Seattle Schools Community Forum

 UPDATE:   If you’re the parent of a soon-to-be middle-schooler, mark your calendars for this Thursday, January 29th. McClure Middle School is hosting an Open House and Tour to help families learn more about Queen Anne’s neighborhood middle school. Incoming students can learn more about their new school and parents can learn more about what McClure offers its students. Check out the flyer below for all the information you need to know: http://mcclurems.seattleschools.org/ End of update If you are a member of your PTA, you might consider weighing in on the issue of hybrid mayoral control of the school board to both your unit (if they are taking a stand) and to the SCPTSA .  President – Katherine Schomer, president@scptsa.org Legislative Chair – Eden Mack, legchair@scptsa.org I think my stand is pretty clear; no.  It's not democratic, it questions voters abilities to make their own choice, there is no proof that the current mayor has any real credibilit...

Tuesday, Jan. 27th Kindergarten Enrollment night , 5:30-7:00 pm, Northgate Elementary, open to all. Wednesday, Jan. 29th Work Sessions : • Oversight Work Session: Enrollment & Planning (4:30-5:30 PM) • Work Session: Budget (5:30-7 PM) • Work Session: Series 1000 Policies (7-8 PM) Nothing attached for Budget so clearly the Enrollment Work Session is the most interesting. Fun fact: the district has no permanent Enrollment director but yes, they have a demographer (and a PhD at that), Natasha Rivers.  The interim director appears to come from an IT consulting firm.  The district has also hired a communications firm, Write as Rain , for "growth boundaries communications." Page 5 is all about Stakeholder Engagement and Public Information. Page 11 on Opportunities and Risks is also worth reading. Then we get to the percentage projections page for elementary, middle and high school.  Sober reading.  Elementary looks like the overwhelming majority of elementary sc...

The district has updated its website with a new feature for every department.  It's called the " How Do I...?" for parents/community.  I cannot supply you with a specific link to this story because there is none available.  From the announcement: We want to help! As part of Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland’s 100-Day Plan for Customer Service, we’ve created a quick and easy list of the most Frequently Asked Questions. Each department across Seattle Public Schools has identified and provided the answers to your most pressing questions. Some of the most Frequently Asked Questions include: I’ve just moved into the Seattle School District. How do I sign up my child for school? How do I find out if my child qualifies for gifted education? And, our favorite: What is the process for getting started as a volunteer in Seattle Public Schools? To view the Most Frequently Asked Questions and learn more about our departments, please visit the new “How Do I… ?” tab at the...

It appears the Board agreed to bid on the Federal Reserve building .  Interesting thing, though, is that the feds have lower the opening bid from $3M to $1M. On the one hand, the district could get themselves quite the bargain if no one else bids.  Or, it may go Ebay style and have multiple last minute bidders.  The district is paying for its own appraisal and can go 10% over that amount (with these "capital reserves" that are apparently sitting around).  I'll try to find out what that amount is.  (If the district is successful, look for this project to be number one with a bullet on BEX V.) The district is looking for members for a taskforce on the new 24-credit graduation requirement. In January 2015, the Washington State Board of Education approved the district’s request for a two-year waiver of the new requirement, which will increase the number of course credits needed for graduation from 20 to 24. Seattle Public Schools students currently are requir...

It's Friday and the our thoughts turn towards the weekend. Or do they? What are your thoughts turning towards?

Well that didn't take long.  (Thanks to SCPTSA's Eden Mack for the tip on this bill .)  It's House bill 1497 . I'll go into details that I see as problematic (beginning with the why;I have a call out to the Representative's office.)  There is one interesting glaring issue that I didn't know about in the original RCW that I wonder about.  This bill is only four pages long; see if you can spot it.

We will hear the President's thoughts in the State of the Union address tonight. Let's hear your thoughts here.