Ugh. The Seattle Times
Today's Seattle Times features this guest column: Education reforms for state students blocked by WEA by Liv Finne of the Washington Policy Center.In this one, brief guest column she manages to squeeze in nearly every single lie about public schools. It is a remarkable achievement."lawmakers passed a budget that will direct an additional $1 billion to the public schools"Hmm. Depends on what you ca
Washington Charter School Doom and Gloom from the Washington Policy Center
Honestly, they have some of the most entertaining posts over at the WPC. Omit details, pump up (to the point of near explosion) any point they feel they must - it's all good fun.So they have one post about how a Highline School Board director, Susan Goding, wrote - on her education blog how she thinks charter schools will hurt districts. I can only say that she is entitled to her own profession
Washington State Agencies Ask for Feedback on Charter School Regulations
Both the Board of Education and the Charter Commission are soliciting feedback for draft rules for charter schools. From the BOE:At its July 10-11 meeting, the State Board of Education approved for public hearing draft rules pertaining to annual reports by charter school authorizers under RCW 28A.710.100(4) - proposed WAC 180-19-210.We are seeking public comment on these draft rules. We encourage
KUOW Interviews with School Board Candidates
KUOW's Ann Dornfeld interviewed all the candidates and got some telling responses. The transcript of each interview is what you will see and not a recorded interview.I will also encourage those of you whose children enjoyed Glee to read the NPR story about Cory Monteith who was found dead in his hotel room early Saturday. To anyone who watched Glee, Mr. Monteith was a fresh-faced talent and many
The Value of Connections
What is the value of having School Board Directors with connections to the Seattle Establishment and the ruling elites in Washington? How does it benefit the district and the schools for the Board to have positive relationships with the City Council, county officials, members of the State legislature, powerful non-profits, and corporate leaders? I think we have enough data to decide. In the last ten years we have seen four boards - two with good relations and two with poor relations with the Seattle Establishment. What does the evidence show?
I know that it has hurt the District to have poor relations with the established power structure.
The greatest trauma and expense to Seattle Public Schools in the past ten years has been caused by school closures. There was a round of closures in 2006 and another in 2009.
The closures in 2006 were driven entirely by opposition to the sitting board by the Seattle Establishment with their political and commercial forces. They were upset by the election of new, activist Board Directors in 2005 that they did not choose and could not control. They used their media outlets to slander the Board and
I know that it has hurt the District to have poor relations with the established power structure.
The greatest trauma and expense to Seattle Public Schools in the past ten years has been caused by school closures. There was a round of closures in 2006 and another in 2009.
The closures in 2006 were driven entirely by opposition to the sitting board by the Seattle Establishment with their political and commercial forces. They were upset by the election of new, activist Board Directors in 2005 that they did not choose and could not control. They used their media outlets to slander the Board and
