Seattle Schools Community Forum

From Superintendent Banda (I haven't reviewed the presentation yet myself): To meet the needs of our growing enrollment, Seattle Public Schools is considering boundary changes for the 2014-15 school year. We will not change any boundaries or assignments for the upcoming 2013-14 school year.   In anticipation of these changes, we are having conversations about our current schools and programs with our stakeholders. On Wednesday, district staff will present several options to the School Board for early consideration, including for  Hamilton International Middle School . We recommend increasing the number of highly capable (APP) elementary and middle school pathways, with guaranteed assignment, to increase access and bring services closer to where students live. If approved, this means APP services will be offered at additional sites – beyond Hamilton and Washington Middle School.   Again, these are all preliminary conversations. We will host five community meetings th...

The Mayor's office has a School Road Safety Survey that they would like families to take.  If you haven't taken it yet, please do so in the name of better safety for all.  Thanks!

I have a two-fold purpose to this thread.  One is to continue to provide food for thought about what your child's generation faces in terms of privacy.  Yes, I know, just as many say "advertising is all around them so who cares if it's in their test materials", I'm sure there are those of you who will shrug.  Whether we like it, think it's just the wave of the future or what, the fact is that things are going to be different for our children.  Two is to ask for help in trying to gather and organize information on privacy issues around testing.  This is needs to have an alarm sounded and loudly.  That I don't hear it coming from the PTA is even more troubling.  (And actually the national PTA loudly supports Common Core which is where the problem comes from.)  What's interesting is that state PTAs are sounding the alarm (I'll have to see if I can find out what Washington state PTA is doing).  In Missouri, parents point out, that in 201...

Tuesday, May 28th Charter Commission meeting from 10 am to 5 pm at TAF in White Center.  Agenda .   Updates on finances, the Ex Director search, bylaws, etc.  Public comment is at 11:24 am and you can sign up at the meeting.  Wednesday, May 29th Curriculum& Instruction Policy Committee of the Whole Meeting: Growth Boundaries from 4-6 p.m. The agenda is quite terse/vague so I'm not sure what they are really aiming for here. This should be interesting as all the directors should be there and what they have to say about C&I vis a vis boundaries. Work Session: General Contractor/Construction Manager from 6-6:45 pm. A head scratcher, this one.  A work session to discuss a construction hire?  The agenda says nothing and has no presentation attached. Thursday, May 30th Operations Committee Meeting from 4-6 p.m., no agenda yet available. Saturday, June 1 Board retreat from 10 am to 5 pm at City University, 521 Wall Street.  No agen...

1) So how is TFA doing in our region?  From what I can see, not so great.  There are about 17 TFA teachers in the region.  Now as you may recall, a UW Vice-Provost, Dave Szatmary, had closely questioned the dean of the College of Education, Tom Stritikus, about the costs to UW. Szatmary: What assurances does UW have that the enrollments in TFA will increase to 50 in year 2?  How long would we be willing to run the program at a loss if the increased enrollments do not occur? Stritikus: This is TFA's growth plan,  They have hit their growth plans in virtually every district nationally.  If I were a betting man (which I am), I'd say they'll hit it." Well, this is coming into year three and they still don't even have 20.  So yes, folks, as tuition rises and the number of spots open in the freshman class get ever competitive, yes, UW has the money to lose on a program that apparently most districts in our state do NOT want.  I am still unclear ...

Start of the Memorial Day weekend - give a bit of time to remembering our vets (and tell your children why it's important).  I say this every year at this time but I do it in remembrance of their sacrifice.  Thank you to my mother's cousin, Charles, who gave his life during WWII at the Baatan Death March and to Harry S. Ravenna, who died in Vietnam.  I wore his name on a MIA bracelet during junior high.  Inspiration for your student - a short video by This American Life's Ira Glass, on the creative process (and persistence). And, since it's prom season, a photos of President Obama going off to his prom. What's on your mind?

Not sure if this helps but from SPS: Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association have agreed to key dates for next year’s school calendar, including: • frst day of school: Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013; • winter break: two weeks, from Dec. 23, 2013, to Jan. 3, 2014; • mid-winter break: Feb. 17-21, 2014, including the Presidents Day holiday; • spring break: April 14-18, 2014; and • last day of school: yet to be determined (June 18 or 19, 2014). The calendar also builds in four snow make-up days, including Jan. 31, 2014, May 23, 2014, and the two days after the last day of school. It’s important that families should plan for students to potentially be in school during these days, and to note that the last day of school could be Monday, June 23, 2014. Still undetermined are three professional development days, designed to allow teachers and other instructional staff time to collaborate and participate in professional development activities...