tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8320831043092300202..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Threatened Childcare Sites - Think About UnitingMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18143802722395585672016-05-28T02:21:58.564-07:002016-05-28T02:21:58.564-07:00Hello dear friend
Thanks for keep sharing your va...Hello dear friend<br /><br />Thanks for keep sharing your valuable content.Getting an education about childcare training from an accredited <br /><br />school is a must before you can work as one of those childcare professionals.Look about: <a href="http://childcareinstitute.com.au" rel="nofollow">diploma of early childhood education and care</a><br /><br /><br />Thanks<br />Sathiaja SarahAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07031239887971908818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35463281496228663532016-01-31T17:45:00.240-08:002016-01-31T17:45:00.240-08:00Ms. A,
The program on Queen Anne closed prior to ...Ms. A,<br /><br />The program on Queen Anne closed prior to this year. (I believe in the middle of the 2014-15 school year.) It was leasing an unused building - which is now housing a district K-8 school.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16697092354610287612016-01-29T15:33:34.585-08:002016-01-29T15:33:34.585-08:00@Priorities (Anonymous)
Many of these preschool a...@Priorities (Anonymous)<br /><br />Many of these preschool and before- and after-care programs do not receive FREE space. They have leases and pay rent to the school district.<br /><br />Ms. Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62895324697129781012016-01-29T14:53:49.020-08:002016-01-29T14:53:49.020-08:00It's not just before- and after-care programs,...It's not just before- and after-care programs, which obviously create hardship for working families (especially now there is a 3-tier bell program). It's also the preschools associated with the before- and after-care programs that the school district is closing. And, the school district seems to be a bit bi-polar about the whole process, ignoring the fact that they are collaborating with the city to open 12 underutilized preschool programs, and then listing existing well-attended preschool programs for closure.<br /><br />My 3-year old daughter is starting preschool next week because she needs special education/speech and language services. The preschool was RECOMMENDED by the school district because it is located in a Seattle public school building at Gatewood Elementary in West Seattle. The school district told me that even though they are required to provide special ed services to children age 3+, they wouldn't provide my child any services unless she was located at a Seattle public school building.<br /><br />Guess what - they also provide before- and after-care. And, this week I learned that they are on the list of 19 programs that could be closed in September. So, my child can't receive these special ed services until she goes to kindergarten? Or, only if she goes to an preschool run by the city far from where I live? This is ridiculous. And, it doesn't only affect my child - there are 170 kids in this program - both preschool and school-age children.<br /><br />Our preschool program also provided a copy of a letter from another program slated for closing in Queen Anne. It has been in its location for 28 years, serves a lot of special needs children, and just spent a $250k grant on facility renovations. The program believes the district knew about the renovations, but didn't tell the program about the closure until the renovations were over. http://nwcenterkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Form_Letter_For_Parents_V1.pdfMs. Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27018070915204429712016-01-29T08:50:30.026-08:002016-01-29T08:50:30.026-08:00Our principal at Stevens just informed our daycare...Our principal at Stevens just informed our daycare provider that we are not on the list. Why is the list of schools or information so piecemeal. The district needs to inform the daycare centers and parents now so they can make informed decisions now and not at the last minute.Stevens parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66668364203322964622016-01-27T19:28:45.074-08:002016-01-27T19:28:45.074-08:00I suggest the B&A families direct some of this...I suggest the B&A families direct some of this energy towards pressuring Olympia to provide funds for capacity. Rather than rob Peter to pay Paul, let's get the part-timers down south to get to work on these matters. They would rather spend time on charter school work arounds than serving the vast majority of children in difficult circumstances.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24194465119147890882016-01-27T13:45:03.761-08:002016-01-27T13:45:03.761-08:00If the childcare programs were allowed to use the ...If the childcare programs were allowed to use the classrooms, who pays for the transition from classroom to daycare space? In most classrooms I see, kids leave their water bottles and papers at their desk, and there's often caddies for supplies everywhere. Teachers use every available inch of space for instructional material, because they don't have closets to put things out of sight anymore. Are you going to pay the teachers for the time it would take them to put away their classroom material? How are you going to protect the classroom materials? <br /><br />My kid's elementary school is hardly an "empty" building after school. Between teachers working late in their classrooms and the after school enrichment activities that go on in the gym, the lunchroom, the library...I don't know where a childcare program would meet that isn't already in use. <br />Owlernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86290965704880800652016-01-27T12:17:08.700-08:002016-01-27T12:17:08.700-08:00Thank you Lynn, that makes perfect sense. It's...Thank you Lynn, that makes perfect sense. It's the licensing. I did a little digging and found this description of licensing requirements for school age care. Enrichment programs fall under "Recreational (Unlicensed) Care." http://www.del.wa.gov/care/school/types.aspx<br /><br />And Ridiculous, I agree. Some creative problem solving is definitely in order! It makes sense for SPS to shift some of the burden onto the other players in order to address their capacity issues. Every player should take some responsibility here, and no single one of these is the be-all end-all solution: <br /><br />SPS can provide access to alternative spaces on-site;<br />SPS can provide transportation to alternative spaces off-site;<br />Independently owned programs can take on the burden of getting those spaces licensed;<br />Independently owned programs can transition to a recreational care focus that does not require licensing;<br />The city can subsidize rents/relocating costs and offer up alternative programs;<br />Families can ride out the changes and advocate for fairness and equity.<br /><br />We all want to make childcare work in this city and we all want adequate learning space for our kids. We need transparency to see the bigger picture. And I agree with others on this thread who have said this is a not the way to manage capacity, piecemeal, one crisis at a time. SPS needs a real plan.<br /><br />AdjustingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72875922312129589342016-01-27T11:10:27.726-08:002016-01-27T11:10:27.726-08:00Exactly Melissa win- our school in QA is over buil...Exactly Melissa win- our school in QA is over building capacity as well ... It is against fire code but somehow they work it out to make exceptions and traffic flow plans ( i.e. Fourth graders use this entrance etc). Soooo I'm sure exceptions can me made to allow use of these huge child friendly buildings for quality safe after school care!! <br />Ridiculous Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72532719414147930312016-01-27T10:23:52.330-08:002016-01-27T10:23:52.330-08:00Yes, Melissa Winchester. It's crazy. It'...Yes, Melissa Winchester. It's crazy. It's crazy to see all the development, how crowded our schools are and the developers have kicked in nothing to create more schools for all this density.<br /><br />I guess our politicians have taken a liking to the newly legal weed. They're obviously smoking something if they don't see the correlation between development and need for more schools!Mom of 3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49573224497990811602016-01-27T09:57:32.598-08:002016-01-27T09:57:32.598-08:00I am in the Ballard neighborhood and our school is...I am in the Ballard neighborhood and our school is over capacity. What about safety? Isn't it against the fire code? The north end is booming and that is where space is needed.Melissa Winchesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10113255241954636192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8856382799505049582016-01-27T09:36:47.627-08:002016-01-27T09:36:47.627-08:00Melissa W. (hello, other Melissa W),interesting yo...Melissa W. (hello, other Melissa W),interesting you should talking about buying property. There is some set-aside money in BEX and BTA IV (should it pass in about two weeks) for property purchase. However, there was a Seattle housing discussion at a Facebook page and Joe Wolf of SPS said this:<br /><br />"David Lange: Joe Wolf what are the possibilities of schools taking over a floor inside a tower of density? Do schools have to be in separate spaces or is there a future being just downstairs from some families? Innocent question from a newbie.<br /><br />Joe Wolf David - my Associate Superintendent, Dr. Herndon is in discussion with developers regarding that possibility. SPS wants to own the space it occupies so that's how the conversation is being framed."<br /><br />Wolf then goes on to explain about space, indoor and outdoor, for a K-5 school. <br /><br />That says to me that the district is still trying to site a downtown school. Is that where we really need space at this point? I don't think so and I am quite surprised that they want to buy it downtown given the costs. The district doesn't seem to be concerned with the decades of leasing space for The Center School so I'm surprised they want to buy anything downtown.<br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52470310766358586482016-01-27T09:29:14.556-08:002016-01-27T09:29:14.556-08:00Yep typo. Maybe that is a point we could try to ge...Yep typo. Maybe that is a point we could try to get help with, so that school space can be used. We can't just throw up our hands and say "just Move and figure something out" Let's<br />Actually find the blocking points and appeal for changes to allow common sense solutions to be put in place. Enough helplessness and BS!<br />rAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27208599696793245582016-01-27T09:18:41.333-08:002016-01-27T09:18:41.333-08:00Loosen? The licensing requirements are set at the ...Loosen? The licensing requirements are set at the state level.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25422111610378301002016-01-27T08:51:46.124-08:002016-01-27T08:51:46.124-08:00Couldn't we loosed the licensing for these pro...Couldn't we loosed the licensing for these programs for them to be able to use this space that is obviously already declared safe for children? It is such a waste. <br />Ridiculous Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5943777465514340462016-01-26T23:03:52.621-08:002016-01-26T23:03:52.621-08:00Licensing is HUGE when it comes to an after school...Licensing is HUGE when it comes to an after school program using classrooms or other areas as spaces. You have to reconfigure and change so may aspects of the room (solid locks on cabinets, shatter proof light bulbs, Velcro EVERYTHING down that is on an open shelf--what program can take over a teachers room like that?!? <br /><br />Also, if programs need to relocate off-site, how in the world can they afford to rent a big space in Seattle right now? Give a time line! Let them try to plan. There is an empty parking lot in my neighborhood for sale for 2.8 million!!! EMPTY PARKING lot!Melissa Winchesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10113255241954636192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35882328994009361562016-01-26T22:46:01.032-08:002016-01-26T22:46:01.032-08:00I suspect the after school enrichment classes can ...I suspect the after school enrichment classes can be held in classrooms because they are considered recreational care and are not required to be licensed by the Washington State Department of Early Learning. Nobody is privileging one set of familes over the other. <br /><br />Enrichment classes cannot be counted on to provide regular child care to allow parents to work. At our school they don't start meeting until October, there is a break between sessions (no classes this month) and each class meets only one day per week.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22898874703117180642016-01-26T21:06:33.626-08:002016-01-26T21:06:33.626-08:00Priorities- no sky falling here ... Was being sarc...Priorities- no sky falling here ... Was being sarcastic. You and I agree that all available space need to be used for classrooms during school hours. Unfortunately there are not "walk to" spaces in many neighborhoods and the reality will be a costly and silly system of bussing across town....<br /><br />And adjusting, that is my feeling too...if enrichment programs can use those spaces and they do everyday , then kids co should be able to as well. To be fair all use should be eliminated if that is the issue. Then perhaps more parents will get outraged by the waste of<br />Available safe space for our kids. <br />Ridiculous <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16821101438854291762016-01-26T21:02:38.541-08:002016-01-26T21:02:38.541-08:00I cannot speak for every after-school enrichment p...I cannot speak for every after-school enrichment program/class. I would assume, though, that most are:<br /><br />- only one day a week for an hour or so versus every school day for several hours<br />- use a specific space rather than multiple space (i.e. gym and playground)<br />- may be more academic (math club or tutoring)<br /><br />I am not against childcare; no one is. I have told at least one director that it is absolutely imperative that for every single space that makes the list, it is proven that the school is overcrowded and the space is needed for academic reasons. <br /><br />I started this thread hoping to see that people were organizing themselves to advocate for more transparency and oversight, not to pit people against each other.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87673857529028836412016-01-26T20:56:53.695-08:002016-01-26T20:56:53.695-08:00I'm not going to go so far as to give the dist...I'm not going to go so far as to give the district the benefit of the doubt here (I've witnessed way too many of their shenanigans for that). But I am going to give them this:<br /><br />A private program should not displace classrooms in an overcrowded public school. <br /><br />In situations where capacity is at a premium, SPS should take over the space. If they take over the space they should work with the city and school administrators to work out reasonable alternatives to the existing childcare. No one is talking about busing to Puyallup for goodness sake.<br /><br />Melissa, how is a Kidsco type place different from an after school enrichment class that uses a classroom or library? My kids have had after school enrichment classes held in classrooms, cafeterias, gyms and libraries in four different school buildings. Maybe it's the instructional focus vs a childcare focus? <br /><br />AdjustingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15879041610999758792016-01-26T20:40:03.946-08:002016-01-26T20:40:03.946-08:00Sorry but I don't agree with sharing classroom...Sorry but I don't agree with sharing classroom and library space. Those are dedicated space, funded for certain uses. <br /><br />I know that in some schools, janitor space has been reconfigured. That's getting to a near-crisis issue.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42928456734586015402016-01-26T20:17:03.365-08:002016-01-26T20:17:03.365-08:00Nope, not a school employee. I am a parent whose c...Nope, not a school employee. I am a parent whose child does go to an off site facility for aftershcool care because we have not been able to get into the school program. The kids walk to their program with adults and the world doesn't end. But let's move past the feckless ad hominen attack.<br /><br />Ridiculous - you can say the sky is falling all you want but that doesn't make your hysteria true. I agree, use the space after school. Just get the gear out of a closet or storage unit instead of keeping a class room quarantined from school kids durine the scool day. But feel free to bus your kid to Puyallup instead. That is your perogative.<br /><br />PrioritiesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24851026411612810932016-01-26T20:08:31.686-08:002016-01-26T20:08:31.686-08:00Our school space is NOT empty during the day. It&#...Our school space is NOT empty during the day. It's full with 40 preschool kids. That matters. alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01999319161830539952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-63141513235596587172016-01-26T20:01:45.039-08:002016-01-26T20:01:45.039-08:00And yes, our aftercare program was told they would...And yes, our aftercare program was told they would not be able to operate on school grounds .. Not just dedicated space... Due to number of kids , fire codes Etc with too many kids in cafeteria as they aren't allowed in the empty classrooms... So yea they are being kicked out in essence <br />AAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82888219874443127862016-01-26T19:56:37.688-08:002016-01-26T19:56:37.688-08:00Absolutely priorities.
I guess the only solution ...Absolutely priorities. <br />I guess the only solution that makes any sense is to hire a fleet of busses and bus the kids to the puyallup fair grounds. Working together to make it feasible for children to use their neighborhood school with its cafeteria , restrooms and playgrounds would just be unreasonable and far too complicated. Best if we close these buildings down and lock the doors at 2pm. It just makes sense. <br />Ridiculous Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com