Seattle Schools Community Forum

Today, we learn that Raj has said "the new Pathfinder/Cooper would be a K-8, but the two schools would work together to form the details of the program. He said it " wouldn't necessarily keep two hallmarks of the Pathfinder program: a Native American focus and expeditionary learning ." Why does Raj recommend destroying a wonderful and successful alternative program at Pathfinder to create a new one? This is a blatant example of the operations tail wagging the academic dog (to borrow one of Charlie's fabulous phrases). The Phase II recommendation for Cooper and Pathfinder, as it stands with Raj's most recent "clarifications" would solve a facilities problem at the expense of academic achievement and educational clarity. The district must get priorities straight and measure every recommendation first in terms of the impact on academics and children's learning. See today's Seattle Times article, Parents worry West Seattle's Pathfinder pro...

Today, after two weeks of delay and promises from the district for clarification of Raj's remarks at the 9/20 School Board meeting, this letter was posted on the district website, and will be sent home by kid-mail today. *********************** To the Communities of Cooper and Pathfinder: On September 18, 2006, I made a Preliminary Recommendation for Phase II of school consolidations and closures. This included the recommendation to close the Genesee Hill building where Pathfinder is now located and to move the Pathfinder students to Cooper; and for both schools to collaborate to create a strong alternative K-8 program that will integrate and serve the needs of students from both programs. We realize that many people have read the recommendation to mean that the Pathfinder program will move intact into the Cooper building and that if Cooper students chose to stay they would be welcome. That is not our intention. We want to be very clear about what this recommendation means: The Coo...

Apparently last night's school board meeting continued the recent trend of very emotional public testimony, fueled by issues of race, and obvious conflict among School Board members. Read Seattle School Board meeting turns unruly for details on last night's meeting. Then read A new spirit at School Board meeting , a hopeful article written in 2003 about how wonderful the new School Board members were and how the tone of the meetings and Board collaboration had changed. The change is too depressing for words. So, instead of thinking about the dysfunctional School Board, the inept Superintendent, or the issues of race and class that won't go away no matter how much people want to ignore them, I'll think about the talented and amazing teachers who make a difference for kids every day despite all these problems. Read Education prize spurs tears of joy at Thurgood Marshall . Congratulations Cassandra Baddeley for your prize, and thanks for the wonderful work you do with chi...

I am unable to attend the Board Meeting tonight at 6 pm at the John Stanford Center, but hope many people can. Much of the public testimony is on the Phase II closure recommendations and BEX III. see agenda I can't decipher what the Action Items and Introduction Items are really about. But if you attend and take notes tonight, please send me a message ( E-mail Beth ) and I will post the information for everyone to read.

Several weeks ago, when Raj announced the Phase II recommendations, many people pointed out that Cooper (and other schools) deserved a public hearing held at the school site. (see Public Hearings Needed for Cooper and Other Affected Schools ) Some people were even optimistic that the district would hear this request and respond appropriately. But did it happen? No. Instead, the district has responded that the time at the hearings will be split between the two schools. But this information has not been announced or posted anywhere publicly. In addition, the Pathfinder/Cooper communities have been waiting for a promised letter from the district to "clarify" the Phase II recommendation regarding their schools. (see Cooper/Pathfinder "Clarifying" Remarks "Clarified" ). The latest word from the district is that a letter will be sent home through "kid mail" on Thursday, which is after this week's Board meeting and only a few days before the publi...

The math curriculum debate rages on, here in Seattle, and around the country. At the upcoming School Board meeting this Wednesday, October 4th, Pat Murakami will once again testify on this divisive issue. The conflict is between "reform" math and "traditional" math. An article in the PI from April of this year, Seattle's teaching of math adds up to much confusion , has a good summary of the issues. I think the math debate is like the literacy debate from the 90's, which pitted "phonics" against "whole language" as two opposing ways to help children learn to read. Most teachers now accept that good literacy instruction includes bits of both strategies. Hopefully, the math debate can reach the same place, where quality math curriculum uses some of what is good from both "reform" math and "traditional" math. **** If you are interested in learning more about math curriculum and instructional strategies, there are several u...

From an AS#1 parent, Lucy Sloman, I got the letter that the Building Leadership Team (BLT) sent to Raj. Below is an excerpt: By an unanimous vote, the AS#1 Building Leadership Team rejects the consolidation of AS#1 and Summit at the Jane Addams building, as a part of the district’s Phase II budget plan. There are many reasons why consolidation of these two programs is not good for Seattle students, including: § Jane Addams’ building capacity is 700 to 780 students; the current enrollment of the two schools is well over 800; typical enrollment of the two programs would result in almost 900 students in the Jane Addams’ facility. Overcrowded facilities and/or the use of portables does not support student learning or the programs of either school. This is a disrespectful approach to the committed communities and programs of AS#1 and Summit. § Seattle School District’s alternative schools and their programs are not interchangeable, or necessarily compatible in terms of edu...