Seattle Schools Community Forum

Meeting on Wilson-Pacific on May 13th From the district: To address growing enrollment and capacity needs, Seattle voters passed the 2013 Seattle Public Schools Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Levy. As a result, a new middle school and new elementary school are scheduled to open in time for the 2017-18 school year. A newly renovated play field will be located between the two new buildings on the site at 1330 North 90th Street.   The project is now in the design and permitting phase and thereafter, the existing structure will be demolished. A School Design and Advisory Team (SDAT) composed of community members, professionals, Mahlum Architects and Seattle Public Schools Capital Projects staff have worked to create the design of the two school buildings and the entire 16.8-acre school site. The comprehensive neighborhood middle school will be constructed to house 1,000 students, including students from the Pinehurst K-8/Indian Heritage program (They w...

 Update:  I have received some new info - via the City - and either we have a case of Who's on First or SPS is not being forthcoming with all it knows about this student survey of teachers.  I have word that one school has been working on this - with Teachers United and possibly school staff as well as the Seattle Youth Commission - for almost two years.  I'll let you know all the details when I get them sorted out but I have to wonder whose survey it truly is going to be. End of update. I had a long conversation with Dr. Eric Anderson, head of Research, Evaluation and Assessment, who is in charge of the initiative for a separate student survey of teachers.  So let's get some basics out of the way: The survey has not been written but they will likely pivot off other student surveys out there (more on this below) Who will be part of this "work group" that will decide on the survey, which schools will pilot it and which students (grade level) will ta...

Monday, January 20th No School in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Wednesday, January 22nd School Board Meeting , starting at 4:15 pm.  Agenda.   Note: there is to be an Executive Session after the Board meeting for 30 minutes. 

In a phrase, not good. The Times is not consistent in what they say about what they want in a School Board.  First, they want continuity.  Then they don't like that and want new people.  At the last election, according to them, the sky fell because two incumbents (rightly) got ousted and two new members were elected.  These were not people they wanted and they proceeded - from day one - to lambast Directors Peaslee and McLaren.  (Do a search and see the contrast between what they have said over the last two years about those two plus Smith-Blum versus DeBell, Carr and Martin-Morris.  They strangely omit Patu but I think there's a reason for that.) But now they like change and new people are a good thing.  So really, it isn't about consistency or continuity or Board unity - it's about getting people on the Board that THEY like. This piece starts off okay.  It states the outcome of the primary and rightly talks about more in-depth discussi...

It's a quiet week for SPS because of Spring Break. The City has a survey about your use of the Internet, cable tv and city communications .  It might be good to take it as it may influence what kind of access to technology may be available in our city.  Transportation A group called Start School Later is doing a survey about flipping start times .  I received word about this from several readers and it appears to be aimed only at elementary parents.  Saturday, April 20th Memorial service for the late Cheryl Chow at Town Hall at 10:30 am.  This is likely to be quite crowded so be advised if you plan on attending.   Community Meeting with Director DeBell from 9-11 am at Cafe Appassionato by Fisherman's Terminal. Community Meeting with Director Martin-Morris from 9:30-11:30 am at Diva Espresso on Lake City Way. Parent Forum put on by the Road Map Project at Foster High School in Tukwila.  They will have workshops and a Resource Fair....

I had let this fact get past me until I read a recent op-ed in the Times from Mary Alice Hershuel and Kip Herren, the superintendent of Renton public schools and the superintendent of the Auburn School district, respectively.  We are working to find better ways to spread great practices and create a more permeable system of learning by relying on stronger engagement with parents, communities, businesses and support service organizations, and by making better use of online technology.  The grant application will emphasize college and career readiness and personalized instruction. Parent involvement will be critical.   We will also double down on improving science, technology, engineering and math, often called STEM, and make sure kids and families see the enormous career opportunities in our own backyard for young people with STEM skills. Each proposed investment will be viewed as a regional project, and close examination of data will be required. Th...