Seattle Schools Community Forum

: From: Office of Public Affairs Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 7:04 PM Subject: School Board elects new officers Seattle School Board elects new officers The Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors on Wednesday night elected the following new officers for the 2013 calendar year: Kay Smith-Blum – President Betty Patu – Vice President Sharon Peaslee– Member at Large Smith-Blum was elected by a 4-3 vote, with Directors Betty Patu, Sharon Peaslee and Marty McLaren voting for her election and Directors Michael DeBell, Harium Martin-Morris and Sherry Carr voting against. Director Carr was also nominated as Board President but her election was defeated by a 4-3 vote, with Directors Patu, Peaslee, McLaren and Smith-Blum voting no. Both Patu and Peaslee were elected to their positions unanimously. As Board President, Smith-Blum will preside at all Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings and sign all papers and documents as required by law or as authorized by the action of th...

This thread is for any and all thoughts, concerns, gripes about Advanced Learning.  I'm doing this in hopes that people at both ends of the "spectrum" will QUIT highjacking other threads with their opinions/gripes about Advanced Learning.  And FYI, Advanced Learning is NOT the major issue in our capacity management problems.  You are welcome to ask anyone at district headquarters working on capacity management that question.  (I will also ask that unless you have definite proof - an e-mail from Bob Vaughan or  other district official saying that most of the kids in APP got there through private testing, then ONLY state that as your opinion.  That claim is often made here and yet, where's the proof?  If you don't have it, then don't say it. ) I am not personally interested in the discussion over whether some people don't like that some kids are in separate classrooms/schools.   It's not that I don't believe you are entitled to y...

A.G. Rud, the dean of the College of Education at Washington State University, and Ken Zeichner, professor of Teacher Education at UW, have written a quiet op-ed reviewing the most important ideas in enacting charters in Washington State. They express the concern, based on fact, that some of the more successful charter models have a "stripped down" curriculum that focuses on the basics but has little else for a well-rounded student. A lean curriculum focused only on improving standardized test scores is common among schools run by charter-management organizations elsewhere in the country. As documented by prominent education historian Larry Cuban, franchise-school operators such as Rocketship often target low-income communities and offer a stripped-down version of schools that most charter advocates would not want for their own children.  They also offer these recommendations (and they are valid - transparency and accountability are key): • Ensuring that the cha...

The Puget Sound Educational Service District was one of the 13 winner in the latest round of Race to the Top .

Short-Term Capacity meeting packed.  A lot of (and excess) explanations and I think parents are chomping at the bit to get questions started.  Big APP at Lincoln contingent along with Adams.  Not sure who else is here. Boundary changes off the table until outcome of BEX done.  Not even changing middle school feeder patterns. Meeting on Friday at Hamilton with principal and staff so they can discuss options.  Hamilton/APP at Lincoln parents, you might ask about attending to listen or asking for minutes from that meeting. Move APP from Hamilton to McClure?  That was one option proposed.  Staff not really enthused but thought it could be discussed but not as a short-term solution. Question about fire safety at Eckstein but staff says they do drills and do comply with needed safety activities (even if they don't have sprinklers everywhere). One parent question - where is Teaching and Learning and Advanced Learning over moving APP students from H...

I note that tomorrow is ....12-12-12 (one of the last repetitive dates we'll see for quite awhile). Also, according to the Mayan calendar, the world is to end on December 21st and apparently, many throughout the world are taking this seriously. How is it that the end of the world has been predicted, time after time, and yet we are still here? We'll be here at the blog on December 22nd so come join us if the world hasn't ended and/or become the land of the Walking Dead (and when is that zombie apocalypse coming)? 

The Do-It Scholars Program at UW announced they are adding sophomores and juniors to this program.  Do-It is a comprehensive program for teens with disabilities.   More info here. Six Seattle schools were named 2012 Schools of Distinction for academic improvements in math and reading by the Center for Educational Effectiveness, the Association of Educational Service Districts, the Association of Washington School Principals, Phi Delta Kappa-Washington Chapter, Washington Association of School Administrators, Washington State ASCD and Washington State School Directors’ Association.  The SPS schools were among 96 statewide. The schools were: Greenwood Elementary School Hamilton International Middle School Jane Addams K-8 McClure Middle School Mercer Middle School Wing Luke Elementary School Leschi PE techer, Paul Chappell, was honored as  Symetra Hero in the Classroom for his work at Leschi as well as volunteering as a coach and volunteer (he c...