Seattle Schools Community Forum

I am troubled by my dilemma of putting a link to the Investigation report and/or naming the chaperones and their statements to the investigator.  I know these are public documents but it does give me pause.  However, someone already put a link to the report so I will as well.  Report document.   If you do read it, understand that "identifier" means the private school - which we all believe to be Blanchet High School - "student 1" is the male student in question and students 8 and 9 are the girls who were groped.  None of the students nor the male student's mother is named.  All of the chaperones are named.

In one of the stranger press releases I've ever seen come from SPS, comes this one today on field trips.  It starts with this general district-wide information below:

Update: So all I was trying to find out - from the FBI and National Park Service - is what was the date that  SPS asked them for their investigation report?  And what was the date that the district filed their FOIA request when the FBI/National Park Service said no to that request? Those two groups now want me to file a FOIA to find out when SPS filed their FOIA.  Kind of funny.  (I would ask the district but I'd like direct verification myself.) end of update 1) There is a lengthy account at the Facebook page associated with the family of the student assaulted.  I do have a few questions but I'll wait and see if the family contacts me.  It is fairly well-fleshed out so they were clearly documenting as they went along (a very good thing for all parents to do should any type of school situation arise - document everything ). 2) I called the Seattle office of the FBI.  The press officer sent me a statement; they aren't answering any questions...

Update:  Both KIRO-7 tv and KING-5 tv have done stories on this issue.  I think that the story has legs and that they may continue on (especially now that the Title IX and the Department of Education has gotten involved.)  I note that the KING-5 piece says that the district couldn't get access to the FBI investigation and that the parents of the girl refused to allow the district to talk to her.  (This because the girl had been out-of-state at a residential facility to help her.)  Therefore, the district "did not have the evidence to fully support her claims."  This seems to be a different story than below but I find the wording suspect below so I would need a timeline to decide. end of update. From President Peaslee:

(Editor's note - the district is making a distinct difference here between oversight chaperones and day fieldtrip volunteers - I believe that may be what "A" and "B" volunteer categories are but I have a call into SPS about that.) From SPS Communications: To ensure the safety of our students and volunteers, Seattle Public Schools has updated our Volunteer Administrative Procedures, including certain instances where fingerprinting will now be required. Starting Feb. 1 , schools should follow these procedures: • As previously required, all overnight field trip chaperones must be screened via the WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History) check. • Any overnight field trip chaperones living continuously in Washington state for more than two years shall not be required to be fingerprinted; clearance via WATCH (Washington Access To Criminal History) shall suffice. • However, if a prospective chaperone cannot provide verification of a two-year re...

I had been told the fingerprinting issue had been postponed until further notice.  Thanks to reader, Lynn, for this update from Superintendent Banda in the Friday update. To: José Banda, Superintendent From: Joseph Paperman Date:October 4, 2013 SUBJECT: FRIDAY UPDATE TO SCHOOL BOARD Field Trip Procedure Revisions To help enhance the safety of our students when they participate in overnight or out of country field trips, Risk Management has recently made significant changes to the field trip procedures. These include clearer expectations for screening and training of chaperones and for behavior of student participants. The new requirements for chaperones include an orientaion by the lead chaperone (school employee), who will review student behavior expectations as defined in the “Basic Rules of Seattle Public Schools”,the Emergency Action Plan and procedures for overnight room checks appropriate to the type of lodging. Tohelp avoid blurring of boundaries between students and c...

Heard that the waitlists were running late - input from Tracy Libros in Enrollment: Our student information system is currently being replaced, so the most recent update of assignment and waiting list information was in mid-July. New information will be updated as soon as possible, which is likely to be at the end of August or beginning of September. We understand the importance of waiting list status and information as your family plans for the start of school and apologize for the delay. Of course, we will move waiting lists as soon as we possibly can. The technology folks are working diligently to get systems up and running as soon as possible.  That's the reason for the lateness of this information.  I know it must feel frustrating but summer is the best time to work on systems within the district. Hearing that 8th graders may all be enrolled in algebra (at least at some schools) and about the need for finger-printing for all chaperones for school trips ( no...