tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5655219605950943726..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS Budget SurveyMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21044347432950711202010-11-20T01:08:00.753-08:002010-11-20T01:08:00.753-08:00Just to pick on page 8: Why should we have to cho...Just to pick on page 8: Why should we have to choose (i.e. RANK, not rate)? Aren't these ALL important and independent, unrelated qualities?<br /><br />But Melissa, to go off on your comment there, isn't "strong leadership at the top" what you are objecting to from MGJ? Corrupt, maybe. Misguided, maybe. Transparent, like a smoke-screen. Anti-democratic, you betcha. <br /><br />But, strong leadership? "A" for effort, anyway. I thought getting steamrolled was NOT what you wanted. Where does strong leadership stop and dictatorial begin? The devil is in that detail above all, as I see it. <br /><br />Simplistically, an answer to that issue usually depends on whether you agree or disagree with the dictator. "Evidence based" is the ideal, but that demands that a strong and impartial referee exists to rule on the evidence, which is absent in most systems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48181145347308065082010-11-19T13:12:44.722-08:002010-11-19T13:12:44.722-08:00I've been educating our community to use the c...I've been educating our community to use the comment box to fully restore and maintain WSS funding.<br /><br />I hope others do the same.Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52076392378556815262010-11-19T08:26:12.769-08:002010-11-19T08:26:12.769-08:00On the subject of bad surveys, this one just came ...On the subject of bad surveys, this one just came through from OPSI:<br /><br /> http://ospi.a03ddf506d29.sgizmo.com/s3/<br /><br />PARENT FEEDBACK SOUGHT ON STATE'S EDUCATION REFORM PLAN<br />Last summer the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education collaborated to develop an education reform plan to be submitted in connection with the state's application for a grant under the federal Race to the Top program. Although the state was not selected for one of the grants, the Governor's Office is seeking feedback from parents and other stakeholders to determine which parts of the program should go forward. <br /><br />I couldn't understand half of it. Too much reform, edu-speak stuff in it. Ugh.lendleeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12555109557702727406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57586952723099856132010-11-19T08:25:34.890-08:002010-11-19T08:25:34.890-08:00Here are my questions about Budget for coaching an...Here are my questions about Budget for coaching and what is being accomplished.<br /><br />As the District is spending in excess of $10 million annually for Academic coaches is this an effective efficient expenditure of funds?<br /><br />(1) OSPI score changes show little if any improvement at most grade levels in many if not all subject areas. This is particularly true for educationally disadvantaged learners. Math at middle school this last year was an exception where after years of poor results last year's change was positive.<br /><br />(2) TfA was brought in by the Board for what reasons I not really sure but it seems that the Board buys into ongoing training of TfA newbies by TfA methods. Are these superior to what SPS provides?<br /><br />(3) The district has programs to assist teachers to develop are those being adequately funded?<br /><br />(4) In spite of a decade of talk about the achievement GAPS while those in reading shrank those in math expanded. It seems expenditures on Coaching, Professional Development, Instructional Materials, etc. in math need to be analyzed.<br />Are these being analyzed in terms of producing results? Is their any Bang for the Buck in these areas?<br /><br />(5) Writer's Workshop is there any Bang for the Buck there?dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15930849925388047632010-11-19T08:04:37.251-08:002010-11-19T08:04:37.251-08:00You can use the comments at the end to state your ...You can use the comments at the end to state your priorities more clearly. Mine came down to fully funding the WSS and cutting back on Strategic Plan Initiatives. I said no professional development from downtown. I also made some suggestions re transportation and asked that BLTs be allowed to prioritize acoss categories under the WSS as well as within (e.g., sub a librarian for a counselor if that makes sense for your building or vice versa.) And I said raise the overhead fee for any new initiative grants that we are stuck with like TFA.<br /><br />Anyone else have suggestions for what to cut?Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25832664068830666342010-11-19T07:59:26.350-08:002010-11-19T07:59:26.350-08:00The survey had very vague wording. Many things co...The survey had very vague wording. Many things could be interpreted in different ways. They need to be more specific, so that when you check a box you will understand exactly what the outcome will be for your student.<br />-MartiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18804587376560653322010-11-19T06:25:41.887-08:002010-11-19T06:25:41.887-08:00I just think its horribly funny that they think we...I just think its horribly funny that they think we are stupid enough not to see that we know the questions are slanted to give them the results they want to fit in with their predetermined agenda...<br /><br />Its insulting, arrogant and disrespectful, wasting our time pretending they want to know what we think and that our input will have any meaning/influence...<br /><br />The only ameliorating point I can come up with is that maybe they are so tied to their version of reality at a core level they really, really dont/cant see what is wrong with this...Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60343235425560958972010-11-18T22:22:55.924-08:002010-11-18T22:22:55.924-08:00Lendlees, yes, please contact me, if you would lik...Lendlees, yes, please contact me, if you would like to share more. I know someone working on creating a better survey for their PTA. Unfortunately we do not have clear data like Bellevue presented. I think a survey without the actual numbers attached is pretty pointless. My email address is available in my blogger profile.<br /><br />While our board talked about the Bellevue model (which is actually the Lake Washington model that Bellevue adopted) they decided that they didn't have the resources to engage the community at that level. Pretty unsatisfying, if you ask me. <br /><br />The survey they did create is written the way it is because it aligns with the strategic plan. So of course, no place to say save millions by eliminating MAP being used to evaluate teachers or anything else so concrete.Dorothy Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108759281089768738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79039659491774374242010-11-18T21:24:36.641-08:002010-11-18T21:24:36.641-08:00*sigh* I wish our District would put out a suppor...*sigh* I wish our District would put out a supporting information sheet so direct and to the point as Bellevue provided.<br /><br />The choices are not easy - but how can you make them if in essence you are playing pin the tail on the donkey, in the typical blindfolded state.<br /><br />I would really like to see something that is blunt -- like pay $200 to participate in a sport, or have it eliminated.<br /><br />Or, reduce the temp. in schools in winter from 71 degrees to 70 degrees.<br /><br />If only...StepJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11375599834945035820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13882374225670054562010-11-18T21:14:45.165-08:002010-11-18T21:14:45.165-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85983585153761013222010-11-18T21:10:08.816-08:002010-11-18T21:10:08.816-08:00Melissa,
Thank you for the adding the links to th...Melissa,<br /><br />Thank you for the adding the links to the Bellevue information -- very helpful!StepJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11375599834945035820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27995808486187384122010-11-18T20:58:25.478-08:002010-11-18T20:58:25.478-08:00/on soapbox
I write surveys, analyze data, and ag.../on soapbox<br /><br />I write surveys, analyze data, and aggregate information for a living. I love surveys, I think they are an amazingly easy way to stay connected with your customers or engaged with your constituents--I love that there are DIY tools so a lot of the barriers and mystery have been taken out of doing research.<br /><br />But, what I hate is when I see poorly written surveys, surveys that are biased, and lousy questions that no one can understand...kind of like this one.<br /><br />Rate your choices from 1 to 5? But you can't actually rate them, you can only rank them. Ugh.<br /><br />/off soapbox<br /><br />Dorothy-I'd be happy to chat with you about how to put together a meaningful questionnaire for community engagement. I can send you a note off-line if you like.lendleeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12555109557702727406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11102334343888043812010-11-18T20:50:12.052-08:002010-11-18T20:50:12.052-08:00Dorothy, I updated this thread with links to Belle...Dorothy, I updated this thread with links to Bellevue's budget research. I would like to see something more like what they offered to help guide parents and community members. <br /><br />I would not include items that should be common sense and basic like following federal regulations and giving parents timely, complete information.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65762926577148943642010-11-18T20:32:33.570-08:002010-11-18T20:32:33.570-08:00Its yet another..to say how the district spends th...Its yet another..to say how the district spends the dough.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.samplesurvey.org/" rel="nofollow"><b>Sample Survey</b></a>syedshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12555667882791359184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15227839201996506912010-11-18T20:29:48.802-08:002010-11-18T20:29:48.802-08:00Here's a question. If the survey simply asked ...Here's a question. If the survey simply asked you to rate the items on a 1-5 scale and you didn't have to rank them, would the survey be any better? Worse? More or less useful? <br /><br />If you were designing a useful survey, how would it be different? What would it include?<br /><br />I am not trying to be snarky, I am truly curious. There was lots of discussion about rank vs rate the items. I think that's a red herring (although I did have an opinion) because I think the structure of the survey is weak. I have some vague ideas of how I think a survey could be better, but not well enough figured out. So toss out idea, how would you write a useful survey for community engagement on the budget?Dorothy Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108759281089768738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32007501098614185372010-11-18T20:06:31.388-08:002010-11-18T20:06:31.388-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55581450515767007872010-11-18T19:11:55.234-08:002010-11-18T19:11:55.234-08:00I can't get the actual budget but there's ...I can't get the actual budget but there's a great charter that gets down to the nitty-gritty over there. <br /><br />It has the "description and effort of proposed change), number of people affected (FTE), financial impact. That gets down to the reality level.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33399041552713303212010-11-18T17:48:11.472-08:002010-11-18T17:48:11.472-08:00Didn't the Bellevue budget survey prompt the r...Didn't the Bellevue budget survey prompt the request that SPS do the same?<br /><br />Does anyone have the questions and options from the Bellevue survey?<br /><br />The Bellevue survey results seemed pretty straight forward. I have difficulty imagining the same clear direction from responses to the SPS survey.StepJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11375599834945035820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81060084947988441642010-11-18T16:04:13.909-08:002010-11-18T16:04:13.909-08:00Speaking of surveys, I've heard that all staff...Speaking of surveys, I've heard that all staff members today received an email link to a survey, a survey mandated by the feds, supposedly.<br /><br />This survey tells staff members to categorize themselves regarding race and ethnicity. Staff has the option not to identify themselves thusly, but in that case, their supervisor is supposed to identify their race/ethnicity via observation.<br /><br />How twisted is that?seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.com