The Mann Building
Based on statements made by Superintendent Banda and President Smith-Blum, I believe the district is doing its best to be diplomatic and pragmatic with the former tenants in the Horace Mann building. The Superintendent has said he wants to try to find solutions. President Smith-Blum says staff made it clear when leasing the building that it was for a limited time and has a "claw back" clause (as n
Listening In at the School Board Meeting
One thing to note: the 30-second interruption before you are done. I don't get it because you get a light to tell you this but I expect it is because people are going over their time. (Do I blame them? No, because two minutes is not enough time.)Side note: It appears that the class size rise may have been taken off the table by the comments I am hearing but we will have to wait until the contra
NBA Players to Give Out School Supplies to SPS Students
From the Central District News:Three NBA stars, each Garfield High School alumni, are returning to the Central District to distribute school supplies to neighborhood students. The project is run by humanitarian organization World Vision.The participating players are Will Conroy, currently with the Minnesota Timberwolves; Tony Wroten, currently with the Memphis Grizzlies; and Brandon Roy, who playe
Washington State Charter Commission Meeting Update
Looks like TVW will be televising this meeting. They will be shooting from 11 am -12:30 pm, then back at 2:30 pm. In Seattle, TVW is Comcast channel 23.
Odds and Ends
In advanced of tonight's School Board meeting, a few updates:- packed speakers list. Unfortunately, Mr. Garrett, who is one of the leaders of the groups at the Horace Mann building, is on the list. He generally is not the most graceful and tactful of speakers so I expect that to be an unpleasant two minutes.As well, there are plenty of TFA people, including three of the four new ones up for con
Once Again, it was a Staff Member Who Got Between Children and a Bullet
I'm sure most of you saw the news yesterday about a heavily armed man entering a large (850 students) elementary school in Georgia. (Again, it was a locked-down school - meaning you had to be buzzed in but somehow he got in.)And yet, within a hour or so, he gave up his weapons (after a couple of shots back and forth with police). Why? Because school clerk, Antoinette Tuff, took the chance to t
8-20-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Superintendent To Meet with Native American ParentsI understand that the Superintendent is scheduled to have a long meeting today with Native American parents and leaders. I'm sure it will be a compelling discussion and I hope he listens.Like all of U.S. history with Native Americans, the Seattle Schools' history doesn't have a whole lot to hold its head up about.