Seattle Schools Community Forum

A thoughtful piece from Northwest Progressive Institute by Robert Cruickshank about the ever-popular issue of departing superintendents.  The real story, the one the Seattle Times does not want to tell for fear of undermining their anti-democratic agenda, is one of repeated mismanagement by a succession of superintendents and of a central staff that is unresponsive or overtly hostile to the board and the general public. About Banda, he makes some good points: Banda cited the debate over math textbooks in his departure letter, but these are often contentious issues in any school district. A good superintendent would have navigated it more effectively, accepting the board’s decision and moving on. After all, math curriculum figured prominently in the 2011 school board campaign, and parents had been vocal in their call for a different approach. Rather than accept the verdict of the board that employs him and the public that he serves, Banda – already looking for the ...

Update: And now the Times editorial board weighs in.  Yawn.  Same old, same old (you'd think they would try a new tack but no.)  The Times absolutely refuses to acknowledge the reasons for the turnover in Seattle superintendents.  What is the Board to do in the fact of not one but two financial scandals?  Keep those superintendents?  C'mon.  Then they speak of "a curiosity for a change in governance."   I hate to break it to them but that "curiosity" is only Tim Burgess, LEV and the Seattle Times.  Not in progressive Seattle. And they speak of respect "for staff" as they incessantly berate the Board.  Oh kettle, it's the pot calling. End of update. Of all the issues for the Times to cover about Seattle Public Schools, they pick the issue of superintendents working with school boards. This is an old, tired issue that the Times has covered...repeatedly.  In fact, it seems their go-to, defacto answer to ANY issue in Seattle...

From KPLU : Taking stock of his first year at the helm of Seattle Public Schools, Banda told KPLU a divided board has a definite effect on how he does his job. “[That’s the] reason for my taking a very strong stand with the board to say that we need to be able to do that job unimpeded. They need to have trust in the leadership team, that what we’re doing is in the best interests of the district and our children, ultimately,” he said. Well, yes, but he's new, a lot of the leadership team is new and until everyone has shown some mettle, I'm on the side of Board oversight. Banda said the job review process took place over several weeks, and that he believes by the end he was able to win over the skeptics. “I believe that I have the full support of all seven members of the board,” Banda said. Any change of heart is not reflected in the report produced by the board, and no board member has said publicly that he or she has come around from doubting Banda’s lead...

Here's Superintendent Banda's Performance Evaluation .  You will see that this is based on a "supermajority" of the Board (I would assume that to be 5 people) with a minority assessment coming at the end of the evaluation.  From the evaluation: These evaluation criteria focus on five areas: Hire, Develop and Strengthen Leaders: Teacher/Principal and Central Staff evaluations; Hire quality leadership to fill vacant positions; professional development Raising expectations and improving academic performance and opportunities of all students: narrow achievement gaps, growth for English Language Learners; implementation of Common Core State Standards; Building relationships with selected stakeholders to connect them to our schools:  Family engagement, Labor Partners and community based organizations. Governance Team Priorities and Areas of Continuing Emphasis:  Develop a plan for BEX IV and EP&O levies; a framework and process for collective bargaining; brin...

From the Tukwila Reporter : The new superintendent of the Tukwila School District is Nancy Coogan, a Seattle Public Schools administrator, chosen unanimously by the Tukwila School Board on Saturday. The district will now offer the positon to Coogan; still to be completed are contract negotiations and a background check. I found her biography (as provided by the district) interesting (partial): DR.NANCY COOGAN is Executive Director of the Central Region of Seattle Public Schools. In this role she oversees all aspects of K-12 schools, serving 10,500 students in Seattle's most impacted neighborhoods, as well as the World School for international students whose formal education has been interrupted. She has collaborated with the school board in development of a five-year strategic plan, led efforts in Special Education compliance and provided professional development for all 93 schools. I'm not sure I know what "most impacted neighborhoods" means.  Let's see t...

 (This is a quite long wrap-up of the latest Board retreat held this past Saturday.  Not all will want to wade through it but I can say it allowed me to see how the Board is interacting and some issues within the group.  I believe that all seem to have high regard for Superintendent Banda.) First, I have to say that this was a slightly odd Retreat as I had never been to this venue, The Hub Seattle, before.  The set-up had us sitting in a seating area - with couches and chairs - and I sat as if I were part of the group (normally the visitors sit on the perimeter so I did feel like I was eavesdropping). As I said before, I was the only outside visitor to the Retreat (unless someone came after 2:30 pm when I left). What seems difficult to understand is how the Board has given over (nearly all) control to the Alliance about what the retreats will cover.   I don't get it.  As I previously mentioned, Directors Peaslee, DeBell and McLaren all said they had n...

A rosy glow this morning across the horizon - maybe a good sign for things to come. It was a HUGE year for public education - in Seattle, Washington State and the US.  For whatever reason, public education has become a huge issue.  Whether it's trying to break unions (in Wisconsin) or the push for more on-line learning opportunities (whether at school or at home), politicians had a lot to say this year.  Are we focusing on the right things?  I'm not sure we are.  I'm not sure that we won't look back in 10 years at much of the new education spending in this country and wonder if much of it was wasted on the wrong areas.  Or that there was too much effort made in directions that did not pay off.  One of the drivers of this - and it shouldn't be the biggest driver - is the large group of wealthy philanthropists who believe they know enough to try to determine the course of public education over the next 10 years.  And yet, they are not elected,...

Over at Crosscut, they've written an article about the end of the so-called six month honeymoon since Jose Banda became SPS superintendent.  As we have all come to realize, Superintendent Banda is a careful person.  Not a big talker, a quieter person, he doesn't do a lot to draw attention to himself.  Some might be anxious or annoyed with the pace of what he is doing but I like to think he knows just what he is doing.  The article lays out several pressing issues for him: Money and the Legislature (and the levies) Capacity Teachers and testing (and contract renewal) Vacancies in district leadership Academics There was one early comment that caught my eye: At this point, the most important question to pose to the superintendent is to articulate his overall vision for the district and specifically how he plans to accomplish it. The achievement gap must be bridged and the graduation rate increased. Control and leadership must be exhibite...

Gee, Tuesday got away from me.  I wonder why. Hoping to parse through the BEX IV vote and ask you to consider what happens now.  There is a lot of vagueness in this BEX so it's hard to gauge what will be done and when.  Also, probably a year back now, Director Carr said at a Work Session that there would have to be a heck of a good narrative to sell this to voters. Okay, I'll ask you - what is the narrative that will sell this to Seattle voters?  Keep in mind, you are selling over $1B of levies.  On another subject, Superintendent Banda.  I am still feeling good about him.   I find him quietly assured (but not in an Olchefske-type way).  But, what would make you feel assured?  What one thing, that's within the realm of possibility, could he do to make you feel like he's on the right track?  Or is there a signal you would look for that would make you believe he can't/won't be co-opted by the powers that be? What's on your min...

Update:  The Alliance IS "hosting" this.  I'm sorry but since when does a sober and serious (and mandated by the Board report) have to be "hosted" by anyone?   I don't care if it's Perkins Coie's anniversary or if Sara Morris' husband works there or if it is free use for SPS - this is WRONG. Still no word from the district.  Not a good sign, Superintendent Banda. End of update. Among the happenings in SPS this week, comes a notice that the Superintendent will release his State of the District 2012 report on Thursday, Nov. 1 at ...Perkins Coie LLC(?!) from 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m. Folks, I just got this press release so I will call district communications as soon as I can to find out why: 1) it is being presented at a very high-profile law firm's offices downtown (is there some major announcement to come?) 2) you have to register to hear it and all members of the media are welcome but space is limited for the public. I smell the fine...

Monday Another of Superintendent Banda's Community meetings , this time at Bryant Elementary 3311 NE 60th Street from 6-7:30 p.m. Director Peaslee Community meeting from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Lake City Library, 12501 128th Ave NE Tuesday Superintendent Banda Community meeting , this time at Concord International,  723 South Concord Street from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday School Board meeting at 4:15 p.m.  Could I put in a plug here?  Please write to the Board and tell them that this time is not conducive to real public engagement - schoolboard@seattleschools.org.  Agenda. One key item here is the Creative Approach Amendment that is supposed to put in School Board oversight to this process.   I need to read it line for line but my quick read is...not so much.   I feel the Board should have some kind of final input on any change.  The issue to me is that this Amendment only says the Board has to approve a waiver request and not the overall change to a...

From SPS: José Banda to attend regional meetings, host monthly open office hours Seattle Public Schools is partnering with the Seattle Council PTSA to sponsor five regional meetings for SPS families and community members to meet Superintendent José Banda in September and October. During the regional meetings, the Superintendent will briefly talk about his vision for the school district, followed by informal conversations with those in attendance. Those meetings are scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. on the following dates: ·          Monday, Sept. 17 , Mercer Middle School, 1600 S. Columbia Way ·          Tuesday, Sept. 18 , Rainier Beach High School, 8815 Seward Park Ave. S. ·          Monday, Oct. 1 , Bryant Elementary School, 3311 N.E. 60th St. ·          Tuesday, Oct. 2 , Concord International Elemen...

I was speaking with a board director this week about the program placement policy and the director candidly acknowledged that the superintendent violated the policy in 2011 and the board (this was the previous board) allowed it because they saw their role as facilitating the superintendent and not as constrainting her. Enforcing policy would have been a constraint. In 2012 they couldn't enforce the policy because sh had already announced her intention to leave and they had no means of managing her. This board director flatly stated what everyone already knows: the board's only meaningful management tool over the superintendent is the threat of termination. They have nothing short of that.

This is last week of any public meeting for SPS until August. There are two events this week, both on Tuesday.   First there is a required public hearing from 4-4:30 p.m. to hear testimony from the public about raising the amount the district will pay for the Associated Student Body fund.   This was previously discussed at Board meetings.  I still have not heard the explanation as to why this occurred and where.  I may go review the Board meeting tapes to see if I missed something.  The Action Report gives all kinds of policies and legal reasons why they can raise the amount but not why.  It says this: Expenditures are now at a higher percentage of the total annual expenditures than in any previous year, and may exceed the original estimate (adopted budget).   (bold mine) They exceeded the budget by more than $200k.  How did that happen and when it started and it was apparent they were going over, did anyone do anything? After...

I participated in a discussion about our new superintendent, Jose Banda, on Seattle Channel's program , City Inside/Out.   The panel included Chris Eide, ex-TFA teacher (now a sub), Lynne Varner of the Times, and Kim Mustafa, an SPS parent (who I believe is from the south end as that is w-here her children attend school). Some interesting quotes: Stephanie Jones of CPPS: " He needs to get to know the many communities in Seattle ." Mariellen Sereno, Independent Citizens Oversight Ctm in Anaheim: "I think he knows what it takes to be looking at that uphill battle and to be looking at those areas that really need attention." Lynne Varner: He's an extremely good listener.   He reminds me of former Superintendent John Stanford.  Later on, she said in an editorial coming out that he needed to set clear boundaries "or he would not be their employee but their servant."  Re: the School Board, Ms. Mustafa said that Banda sounded like a puppet a...

Finally!  There was a bit of yakking tonight before they finally got to the vote. Carr reviewed trip to Anaheim that she and Patu took last week. All good things - neither she nor Patu had anything of concern to tell the Board. Banda spoke briefly to the audience saying it was a "bittersweet moment." He said, "You become part of a community and builds bonds and relationships." He said he was not just part not just of schools but of community. It was nice to hear that he has that goal. More on the media questions later.

Dear Readers, As some of you may know, recently someone posted a comment using Dr. Enfield's name.  (The comment was directed at me, though.)  It had been posted after I had retired one evening and I found an e-mail the next morning from Lesley Rodgers in Communications asking me about it.   Then, there was one from Dr. Enfield that said: I expect the comment to be removed today. I replied that I had seen it and removed it.  I apologized and said that sometimes people can be unpleasant.  I then wrote a separate thread reminding readers to NEVER pretend to be a living person/figure. She wrote back: Thank you Melissa. I suggest you remind your readers that posts such as these can result in legal action.  So then for some reason, Blogger didn't immediately scrub the name (even though the post was gone) and I heard back from Dr. Enfield. Melissa, please post that I did not make any comment on your blog. Apparently my name is still listed. I ...

Over in Bellevue their superintendent, Amalia Cuderio, quit yesterday.  She was with Bellevue for two-and-a-half years.  Apparently her mother is ill and she left.    Her contract was due to expire in June. This is all very interesting for a couple of reasons.  From the Times article :   "She had been with us for 2 ½ years and did a lot of good work," School Board President Paul Mills said Tuesday night. "She's leaving the district in good stead."  Last August, at the same time it was approving its new contract, the Bellevue Education Association (BEA) gave Cudeiro a 97 percent no-confidence vote, pointing to her style of management. Remind you of another time and another superintendent? When she was hired, Cudeiro was one of three finalists for the Bellevue superintendent's job. One of the other finalists was Susan Enfield, interim superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, who has told the Seattle Board she will not apply for the per...

I hadn't had time to write about the Executive Committee meeting last week but it ties in nicely with a recent article in the Seattle Weekly about why Dr. Enfield is leaving. I noticed that after the election, Michael DeBell really seemed down.  I can understand; Steve Sundquist and Peter Maier were not just colleagues but friends.  But he is an elected official and election change comes with the territory. Then, scant weeks into terms of Peaslee and McLaren, I was hearing that he was unhappy.  That he thought that some members of the Board (who shall remain nameless) were asking too many "micromanaging" questions of Enfield.  It's unclear to me whether it was asking too many questions or asking questions that stepped into Enfield's realm of action. Then Enfield said she was leaving, said it had nothing to do with the election results but would not say anything else. But it is clear from Michael's actions recently that he is struggling with not only lo...

Tuesday, Jan. 10th Audit&Finance Committee Meeting ( Audit ) from 4-6 p.m. Looks like there will be an update on the Cleveland laptop program among other items. Wednesday, Jan. 11th Executive Committee Meeting from 8-10 a.m. Executive Committee of the Whole from 5-7 p.m. to discuss the Superintendent's evaluation (this is preceded by a closed session of the committee on this topic).  Thursday, Jan. 12th Audit&Finance Committee Meeting ( Finance ) from 4-6 p.m.  Topics here include the annual summary of state and federal grans, preliminary enrollment projections by Tracy Libros, student fees summary and " ideas/proposals to close the gap for 2012-13 ."   There was an interesting article in the Times about Pay for Play fees recently.   It generated a lot of comments with about half saying sports are an important part of high school and half saying PE is fine but sports are not as important.  Friday, Jan. 13th BEX Oversight Commit...