Seattle Schools Community Forum

Mainly just the calm before the storm of school starting up but there are several happy events; namely, the ribbon-cuttings and tours of new schools.  (I am going to try to go to all of them). Thursday, September 1 - Thornton Creek K-5 - 11am-noon - Hazel Wolf K-8 @ Pinehurst School - 1-2 pm Friday, September 2nd - Seattle World School @ T.T. Minor School -11am-noon Saturday, September 3rd  Community Meeting with Director Peters Magnolia Library, 2801 34th Ave. W 11 am-12:30 pm   Tuesday, September 6th - Arbor Heights - 11 am - noon - Genesee Hill - 1-2 pm Update: story from SPS Communications on the new Arbor Heights school.

Tuesday, August 6th Primary election including Mayor and School Board.   I hate this "dead of summer" primary so every vote truly does count.  I especially urge voters in District IV and District V to get in their votes for the School Board rep.  I think this will be quite the interesting General Election and I will have some thoughts when the Primary is over. Wednesday, August 7th BEX IV meeting from 7-8:30 pm about Arbor Heights Elementary renovation at AH, 3701 SW 104th Street. Note:  I had been looking at the September calendar when I stated last week that there would be a Board meeting this week.  There is no School Board meeting this week; the next one is Wednesday, August 21st.

I was mistaken when I previously said there were no district meetings until August. Wednesday Audit and Finance Committee meeting of the Whole from 4-5 pm.  The only agenda item is to debate any last issues on the budget for 2013-2014 and presumably move it forward to the Board meeting. Public Hearing on the 2013-2014 Budget Your opportunity to weigh in on any topic in the budget.  If you have a real concern, it really is important to get it on the record.  You may sign in to speak starting a half-hour before the hearing. You will have three minutes to speak. Special Meeting of the Board from 5:15-6:00 pm Just one action item - voting on the new budget .  They will be taking public testimony so there are speaking opportunities for any topic.   The City Council will be debating and voting this week on whether to create a separate fund for the money from the school speed zone tickets.   So if these are about safety around schools and the City w...

From th West Seattle Blog, a report of yet another break-in (the second in two months) at Arbor Heights Elementary.  Both times, computers were taken.  From WS Blog: 4:29 PM UPDATE: More information from SPS’s Wippel: Four computers were stolen today, worth $1,800 each – $7,200 total – “And no budget to replace them. The four stolen last November weren’t replaced either. (Principal) Christy Collins said the kids ‘feel violated’.” How did the thieves get in? Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB the break-in was discovered after an alarm went off around 5 am; officers found a door, hinge pins removed, propped open on the south side of the school, and started searching.   Yes, this school really does need rebuilding because this is NOT how buildings are today.  It's heartless to take from a school that clearly has so little.  Maybe there's another way to get those computers replaced.