Seattle Schools Community Forum

Public Hearing: Budget (4:30-4:45 PM) Oversight Work Session: Legal (4:45-5:30 PM) Executive Committee of the Whole (5:30-7:00 PM)

Interesting article/op-ed from The Sun Break about just some of the legal issues that may arise from I-1240.  Another question is whether charter schools are in fact "common schools" (i.e., public schools), as required by the Washington State constitution if they are to receive public funds: The legislature shall provide for a general and uniform system of public schools. The public school system shall include common schools, and such high schools, normal schools, and technical schools as may hereafter be established. But the entire revenue derived from the common school fund and the state tax for common schools shall be exclusively applied to the support of the common schools.  I-1240 simply states that charter schools are public schools. But that’s precisely what’s at issue with the debate over charter schools versus public schools. Are they? Is it still a “general and uniform system” if charter schools are granted the freedom with curriculum they’ve been granted, and ...

Monday  Start School Later Seattle will meet on Monday at 5pm at the Wayward Coffee House on 65th and Roosevelt (parking available off the alley). Tuesday Audit&Finance Committee Meeting from 4-6 pm.  Agenda not available. Wednesday Executive Committee Meeting from 8-10:30 am.  Agenda .  Some of the topics include review of upcoming Board meeting agendas, government relations, "community engagement", Race&Equity policy, renewal of MOU with LEV for South Shore, and Creative Approach Schools update.  Note: there is a "real estate negotiations" discussion that will be closed and start at 10 am.  This is, once again, quite a full agenda and I find it hard to believe they can get it all done in 2 hours.  This all looks quite interesting and I hope someone can attend.   I'm also quite surprised at this idea of a "renewal" of the MOU with LEV when the original MOU was with the New School Foundation (an altogether different ent...

In Washington state, the law says that school districts get notification when a state facility releases a sex offender BUT it's only for release from juvenile facilities . If a 15,16, 17 year old gets released from an adult facility, no notification. Randy Dorn, our State Superintendent, found this troubling and got a bill introduced on behalf of all the school districts in the state to provide that notification. It would provide that if a juvenile sex offender who was incarcerated in an adult facility is released, facility officials must notify the district that said juvenile will be residing in 30 days before release. This is Senate bill 5428 and the companion House bill is 1549.

From the Times : A former drug-and-alcohol-intervention specialist at Seattle's Rainier Beach High School was convicted Wednesday of one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, four counts of distribution of oxycodone and one count of possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, according to the U.S Attorney's Office. None of the drug sales involved students. On one occasion, Smith allegedly left Rainier High School during school hours to meet the informant two blocks away to make a drug deal, according to the indictment. Smith faces up to 20 years in prison for each count when he is sentenced on Jan. 6. From the Times : A paralegal for Seattle Public Schools is expected to be charged this week for allegedly selling crack cocaine to an informant working for Seattle police. It appears that the transactions occurred away from any school district building. The police report did not say whether Bryant is believed to have been selling drugs to students. Authori...