Seattle Schools Community Forum

. ..like I know Susan Enfield on the subject of TFA, well, like me, it will give you pause. It took awhile but I finally got through all the SPS/TFA e-mails that I received.  In a separate thread, I will post some additional quotes that will show a timeline of discussion, laughter, friendship and an almost absolute irritation/disregard for the public's input and for public process.  Don't you know that if the public didn't keep asking questions and writing to elected officials and public officials that a lot more could get done at SPS and TFA? This thread is to talk about themes and impressions.

Dr. Enfield sent out a letter to parents about the coming days for Seattle Public Schools.  Here's some of what she says: In the coming weeks I will be in the community listening to your comments, questions and concerns. Additionally, I will continue to have an open door policy so you can offer input directly on how we can continue to improve. Beginning on Thursday, March 24th, I will be holding open office hours from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the John Stanford Center, 2445 3rd Avenue South. I encourage you to make an appointment to come and meet with me. Please contact Venetia Harmon, vlharmon@seattleschools.org to schedule a time. I applaud the Superintendent for her efforts to reach out and connect with parents and the community.  It is a good first step.

District staff have posted the feedback from the two budget meetings. Here is the link to the Aki Kurose meeting and the Roosevelt meeting (scroll down the page). From both meetings there seems to be a theme: cut from headquarters (number one with a bullet) use input from parents/community Amen and good luck with that. I was asked recently, by a leader up the food chain, what I would do to improve community engagement. Here's what I would do but do let us know what you would like to see. I would go with the George Costanza method. Do the opposite of what you are currently doing. Shorter but more specific presentations. Take ALL questions from the general audience. (I do believe there is a place for small group discussions but not on every subject.) As long as it is within the topic, lead but don't tell people what they can and can't discuss . Have the meetings not all in one week but over a series of weeks. Have engagement BEFORE decisions are made. Be ...

Today the Seattle Times ran an op-ed piece by Lynne Varner about the Superintendent . The column was about Dr. Goodloe-Johnson's personal style and how it rubs some people the wrong way. Ms Varner's calls the superintendent "steely but competent" and writes "We've left our Scandinavian roots of emotional distance to wanting a superintendent who will take us in her arms while we cry a river. We want warmth from the person we expect to defend our schools with all the vengeance of the Terminator. Kind of crazy." To me, this is a clear attempt to dismiss the superintendent's critics as a bunch of cry-babys desperate for a hug. Discussion of the superintendent's demeanor, whether "steely" or "warm and fuzzy", is a sideshow distraction. Ms Varner is trying to distract us with the trivial so we won't pay attention to what matters. The real question isn't whether the superintendent displays emotion, it is whether she hears the...

TO: Seattle School Board members FROM: Board of Directors, Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle Date: January 23, 2009 RE: The Superintendent's Final Recommendations to the Seattle School Board Thank you for your community service and willingness to lead as board members during very difficult times. We appreciate that your decisions impact the lives of thousands of children and parents. Now that Seattle Public Schools’ closure/consolidation process is in your hands, parents and community members are relying on you to make tough decisions that will provide for financial stability in our school system, and sensitive decisions that will enable our communities to improve and thrive in the wake of change. Two months ago, in a Seattle Post-Intelligencer opinion column, Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle (CPPS) emphasized our need for a closure plan that is more than a money-saving strategy. We called on district leadership to make direct connectio...

Just heard about this on KUOW 94.9 FM, our public radio station. The Public Insight Network is trying to create a network of people who might be able to add insight to stories they are working on. It sounds like they are looking for both people who know a lot and people who have compelling stories. It sounds like you sign up and answer some questions on a story(ies) they are working on that you are interested in. One current story is school closures so I am sure there are people here that might want to sign up. A person at KUOW will read the e-mails (nothing will go on air from e-mails) and then a reporter or producer might call you to give an interview or input. I applaud KUOW for trying to do this outreach and find new voices or people to speak on issues rather than the usual suspects (Board members or Dr. Goodloe-Johnson).