Seattle Schools Community Forum

The current Student Assignment Plan was approved in 2009.  This is what is stated at the district webpage about it: The 2009 Student Assignment Plan is an historical document that details many of the principles of the current plan. The Superintendent's Procedures for Student Assignment sets forth the implementation of the policies established by the Board in the 2009 Student Assignment Plan and the Student Assignment Transition Plan for 2017-18. These documents are the guides for Admissions and other district staff and must be viewed as integrated companions to fully understand student assignment.  I will take a page from Director Burke's lexicon and call that a "word salad."  Yes, the 2009 SAP is a "historical document but it IS the document of public record for assignments in SPS.  Everything else is a temporary "transition" plan of updates. 

Update: I neglected to say that Director Rick Burke was in attendance as were school board candidates Eden Mack and Omar Vasquez. end of update I'll be brief on the SAP/Boundaries Community Meeting last night at Eckstein.  I thought it stank.  I walked into a room with several tables of staff from different departments.  There were balloons and candy, wee!  What you are to do is wander from table to table and ask questions.  Oh, and leave comment cards. I think the only comment you need to make is this: This process is silly, unhelpful and a dog-and-pony show so staff can say to the Board, "We did community outreach."  Also, This process - once again - is being rushed and a topic of vital importance to every single student and parent/guardian in the district should not be rushed.  What did other parents say about the meeting?

Well, it's another lollapolozza of a Work Session.  Here's the 99 page agenda . There's so much here that I'm doing one thread on the Budget section and one on the SAP. To note, the Work Session starts at 4:30 pm and the first topic is the Budget.  Looking at the attached documentation, I'd call this at least an hour's worth of work. And man, is it all over the place.  I'm not even sure I understand what they are talking about.  Page two has their focus items and it looks fairly straightforward until you start digging in.

Free dental, vision and medical clinic via King County Health at Seattle Center, starting Thursday. First come, first served. Free parking.

My wrap-up - such that it is - of the first SAP/High School Boundaries community meeting at Eckstein is to follow.  In a phrase - not good - and Halloween candy and balloons aren't going to cut it. The Washington State Supreme Court heard oral arguments for and against the Legislature's work on fully funding public education via the McCleary decision.  You can hear the whole thing at 7pm tonight on TVW or here's a link.  

I've made my opinion about who to vote for to represent the public on the Seattle School Board.  But now, after attending two forums and watching one on video (the NAACP/League of Women Voters ), I want to add one thing that I find very irritating because two candidates are making statements that are not factually true in the context of what they currently do for a living.

Monday, October 23rd Student Assignment Plan and High School Boundaries Meeting 6:30 to 8 p.m., Eckstein Middle School Tuesday, October 24th Native American/Alaska Native family meeting Meany Middle School , Lunchroom, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 25th Board Work Sessions: Budget; Student Assignment Plan; Executive Session: to evaluate the performance of a public employee 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, JSCEE, No agenda yet available Thursday, October 26th Native American/Alaska Native family meeting Chief Sealth High school, 6-7:30 pm  Student Assignment Plan and High School Boundaries Meeting 6:30 to 8 p.m., Ballard High School ,  Saturday, October 28th Director Community Meetings Director Patu  Raconteur, 5041 Wilson Ave S, 9-11 am Director Blanford Location TBA, 10 am-noon (note: this is Director Blanford's last community meeting as a director) I note the announcement of the annual State of the District speech by the Superintendent which will be T...