Seattle Schools Community Forum

Yet another stupid, yet potentially lethal, "no you do it" challenge is racing around the country.  It's called the Cinnamon Challenge and basically, it's swallowing a teaspoon of it without water.  (I recall this as trying to swallow a half-cup of flour in my day.) Now you think, "Cinnamon - how bad can it be?"  The issue is that cinnamon is a minor caustic that can burn mouth tissue and, worse, can cause breathing difficulties.  If a child has respiratory issues such as asthma, it could be life-threatening (as has been the issue in several cases throughout the country where children had to be put on ventilators.  It seems like you wouldn't have to tell a kid not to do this but I can see how they think cinnamon is sweet and delicious as it seems it is on a Cinnabon. Fantastic guest column in the Washington Post's The Answer Sheet by Ronald Willett, a former university professor, researcher and administrator and former corporate executive.  Th...

I've been receiving e-mails of parents receiving robocalls from Stand for Children and A+Washington. First, I thought it was discounted that these things work.  Even when Mayor McGinn calls, I generally don't listen (sorry Mr. Mayor, really busy).  Apparently Stand and A+Washington think they work. Here's two calls (that one person received - note, this person does not even live in Rep. Pettigrew's district so even more annoying): Hi, this is Ann from Stand For Children. I'm calling to publicly thank your legislator, Representative Eric Pettigrew, for his leadership on education in this year's legislative session. Thanks to Representative Pettigrew, kids in Washington state will have better access to great teachers, and principals will have the flexibility to evaluate teachers on performance and skills, not just seniority. Next time you see Representative Pettigrew, please thank him for his leadership for children this year. Hi, this is Mary Grace from A...

In my rush to put up the Crosscut article about the superintendent search, I had only skimmed the article. My mistake as I found what is likely to be a key issue (especially, it seems, to Crosscut); ed reform. From the article: The meeting, whose agenda included many other items, ran nearly two hours overtime. By the end the board members were either punch-drunk or giddy. But they’d squared the circle: Save for that Muslim/African omission, they had assembled a broadly balanced and representative roster seeded with institutional memory, heavy-hitters, and critics rather than pushovers. The question remains: How much can a late-inning focus group guided by search doctors do to temper the influence of the staff and unions, keep reform in sight, and, just maybe, build support for whoever gets the job? But regardless of that outcome, this coalition of coalitions has won something just by coalescing in an orderly, unified intervention. They’ve built a base for pressing the...

What a week! Please keep those phone calls and e-mails up to the Governor and legislative reps.  If you have time for only one - make it the Governor. 

Charlie and I held back on this info but not Crosscut. And that's okay; as has been said, it was a public meeting (and I was wondering who that other guy in the room was).   For myself, I held back in order to allow the Board time to contact potential committee members and firm up the group.   There is the expectation a couple of them might have to say no.  (Also, it was done in such a haphazard manner I thought I might get some of those picked mixed up with alternates.) I also held back because honestly, I feared if I stated them, then later on if things go rough, this blog would be accused of hurting the process.  I guess I should not allow that kind of worry to dominate what gets printed it but getting attacked on a regular basis for printing what is actually public information can get tough. The author, Eric Scigliano, gets it mostly right but he still didn't understand that there are(were) three committees.  Definitely on the committee:...

Here's the latest from The Olympian story today.  From the Governor (who is vastly irritated with all sides the longer this takes) Never mind its contents: Gov. Chris Gregoire teed off on a Senate Republican budget plan backed by a coalition including three Democrats today, mainly because of the secret process that produced it. The Democrat told reporters it came as a surprise to parties that she has tried to bring together this week for inclusive, “five-corner” budget talks. And she said, the plan includes a charter-schools proposal she will automatically veto. The governor does have some leverage. She says she won’t sign bills that lawmakers want if they don’t get on the stick and produce a budget that can be supported by 50 House members, 25 Senate members and one signature – hers. She got me a little worried when I read this: Asked if she would actually veto bills, Gregoire said: “I gave them a message today. My message is this: I’m not signing your bills....

Public education IS education and I learned some new things today.  (If you already know this, power to you but I'm still learning.) So technically, while the charter bill is in the budget, the bill itself has to be passed.  Also, if the Governor doesn't sign the bill, it won't pass and the money embedded in the budget for it lapses (and goes elsewhere).  Frankly, I can think of many other education needs for nearly $800k. So job one is to write your legislators. Super job one is to write the Governor.   I plan on writing or calling every single day.  FYI, they tend to get thousands of e-mails and phone calls; snail mail is a good option. Her e-message page Governor Chris Gregoire Office of the Governor PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504-0002 Call Governor Gregoire's Office: 360-902-4111 Fax Governor Gregoire: 360-753-4110