Seattle Schools Community Forum

First, there will be a meeting - called by the Superintendent - for discussion around renovating T.T. Minor to be the new home for World School .  The meeting is tomorrow night, Monday the 18th, at JSCEE at 5:30 pm. I'm not sure what form the discussion will take.  The issue is two-fold.  One, World School has been consistently ignored by the district and the Board (or takes a backseat to almost every other program, take your pick).  At one point, their BEX III money had disappeared.  When it reappeared, it was less than had been allotted with no explanation. But the concern is that T.T. Minor may not end being their permanent home.  Data indicates that the Central Area growth will need that space.  At the Work Session last week, it was suggested if that happens, the district would be able to add a wing to Bailey-Gatzert.  This may be true but for two issues. One, B-G is not in the same place as T.T. Minor - it seems like this would add more...

Here is the updated agenda for the Board meeting on Wednesday.   To sign up to speak, you must call (252-0040) or e-mail (boardagenda@seattleschools.org) at 8 am on Monday morning. To note: - changes were made to the Pinehurst Action Item .  Kudos to parent John Chapman who crunched the numbers and made the query to staff about comparing the costs per student at Pinehurst versus other K-8s.  It went from about $3,000 more per student down to $1350 more per student.  (And again, Pinehurst's underenrollment - some of which can be related to the district's multiple attempts to close it or ignore it during enrollment - is driving that per student cost up.) New recommendation includes possibly moving Pinehurst to Thornton Creek or JA K-8. - revisions to the Growth Boundaries Action Item.   I have not read through these changes thoroughly so I'll ask readers to let us know what they are (and possible implications).  Somehow there are 15 amendments...

I started this in Charlie's thread's comment section but it got too long. So, to add to the discussion, here are my notes (I left as Charlie arrived). From my notes: -the Board office has two new hires so both Joan Dingfield and Pam Oakes are gone. I'll miss them; they are nice people. One new thing; the addition of the first 5+ people on the waitlist to the agenda so you can get an idea of where you might be on the waitlist -Lots of energy from TOPS parents who very calmly and clearly explained their issue about transportation. Over 50% of their students will lose their transportation, mostly from the southend. They are asking for a community stop model for buses so their students can continue on. Their hope is for the district to fulfill this request for 3 years. (This time request has something to do with a promise the district made, I believe.) - it was pointed out that a member of the BEX Oversight Committee is doing business with the district and this has not...

Okay now, you have until Monday, January 10th to try to persuade Board members for any amendment you feel is needed for the Transition Plan (to be voted on January 19th at the School Board meeting). You can comment anytime up to the Board meeting but the Board members will be writing any amendments and submitting them by Monday at 5 p.m. From the district: Community comments on New Student Assignment Transition Plan welcome at any time; Deadline for School Board member amendments extended to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10 Please note that the Jan. 10 deadline applies only to amendments that board members are submitting, and does not apply to public comments. School board members welcome comments from the community on the transition plan at any time via email or letter, or via public testimony at the board meeting on Jan. 19. The reason for the Jan. 10 amendment deadline is to give school board members an opportunity to fully understand the impact of any proposed amendments be...

I just attended the Transition Plan press conference. Lots of good info that I will post later today. I did want to get one thing out now because it is a change. It was stated by Michael DeBell to the SCPTSA that the Board would be accepting amendments to the Transition Plan until Monday, January 10th. Steve Sundquist changed that (last night? yesterday sometime) so amendments to the Transition Plan will only be accepted thru FRIDAY, JAN. 7th. So if you have an amendment you want to plead to any member of the Board, get it to them/that person no later than tomorrow, January 7th. I understand the rationale of being able to see amendments far enough in advance to vet them, talk to other Board members,etc. However, giving parents the weekend (given the vote isn't until Nov. 19th), would have seemed more fair. I don't know why Steve changed this but please let other parents know about it.