Seattle Schools Community Forum

From the article i n this week's Seattle Weekly's by Nina Shapiro: "The district, which first denied to SW that it is scaling back tours, later conceded that it is doing so after being told about principal remarks like Carter's. "We believe that as the new assignment plan is implemented, the need that families feel to visit multiple schools will probably decrease," said spokesperson Patti Spencer-Watkins." The ink on the plan is barely dry. The Board hasn't voted on the transition plan. So I'm thinking the district is just a little ahead of itself except, of course, if they want to give parents the impression that they have NO choice in schools. That, of course, is wrong. "Some tours will still happen, although they have been confusingly renamed "visits." But many schools will only offer one or two, instead of four or five or more, as used to be the case. The district has made this change quietly and without explanation."...

( Update: January 9th - I talked with Tracy Libros' assistant, Paige, and they will be posting information on school tours. So there will be tours. What made this a mess is because from my call to TOPS, principals were told one thing. Then, the district's press release only says open houses in the main text and in the list of open houses it says tours are in mid-Feb. Tracy, in her presentation to the board, said all schools would have tours mid-Feb. to mid-March. That's pretty confusing information and you have to wonder how it happened. I am seeing now more schools are posting tour information. KEEP IN MIND that some schools are starting in January and some not until February. Really want to know? Don't depend on the district; go to the school website or call the school directly. No, it's not fun to have to do the work on your own but it may be the best way to create your own schedule of schools to visit. It would make it easier if some were in January ...

It was requested that we start a tour thread so here it is. My thoughts: - tours can absolutely make or break a school if there is any doubt in parents' minds. Crabby or indifferent office staff, snotty tour guides, lack of energy in the building, no family activities that say "this school is fun and welcoming". Worse of all ( to me) a lackluster principal. - Having said that, I've been a tour guide in every school my kids attended. I loathe parents who come in and don't realize that the guides are volunteers and can't possibly know every answer. The answer to a question you don't know the answer to is "I don't know the answer to that but I'll find someone who does." (But tour guides should know basic school layout, clubs/after school activities available and whatever special programs are in the building.) I don't like parents who come in with their friends and proceed to whisper and act like they are at a coffee hour instead of a to...