tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6100697241489033201..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Saying GoodbyeMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37956711223423524832014-02-21T02:04:35.088-08:002014-02-21T02:04:35.088-08:00Charlie -- I will miss you greatly. Even on the f...Charlie -- I will miss you greatly. Even on the few occasions I disagreed with you, you were so persuasive and articulate. I was always so glad you were on "our side" in fighting district ineptitude. <br /><br />Best of luck in C'ville! Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09923777229601243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91036173300729937122014-02-20T10:24:45.398-08:002014-02-20T10:24:45.398-08:00The key to Michael Tolley is his use of intimidati...The key to Michael Tolley is his use of intimidation. With his gruffness as a threat, he uses silence as a weapon to forestall honest dialogue. The biggest fear many have is that he will seize power when Banda leaves----just as dangerous is the damage he will continue to wreak until that time. Maybe the school board can fire him because surely NONE of them honestly like him. Maybe Charlie can file a motion as he heads out to VA!! A.J.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30165859616956986722014-02-19T00:45:33.125-08:002014-02-19T00:45:33.125-08:00Seattle will miss you. You and I have been active ...Seattle will miss you. You and I have been active for about the same period of time, except that sometimes, I just follow the news while working on something else and you have continuously focussed on the schools. For me eventually something outrageous sucks me in. I am never sure if it makes a difference. I think you and I differ in that I believe the superintendent and staff are mostly responding to whatever they believe is the political direction of the board. Although there are times when a superintendent seems to have some loyalty to a past board make up. There are some in this town who are used to telling others what to do and expect to continue to do so, even if it all goes agains every policy and procedure presented. I sometimes wonder if the representation by District by the school board adds an extra degree of politicism to the equation, meaning that many care mainly to keep any good competition out of their District race. I still have hope that some things will improve or that a greater number of people will get smart about asking questions and holding them more accountable at both board election times and for levy elections. Good luck in Virginia. joannanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87788880746955840592014-02-17T15:39:38.649-08:002014-02-17T15:39:38.649-08:00 Charlie Mas the blowhard Charlie Mas the blowhardzapnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1193190110498466952014-02-17T13:13:09.512-08:002014-02-17T13:13:09.512-08:00Charlie, thank you so much for all you have done f...Charlie, thank you so much for all you have done for our kids. I will really miss reading your posts. Please come back and 'visit' us sometimes!Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18016693756518265642014-02-17T12:13:43.186-08:002014-02-17T12:13:43.186-08:00Did I really type "Eric". Obviously tha...Did I really type "Eric". Obviously that was supposed to be "Edward"!dwnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80082138386621181812014-02-17T12:09:55.895-08:002014-02-17T12:09:55.895-08:00Thank you for your tireless work here and througho...Thank you for your tireless work here and throughout SPS over the past decade or so. I value your work here greatly and consider you not only an activist-colleague, but a friend.<br /><br />Rather than look back on the failures and frustration, instead take heed of Eric Snowden's recent proclamation: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/edward-snowden-after-months-of-nsa-revelations-says-his-missions-accomplished/2013/12/23/49fc36de-6c1c-11e3-a523-fe73f0ff6b8d_story.html" rel="nofollow">"I've already won!"</a>. You've already won, in a sense, by helping to create many, many conversations about important topics that would otherwise have not occurred. You, along with Melissa (and Beth in the beginning) helped create a place and culture where we have these conversations, where we share information. So much of the power is simply getting word out to people, educating parents as well as our children!<br /><br />A few years ago at a meeting you mentioned that at some point you need to trust that those parents coming up behind you will be able to continue the fight. Having been involved for almost as long as you have, that notion has given me some comfort and my efforts are trending toward helping those with younger kids take steps to advocate for themselves and to encourage them to make sure the torch continues to get passed downstream. <br /><br />Best of luck with your move.dwnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87340833170136798652014-02-16T15:09:21.752-08:002014-02-16T15:09:21.752-08:00Thank you, Charlie, for all you have done in an ef...Thank you, Charlie, for all you have done in an effort to improve Seattle Public Schools. All the meetings downtown, the retreats you wrote about, the school meetings you attended during closures...so, so much have you done, so much ibformation shared, so many insights to think about....Thank you! I wish you the very best back east.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85528233579426160172014-02-16T11:23:32.544-08:002014-02-16T11:23:32.544-08:00We will miss your insightful writings and your ded...We will miss your insightful writings and your dedication to improving education for all of Seattle's school children. You have been an advocate for all that can be good about public education.<br />I have to say that I am glad I no longer have a child in SPS (college now), but I still worry for the rest of the children. Let's see how this "House of Cards" plays out here and across the U.S.<br />I have friends who teach in NY state and they are fighting many of the same general problems—though their school system is not as dysfunctional (probably because it is MUCH smaller).<br />Good luck in your life change...Andrea Leigh Ptakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07804830480381262696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72624386526590656602014-02-16T11:22:12.858-08:002014-02-16T11:22:12.858-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Andrea Leigh Ptakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07804830480381262696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53413839686556955092014-02-16T11:19:08.529-08:002014-02-16T11:19:08.529-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Andrea Leigh Ptakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07804830480381262696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25706628960042025852014-02-16T07:35:16.102-08:002014-02-16T07:35:16.102-08:00Your departure is an incredible loss for the famil...Your departure is an incredible loss for the families of SPS. I have felt a measure of reassurance over the years knowing that you and Melissa were watching out for the interests of our kids and helping to add at least some degree of accountability to the district staff. <br /><br />You characterized yourself as being astonishingly ineffective, and I'm sure it may feel like that in some ways, but I disagree. I would argue that you've had a very strong and positive impact beyond what you can know. As bad as things are now, they would be far worse without your ongoing efforts.<br /><br />In fact, I bet that the district staff and board is happy to see you go, a testimony to the impact you've actually had in your efforts to insist on compliance, transparency and accountability. That the dysfunctional district and board may be glad to be rid of you, and that the families of the district are grieving your departure says a lot about the impact you've had and who you've served.<br /><br />I sincerely thank you for your hard work and dedication over many years. You will be sorely missed by many in this community. <br /><br />-SPSparentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78855269929722565112014-02-15T16:28:47.024-08:002014-02-15T16:28:47.024-08:00No Jon, you are mistaken. As someone with some ba...No Jon, you are mistaken. As someone with some background info, I can say Enoch was favored. And as someone he was kind enough to respond to, I believe that Mr Enoch wished the rewards of retirement over the BS in Seattle. I was very disappointed.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80509807424879891942014-02-15T14:30:52.415-08:002014-02-15T14:30:52.415-08:00Good luck in your new situation Charlie. I haven&#...Good luck in your new situation Charlie. I haven't always agreed with your analysis but I admire your relentless dedication. <br />BenBenjamin Leishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10974191081762367425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41151159525139962052014-02-15T11:54:55.119-08:002014-02-15T11:54:55.119-08:00There is absolutely no reason for Mr. Banda to com...There is absolutely no reason for Mr. Banda to comply with policy if the Board isn't going to require him to comply. And the Board, as we know, has completely abdicated all of their authority, starting with their authority to enforce policy.<br /><br />Mr. Tolley isn't really evil or anything, he's just the person on the senior staff who has grasped this fact the best and exploited it the most. He acts completely independent of any policy, regulation, law. He can do it because no one enforces any of them. The Board doesn't enforce policy, but neither does anyone else. Not the OSPI, not the State Board of Education, not even the federal Department of Education. Not one entity responsible for enforcing education policy, regulation, or law ever enforces any of those policies, regulations, or laws. No one. Not ever.<br /><br />So is Mr. Tolley wrong to violate these rules at will? Sure, but he only bears a sort of secondary responsibility. The primary responsibility lies with the people who are supposed to be in authority and are supposed to guide him.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90814916699881256812014-02-15T11:27:05.547-08:002014-02-15T11:27:05.547-08:00Jon, until the Board stiffens its spine and enforc...Jon, until the Board stiffens its spine and enforces its own policies, nothing will change.<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40873588046990989532014-02-15T09:47:15.940-08:002014-02-15T09:47:15.940-08:00As you must recall, the Board was leaning toward B...As you must recall, the Board was leaning toward Banda when Enoch dropped out. You yourself said at the time, Melissa, "I truly believe he could see the process had been corrupted and wanted no part of it any longer. No one likes to feel like they are window-dressing for another candidate."<br /><br />The Board made a mistake in favoring Banda. Banda has not done his job. It is well past time for the Board to demand Banda do his job. They should also quietly talk to candidates to replace Banda so that their position is stronger in the likely scenario where Banda threatens to leave rather than do his job.Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5800604497782406462014-02-15T08:56:14.277-08:002014-02-15T08:56:14.277-08:00"I think the Board made a huge mistake pickin..."I think the Board made a huge mistake picking Jose Banda over Steven Enoch for superintendent."<br /><br />Unfortunately, that wasn't true. Mr. Enoch backed out. I liked him very much as well.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1128991503390242572014-02-15T08:25:15.026-08:002014-02-15T08:25:15.026-08:00I think the Board made a huge mistake picking Jose...I think the Board made a huge mistake picking Jose Banda over Steven Enoch for superintendent. Banda has proven uninterested in changing the culture and improving the effectiveness of district administration.<br /><br />The Board should push much harder on Jose Banda to do his job. I think the Board also should open quiet discussions with possible replacements for Banda, including seeing if Steven Enoch could be convinced and talking to Seattle executives that have expressed a strong interest in public education on our city.<br /><br />Banda has had his honeymoon period. He should do something.Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46829397189751543352014-02-15T08:19:49.584-08:002014-02-15T08:19:49.584-08:00Our loss. Thank you so much for all you have done...Our loss. Thank you so much for all you have done for Seattle Schools. It's hard to believe that your rational explanations of what the rules are and how they are not being followed has met with so little response. But thank you for persevering nonetheless!LGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11805460941535289584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16496987587978970052014-02-15T05:14:07.799-08:002014-02-15T05:14:07.799-08:00@flibbertigibbet
By all means, keep up with the f...@flibbertigibbet<br /><br />By all means, keep up with the fight. Don't let the bastards win.<br /><br />The great thing about human systems is that they are unpredictable. I'm glum, but I could be completely wrong about the Board. Each of them, at one time or another, is capable of suddenly - out of nowhere - deciding to do their job.<br /><br />Even without a heroic effort by a board director, when things get bad enough, the pendulum will swing again. The Olchefske administration under the terrible Waldman board got so bad that a scandal resulted and the Board and the administration were replaced. The Goodloe-Johnson administration under the rubber-stamp Sundquist board finally went too far and they were replaced. Thieves and cheaters always get caught because they keep doing it until they get caught. Bad public administration will eventually get reformed because it will spiral out of control until it demands reform.<br /><br />We cannot surrender our public institutions to those who would manage them into the ground. We cannot surrender authority over our children's education to people who would diminish it. We cannot allow the abuse of the public trust.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74843715936591432452014-02-14T20:35:14.684-08:002014-02-14T20:35:14.684-08:00Charlie,
I always learn from your posts and will...Charlie, <br /><br />I always learn from your posts and will miss them. You're an excellent analyst. I hope your move is a prosperous one and that you'll check in from time to time.<br /><br />Westside<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82343556947631961522014-02-14T19:51:35.753-08:002014-02-14T19:51:35.753-08:00Thanks, Charlie, for everything you've done. I...Thanks, Charlie, for everything you've done. I've been following this blog for 3-4 years now, since my oldest entered SPS and what a baptism by fire that experience has been, not at the teacher/principal level, but with all the district bullshit. And I've seen you in action at meetings. <br /><br />You've been a voice of reason and right. I'm very sorry to see you go, but wish you all the best for the future.<br /><br />And for those of who remain, what words of advice do you have? Should we throw up our hands and enroll in Shoreline instead or keep up with the fight?<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />-flibbertigibbetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5127276946236260012014-02-14T16:38:04.807-08:002014-02-14T16:38:04.807-08:00Charlie - thank you so much for your tireless effo...Charlie - thank you so much for your tireless efforts, eloquent writing, and sense of humor while swimming in a "tide of filth," as you so aptly put it. You will be greatly missed. Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44198644508894008082014-02-14T11:56:07.114-08:002014-02-14T11:56:07.114-08:00It won't be the same without you.
You will be...It won't be the same without you.<br /><br />You will be missed.<br /><br />DoraDoranoreply@blogger.com