Seattle Schools Community Forum

A fine article from a Rainier Beach student, Ifrah Abshir, writing at Occupy.com about issues at RBHS.  Ifrah didn't just write this article to complain but had spent the summer working with Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools at RBHS  to try to address the issues at Beach.

Good coverage by Publicola over the Mayor's huge Transportation levy and safe walk/bike routes for students.  The group ( Seattle Greenways ) believes that upgrading walk sheds around the city’s 97 schools with bike and ped safety amenities will transform Seattle into a  perambulatory paradise—not just for kids, but, by planning for kids’ safety, the strategy would simultaneously benefit everyone. Disappointed in the plan’s $7 million line item for Safe Routes to School, they called for $40 million. Mayor Ed Murray spokesman Jason Kelly tells me that despite the $7 million line item listed in the presentation to council, the mayor’s plan actually spends $47 million on Safe Routes to School programs. Kelly says there’s $7 million in the levy, plus $33 million from school zone cameras and $7 million in grants that would complete one Safe Routes to School project at every Seattle public school. Greenways director Cathy Tuttle says she’s well aware of the ...

I will be reviewing the School Board agenda for the Board meeting coming up this week on Wednesday.  It looks like It looks like Concord, Roxhill and Graham Hill  may be losing some of their bus service.  Transportation standards item from agenda here .  (The changes are fairly extensive as there is sunsetting of some standards.  One thing I wish that staff would do, especially for exceptions to standards for some schools, is explain WHY these schools get an exception.  There could be good reasons but again, when you are looking at equity issues lack of clarity doesn't help.) And it appears there will be further cuts to Graham Hill.  I am puzzled by this especially for a school that has already had its share AND given serious safety concerns that parents have repeatedly brought before the Board. There seems to be equity issues arising from the assignment plan in terms of how many options some parents are able to get their children to school, t...

I'm confused.  What part of kids and a crosswalk do drivers not understand? Last night at about 6:30 pm, a 7-year-old girl was hit, not once but by two different cars and both cars left the scene.  Apparently she was with a group of people (kids?) and she got hit.  This is both near a park and a Boys&Girls Club.  She was (naturally) severely injured.  From Publicola: Since 2007, SBB reports, at least 32 major collisions involving a pedestrian or cyclist occurred within 10 blocks of that intersection since 2007, including one in which the victim was killed. MLK only escapes being considered the most dangerous street in Seattle because Rainier Ave., a few blocks to the west, takes that dubious honor; just a few weeks ago, a driver plowed through a hair salon and Greek restaurant at the north end of Columbia City, injuring numerous people. Last week, I was driving right by Roosevelt High School. There were two teen girls crossing 15th NE to get to t...

 Board Amendment Work Session Wed. November 13th, 5:30 pm John Stanford Center for Excellent Education at 3rd and Lander in SoDo This will be the first preview of proposed, first-draft Board Director Amendments.  Note that whatever is presented today may not see daylight in the end.  The Seattle Council PTSA hosted a meeting last night with district staff.  Here is what one person heard: "It is clear that there is going to be pain involved for almost every school in the district. It was like an opera of issues.   The schools that were the happiest were those that got to meet with the district and work out solutions they could live with.

We are fortunate to have some really smart, savvy and qualified-to-speak parents like Kellie LaRue.  She has written to the Board about the Growth Boundaries and below are her thoughts.  I support them all. Yes, I know that there has been a lot of good, hard work on this effort.  But because parents were not really included in the planning in a meaningful way, we are now at the point where people are wildly trying to get their own relief.  That there IS so much pain, in many areas, says to me that the plan is fatally flawed.  (That Director Patu wants the entire SE taken off the table says something.) I urge you to read the entire thing. Kellie's Thoughts: I  urge all Board Members  t o vote the Growth Boundaries plan down in its entirety .  I nstead focus on a 2014-only plan.  I do not make this recommendation lightly. I have sincere and substantial respect for the amazing work of staff, in particular Tracy Libros  an...

I have received word that there were several neighborhood boundary meetings last night for Wedgwood/Eckstein and Hamilton.  It's unclear who organized them. If you attended, perhaps you could give us feedback. 

I had a request for a thread on Board Director amendments.  I say the SCPTSA and the SPED PTA should join together and get all the local PTAs to say no to this morass of a mess.  But I don't think even the "go-slow" idea will get much traction.  Here's the thing.  Past experience shows that there is a fair amount of horsing trading among Directors when these big changes come along.  Most Directors might offer two amendments about their region at most. I'm not saying every amendment will pass but if it was well thought-out and any ripple effects considered minimal, it stands a better chance of succeeding.  So don't just say "They should change X."  Help the Directors and give any amendment idea legs to stand on. So what do you think is the most grievous mistake in this third iteration of the Growth Boundaries plan and how would you want to see it amended?

(Note: readers started commenting on this at the Friday Open Thread.  I had thought to try to transfer their comments to this new thread but was unable to do so.  I created a new thread as to make this huge issue, front and center here.) From SPS: The recommendations below go to the Board on November 6 for action on November 20. (The information from previous proposals is now obsolete.) Two Types of Recommendations Long-range boundaries that will be phased in as construction is completed by 2020.  Map showing long-range boundaries to be phased in  through 2020 Recommendations for specific components to implement next year.  Map showing recommedations to implement for the  2014-15 school year Board Materials Board Action Report (BAR) for November 6 Complete maps packet for the Board  (includes more detailed attendance area maps, feeder patterns, and geozone maps) Reference materials for the Board Summaries of public input— ...

Monday, Oct. 14th As previously noted, 8 am today is the sign-up time for the Speakers list for the School Board meeting on Wednesday.  They are likely to take 25 speakers as I'm sure many parents will be calling in to get onto the list. Curriculum & Instruction Committee meeting , 4-6 p.m.  Agenda .  This agenda has been drastically clipped since it was last viewed.   Gone is discussion of AP Computer Science and Policy 3130 (Student Assignment).  What is left is the Annual Approval of Schools, Math Adoption Progress Report, and Policy 2255, Alternative Learning Experience Schools OR Programs.  Hmm. Tuesday, Oct. 15 Candidate forum at Center House at Seattle Center, put on by City Club.  Doors open at 5 p.m. and the Mayoral and School Board candidates are to be there.   Wednesday, Oct. 16th School Board meeting at 4:15 p.m.  Agenda   (partially noted below) revised policy 2015 - Selection/Adoption of Instru...

 Updates: - there were full tables and most were about one school or area.  There was a Coe table, a Beacon Hill table (with some hard facts about the changes for that area), a TT Minor table, Montlake, etc. - I found these to be people who knew their facts and, if they didn't, wanted to find out more.  One man pushed back against the format, asking why staff couldn't explain who thought up the boundaries and explain them.  He was told they just wanted "comments and feedback."  I don't think many were satisfied with that answer. -Rep Jamie Pedersen was there and he spoke as a father of four (one in school).  I think he's getting a good picture of the issues. Takeaways : - this region HAS had a lot of push-pull from the district.  I honestly had not realized how bad it has been.   And, like other regions, the boundaries are NOT taking into account established "community boundaries or geographical features.  For example, one are...

The Stranger follows up on this question with some answers (but still with question marks): As you may have noticed, the city began using automated cameras to enforce speed limits near four schools in December of 2012, and they're going to expand the program to install cameras near five more schools next year. By June, the city had issued 30,400 tickets at $189 a pop. While initially estimated to bring in some $800,000 in revenue for the year, they're now expecting closer to $5 million. Five million? Wow, wouldn't that fund crossing guards (the City used to pay and stopped several years back)? This morning, the council's government performance and finance committee approved a bill that would create a separate fund for those traffic-camera dollars, so that how, when, and on what the money is spent would be more carefully restricted. There's been talk of simply making sure whatever amount is raised from traffic-camera tickets would then be budgeted toward school...

 Executive Committee agenda for Wednesday.  Hey, all of you waiting for next year's school calendar - they will be discussing that.  (I note that other districts have theirs published already.) Audit& Finance agenda for Thursday.  I see there is a "resolution" about moving leases and rental revenue to the General Fund.  Well, okay but ONLY if it goes to building maintenance.  Those are really capital dollars and should go to capital needs.  But I'll bet they won't.  Work Session presentation on Boundaries. 

There's a great program going on in several of our elementary schools called the Walking Bus, where families walk their children and other students to school. It's an effort to get kids more exercise, show them that walking is a viable way to get around and, of course, cut back on emissions. Nicole Brodeur of the Times had a column this morning about the program at Phinney Ridge which has been going on for 5 years (this one 10-year points out that that's half his life, very cute). I believe there are programs at Phinney Ridge, Lawton Elementary, Graham Hill, Sacajawea, Concord International and John Muir. Some schools do this every day and some, like John Muir, do a "Walking Wednesdays." I believe there is also a program in development at Roxhill Elementary. There is a group called "Feet First" that works to promote more walking in general. They have info there as well. We currently provide a Safe Routes to School program at John Muir and Concor...

From the SPS School Beat : Applicants Needed: The Instructional Services science staff is planning for an anticipated adoption process for high school physical science, physics and chemistry instructional materials . The process will start in late spring 2010 and end in spring 2011. Applications to become a member of this Instructional Materials Adoption Committee will be accepted from March 16 to April 16. The time commitment for each Instructional Materials Adoption Committee member is approximately: • one meeting in late spring 2010, approximately three hours • five six-hour days, approximately one per month in the first seven months of the school year • three after-school meetings, approximately three hours each District educators and community members are encouraged to apply. Seattle Public Schools teachers will be provided with substitute release or extra hours for their time. Community members will participate on a volunteer basis. Please look for the announcement a...

So we are finally here. We've hashed out the SAP, the Board has approved it and what's left is who goes where (at least on paper). There are many issues to consider when we look at the maps. We may end up needing separate threads. For example, one thing I will be looking for (and I hope is in the presentation) is an enrollment number attached to each school. I know that some schools will likely be slightly undersized to allow for growth. Know this so that you can help others understand how they came by the size of the school and therefore its boundaries. It's even trickier for high schools as they will have Open Choice seats that may have sliding percentages based on their freshman class size. I do know that Board members have been thinking about walk distances and the most basic question is: what is a reasonable walk distance for elementary, middle and high schools ? The transportation eligibility distances - 1 mile for elementary, 2 miles for middle and 2.5 miles ...