Seattle Schools Community Forum

We see a lot of plans, projects, and PowerPoints from the District. Each of these generally include a list of Action Items. This is a sort of "To Do" list - the steps that staff need to take to see the project to completion. Once the project has gotten started they usually grow an "accomplishments" list - the steps that have already been taken. For the staff of Seattle Public Schools these lists are the canvas on which they practice their art - the art of the inaction verb. I'm sure that people have read my rants about these before. Those rants have been mostly general in nature and you might question their veracity. Today I would like to offer a contempary example and de-construct it. This is from the Board Action Report on Resolution 2010/11-3 - Response to the State Audits: The district has put into place a number of responses, including: * The School Board is developing a comprehensive plan to address the audit findings as well as to improve oversi...

A number of people have let me know about an e-mail that the Superintendent sent out on Friday to all staff. She says this in the opening paragraph: "I am writing to share some facts with you about the operations levy on the November 2 ballot. I ask you in turn to share this information with your family members and neighbors to ensure they are fully informed about the purpose of this levy request. " She goes on to outline info about the levy and then urges people to remember to vote. She does not tell anyone how to vote. I called and talked to the PDC about the e-mail. Because she does give information on how much the levy is asking for and its costs to taxpayers, that is considered to be balanced. (Yes, I know that is funny that including the amount of the levy balances her message.) As well, I was told by the district that she frequently discusses policy issues via e-mail. So the e-mail is legal. I asked a couple of people I know at UW if they ever get e-mails a...

(Update at bottom.) From the SPS communications department, we found ourselves a Chief Talent Officer. No, don't get all excited that there is someone combing the schools for the next Justin Bieber. It's just the new-fangled way of saying the new head of Human Services. (I'm sorry but that is just a ridiculous name that doesn't fool anyone hired at SPS into thinking, "gee I'm talented AND people like me!") We also have a new Director of Labor and Employee Relations AND a new Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Partnerships. Ann Chan is from Chicago Public Schools (hey, maybe she knows Arne Duncan) and our Talent Officer. Howard Pripas is the Employee and Labor guy who hails from the University of California system but was previously at UW from 2001-2004. Mark Teoh is the new Executive Director of Strategic Planning et al. He comes from the Boston school system. (Now he follows a woman who had her salary paid for one year by the Alliance a...

From CPPS: What Do Parents Want in South end Schools? SE Parent Leadership Project Kickoff Tuesday, October 19th, 7pm Mercer Middle School 1600 Columbian Way (enter the parking lot from westbound Columbian Way) To make our public schools in south and southeast Seattle the quality neighborhood schools we want them to be, CPPS SE parents are organizing outreach and training for parent leadership and advocacy in the Aki Kurose and Mercer Middle School feeder patterns. This project offers opportunity for community members to share their perspectives on schooling in these neighborhoods, to tell about their own experiences and desires for their children, AND to develop a collective advocacy voice for the changes they need. Join us on Tuesday to talk about: a community video to tell our schools' stories parent leadership and advocacy training to meet YOUR needs a parents' agenda for quality neighborhood schools Can't make the meeting but have a story to tell? Cont...

The Stranger invited both sides of the Supplemental School Levy to write posts for their news blog, SLOG. You can read them here and here .

Here's an item of interest from the Magnolia Voice blog about the closed Magnolia School. On Saturday evening SPD officers were called in to search the building for squatters. There were also SPS security personnel involved. They found 3 squatters. From the blog; Officers on the scene said that squatters hide in the building as well as the overgrown bushes and it’s a drain on resources for SPD to keep up with the abandoned property. Brad (a Magnolia reader)says: “My concern, like many residents living around the school is Seattle Public schools doesn’t have any money to adequately keep up the property and deter crime, let alone do anything major with it. It’s time for them to sell and let someone develop it or turn it into parks. The view would bring a substantial price. Most important, this place needs to go. The safety factor alone for nearby families is an issue in our community.” The school has been vacant for years. Last June we reported that several people...

Director Maier has a community meeting tomorrow morning (the 19th) from 10-11:30 a.m at Lake City Public Library. It seems he may be jockeying with Director Sundquist for president of the School Board. Ask him why he thinks he should be president. (Also, if anyone knows of any good candidates for District 1 - Mr. Maier's seat, please let me know at sss.westbrook@gmail.com. It is always good for every incumbent to have a challenger if only to have a more well-rounded race.) Before the Board meeting there will be a Work Session on "Test Scores." Sounds interesting especially in light of our discussion over MAP scores. They might also discuss Dr. Goodloe-Johnson's interesting comment that maybe some schools might only need to take MAP twice a year or only certain groups of students might need to take MAP 3 times a year. The meeting is from 4-5:30 p.m. Board meeting on Wednesday night so sign up now if you want to be on the Speakers list. (They have, in t...