Seattle Schools Community Forum

From SPS: The Seattle School Board on Wednesday decided to extend the school year by two days to make up for January’s inclement weather. The last day of school will be Friday, June 22 . Seattle students lost three days of school in January because of severe winter weather conditions. One day was made up on Jan. 27. The School Board voted 0 to 7 against applying for a waiver from the state, which would have allowed Seattle Public Schools to not make up those two days. Not making up the days would have saved the district about $500,000. “This is a statement on the value of classroom instruction,” said Board President Michael DeBell, after the unanimous vote.

Tuesday, April 3 BEX IV Community Meeting - at Eckstein from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

You go first and we'll chime in. Update: Because a reader had asked, last night was the introduction of the Snow Waiver for the two days of school missed because of snow. So it was just introduced last night and the discussion is around (1) cost to make them up and (2) worth doing given how the last days of school are not generally productive. I'll watch the tape of the meeting and see what the discussion looked like but it looks like the Board is in an either/or situation. The money for the days is already allotted, I think they should use it for those days. If not, then the Board should direct the Superintendent as to where to spend it. They are in charge of the budget and if extra money comes, it should go at their discretion and not the Superintendent's. On the other hand, what would you suggest to make those last two days of school productive?

The Times is reporting that Hamilton's 6th grade field trip to see The Hunger Games has been canceled.  I'm not really surprised - I think an adult should see the film before a decision is made to show it to students.  (And if you want a version of it, check out the Japanese film, Battle Royale, with the same theme of kids being forced to kill each other to stay alive.)  I am getting a press pass to go and hear Diane Ravitch tomorrow morning at the National Association of Elementary School Principals convention being held this week at the Convention Center.  I have never heard her speak and I am looking forward to it.  I also hope to speak to some principals from other states about their challenges and successes.   The Association includes elementary and middle school principals.  They are also sponsoring a day of service today for Hawthorne Elementary School in support of their new playground.  (I attended an event at Hawthorne this wee...

People have often asked me, "Why don't you run for office?"  The painful slog that is sometimes the Board meetings and/or committee meetings is one reason.  Today's Executive Committee meeting was one such experience.  Started at 8:30 am and ran probably till noon (probably because I left at 11:45 am).  This is Part 1.  Not that it wasn't chock-a-block full of news - it was.  But Brian Rosenthal from the Times left early (and surprisingly right before a good part) and Charlie, a twitchy guy on his own, was fairly chomping at the bit to get out of there. I'll start backwards because that's one of the most interesting parts. Good news - they picked the "focus group' community for the superintendent search.  For the most part, a good list with touches of greatness and one truly bad choice.   But I have faith in the abilities of the majority of the committee. Bad news - the process was a mess.  I hate to be this hard on the Execut...

From SPS Communications: Rather than add days to the end of the school year, Seattle Public Schools is asking the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for a waiver for the Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 snow days. Gov. Chris Gregoire declared Washington in a State of Emergency for those days, prompting Seattle Public Schools to seek a waiver to not make up the Jan. 19 or Jan. 20 snow days. This is contingent on a decision allowing the Emergency Proclamation to apply to schools in King County. OSPI officials said they will have more information next month on how to apply for waivers. It would cost Seattle Public Schools roughly $500,000 to make up the two days in June. Seattle schools made up one of the three snow days on Friday, Jan. 27. State law does not require students to make up a day for Tuesday, Jan. 17, when students had a late arrival and an early dismissal. Making up the time during mid-winter break is not an option, as families and staff have arranged their ...

From SPS: Given the timing of snow days last week, Seattle Public Schools is extending the semester three days, through Tuesday, Jan. 31.  Second semester will start on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The MAP testing window has been extended to Friday, January 27. Also, the grading window has been extended, with a new deadline of Tuesday, Feb. 7 to turn in grades for the semester. Please note a previous announcement that Seattle Public Schools will hold classes on Friday, Jan. 27 as a snow make-up day. Previously, no school was scheduled for next Friday, a professional development day for staff.  A determination on if and how the District needs to make up the remaining snow days will be made later this week.

There will be a lot of catching up to do this week from the loss of time from the snow days.  Also, much has happened in the media since the postponement of the School Board meeting last Wednesday the 18th to this Wednesday the 25th.  I expect that many more media may be at this meeting. I am also delighted that the speaker list carried over from last Wednesday's meeting.  I expect that some listed speakers may get pressure to give up their places to people pushing the Board policy 1620B but I think many speakers who signed up for other reasons (like Whittier) may stand their ground.  Good for them.  (I, too, remain on the speakers list.)

 From SPS: Seattle Public Schools will hold classes on Friday, Jan. 27 as a snow make-up day. No school was scheduled for next Friday, a professional development day for staff, but instead will be used as a make-up day for one of the three snow days this week, as outlined in the 2011-12 school calendar. A determination on making up the additional snow days, most likely at the end of the school year, will be decided next week. “It is important to get our students back in the classroom next week,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield. “We know some families may have made out-of-town plans for next Friday, and we apologize for any inconvenience this causes.” There will still be a three-hour early dismissal on Tuesday, Jan. 24 for a scheduled furlough day for teachers and staff represented by the Seattle Education Association (SEA). That day cannot be used as a snow make-up day.

Seattle Public Schools will remain closed on Friday, Jan. 20 because of continued winter weather conditions. The John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence will also be closed. “The snow is still falling and temperatures are low, making it difficult to safely transport students to and from school,” said Dr. Susan Enfield, Interim Superintendent. “We hope our students, families and staff members are staying safe and warm, and we look forward to re-opening our schools on Monday.” Next Tuesday, Jan. 24 is a three-hour early dismissal from schools because of a scheduled furlough day. That day cannot be used as a snow make-up day. District administration will determine tomorrow if Friday, Jan. 27 – a scheduled day off for professional development – can be used as a snow make-up day.

From the district: “We hoped that students and staff could return to school on Thursday, but forecasts right now are showing continuing severe weather, including the potential for icy roads,” said Dr. Susan Enfield, Interim Superintendent. “We want to err on the side of caution, and also give families enough time to plan for another snow day.” Please note that the 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19 School Board Committee of the Whole meeting has not been canceled. As of now, that meeting will take place, and a decision on whether or not to cancel will be made by noon Thursday. However, the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence will be closed to all non-essential personnel. As of this afternoon, Seattle Public Schools has not yet determined when and how the snow days will be made up this year. That announcement will be made early next week.

From the district; All schools canceled for Wednesday, Jan. 18. All after-school activities canceled. All Seattle Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 18 because of predicted winter weather that might make it difficult and potentially unsafe to transport students to schools. Between five and 10 inches of snow is predicted to fall in south Seattle. All after-school events are cancelled Tuesday night and will be cancelled on Wednesday night. This includes games, practices, events, plays, meetings, etc. The John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence will remain open. Employees are asked to monitor email and voicemail in the morning for any additional news, and to use best judgment when commuting to work. A decision on whether or not to postpone Wednesday’s School Board meeting will be made by noon. On Tuesday, a change in weather patterns meant Seattle Public Schools had both a two-hour delayed start and a two-hour early dismissal. Interim Superintendent Dr....

There will be snow days make up for middle and high schools according to an SPS news release: Two make-up days are required. These are scheduled for June 22 and June 23. The last day of school for middle and high school students moves from June 21 to June 23. Elementary and K-8s don't need to make up the days because of the previously scheduled parent-teacher conferences scheduled on those days. They are going to reschedule those before winter break. If we have more snow days, then those will have to made up as well. We could get close to the 4th of July if we have a bad winter. Happy Hanukkah to our readers of the Jewish faith.