Seattle Schools Community Forum

From Wayne Barnett of the City's Ethics & Elections Commission (bold mine):

Whoever you are supporting in the School Board races, please step up to help your candidate.  Offer to go doorbelling or hold a sign at a Farmers' Market.  The candidates have contact info at their websites so check there as well.  One opportunity I have learned of is phone bank calling for Marty McLaren on Wednesday from the Labor Temple at 2nd and Broad from 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.    Just show up and I know they will put you to work (you don't have to stay the whole time).  It's a lot less scary than it sounds.  Most people are grateful for the help on their vote.

Wednesday, the 10th  Executive Committee meeting - 8:00-10:00 am No agenda yet available. Thursday the 11th League of Education Voters Charter School On-line Discussion - noon Signup here .    From their website: If you have questions that you'd like us to answer during the chat about public charters, please send them ahead of time to info@educationvoters.org. The chat will last 30 minutes, so you'll have plenty of time for lunch! I'll be writing a thread on charters this week They also have an on-line quiz about charters which isn't entirely right. For example, on principal powers,  " principals in charters can hire anyone and make all salary decisions ."  This is their "correct" answer but then they say " ultimately, how much authority principals are given depends upon how the charter law is written ." Oh.  Most charter laws say you have to hire a certificated teacher.  So that's not "anyone." Another e...

Linda Shaw's final article in the Seattle Times was printed this morning.   She writes about the various "education advocacy groups" that are heavily funded by Gates including League of Education Voters, the Partnership for Learning and Stand for Children.  From her article: Here at home, as well as nationally, the Seattle-based foundation is a powerful player in public education. It underwrites groups pushing for change, bankrolls projects and helps out-of-state organizations establish themselves here. With that backing, Washington state now has a broader, stronger group of voices clamoring to bring much of the national education reform agenda here. Some consider that progress, saying the foundation is helping bring Washington out of the backwater when it comes to education policy. But others disagree, saying the foundation's deep pockets buy more influence than it deserves.

From reader Aggrivated, comes this Salon article about...sigh, class size.  Really?  Still?

People who are not currently registered to vote in Washington should visit King County Elections at 919 Southwest Grady Way, Renton by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 8 to register in person. Elections office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registered voters who have not received a ballot, or need a replacement, should call the voter hotline at 206-296-VOTE (8683).

Thank you so much for the suggestions on the blog changes.  I'll give updates on the progress but I hope to get it done within two weeks.  Sad to say but next week the district is gearing up to start meetings after the summer hiatus.  I note that Wednesday there is an Executive Committee meeting and Friday is the BEX Oversight Committee meeting.  I hope to be able to let you know how to apply to sit on the BEX Committee as they are looking for new members. If you are so inclined, happy Seafair!