Seattle Schools Community Forum

A reader points out an interesting issue to the Nyland version of the early signing of the Gates Foundation grant. "I was checking out the agenda for the board mtg on Wed. and went to the technology document that was added.  It was sent from Nyland  on Sept. 18 , and section II clearly states that board action is necessary because the amount of money being addressed exceeds 250K. Kinda weird that the Gates grant flew through afterwards, with no board approval beforehand.  If Nyland wrote the memo himself there is just no excuse." So Nyland knew (or whoever wrote that BAR under his name) on Sep. 18th that any spending over $250K needed Board approval.  And yet, on September 26th, he signed the Gates Foundation grant for $750K and seemingly did not know this.   Hmmm. Looks like National PTA is getting in deeper with Gates/Microsoft - this is a tweet from one of the national heads: "Great day with  @ NationalPTA  advocates at...

Good News 3-D Lego making at Cleveland High's STEM program. Chief Sealth wins gold in the Youth Division for their video, Riffing on a Dream at the Social Justice Film Festival. In the film, inspired by a project called  Question Bridge , 13 students sat down in front of a camera and gave their unscripted answers to questions from classmates to prompt racial dialogue within their school. The SPS story does not name the young filmmakers but you know their names, please let me know.  Monday, Nov. 24th No school for elementary and K-8 for parent/teacher conferences. Work Session two-parter from 4:30pm-8:30 pm Part One - Evaluation of the Superintendent (open session) - 1 hour Part Two - Evaluation of a public employee (closed session) - 3 hours  I would urge you to write to the the Board at schoolboard@seattleschools.org with the subject line "Superintendent review" and let the Board know what you think.  I think Nyland is an experienced administrator ...

November 19, 2014.   Mark it on your calendar or in your journal.  Because today, to my mind and experience, marks the beginning of the reform movement of our district.  (I say "our" district meaning the parents and taxpayers of Seattle.  I leave out staff because they have unions and contracts to protect them.) In a couple of days, if you watch the meeting online, you might be puzzled.  Sure, it's a packed house (and very few who came to the meeting actually got to speak about their issue) and sure enough, droning reports from staff, so what's so different? The difference is - as Charlie points out - that lawlessness has taken our district.  The manipulation of district processes are now being controlled but surely not by the Board. The Board had to vote - under Board policy 6114 and 1620 - on the Gates Foundation Preschool grant.  That Action Item, so lovingly written as to make it sound like the district had to fire this shot against the inju...