tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post972831481339719149..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20384232335387893262016-09-13T01:24:12.497-07:002016-09-13T01:24:12.497-07:00Here's how to cut your electric bill up to 75%...Here's how to <b>cut your electric bill up to 75%:</b><br /><br />Want to know how to easily produce <b>all of the renewable energy</b> you could ever want <b>right at home</b>?<br /><br />And you will be able to make your home completely immune from <b>power outages</b>, <b>blackouts</b>, and <b>energy grid outages</b>…<br />so even if everyone else in your area (or even the whole country) loses power - you won’t. <br /><br />READ MORE: <b><a href="http://green.syntaxlinks.com/r/DIYHomeEnergy" rel="nofollow">DIY HOME ENERGY</a></b>Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287821785570247118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90933417076327795902016-04-27T19:42:34.892-07:002016-04-27T19:42:34.892-07:00The Alliance + Washington Charter Association = A ...The Alliance + Washington Charter Association = A Match Made In Heaven<br /><br />I call this combination frightening, but some would call the duo "collaborative".NO 1240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64767195874444174602016-04-27T17:12:19.801-07:002016-04-27T17:12:19.801-07:00Please do fill out the family survey and be honest...Please do fill out the family survey and be honest about the limits of what you think are the socially unacceptable limits. Don't be just like well I don't think there will be a school shooting because there is a lot more to be communicating about and lots of parents on this blog are reporting circumstances of their child's educational environment that they see, and other agree, are unacceptable -- but many parents have no choice but to send their kids to the neighborhood school.<br /><br />Contemplate:<br /><br />Would you expect better care of your child with a sitter? <br /><br />Does your child have enough time to eat each day? <br /><br />Does your child have daily, dedicated recess not subject to punishments for homework, slow class work, delayed lunch eating, or even class hallway behavior? <br /><br />Is the main classroom management strategy that the teacher yells at the class all day long? <br /><br />Is the classroom tone one that you would expect or accept from a private school? <br /><br />Is your child or their friend/s being bullied? Is your child's ALO/ELL/SPED designation getting them the appropriate challenges and supports? <br /><br />Is there sexual harassment at the school and do you worry about inappropriate behavior going on and what else your child is learning from their peers?Ann Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54978371258929750802016-04-27T16:39:17.860-07:002016-04-27T16:39:17.860-07:00Suicide rates for dyslexic children are higher tha...Suicide rates for dyslexic children are higher than for the general population. - See more at: http://www.lexercise.com/blog/dyslexia-effects#sthash.9R5ThHLA.dpuf<br /><br />http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2012654/Dyslexic-boy-16-hanged-bullying-teachers-primary-school-years-earlier.html<br /><br />http://sallyspencerthomas.blogspot.com/2013/04/suicide-risk-and-children-with.html<br /><br />Reality checkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82095625335471473892016-04-27T14:46:55.178-07:002016-04-27T14:46:55.178-07:00Invite the Superintendent to an Event
https://www....<a href="https://www.seattleschools.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=627&pageId=16582" rel="nofollow">Invite the Superintendent to an Event</a><br />https://www.seattleschools.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=627&pageId=16582Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49925005712147878272016-04-27T14:42:44.546-07:002016-04-27T14:42:44.546-07:00Annual Family Survey
http://www.seattleschools.org...<a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=9063286" rel="nofollow">Annual Family Survey</a><br />http://www.seattleschools.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=9063286Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82169651662633549042016-04-27T14:41:27.965-07:002016-04-27T14:41:27.965-07:00The District will respond to an organized group. T...The District will respond to an organized group. The group can demonstrate organization by acting en masse.<br /><br />A walk-out - be sure to notify the school, the district, and the media in advance - with lessons planned for the day in the park and a lunch provided.<br /><br />An organized boycott of standardized tests. Again, advise the school, the district, and the media.<br /><br />An organized effort to respond to the family survey in large numbers (only 27% of families responded last year).<br /><br />Organize testimony at a Board meeting in which you demand transparency in the hiring, transfer, and dismissal of principals. Demand community engagement in the principal assignment process. Ask why some schools get to have hiring committees to select a principal while other schools read about their new principal in the newspaper. Use the testimony to point out that the principals' collective bargaining agreement does not prevent the district from replacing a principal at any time. There are lots of jobs in the JSCEE that a principal can be assigned to. There are open principal positions at other schools. Demand that executive directors of schools be honest with the communities they serve and not tell lies about the extent of their authority.<br /><br />Organize an effort to get on the superintendent's calendar. Get an appointment with him and control that meeting. Come in with a clear and succinct agenda. You want clear answers to specific questions: What does it take to get a principal re-assigned? What do you have to do to get action from the Executive Director? When is someone going to "<a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=627&pageId=1422157" rel="nofollow">Fly to the Ball</a>"?Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67369896812788715382016-04-27T12:53:59.495-07:002016-04-27T12:53:59.495-07:00There were about 140 parents show up to the meetin...There were about 140 parents show up to the meeting. We have about 350 students. Erik Tanennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19373715334966108282016-04-27T12:51:49.328-07:002016-04-27T12:51:49.328-07:00Full on mutiny is good way to say what is happenin...Full on mutiny is good way to say what is happening. Kids protesting, a damming parent survey and now an organized vote of no confidence by the parents. What more does the district want from us. Maybe as Charlie suggests we should enmass take our kids out of the school. Erik Tanennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49245367776233765522016-04-27T12:12:43.924-07:002016-04-27T12:12:43.924-07:00District Watcher, thanks for the news. I note tha...District Watcher, thanks for the news. I note that the Alliance's annual community breakfast is next week and one of the sponsors? Washington Charter Schools Association.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61877010655001485942016-04-27T11:48:26.937-07:002016-04-27T11:48:26.937-07:00I think medical leave is sometimes a euphemism for... I think medical leave is sometimes a euphemism for the process of firing in this district. I have heard this description of absence for several teachers & for 1 principal before they lost their jobs. Yes they do fire principals.<br /><br />-HS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59239770941841247292016-04-27T11:37:35.370-07:002016-04-27T11:37:35.370-07:00I stand corrected on Pritchett's name spelling...I stand corrected on Pritchett's name spelling. But not on my 2 points of upper management whose salaries take money out of our classrooms and provide scant if any benefit to our schools.<br /><br />In other headlines, <a href="http://www.alliance4ed.org/sara-morris-to-step-down-as-president-and-ceo-of-alliance-for-education-summer-of-2016/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Morris is leaving the Alliance for Education</a>. This after SPS refused to work with the group contractually anymore, in large part based on Morris, apparently. It's taken awhile but the Corp Ed Reform crowd influence continues a downward spiral in SPS. Good.<br /><br />DistrictWatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72262482313843913982016-04-27T10:29:10.602-07:002016-04-27T10:29:10.602-07:00So I went to the meeting and I'm going to writ...So I went to the meeting and I'm going to write a thread because Stevens is quite the case study in how an ineffective principal can hurt a school (as well as a district that turned a blind eye.) <br /><br />Charlie, the new ombudsperson, Heidi Henderson-Lewis, WAS at the meeting as a kind of facilitator. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86855633527623043022016-04-27T10:06:40.165-07:002016-04-27T10:06:40.165-07:00The Public records on Stevens are telling. The SPE...The Public records on Stevens are telling. The SPED failures resulted in multiple due process hearings and a half dozen $$$$$ settlements.<br /><br />Why are the two SPED directors still employed?<br /><br />Stevens is basically in a full on mutiny and there's evidence of staff begging for help and the district sending back a big F-U.<br /><br /><br />Watching waiting Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3454662291885353542016-04-27T09:47:02.960-07:002016-04-27T09:47:02.960-07:00http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2011/03/with-a-m...http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2011/03/with-a-mostly-happy-school-stevens-interim-principal-picked-for-full-time-job/<br />Ann Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44786533789128659662016-04-27T09:06:15.094-07:002016-04-27T09:06:15.094-07:00Re: Stevens Elementary, I find it interesting that...Re: Stevens Elementary, I find it interesting that 'personnel' issues are not allowed to be discussed, but that Sarah Pritchett is allowed to say that she has been working with Kelley Archer for more than a year. Also, if Kelley Archer has been on medical leave for three months, my prediction from having been around the block a few times, is that Kelley Archer will find some way to resign at the end of the year and to save face. I don't know either of them and am not involved with Stevens. Has SPS announced their principal transfers yet for this year? Usually they announce a lot of transfers and then don't say anything but quietly do a couple more transfers. I have seen principals get transferred to bigger schools as "co-principals" and then either serve their time until retirement, or not show up and still get paid.<br />NEmomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78476013884756225692016-04-27T09:01:38.965-07:002016-04-27T09:01:38.965-07:00interesting article http://www.capitolhillseattle....interesting article http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2016/04/how-capitol-hill-and-cd-students-say-seattle-public-schools-can-be-fixed/ <br />GHSmom<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87291286506401027302016-04-27T08:49:09.660-07:002016-04-27T08:49:09.660-07:00"Sara said last night that she has been worki..."Sara said last night that she has been working with Kelly Archer for more than a year and that she will keep working with her.: <br /><br />So ... did this ED fail to do the performance improvement plan? Did she ignore the need to do this? Is she not accountable? Oh, I forgot, she is accountable to head-in-the-sand Tolley. Where is her performance improvement plan? It's really sickening the lack of leadership to help Stevens out of this mess. Kids are being harmed. <br /><br />WonderingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64282533698233332502016-04-27T08:40:28.379-07:002016-04-27T08:40:28.379-07:00There were a few comments at the Stevens meeting l...There were a few comments at the Stevens meeting last night by parents that they are uncomfortable with the current climate and are going to pull their kids out. It was followed up with what happens to Stevens if a lot if parents pull there kid's. Sara Pritchard response was " then the school will lose teachers". She has zero perception to the problems or just doesn't care. How in God's name was she made a executive director. As Kelly Archer is not competent, Pritchard is even worse. I wish I could move my kid to private school.Fed upnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11338350283818848992016-04-27T08:26:06.574-07:002016-04-27T08:26:06.574-07:00Carol Burton won her case. Here's the Seattle ...Carol Burton won her case. Here's the Seattle Times story: <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/garfield-choir-teacher-to-get-her-job-back/" rel="nofollow">Garfield High’s choir teacher to get her job back</a>Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53547958746234216692016-04-27T08:24:21.989-07:002016-04-27T08:24:21.989-07:00Principals do have contracts, but that contract on...Principals do have contracts, but that contract only assures them of employment. It doesn't guarantee them any specific job. Principals are re-assigned ALL THE TIME and often against their will. So the Executive Director's claim that her hands are tied does not ring true. Every individual principal's contract expires on June 30. Even if nothing can be done now, the district can DEFINITELY take action at that time and can promise to take that action now. The Executive Director could announce that the principal will be replaced on July 1.<br /><br />The next step is the Ombudsman. In the meantime, the community can take action.<br /><br />One type of community action would be a walk-out. The families take their kids out of the school for a day and do fun and interesting lessons in the park across the street. Math, science, reading, writing, civics, P.E., and art. The weather is good; shouldn't be a problem.<br /><br />Another community action would be for a lot of Stevens community members to sign up to testify at a school board meeting. Remember that testimony about personnel is not allowed, so the testimony would have to be about the terms of <a href="http://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/Migration/Departments/HR/pass13-16.pdf" rel="nofollow">the principal's collective bargaining agreement</a> and whether or not the District has the authority to remove a principal from a school. The testimony can also be about the District's commitment to openness, honesty, transparency, and responsiveness. Refer to the <a href="https://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/Migration/How%20do%20I/Strategic_Plan_2013_2018.pdf" rel="nofollow">Strategic Plan</a> and the Core Beliefs that appear at the beginning of it. One of those Core Beliefs is "A high performing district includes effective leadership, accountability, effective organizational systems and an engaged community". You can ask them "Is this what accountability looks like? Is this what effective leadership looks like? Is this how you engage the community?"<br /><br />In the meantime, a standardized test boycott would be a great choice as an action. Not only because the district really, really hates them, but also because test scores can result in a bonus for principals.<br /><br />On that topic, the community should DEFINITELY complete the school survey and give their honest view of the school's leadership. Read the CBA on the other elements that determine the principal's bonus and sandbag them.<br /><br />Require the Superintendent to engage his Hot Topics Response protocol and the other promised elements from his "<a href="https://www.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_543/File/District/Departments/School%20Board/Friday%20Memos/2014-15/Dec%2019/20141219_FridayMemo_100DayPlan.pdf" rel="nofollow">100-Day Plan for Customer Service</a>". For example, he was supposed to "develop and implement a plan for creating a Listening Organization". Who's listening?<br /><br />Finally, it's time to put some heat on the Executive Director and start questioning her job performance. Contact her boss with your complaints about her failure to take effective action, failure to address the school's downward spiral, and her failure to deal openly and honestly with the community. Holding the meeting doesn't earn her any points if she doesn't authentically engage people at the meeting.<br />Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15264150207062122182016-04-27T06:50:58.125-07:002016-04-27T06:50:58.125-07:00First off, the name of the Executive Director for ...First off, the name of the Executive Director for Stevens is "Sarah Pritchett," not Pritchard.<br /><br />Second, it has been absolutely true in the past that if there are strong issues with a principal, an ED can have quite a bit of leeway, in moving a principal out of the building. A few years ago, the TOPS community worked with ED Phil Brockman to move their principal out of the building. (After which she managed to do some fairly questionable stuff in another building.)<br /><br />Third, Pritchett was heavily involved in the firing of Garfield Choir Director Carol Burton, and we can now all see what a fiasco that has turned out to be.<br /><br />Adding in Pritchett's controversial tenure as a McClure middle school teacher, her haughty "talk to the hand" attitude... One can draw one's own conclusions about whether Pritchett should continue to be employed by the District.<br /><br />Seeing the Obvious ProblemAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26412068932425605902016-04-27T06:42:36.521-07:002016-04-27T06:42:36.521-07:00Sara said last night that she has been working wit...Sara said last night that she has been working with Kelly Archer for more than a year and that she will keep working with her. As many people said that it is getting worded, so what ever Sara is doing is not helping. It was truly amazing that she could keep a straight face while parent after parent spoke about how the school was amazing 6 years ago and now it's terrible if not outright dangerous for kids.<br /> She kept saying that she can't remove a principal who is incompetent only evaluate that person. So my kids have to suffer because of policy and procedure. What does it take a mass protest by the kids. Oh we did that last Friday. This situation is gross.Stevens parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55158162991818324562016-04-26T23:21:55.361-07:002016-04-26T23:21:55.361-07:00And another thing. What value are the executive di...And another thing. What value are the executive directors other than to make life easier for Nyland and Tolley? Is the game of telephone between the Supe and a school community ever effective communication? Has Pritchard in any way helped the Stevens community through the latest debacle? Or the previous issues? <br /><br />Give us a list of student benefits of these positions or cut the $1 million+ drain on the budget. <br /><br />DistrictWatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45513132893656364642016-04-26T23:17:01.653-07:002016-04-26T23:17:01.653-07:00Oh baloney on Pritchard as usual. This blog's ...Oh baloney on Pritchard as usual. This blog's stalwarts can point out numerous cases of unpopular to downtown administration principals being removed or almost removed in a flash. <br />Think Ingraham. Think QAE. <br /><br />Then there are the principals that aren't unpopular downtown but have been called out by majority parents or teachers at a site as unfit for a school or simply inept. Those people are disappeared into JSCEE to a paid desk job or transferred to an unsuspecting new school. It's unseemly but it takes care of the immediate problem from the downtown viewpoint.<br /><br />What Pritchard is saying is either she hasn't done the paperwork HERSELF to deal with the Stevens situation or there's no will downtown to take the problem on and relieve the school community. Or Pritchard is acknowledging that SPS has screwed up as usual and the problems at Stevens are JSCEE's fault. So sorry kids, live with the consequences.<br /><br />Do I sound cynical? Hey I've been around a decade's worth of blocks.<br /><br />DistrictWatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com