Seattle Schools Community Forum

An update if you were thinking of going to the COW meeting this afternoon which says it will be about the search firm for the selection of our next superintendent. There had been a notation on the agenda that it might not happen so I checked in with the ever-sunny Theresa Hale at the Board office. It seems that the Executive Session last night ran over three hours and, they didn't get finished.  (You may recall this was about a review of Superintendent Nyland which seems kind of soon given he just got here six months ago.) So the COW meeting won't happen until that Executive Session is finished.   Meaning, you could go down there, wait until the Executive Session is finished and hope that they then commence the COW meeting.  Or, you could go down and be disappointed if the Board takes longer, is exhausted and then postpones the COW meeting. I get all this except for one thing.  As it turns out, I am getting some very pronounced vibes - both from s...

I attended the Executive Committee meeting of the Whole this week.   It was actually a pleasure to be at the meeting and I hope to see more of what I heard and saw. It's kind of sad, really, that it was just me, the Board and staff.  (Long-time watchdog Chris Jackins came in briefly but left.)  Because I wish more people could have been there.  And, especially critics like the Times, Crosscut and Joel Connelly, who you virtually never see at any district meeting but they do like to go on at their outlets as if they really seeing the Board and staff in action firsthand. What did I like? - I liked how the meeting ran smoothly. - I liked how the mood seemed relaxed and easy-going. - I really liked how staff and the Board interacted with respect and kindness. Maybe this is the influence of Superintendent Nyland or maybe they have all decided the way forward is thru cooperation and honesty.  What were they discussing?  The agenda was the Superin...