tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5814278256833801037..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This WeekMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52732115179992373412016-04-06T09:31:19.579-07:002016-04-06T09:31:19.579-07:00I went to the first 2017-18 boundaries meeting on ...I went to the first 2017-18 boundaries meeting on Monday. Flip and Ashley (new enrollment director) were there as well as translators for 3 languages and a couple other SPS staff - and about 20 community members. <br /><br />Ashley did a powerpoint about the process since 2013 and then they took questions. The major purpose of the meeting was to get updated feedback from the community on the boundaries voted upon in 2013. There were parents there from various schools (with the largest group from B.F. Day.)<br /><br />Basically, the answer to every concern was that they are collecting the feedback and analyzing it over the summer to then bring to community meetings in the autumn, followed up by Intro/Vote by the board in Oct/Nov. It was a bit frustrating because they didn't have a summary of the feedback they had received thus far. It was suggested that they have a slide outlining the areas of concern they were already aware of for the subsequent meetings - and they said that they would do that.<br /><br />An instance of a situation they had already been working on was Cedar Park - they have held community meetings in that region and already had a plan to alleviate some of those concerns. When asked about that in the meeting, they said, "yes, we have been working on that plan to check the viability", but it would have been great to put issues like that right up front. It would help communities feel like they were being heard.<br /><br />My perception is that they were very careful to not share any of the data analysis they've done thus far on the boundary issues of which they are aware and not to inform us on any possible proposals. I think you're most likely to get information by talking with the staff individually, after the meetings.<br /><br />If you can't make the meetings but still have feedback, I'd suggest emailing it to growthboundaries@seattleschools.org. I do believe they're tallying expressed concerns.<br /><br />I suspect those autumn community meetings are going to be VERY interesting. I expect to see some substantial changes put forth by staff. SPS Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00753456189315452834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11244668361437706472016-04-03T15:46:43.691-07:002016-04-03T15:46:43.691-07:00The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee is...The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee is contemplating the division of Policy 2090, Program Evaluation and Assessment, into two policies: one that addresses program evaluation and a second one that addresses assessments. The staff has written draft policies.<br /><br />The current policy requires the staff to conduct annual program evaluations to determine the quality and efficacy of the district's academic programs. These programs include Special Education programs, programs for English Language Learners, Advanced Learning programs, Montessori programs, Language Immersion programs, and more. The problem is that the District staff does not conduct any such evaluations. We have absolutely no idea how well any of these programs are working, or even if they are working at all.<br /><br />The solution proposed by the staff is to change the policy so that it no longer requires the annual evaluations. Instead, the superintendent only needs to deliver a single report on how the district as a whole is doing academically.<br /><br />This is, of course, a solution to the wrong problem. The right solution to the right problem would be for the district staff to conduct the program evaluations that would be a necessary part of any sort of management.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.com