Seattle Schools Community Forum

The Seattle Times reports more trouble for First Place , Washington State's first charter school.

The Taliban stormed a school in Pakistan today and killed about 140 people, the majority children.  Is there really a special place in heaven for "martyrs?"  Then the corollary must also be true - there's a special place in hell for those who kill children.  We learn the fate of First Place charter school today since the Charter Commission rejected their corrective plan.  Apparently, there will now be negotiations over what needs to be done to keep it open.  It would seem that if this is happening this early on, that perhaps the school was opened too quickly.  Governor Inslee announced his plan for K-12 public education funding during the next legislative session.  He gave the "what" - $2.3B - but not the "where" as in, where to get the money (that comes on Thursday).  He wants: paying for full-day K (by 2016-2017) smaller class size in K-3 (by 2016-2017) increase basic education funding to cover school operations raises for teacher...

Update One comes from the Charter Commission which, according to the Times , has rejected the plan that First Place charter school, created in light of issues discovered in the management and running of the school. The plan from First Place, which has floundered  since opening in September , was deficient in some key areas and not submitted on time, said Joshua Halsey, the commission’s executive director. As a result, Halsey said he didn’t have enough time to review it. Now begins a round of stricter negotiations, where Halsey will detail what changes First Place must complete or face losing its charter. “The next step is to go over (the corrective action plan),” Halsey said. “It will become more prescriptive, as opposed to the school having the ability to pick the plan and how they’re going to go about that.” Update Two is that the district has hired a handwriting expert to uncovered who may have altered many test booklets at Beacon Hill International School last ...

UPDATE: Charter Commission rejects First Place correction plan A story in the Seattle Times describes some of the growing pains at First Place school, the first and only charter school up and running in Washington State. The principal and nearly half of the Board have left, there is no Special Education teacher, and they didn't do the required background checks on non-teacher personnel. There is reason to believe that they can get these things fixed - or at least fixed well enough to stay out of trouble. I think the takeaway lessons for the Charter Commission are: Confirm the political unity of the leadership. An institution doesn't lose half of its Board all at once, including the chair, unless there is some serious divide at the top. Pay a lot of attention to the school's plans and ability to provide Special Education services. I don't think the Charter Commission really appreciates what it takes to meet the federal requirements. On the good side, the c...

 From two area PTSAs: We are proud to announce the Seattle Council PTSA Board and Northshore Council PTSA Board, which represents the PTA's in Woodinville, Bothell and Kenmore, have endorsed I-594. Join these parents and teachers to help make our schools and state safer for Washington families by endorsing 594 today: http://bit.ly/1hbXVd6 This is the measure for background checks for guns.   So I was pretty surprised yesterday that both Banda and Herndon stayed so long at the Cascade meeting give there was the Board Work Session on the Budget at 4 p.m.  (they left around 3:45 p.m.)  Naturally, I did not attend but if anyone else did weigh in, please.

First application - CAL Elementary - is denied, 8-0.  Commissioners cited the evaluators' "deny" and noted not financially ready with little community support/input. Second application - Cedar River - is denied, 8-0.  Third application - Coral Academy of Science - the probable Gulen-based charter - is denied, 8-0. Cyndi Willams, Commissioner said it was a good application but not wide-ranging for a 10-year existing school group and that the Commission had made a real decision with charter applications with groups with prior models to look at their outcomes for evidence.  They also left out Title I dollars in finances and that showed a "real lack of knowledge." Steve Sundquist said that the group could be Gulen and it was something they could look into in the future. Fourth application - Evergreen Academy - denied 8-0. Fifth application - Excel - is first Charter Commission approved charter application but with a 6-2 vote .  Extensive discussion over...

 Updates: It seems there are three Charter Commission members with conflict of interest issues with charter applicants.  Two seem simple and one is quite problematic. Trish Millines Dziko is in a leadership program with the founder of Summit.  That one is a big of a tough call to make because the relationship could be either just professional or just collegial but if not financial, I think she could vote.  On the other hand, if she's in their their program, she probably supports how they operate. Chris Martin has some personal friendship with the founder of Pioneer.  I would say straight-up, no voting on that one. The last one is that Larry Wright has taken a position with a non-profit funded by the Gates Foundation.  Not only do I think he would have to recuse himself on several applications, he probably should step down as a Commissioner.  Why? 1) Bill Gates funded most of I-1240. 2) The Gates Foundation is the primary funder of the Washin...