Seattle Schools Community Forum

I just wanted to note one thing from this thread about the recent Management Letter from the SAO to the district.  It covered quite a few items like a mysterious $50K salary increase to the Native American program director (now gone) and raises for all the upper management in HR (still no explanation).  There was also an issue about a couple of schools that appear to have allowed events at their school but did not charge for use of the building and, in one case, tried to make it appear like it was a school function.  This may have been to build goodwill in the community and/or make some money for the school.  (When a building is rented, the money goes to the district, not the school.)  It is unclear in either case whether the school actually got any funds but it is clear the district DID lose money. The main culprit seemed to be Cleveland STEM which allowed a couple of basketball tournaments to be at the school as well as a basketball league being allowed t...

From KPLU : Taking stock of his first year at the helm of Seattle Public Schools, Banda told KPLU a divided board has a definite effect on how he does his job. “[That’s the] reason for my taking a very strong stand with the board to say that we need to be able to do that job unimpeded. They need to have trust in the leadership team, that what we’re doing is in the best interests of the district and our children, ultimately,” he said. Well, yes, but he's new, a lot of the leadership team is new and until everyone has shown some mettle, I'm on the side of Board oversight. Banda said the job review process took place over several weeks, and that he believes by the end he was able to win over the skeptics. “I believe that I have the full support of all seven members of the board,” Banda said. Any change of heart is not reflected in the report produced by the board, and no board member has said publicly that he or she has come around from doubting Banda’s lead...

A couple of good articles about how we think about our lives (and possibly public education).  One is from the NY Times and it's about nostalgia science .  I bring this one up because I notice that at comment sections from other media that there is this "when I went to school..." talk as if education in the 50s-60s-70s used to be better.  Do you think you had a better K-12 public education than your children?  The other article sparked a disagreement between my young adult son and me.  It's from the Wall Street Journal and it asks the question - was life simpler way back when (or, at least, when you were growing up)?  He says no and I say yes.  In one way, we are both right.  My generation faced a cold war and the start of AIDS and any number of big issues.  But my point was more about the complications for children and young people today.  I think it's more of a dizzying world for them with masses of content coming at them ever...

Not exactly a surprise. In the last couple election cycles the Times has endorsed two candidates in the primary. Not so this time. Editorial: Suzanne Dale Estey and Stephan Blanford for Seattle School Board

A long-time research group (formerly Gilmore Research Group but now Northwest Insights) is doing a study about school websites in downtown Seattle on July 12th, 15th or 16th.  HOW : If you are interested in this study, please click the link below to answer some of our pre-screening questions (or copy and paste the link into your web browser). If it looks like you might be a match, we'll call and ask some additional questions to see if you qualify to participate.  Link :  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3FFGC6C They will be paying $100 for your time.

Remember that thinking, after the mass killings at an elementary school earlier this year, that we should arm teachers and staff at our schools ?  Well, Kansas passed a law allowing teachers and others to be armed.  Guess what the problem is ? Via TPM: An insurance company based in Iowa has refused to renew coverage for Kansas schools that permit teachers and staff to carry concealed firearms on campus, the Des Moines Register reported  on Sunday. EMC Insurance Cos. made the decision after Kansas enacted a new law to allow the concealed guns on campus. The company told the newspaper the decision was based on financial policy, not politics. The company reportedly covers 85 to 90 percent of Kansas school districts. "We’ve been writing school business for almost 40 years, and one of the underwriting guidelines we follow for schools is that any on-site armed security should be provided by uniformed, qualified law enforcement officers,” Mick Lovell, EMC’s vice ...

I hope each of you has a safe and fun 4th of July holiday weekend. What's on your mind?