Seattle Schools Community Forum

Several items of interest from two SPS high schools.  One item is an update about the dress code coming from Ballard's principal which seems to be a thoughtful letter.  The other is about several issues at Garfield High School. Ballard's Mr. Wynkoop let the students know that administrators had thought about this issue as the weather was getting warmer and let the students know - in advance - what the dress code policy at Ballard is. But, Recently we have become aware of an effort to organize a protest of some kind later this week that would include girls wearing overly revealing clothes. To attempt to head this off and/or make our position clear, I spoke with the Student Senate today, took input and answered questions related to this issue. I also wanted to make it clear to our entire community about our justifications, our expectations and the steps we will continue to take when issues arise. This is precisely the right course of action. Here's our policy, here...

Contact me at sss.westbrook@gmail.com.  Anything you might wish to say could be said anonymously but contact me first. Thanks.

Two Special Education stories of note. First, the Times reports that the State will accept SPS's Special Ed plan with a few extra conditions.  The concern seems to be that the staffing plan seems more worried about teachers's needs than meeting student needs.  The State also wants the district to spend more federal dollars on consultants to help to shape/improve services.  Also, the AP is reporting that Bainbridge School District has to pay the family of a student with Asperger's who was bullied $300,000 in damages .  The lawsuit started in 2010 when the student was then 14 and at Bainbridge High School.  The parents had gone so far as to get a restraining order against four male students as well as contacting the Bainbridge Island police.   The students were found guilty of criminal conduct relating to their actions towards the victim. Another STEM school with an aviation twist has opened in south Seattle.  The school, Raisbeck Aviation High Sch...

I did finally manage to get the narrative police report on Garfield (missing a page and I'm going to request some other items as well). Just by way of explaining my coming criticism, I did a 6-month stint as a volunteer investigator for the Public Defender's office (I've been around) and I had the opportunity to read a lot of police reports and interview many police officers.  I learned a lot and naturally, the first thing to always state is that the only thing between us and the bad guys are cops so we have to be grateful for their presence.  (And, everyone is always happy to see firefighters but hardly ever the cops.  It's a tough, tough job.) This is not a great narrative, you can't follow exactly where the action is at any given point, very loosey-goosey and I suspect that there is a better one out there somewhere. Basically, the officer says that he was told, by the victims (so there are kids who were willing to talk), that they were sitting at lunch on...

From My Northwest: The Seattle School District has temporarily banned 11 students from Garfield High School while it investigates a widely publicized hazing incident that involved over 100 students.  The "emergency expulsion" prohibits the 11 sophomores, juniors and seniors from campus and school activities during the investigation, said spokesperson Teresa Whipple.  "We are working on an individual basis, so if a student is cleared, they can get back to school right away."  Once the investigation is complete, officials will determine punishments. They could range from being prevented to taking part in prom or graduation to suspension or expulsion. In the interim, the students are still able to do their school work and communicate with their teachers from home. I am still trying to get the police report from SPD but it is still unavailable.  Clearly, a serious issue.

The Garfield High School Associated Student Body does not condone harassment, abuse, intimidation, humiliation, violence, or bullying of any kind. We support and encourage inter-class unity by continuing to provide and promote safe and school-appropriate events. Any student who needs help or assistance should contact an ASB officer, counselor, teacher, or administrator.  Garfield ASB From Principal Howard on October 4th:   To our Garfield families,  Thank you for your continued support of Garfield High School. As I reflect on the events from the past week, I have given some thought to the following ideas. We are in the process of researching ways that Garfield will be addressing the reported hazing incident which occurred within our neighborhood last week.  Garfield's next steps will be to educate our faculty and students around self advocacy and decision making as it relates to the day to day stressors that adolescents are faced with in today's ...

From the Seattle Times, SPD are talking to six GHS students about the Garfield hazing event.  No arrests have been made and SPD will contact the parents of the students.  In the comments section, there were some more details (wild ones) about this incident.  It is clear that like Rashomon, it depends on who you are, where you were and what you saw. I have requested the SPD police report on this incident. President Smith-Blum said this at tonight's Board meeting: I want to speak about the incident in a public park where there was intentional hazing of students from a high school . Students - bad job, parents - rein it in. Hurling racial slurs is a truly a community problem and it takes all of us to solve this problem. Parents, it is not easy job. Sometimes they don't tell you the truth and you think you know what is going on and don't. Stay close to your students and create opportunities to talk. Don't be afraid to parent and if you hear there will be drin...

Update 2:  From SPS: We have zero tolerance for bullying, hazing and intimidation, and we take it very seriously. ·          We are continuing to investigate this incident. ·          We are in the process of determining what type of disciplinary action is warranted for those students who were involved. Update 1: Text of information on hazing on the front page of the Garfield webpage. 1.In addition to the district disciplinary suspension, hazing incidents will be considered criminal offenses and treated as such. 2.Hazing incidents will be reported to ALL college school applications, career and/or work references. Seems clear to me. End of update. Principal Ted Howard of Garfield apparently got wind of hazing happening off-campus and went to inspect.  He was not happy with what he found. He sent this note to parents (red mine):  Do you know where your son or daughter is a...

From KUOW, a story on high school "froshing" which is basically hazing freshman (whether general population or via groups like sports teams) in SPS.  This, of course, is outlawed in SPS and there is a very strongly worded statement in the student handbook about not doing this and the severe outcomes that follow.  "Harassment and hazing constitute exceptional misconduct and are in fact felony offenses. This includes 'initiation' and 'froshing.' Prohibited activities include dunking in the lake, face painting, baby powder, whipped cream, shaving cream, boxing, other forms of initiation, humiliation, or abuse. Consequences include suspension or expulsion, and/or possible criminal charges."  Listening to the story was not pleasant: Anna: "We poured condiments on them, we made them do an Easter egg hunt and inside the Easter eggs were gross things. We sprayed them with hoses and stuff." The freshmen have to dress in costumes an...