Seattle Schools Community Forum

Here are my highlights:

I was at the Stranger's School Board Candidate Forum at Town Hall last night. It was very interesting and I would encourage everyone to look for it on the Seattle Channel. The festivities began with a quick answer round. The MC, Dave Ross, asked a number of questions and candidates would take a position on the stage behind signs that said "Yes", "No", or "Dunno". The questions were pretty good and they caused some folks to struggle with their answers. A number of the answers - particularly from the incumbents - were VERY surprising. When asked if they wanted to change the math curriculum, all of the incumbents clustered at the "Yes" sign. They also clustered at the "Yes" sign when asked if language immersion schools should be option schools. I was not the only person in the audience who wondered why their voting records didn't reflect the positions they were taking on the Town Hall stage. There were some times when the incumbe...

Communities and Parents for Public Schools has really been doing yeoman's work on outreach to different communities.  I wanted to pass on this info I recently received from Stephanie Jones who is the Director of CPPS Seattle. An incredible group of south end parents has been drafting a SE Parents’ Bill of Rights for Quality Neighborhood Schools.   We have had about 20 parent leadership graduates from Community & Parents for Public Schools to get the ball rolling on this, and they are ready to share it for more input and buy-in.   Next week we’ll be sharing it in a formative way (for advance notice, input, support) with School Board Director Betty Patu, and district Executive Directors Michael Tolley and Bree Dusseault.  Ultimately, we’ll have parents bringing their statement to the school board, to board candidates, to the Superintendent.  And, we’d like to get principals and teachers and PTAs to buy in as well – the idea is that this mig...

 Highlights from the challengers: Sharon Peaslee:   a bit of a mixed bag on financial issues.  She said she would hold administration "100% accountable" but doesn't say exactly what that would look like.  I do like her idea of a citizen oversight committee to review the district budget.  Fresh eyes are a good idea and I have to wonder if someone new had seen the Small Business program go from $100k to nearly $1M, we have headed this issue off much, much sooner.   I also support putting district documents up for viewing.  She appears to be in favor of a superintendent search and names being transparent and collaborative as key qualities for a good superintendent for SPS.  In terms of parent engagement/involvement, she mentions making sure there is some kind of governing body that includes parents at every school.  I can support this because not every school has a PTA but there are likely parents at every school who would be willing ...

Seattle's Child magazine sent a questionnaire to all School Board candidates and it appears that they all answered it.  Here's a link to their site so you can read all of them at your leisure. I'll read the incumbents first. 

As promised, let's try two days of open thread.  What's on your mind? I noticed a huge amount of discourse over charters.  I hope to have a couple of charter threads in the coming days as this is certainly a topic of interest (and some even consider them inevitable but nothing like throwing in the towel before the fight).  Last call for the big School Board candidate debate tomorrow night at Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.  You need a ticket but they are free. 

The Times has a concise editorial about why this policy of not updating candidate endorsements after the primary stinks.  It is to their credit to see this as old-school thinking in a modern digital age.    The issue: Primary winners used to add updated information, including post-primary endorsements, for publication in the general election voters' guide. But now information from the primary will carry forward to the general election. Voters' guide statements for city of Seattle candidates are filed with the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission and are not affected by the change. But other key races, including the Port of Seattle, Metropolitan King County Council and the Seattle School Board are impacted by the new approach.   Voters do not need fewer educational resources. They need more. Harmed the most by the change are challengers who already compete against better-known incumbents for voter attention. Their best reasoning is the one ...

Monday, Sep. 26th Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee Meeting , 4-6 p.m. at JSCEE.  On the agenda: discussion of contract with NWEA for MAP testing, instructional materials waivers, Board policies C and D.  Board policy C is about curriculum & instruction and covers a large number of items like course of study adoption, high school graduation requirements, use of internet, adoption of basic instructional materials, school libraries, field trips, assessments, proposal for a new program, career& technical, alternative education, international education, Special Education, effective staff. Board policy D is about Students including student placement, attendance, advanced learning, high school grades/credits, student records, sexual harassment of students or discrimination, discipline, student health and welfare, activities and ceremonies and observances.   Tuesday, Sep. 27th Equity Task Force Meeting, 4-5:45 p.m. at JSCEE (not sure if this is open ...

As of today, nearly 500 seats have been reserved for The Stranger/Washington Bus/Save Seattle Schools blog School Board Candidate forum on Wednesday, September 28th from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at Town Hall.  Tickets are still available (and free!) but going fast.  You need a ticket to get in.

From the 43rd Dems: - endorsed Sharon Peaslee over Peter Maier - endorsed Sherry Carr over Kate Martin (this was Sherry's district) - no endorsement in Position 6 (Marty McLaren vs Steve Sundquist) - had previously endorsed Michelle Buetow and voted to contribute to her campaign From the 36th Dems: - endorsed Sharon Peaslee over Peter Maier (this was his district) - endorsed Kate Martin over Sherry Carr - endorsed Michelle Buetow (I believe this, too, was a previous endorsement) - no endorsement in Position 6 Both districts voted, by wide margins, to endorse the Families & Education Levy.

About TFA – what a long, strange trip it has been.   It seems apparent at this point that our former superintendent didn’t have any real donors lined up – she just assumed they would materialize.   Another in the long list of mistakes she made. It’s good to have that settled except that the press release doesn’t make it clear whether Seattle Foundation is paying for two years or one .   I tried to get confirmation from Communications but they said they didn’t know and I should ask the Foundation and I have been trying with no success.   It might be good to iron out that point. One delicate issue is that the Seattle Foundation named several donors.     Among them are two that have contributed heavily to the campaigns of the directors running for reelection. I would just gently point out that it is one thing to have campaign supporters who you know care about particular issues or programs.   It’s another thing altogether to have campaign ...

I would really like to hear from folks who disagree with me. They may be cautious about commenting here on this blog. No one likes to feel like they have been shouted down, attacked, or had their integrity or intelligence insulted. So I would like to create a safe space for people who have another perspective so we can discuss these things in a civil, courteous, and respectful manner. Towards that end, I'm going to try an experiment. Here at Save Seattle Schools, we delete spam comments and unsigned, anonymous ones, but it is not our practice to edit or censor comments for content. This is a free forum. On this thread - just this one - I will remove any comments that are not civil, courteous, and respectful. I want to create a safe space for people to disagree. We'll see how it goes. In particular, I would like to hear from people who either support any of the School Board incumbents for re-election or support the hiring of Teach for America corps members as teachers in o...

In a hard opening salvo for the School Board elections, the SEA voted no confidence in Board President Steve Sundquist .  The word is that it centers around his unwavering support for TFA. In other news, a raft of school board candidate forums have popped up so here's an update (please let me know if I missed anything): Tuesday, September 27th , Special Education PTSA School Board forum, JSCEE, 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 28th - Town Hall at 7:30 p.m., 1119 8th Avenue (at Seneca) The Stranger's forum with interactive input from the audience (both questions and reactions).  Free but ticket required (can print at home) Tuesday, October 4th , Bryant Elementary PTSA Candidate forum, 7-9 p.m., 3311 NE 60th Street Tuesday, October 11th - North Seattle School Board Candidate forum, Olympic View Elementary, 504 NE 95th St. from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., free childcare available. Tuesday, October 18th - West Seattle Candidate forum, Madison Middle School, 3429 45th Ave. S...

Tuesday, September 20th @ 7:30 pm the 43rd Legislative District Democrats will be voting on endorsements , including three School Board seats. The 43rd LD meets at University Heights Community Center, 5031 University Way NE  Wednesday, September 21 Community Meeting with Director Sundquist , from 11 am to 12:30 p.m. at the Delridge Library, 5423 Delridge Way SW Presentation by PASS (the principals' association) to the School Board on goals for this school year, from 5:30 -5:45 p.m. at headquarters (right before the School Board meeting) School Board meeting, 6-9 p.m.  Agenda is fairly short so it shouldn't be three hours.   There are some facilities acceptance items, approval of the High Point Promise Neighborhood application (which seems like a good deal as the money, $455,472 is "in-kind" from existing grant dollars and is for services at West Seattle Elementary and Denny Middle School), the postponed Conditional Certification for two TFA teachers, in...

The end of the first full week of school so how goes it? News from the 34th Dems Endorsement meeting: Position#1 - Sharon Peaslee Position#2 - no endorsement Position#3 - Michelle Buetow [updated] They had previously endorsed Marty McLaren for Position #6 in West Seattle. [end update] I also am assuming they could not get consensus on a vote for Sherry Carr/Kate Martin so they have no endorsement. Also, congratulations to Loyal Heights Elementary which was named one of the 304 Blue Ribbon Schools by the US Department of Education. This honor is given for public/private elementary, middle and high schools where students are either all doing well or where the achievement gap is closing. I note that Loyal Heights had requested a waiver to use Singapore Math and it was denied.

So how's your day going?  Mine started at the computer at midnight trying to get onto the Target site.  (If you have been keeping up, you'll know what I mean; otherwise, carry on.) Later on, when there was daylight, I had a great talk with Mary Linquist, President of the WEA, and Becky Pringle, the Sec-Treasurer of the NEA .  The NEA does these across-the-country school tours and this year's tour was part of their new campaign, Priority Schools .  This campaign is in support of the work of NEA members in SIG schools across the country.  Ms. Pringle came to Seattle to see West Seattle Elementary and Hawthorne Elementary (Cleveland is another one but not enough time).  She and Ms. Linquist were very impressed with both schools, both with the staffs AND spirit at each school. They both agree that these were two of the best SIG schools they had seen in staff enthusiasm, planning and outcomes.  It was nice to hear and kudos to those two schools.  ...

UPDATED Monday, September 12 37th Democrats Candidate Forum (and Families & Education levy debate) at 7 p.m..m. at the Rainier Beach Cultural Center, 3515 Alaska St.  (Note:  I got my events mixed up; there is no F&E levy debate at this event.) Tuesday (new!), September 13rd Senator Scott White’s 3rd Annual Education Town Hall with Special Guests: Randy Dorn, WA Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Enfield, Seattle Public Schools Interim Superintendent Lauren McGuire, President, Seattle Council PTSA Please join parents, teachers, and neighbors for a Town Hall discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing public education in Seattle, and across Washington. This was kind of interesting last year but having Randy Dorn and Susan Enfield might make it more so. 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Nathan Hale High School- Performing Arts Center 10750 30 Ave NE, Seattle Wednesday, September 14 Board Work Session on the Series 5000 Board policies t...

I'm not sure that most of you are aware of this but the King County Elections bureau unilaterally decided NOT to allow candidates to update their statements for the General Election Voters pamphlet either in print or on-line.   I don't know the reasoning. This is ridiculous.  All the work that any candidate has done in the primary season will not be reflected in the voters' guide.  Many of the incumbents, not being new to elections, secured endorsements early on while challengers got up to speed and many received endorsement during the primary season.  Those new endorsements, whether for incumbents OR challengers, will not appear in the voters' guide.  I urge you all to call (206-296-8683) or e-mail King County elections and urge them to rethink their position.  The candidates aren't asking for more space - just the ability to update their candidate area. Or write to the Seattle Times and register your thoughts ( opinion@seattletimes.com) Or write...

 Tuesday, Sept. 6th West Seattle Elementary starts school Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Denny Int'l Middle School from 1- 2 p.m. Audit & Finance Committee Mtg. (Audit) f rom 4-6 p.m.  This meeting's agenda reflects topics on the audit response to both the performance audit of capital and the RSBDP (better known as Pottergate).  Perhaps this means the King County Prosecutor has something to report from their investigation.  There's a report from the new Internal Auditor, Anthony Medina.  Not wasting any time, there will be discussion of the Series 5000 policies of the Board policies which look like they cover HR.  Also, a discussion of audits other than those done by the SAO or Internal Auditor - interesting. Wednesday, Sept. 7th First Day of school for SPS  (fyi, the Superintendent will be visiting the new Lowell at Lincoln school from about 9-10 am .  She will also be having lunch at RBHS at noon.) School Board meeting from 6-9 p.m. ...

I wish I could say it better but I can't (so I won't) -  so take it away The Stranger: Ready to dive into the slightly-byzantine, totally-enraged politics of the Seattle School District? Neither are we, but we must . After a three-year run of controversies—ranging from school closures to a $1.8 million alleged fraud scandal that ended in the superintendent’s termination—a majority of the Seattle School Board is up for reelection this fall. A sweep by four serious challengers in the general election would tip the troubled district’s balance of power. But do these Cliff Mass-endorsed hopefuls have the skills to run the school district? All four incumbents and all four challengers will debate at Town Hall on September 28 at 7:30 p.m . in an event sponsored by The Stranger . Lightning rounds with all eight contenders? YES!  Four sets of one-on-one mini-debates? YES!  Vote via text after every round for the winner of each match?  YES! YES! FORTHEC...