Seattle Schools Community Forum

This month's BEX Oversight Committee meeting was held at Hamilton Middle School where we all got to go on a tour before the meeting. It was very interesting. The building looks pretty great. It has an old-school with new stuff kind of feel. Lots of cherry-stained wood which gives it a warm glow. From my tour notes: The building was originally designed for 725 but now can take up to 900 students (and up to 100 of those being Special Education students but they don't know how many will be assigned there). The building administration moved in just this week on Wednesday. Because of that anyone who wants to see their area of the building is to be allowed in. So if you want a look at that part (the south side) of the building, you can go in. It is designed with class "clusters around a general area where there is a sink to wash your hands (if you don't want to go into the bathroom), water fountain, etc. The Special Ed area can be fully self-contained (and the...

I've attended a few meetings and received some information from other sources that may be of interest. First Item - Math Placement Apparently the district math department (via MAP scores) sent out honors math placements to middle schools based on winter MAP scores . The placement lists were done BEFORE all 5th graders had taken the Spring test. Teachers had been assured that the Spring MAP exam would determine placement . I was told that, for example, at one school 80% of the kids would have qualified using the Spring scores versus about 50% with the Winter scores. There seems to be an issue with seats but if we have qualified kids, they all should get the placement. The district will probably get a lot of blowback on this issue but may try to dodge it some other way. Second Item - Facilities I attended the BEX Oversight Committee meeting on Friday. I was particularly interested in hearing what was happening with South Shore. I arrive a few minutes late and wo...

I attended Sherry Carr's Community meeting this morning where the topic was largely the Transition Plan and its implementation. Apparently there is a new draft of the plan and, as has been reported elsewhere, it seems some changes are afoot. (There were other parents at this meeting and so if you were there, help me out.) Topics at her meeting: She did a quick update on the issue of taking BMI measurements in PE classes . She said that she had pushed back on this because of the sensitive issues about it and that Dr. Enfield agreed to think about making it opt-in (rather than opt-out). Apparently this will be discussed at the next Board Curriculum and Instruction meeting. The overwhelming point by most parents was that they had been promised that all would be clear once the Transition Plan came out and that is not true. Sherry concurred and said that she thought the Board would see more data at the last Board meeting and that didn't happen. (Just as an FYI, after each Bo...

Boy, you have to love this district's chutzpah. I mean to blatantly say one thing one year and then say something else. The consistency in this district is how inconsistent they are. Where to start? Let's start with Don Kennedy's repeated statements that there was a "hiring freeze" at the district headquarters. Nonsense. It's just in how you interpret it I guess. I mean they likely didn't fill any positions currently open so sure maybe that's the hiring freeze. But they just created a new position in the superintendent's office for an aide and, as we have been discussing, our new Broad resident . Wonder where he or she will put their MBA/MPA talents at? (And, still waiting for Mr. Kennedy to answer my e-mail on the hires, their salaries, their job descriptions, etc. but why wait? I'll just fire off my public disclosure request to Legal and skip the middle man.) And that hiring freeze was only on the operations side because the cap...

This was posted within another thread, but just so it is clear: Katie Cryan Leary, the principal at Hamilton International Middle School is taking leave. The role of principal at Hamilton will be filled by Chris Carter, now of the African-American Academy. Mr. Carter will not be assigned to Jane Addams. Official letters on the topic - One from Ms Leary: Dear Hamilton International Middle School community members, This morning I announced to my staff that I have been granted a leave for the 2009/10 school year and that I will not be returning as principal at Hamilton. My decision to leave the Hamilton community was a difficult one to make, and was based primarily on personal family reasons. I am proud of the learning community that we have developed together and will miss working amongst the students and staff of Hamilton every day. I am very pleased that Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson has decided to appoint Mr. Chris Carter as my replacement. (see letter attached) I am confiden...

Lots of good public testimony tonight on the high school math adoption but no, it went down as expected 4-3. Sherry was quite crisp and almost stern in her remarks, saying that the "experts" agreed that the research on best math materials is lacking, no books will work without supplements and a couple of other points she felt necessary. She did not change her vote and voted yes. Cheryl went on into principal mode and also gave a lecture. She voted yes. Steve mentioned the Times article and even agreed with their assessment (remember that for future reference) about the role of the Board. He voted yes. Harium gave some off-the-cuffs remarks but remained unconvinced. No from him. Peter Maier put the seal on the deal with his yes, saying the deadly, "It's important to move forward." (I knew someone would.) Mary Bass also gave some quiet remarks and stood by her no. Michael was, once again, quite eloquent (I thought he might be changing his vote), saying we don'...

It could be high drama tonight at the Board meeting. The overwhelming majority of speakers intend to speak on the High School math adoption . The Times has come out with a steady state editorial asking the Board to be careful, to listen to the public and to make sure their reasoning is sound. I am hoping, no matter what the vote, that I do not hear any Board member saying this has be done because time is running out. We make far too many decisions in this district based on staff giving this reasoning. I know the need for new and better textbooks at the high school level but as my son starts on his final leg of high school, I am aware that other parents will just start their journey in SPS in the fall. Those students need to have good valid textbooks awaiting them when they get to high school. But, as usual, there are other interesting items on the agenda. One is an addition to Hamilton to accomodate the music students coming from Washington who will help build and strengthen Hamilton...