Seattle Schools Community Forum

Anyone who has lived a couple of decades on this planet knows that life is full of nuance (even if we don't want to admit it).   We know that life isn't always fair. But in my years in advocacy, I have always puzzled over why some don't want to be entirely truthful when it comes to certain issues.  They may have privately looked at an issue from all sides but publicly, what they say, that's a different question. This is the case in the charter school bill.  I am fine (truly) with anyone who wants charters.  However, this bill is bad and it really is troubling that those who want charters would accept such a lousy bill just to get charters in Washington State. I have repeatedly called out several big issues with the bill.  Not one single person, at any blog, at any forum, in any e-mail, any phone call, has addressed a one of them.  It's like they don't exist.   I got this nonsense over at LEV. "No bill is perfect."

Important: Lowell Community Meeting this Thursday night.  To all parents, staff and other members of the Lowell community. Do you have questions and concerns about Lowell Elementary’s future? Please come to a community meeting with Nancy Coogan, executive director of schools for the Seattle Public Schools’ central region, which includes Lowell. She wants to hear and address our concerns about Lowell’s present and its future. The meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 16, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Lowell lunchroom. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and get answers. Parents and staff at Lowell, let us know how it goes.  

The West Seattle Blog is reporting that principal Jo Lute-Ervin will not be returning to Lafayette next year. Ms Lute-Ervin has served as the principal for a number of schools in the past few years.

Guess I'm confused because I thought it was Valentine's Day and not April Fool's Day.  My confusion is the sudden appearance of the Creative Approach MOU back on the agenda for tomorrow night's School Board meeting.  This is action to vote on it.  It has NOT been amended in any way.  Director Peaslee is wisely offering an amendment to it to make sure there is Board (publicly elected) oversight. The SEA refused to take it back to its membership.   (I'm thinking it has something to do with Jonathan Knapp wanting to be SEA president and worried he would lose face if the MOU had to be reviewed by membership.  There's some real courage of convictions for you.) Here's the crux of the issue.  I like this idea of school communities working with teachers and the district to find ways to improve student outcomes using more autonomy and flexibility.  However, what the Board is voting on is to vote itself out of the loop.  This is NOT right....

No joke. From SPS: The Washington State Dairy Princess and a baby calf are visiting Seattle elementary schools this week to share the story of dairy’s farm-to-table journey and the benefits of dairy and calcium for children’s growing bodies. The visit is part of the Washington Grown Harvest of the Month program, designed to engage students in a variety of settings where nutrition education can have the biggest impact -- the classroom, cafeteria and home. Each month, a Washington-grown item will be showcased; in February, the highlight is on dairy products. When and where: Tuesday, Feb. 14   Roxhill Elementary, 9430 30th Ave. S.W. 98126 Wednesday, Feb. 15   Greenwood Elementary, 144  N.W. 80th 98117 Thursday, Feb. 16th, Montlake Elementary, 2409 22nd Ave East All appearances will be in the cafeteria from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Why: This program is  offered through a Centers for Disease Control and Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant...

What's on your mind?

Well look at this - a Broad superintendent going behind a School Board's back to hire more TFA (as they lay off more real teachers ).  This is in Cobb County Georgia.   Unbelievably, they are paying $8k per TFA per year (as opposed to SPS's $4k per year and Federal Way's $3k per year). (Thanks to all who posted links or wrote to me.)