting point? <br /><br />Scrap the Scope doesn't have the same ring as Scrap the MAP, but I'd love to see teachers rebel like the Garfield faculty did and just refuse to drop MIF. The board adopted it -- seems like that ought to give teachers all the justification they need to just use the darn curriculum. Easier said than done, I know...GarfieldMomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38925165863542505962015-10-12T21:08:23.885-07:002015-10-12T21:08:23.885-07:00Last year, teachers at my son's elementary sch...Last year, teachers at my son's elementary school, a Title 1 school, spent much of the first half of the year trying to fill the holes in the kid's math knowledge caused by Everyday Math, and getting them up to grade level in MIF. They did a little skipping of things not "aligned" with Common Core, but pretty much followed the MIF curriculum, and I think that for the first time in years the kids actually learned math! I can't believe SPS is messing around with such a strong math curriculum!<br /><br />- North-end MomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25234190586005338432015-10-12T17:43:00.273-07:002015-10-12T17:43:00.273-07:00The directors chose MiF as the elementary math cur...The directors chose MiF as the elementary math curriculum. Michael Tolley and some volunteer teachers should not undermine that decision with something else. Kids need to learn math — not more stupid test prep. I can imagine this is confusing to teachers as well.<br />The directors need to rein this in and not allow the central office to pull another fast one. Of course, the Seattle Times will call it micromanaging but I call it doing their job.<br /><br />S parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10445184521086941642015-10-12T17:21:54.479-07:002015-10-12T17:21:54.479-07:00Garfield Mom,
The math scope and sequence is new t...Garfield Mom,<br />The math scope and sequence is new this year. It was created last spring by volunteer teachers. It may be that that intention in the Strategic Plan was to have a scope and sequence document all along, but math was just developed last spring. What's odd is that they could have easily aligned the scope and sequence with MIF. It's not unusual for districts to do that with some minor tweaking to meet the needs of their particular district. I heard they couldn't align the district scope and sequence with MIF scope and sequence because MIF isn't common core aligned enough. I don't buy that at all. Some minor tweaks and it works fine with common core. Most teachers made those tweaks on their own last year. Other people said it was so kids could do better on standardized tests. Who knows! Either way, it's a lousy way for a district to support students in learning and teachers in teaching math.<br />Frustrated MathAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80584059404757519632015-10-12T16:22:46.581-07:002015-10-12T16:22:46.581-07:00Here's what doesn't make a lick of sense a...Here's what doesn't make a lick of sense about the math scope and sequence mess. The MIF curriculum was adopted BEFORE the creation of the scope and sequence (which it seems is still ongoing, not completed). They've known for a very long time that they intended to create the scope and sequence -- it's written into the Strategic Plan. Why in the world did they wait until AFTER the new curriculum was chosen, a full year after implementation of MIF began in the schools, to write the scope and sequence? Cart before horse, anyone? <br /><br />GarfieldMomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58877951438709962722015-10-12T15:47:54.090-07:002015-10-12T15:47:54.090-07:00It's not just parents that should be rising up...It's not just parents that should be rising up. All taxpayers fund this dysfunctional administration and deserve an accounting of where their tax money is REALLY being spent (hint- not on the children). There should be restrictions on how/where our education dollars are spent and it should not be to support (and grow) this bloated bureaucracy. It should be in classrooms, schools! School should not be losing staff 6-8 weeks after start of the year in order to cut district cost when there are so many other areas that don't directly impact the core mission (hint; students, classrooms, education) of the district - although I'm starting to wonder their core mission is in fact to drive me to drink - because on that score they are performing quite well! And what's with the elementary math meddling - how much money ( and time is money remember) have they spent reinventing the wheel on that -when they just, 1 short year ago, adopted a new, perfectly adequate (perhaps even great) curriculum??? Look at the increased espenditure on administration. Look at the lack of transparency in everything they do. It's all smoke and mirrors and hidden agendas. I wish people realized that we have this big important school district, in this successful, well educated, progressive city and it is so woefully mismanaged that they virtually do not manage to get anything right (not transportation, not curriculum, not Sp Ed, not designing new buildings or maintaining their old ones........). Not just parents, who of course, know and live this, but the wider community should know this. <br />It may not affect everyone personally right now but it does indirectly in many ways (tax dollars and levies, property values, employee retention) and in the future (local grandkids, future children). What about all these highly educated young people taking jobs in the city - they will have families one day and I'm sure they don't want to inherit this mess ( and they can't all go private). I sure wouldn't settle in Seattle to raise my family knowing what I know now. People are drawn to live where there are good schools. Can we in all honestly say we have good schools here? I think we could have some great schools in some areas if only the district actually nurtured them instead of sucking them dry. <br />Pity there isn't some real investigative journalism in this city - because chronicling the last decade at SPS would be rich material. Everyone in Seattle should know about these issues not just parents of schoolchildren, because EVERYONE (starting with our schoolkids, yes) deserves better.<br /><br />Spread the wordAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60923971112204163572015-10-12T15:11:13.401-07:002015-10-12T15:11:13.401-07:00Tired of this, one ray of hope - the newly elected...Tired of this, one ray of hope - the newly elected directors will be installed by early December. Not next year.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69765512099605159752015-10-12T13:31:57.197-07:002015-10-12T13:31:57.197-07:00I actually asked for a voter initiative- to make a...I actually asked for a voter initiative- to make a LAW that (clearly defines the admin budget)limits how much of a school district can spend on the home office BS. Is there a RCW or WAC that dictates such spending- how monies can and will be used? Or is the money from the state/tax payers spent however a district decides is in the best interest of their communities? This issue is ludicrous and so is the fact that we have to deal with it every year. There is no recourse at the local level. We are powerless. We need some power other than "vote the bastards out". That takes too long and kids need help now, not next year.<br /><br />- tired of this Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23656364904602133882015-10-12T12:58:58.489-07:002015-10-12T12:58:58.489-07:00Watching, and good luck to them with that.Watching, and good luck to them with that.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86951954014641427242015-10-12T12:42:37.105-07:002015-10-12T12:42:37.105-07:00Rainier Prep Charter School is accepting applicati...Rainier Prep Charter School is accepting applications for 2016/2017.Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85035688200128824492015-10-12T12:36:11.000-07:002015-10-12T12:36:11.000-07:00Good Luck ... isn't all this Math adoption ta...Good Luck ... isn't all this Math adoption talk irrelevant given the belief in a strict adherence to the "scope and sequence" of common core math standards?<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25620828345787487512015-10-12T12:08:53.090-07:002015-10-12T12:08:53.090-07:00You're invited to the student led
School Boar...You're invited to the student led<br /> School Board Candidate Forum<br /><br />This Thursday, October 15th, 7pm-9pm<br />Nathan Hale Performing Arts Center<br /><br />NHHS family, friends and neighbors are invited to the Seattle School Board Candidate Forum in the NHHS Performing Arts Center this Thursday evening.<br /><br />Nathan Hale Government classes are putting on a student led School Board Candidate Forum the evening of Thursday, October 15th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center involving candidates for Seattle School Board and would like to invite you, your friends and your neighbors to attend. Candidates will make short opening statements, respond to questions from students, and then make a short summary statement. Be an informed citizen and attend!<br /><br />We encourage you to attend – if you have any questions, please contact Tim Ames at Nathan Hale at 206-252-3793 or tsames@seattleschools.org.<br /><br />HP<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88877032559538526902015-10-12T12:05:41.703-07:002015-10-12T12:05:41.703-07:00Good luck getting what you want S. Parent and Frus...<br />Good luck getting what you want S. Parent and Frustrated Math. In the future, the board will have LESS options. From C and I minutes:<br /><br />"The policy has been rewritten to comply. The adoption committee can recommend, in<br />rank order, up to two materials. Meaning that they can also only recommend one or<br />none. The Instructional Materials Committee"<br /><br /><br />"Director McLaren provided suggested edits to the document to make it easier to read.<br />Director McLaren does not believe that two adoption recommendations are enough. She<br />is still interested in receiving three recommendations."<br /><br />Peters wrote an amendment to assure the board has more options and Peaslee, McLaren (despite her statement) and others voted against the amendment. <br /><br />Good Lucknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7734681022087814192015-10-12T12:01:19.983-07:002015-10-12T12:01:19.983-07:00When I look at reader 47s numbers, the thing that ...When I look at reader 47s numbers, the thing that shocks me most is the TWO year increase -- which is over $8 million dollars (an increase of somewhere between 20 and 25% of the total budgeted amount from 2013). That is more than 10% per year -- and 6 million of the total increase comes from two categories: the Board of Directors ($2MM) and Supervision of Instruction (about 4.5 million). <br /><br />CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION Actual 2013/14 Adopted 2014/15 Recommended 2015/16<br />Board of Directors $4,377,610 $2,603,840 $4,270,653<br />Superintendent's Office $5,263,869 $5,515,745 $6,418,660<br />Business Office $5,790,899 $6,207,175 $6,980,623<br />Human Resources $4,685,999 $4,705,558 $5,283,638<br />Public Information $490,227 $500,189 $623,449<br />Superv. of Instruction $11,886,009 $14,331,199 $16,131,620<br />Super.Nutrition Services $766,624 $916,965 $904,898<br />Super Transportation $1,125,084 $1,648,618 $1,876,805<br />Super Maint and Operation $836,484 $1,010,144 $1,093,617<br /><br />TOTAL CENTRAL ADMIN $35,222,804 $37,439,433 $43,583,963<br /><br /><br />Frankly, if it would help the Board to do their job in overseeing the Superintendent and overseeing compliance with board policies, I would HAPPILY give them their 2 million (also, it looks to me like this restores money that was budgeted for the board back in 2013 -- it went down, and is now back up, though I have no idea why either move took place). <br /><br />But why are we spending almost 1/3 more supervising instruction (and why were we spending as much as $11 million back in 2013). That is what principals (and head teachers) should do. This seems to me a massive waste of money, and I think the board should ask the Superintendent to explain where that money is going, and what purpose it serves with respect to student learning. From what I can see, these folks are largely an impediment to student learning. They screw up the delivery of lessons, waste vast amounts of teacher time, and increase teacher stress. I get it that you maybe need a few folks in central administration supporting instructional stuff -- but this is so bloated it almost begins to have the feel of something worse. Jannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64998016735721658072015-10-12T11:31:33.918-07:002015-10-12T11:31:33.918-07:00Is a Superintendent search part of the Board's...Is a Superintendent search part of the Board's budget? Maybe that could explain the discrepancy?<br /><br />-katydidAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17417725823715206862015-10-12T11:14:48.650-07:002015-10-12T11:14:48.650-07:00CCSS???
If you want to know where we are headed.....CCSS???<br /><br />If you want to know where we are headed.... just ask the Gates Foundation.<br /><br />Here you go =><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/US-Program/Washington-State/Education-Pathways" rel="nofollow"><b>What we do Washington State education pathways.</b></a><br /><br /> Included in The Opportunity section:<br /><br />The Common Core State Standards, ensuring Washington’s K-12 students are fully prepared for success in college and careers.<br /><br />A new teacher and principal evaluation program to give our state’s teachers and leaders ways to improve their practice and serve students better.<br /><br />High-quality public charter schools to improve educational opportunities, particularly for those who struggle to learn.<br /><br />=========<br />Apparently .....<br /><br />School directors no longer need to be involved with decisions involving academics as Gates has in all planned.<br /><br />Heath and Box get that .... but I do not.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13325483382322500232015-10-12T11:02:31.653-07:002015-10-12T11:02:31.653-07:00@Maureen - sorry, couldn't get it to format de...@Maureen - sorry, couldn't get it to format despite a few tries and can't use the HTML tag for tables on here. <br /><br />You can see it for yourself on page 44 of the adopted 2015/16 budget, available on <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=627&pageId=720656" rel="nofollow">HERE</a><br /><br />And no, I don't believe it means they overspent, in fact, they actually got a doubling of monies allocated for 2015/16 compared to previous budget allocation - which is odd....<br /><br />But what they spend that much on is indeed puzzling ;)<br /><br />reader47Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5442519677304451982015-10-12T10:55:25.574-07:002015-10-12T10:55:25.574-07:00I sent the following to the Board and then include...I sent the following to the Board and then included my comments from above.<br />===<br /><br />Seattle School Directors,<br /><br />A huge part of your job is to direct the district in its mission to provide each child with the opportunity to maximize learning.<br /><br />It seems clear from this year's actions in regard to Math in Focus that the Board is abdicating its responsibility for maximizing student learning.<br /><br />The job of director is not to slavishly follow the CCSS-M, although that is apparently the current plan. Please discard the CCSS-M inspired "Scope and Sequence" modifications.<br />Please require the use of the "Math in Focus" "scope and sequence" so the adopted materials can be used to maximize student learning.<br /><br />-- Dan Dempsey<br /><br />==========<br /><br />WOW ... imagine the SBAC testing Opt-Out coming spring 2016 if the Board allows Staff to continue with this huge focus on CCSS-M and all things Gates.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57899163913204627892015-10-12T10:50:47.738-07:002015-10-12T10:50:47.738-07:00To start: Board of Directors ... $4,270,653
Hey, ...To start: Board of Directors ... $4,270,653<br /><br />Hey, ear plugs are expensive!<br /><br />CJMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21388174349655602752015-10-12T10:25:11.952-07:002015-10-12T10:25:11.952-07:00Melissa, can you format reader47's post and m...<b>Melissa,</b> can you format reader47's post and make a thread about it? It needs as big an audience as possible.<br /><br />To start: <i>Board of Directors ... $4,270,653</i><br /><br />What is this even? I have been told for years that the Board has no staff (e.g., Erinn Bennett never answered to the Board)? And even if you put the newish auditor and their admin under here that leaves $4,000,000 unaccounted for (is this what Martin-Morris has spent on junkets?) And I correct in thinking they probably overspent their budget by $2M so now are asking for more?Maureennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25071662797036055072015-10-12T10:20:25.941-07:002015-10-12T10:20:25.941-07:00Apparently the Directors are duped by Common Core ...Apparently the Directors are duped by Common Core nonsense... (deception and outright lies)<br /><br />A whole pile of those can be <a href="http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards/myths-vs-facts/" rel="nofollow">found HERE.</a><br /><br />Myth: Key math topics are missing or appear in the wrong grade.<br /><br />Fact: The mathematical progressions presented in the Common Core State Standards are coherent and based on evidence.<br /> (The progression will not match MiF) (The standards lag far behind those of the big six from east Asia, particularly weak through grade 4, well behind at grade 8)<br /><br />(Here comes one-size fits-all next) <br />Part of the problem with having different sets of state standards in mathematics is that different states cover different topics at different grade levels. Coming to a consensus guarantees that, from the viewpoint of any given state, topics will move up or down in the grade level sequence. What is important to keep in mind is that the progression in the <b>Common Core State Standards is mathematically coherent and leads to college and career readiness at an internationally competitive level.</b> (This is a blatant lie .. these standards are not internationally competitive and the college readiness is not preparation for a rigorous 4-year college.)<br /><br />========<br />Do not forget another big lie underlying CCSS: <b> the standards do not dictate curriculum.</b><br /><br />Time for directors to lead the district instead of Bill Gates and his money. Heath and Box etc. need to stop this CCSS-M nonsense and get on with improving math.<br /><br />Is the plan for the nation to run on H1B visas?<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21088225531962805042015-10-12T09:49:54.836-07:002015-10-12T09:49:54.836-07:00Frustrated Math,
I know one of the directors forwa...Frustrated Math,<br />I know one of the directors forwarded your comments to Tolley this morning. They absolutely need to rein in the administrators who think they know best.<br /><br />Keep on them, Dan. Your attention to data on math has been so important over the years.<br /><br />S parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54994603565570014062015-10-12T09:42:34.276-07:002015-10-12T09:42:34.276-07:00S Parent,
Thanks for forwarding.
Frustrated MathS Parent,<br />Thanks for forwarding.<br />Frustrated MathAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com