tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post7974228596205598430..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Magazine Article on DropoutsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32707487400840474152007-05-29T10:08:00.000-07:002007-05-29T10:08:00.000-07:00I read the Seattle magazine article yesterday. Yo...I read the Seattle magazine article yesterday. You can quibble with the author's approach and split hairs, but at the end of the day, we're still left with that troubling statistic of only 61% of Seattle public school kids graduating on time. <BR/><BR/>I've appreciated reading the strings about TAF - what about the Gates Foundation? To me, it appears the district doesn't want to play nice/work collaboratively with outside groups who are offering innovation/improvement. The district always appears to walk away from the table with a sense of smugness and "we told you so" without having made a sincere attempt to embrace improvements in the first place.<BR/><BR/>It's embarassing to me, as a Seattle citizen and school parent, to have so many educational innovations coming from our region (via Gates, TAF, UW, etc), and to have such low graduation rates and a chaotic school district at the same time.<BR/><BR/>DGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48671854764631796942007-05-28T11:28:00.000-07:002007-05-28T11:28:00.000-07:00This is one of my biggest disappointments as a mem...This is one of my biggest disappointments as a member of the CAC. We turned this issue over to staff because we were not authorized nor in the position of having the best knowledge in terms of this program(s) and its placement.<BR/><BR/>Clouding this issue:<BR/>-poorly done "program review" complete with allowing a Times reporter to tag along one day<BR/>-Marshall insisting its programs have to stay together (Evening School could go to any middle or high school near public transportation.).<BR/>-Marshall's principal who is a bright guy but who has operated unfettered and now is crying foul when the district wants to really see what is happening in the building.<BR/>-In the South Lake BEX minutes, it reflected talk about moving Marshall's students there (and, I guess, just having one re-entry program which is a bad idea). I spoke to the principal and she said there would not be room (and the modest $14M rebuild price seems to reflect that).<BR/><BR/>My belief is that staff wants to close the John Marshall building and relocate/consolidate its programs. If that's the case, they need to make the case, give viable options and get on with it. The fact that it is still up in the air is troubling.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77240320766181063862007-05-28T00:12:00.000-07:002007-05-28T00:12:00.000-07:00So what is the plan for John Marshall's students a...So what is the plan for John Marshall's students after closure? The district will still be required to serve them, like it or not. A 30% graduation rate from this population would be stellar performance, if true. Having these students dispersed around the district will be a cost of the "save my personal school at the expense of schools without parent lobbiests."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com