Safer Streets around Schools
This story in the Seattle Times describes $14.8 million worth of pedestrian safety improvements going to streets around schools.
Want to Start a Fight? Let's Talk about School Fundraising
Yes, I know. It's quite early in the year but this rather fascinating op-ed just appeared in the NY Times about fundraising. What's interesting is that it is not about PTAs per se but about foundations that are created to support schools. (Most of our comprehensive high schools have them. Not sure about any others except I know Laurelhurst Elementary has one as well.)The op-ed, entitled "Not Ve
First Amendment Rights in Charter Schools?
This is interesting.You may have heard of this issue of a little girl enrolled in a charter school in Tulsa, Oklahoma was sent home because she came to school with dreadlocks and they have a policy against "faddish hair styled" that includes dreadlocks. Her father pulled from the school. Her new school has no problem with her hair and that school is a regular public one.(As an aside, the issue
First day raves and rants
We've heard from one family that had a dreadful first day experience with a child's teacher.My daughter reported an excellent first day of her senior year at Chief Sealth.Do you have a story to share? Everything good? Everything good enough? Something go wrong, but less than tragically? Something go tragically wrong?TransportationClass assignmentTeacher assignmentScheduleEquipment
Unhappy with Child's Teacher
Charlie took the time to write a thoughtful thread about governance in our district, which is a real and serious problem.But it's the day after the first day of school and one parent had an important question about her child's teacher. I certainly can understand the problem because I've seen it myself.I deleted the comment and all the ones that followed it but I'm going to post them here. But t
Fixing the District's Governance Problem
Seattle Public Schools - the District, not the schools - is poorly governed and poorly managed. Let's not pretend otherwise. The evidence is all around us. The routine violation of policy and regular violation of state and federal law are ample evidence of poor governance. Seriously, read the auditor's reports, read the policies, or talk to the families of students with disabilities and you'll kno
SPS Special Ed Issues? Here's How to Get Help
From the Seattle Special Education PTSA:If you are having a problem with special education services and need immediate help troubleshooting your issue, write to specialed@seattleschools.org. Or call the department at 206-252-0058. Circuits are busy so e-mail may be best.Ask for Special Education Supervisors Kelly Clevenger or Wayne Herzog or leave a message.If you or someone you know needs assista
9-4-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Oxford Comma - Yay or Nay?You thought the teachers contract was a battle? OnlineSchools.com presents - the Oxford Comma. Teachers, yay or nay? (Me, I'm old school so it's yay.)by Melissa Westbrook / 6h 9-3-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum Teacher contract details leakedSeattle Schools Community Forum: Teacher contract details leakedAlthough neither the Distri