UPDATE: Chamber of Commerce Jumps into Board Election Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle School Board Votes in Budgets

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle School Board Votes in Budgets:


Seattle Chamber of Commerce Jumps into Board Election

Here's the link to the flyer that was apparently mailed to homes in District IV.    It is troubling for several reasons.One, it does not have all the candidates in the race - it leaves out Dean McColgan.  This is a signal that Estey's supporters don't consider him an issue or consider Sue Peters, her opponent, a real threat.Two, it tries to look like an apples to apples comparison but conveniently

by Melissa Westbrook / 8min 

Seattle School Board Votes in Budgets

I wouldn't call yesterday's work by the School Board especially stellar.  (I think the staff did a pretty good job on the budget but, as usual, what was left out is just as important as what was put in.)

First came the Audit&Finance Committee meeting of the Whole to discuss the budget.

It is unclear to me when the Board received their copies but there had been some small edits.  I am also not sure when the appendices all got put in.  Director Carr told the group she had not read the appendices as she had been on vacation.  President Smith-Blum and Director Patu were absent.  (Smith-Blum is out of town and Patu has a family illness.)

I can only point out that one the Board's main duties and powers is to review the budget and then vote on it.  What I saw yesterday did not inspire confidence that the Board understood the budget they voted on.

Here are some key links you may be interested in.

Budget Book
Appendix A 
Appendix B
Ore-Level Budget Comparison FY14 vs. FY2013 

Highlights:

• The funding focus for this budget is Common Core