Seattle Schools Community Forum:
The Internet and Free Speech
Seattle Schools Community Forum
The Internet and Free Speech
Gentle readers, The last couple of months have been something of a strain for me. I was busy fighting a petition in court for an order of protection against me, claiming I had harassed someone via this blog and this person feared loss of their job because of the alleged harassment. I will go into some detail about this case in another thread but suffice to say that, of course, it was without meri
Saturday Food for Thought
From The New Yorker, a thoughtful article by Mark O'Connell, "First Thought, Worst Thought," about thinking before you hit send. I would think that includes Facebook, e-mail, texts or Twitter. Something to talk to the kids about, perhaps.On the one hand:As Roxane Gay put it in an essay on her ambivalence about the public shaming of Sacco: “The world is full of unanswered injustice and
Friday Open Thread
Fun math challenges via UW's Computer Science and Engineering department. Former School Board President Kay Smith-Blum will have her name on the scholarship wall at JSCEE via a constituent, Eleanor Towes, for Smith-Blum's service to Seattle Schools and students. It's a great way to honor someone and help a student.Today I'll chatting with folks about student data privacy and other public educati
JAN 16
Really? The Legislature isn't going to pay up on K-12 funding?
Publicola is reporting that some legislators - notably Senator Rodney Tom - aren't really interested in putting more money into our K-12 public education system. Apparently, even with all the mandates (including Common Core),our schools have enough money.I keep asking - over and over - how Senator Tom would spend the money for better outcomes. What are districts spending the money on that he thi
Seattle Ed Meetup Tomorrow: Student Data Privacy
From Seattle Education blog via writer Dora Taylor:Our first Meetup was a success with our guest, the newly elected School Board Director Sue Peters. We were also fortunate to have with us at the Meetup two previous board members Amy Hagopian and Sally Soriano. It was a great discussion and we learned more about the history of our district and how the school board works along with Sue’s priorities
JAN 15
Education Reading List for 2014?
Fascinating reading provided via the Center on Reinventing Public Education (our local ed reform think tank). They are recommending the list "top eight books that schools reformers should read" from Dropout Nation. Boy, are there some interesting picks.One is I Got Schooled by none other than "I see dead people" director, M. Night Shymalan. Here's what Dropout Nation says:Wr
Jam-packed exciting C & I meeting
The C & I meeting on Monday began with a change to the agenda. An update on Advanced Learning was added as an eighth discussion item.Yearbook Contract. I learned a lot. The staff brought forward the news that they will recommend a one-year extension of the contract with the yearbook publisher at about $400,000 from the ASB budget. This will be the third year of a one-year contract with options
Annual Program Placement report
I picked up a draft copy of the annual program placement report at Monday's C & I meeting. It was written by Misa Garmoe, the recently hired Executive Director of School Operations. She has been on the job for about three months. This is a new job which is different from the Assistant Superintendent for Operations.The copy I saw was clearly labelled as a draft and the final report won't be rel
JAN 14
Equitable Access Framework Explained
In response to an apparent need, I offer this explanation of the Equitable Access Framework. It begins with the differences among schools, services, programs, and curricular foci. The distinctions are based on the definitions provided in the Superintendent’s Procedure 2200SP. This document should have ended the confusion about what is a school, a service, a program, or a curricular focus. Unfortun
Best Anti-Smoking Ad Ever (and it features kids - little kids - asking for a light)
A great ad and the looks on the adults' faces is telling.
Charter School Applicant Forums
I will be attending several of the charter school applicant forums this week. I am slowly making my way thru some of the applications and it makes for interesting reading (but what a slog - very long applications - one was 238 pages!).I don't want to give too much away because I do hope to make a public comment on several of them. But here are a few highlights:no KIPP? Not to worry, there's a KI
Sad to Report: 30TH School Shooting Since Newtown
From Moms Demand Action:Details are still unfolding, but at least two children are in critical condition after a shooting today at a middle school in Roswell, New Mexico. Witnesses say a 13-year-old student shot a 14-year-old classmate in the face: http://tinyurl.com/kd9odt8 (from the Albuquerque Journal).The scene of parents waiting in a school parking lot to find out if their child was shot is a
Another Reason the Seahawks are Great
It's not just Russell Wilson and his quiet leadership (and off-the-field history of helping others). It's not just Marshawn Lynch who doesn't just power past the opposition's defense; he shoves them out of the way despite their size (and his).It's this guy - Derrick Coleman - who is the first deaf player in the NFL. Picked on and picked last his whole life. Didn't get picked during his first NFL
Tell the Legislature - Obey McCleary and Fully-Fund our Public Schools
The Legislature has started its new session but because it is not a budget session (and therefore shorter), no one seems to think too much will get done. Issues include the DREAM act to allow college financial aid for children brought illegally to this country, health insurance covering abortions, reducing the costs of vehicle registration and, oh yeah, fulfilling McCleary.Here's a link to the le
Tuesday Open Thread
From KING-5: apparently a drunk man wandered into Salmon Bay on Monday, January 6th and was found (not sure by whom) in a bathroom. He had entered via a door that is left open longer for students using wheelchairs. All the rooms were secured and the man taken away by police/paramedics. From the letter to parents:"At approximately 9:30 a.m., a transient man entered our building and attempted
JAN 13
Charter Applicant Forums
Updates from the Charter Commission:1. Each applicant will be given 10 minutes of presentation time, followed by 30 minutes of public comment. Individuals will be provided up to 2 minutes for comments. We are hopeful that 15 people will be able to provide comment.2. Individuals who wish to provide public comment are asked to sign up at the meeting. If there are more than 15 people that s
C & I Meeting this afternoon
Oh Boy! The Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting this afternoon is going to be good! I'm going to be there for sure. Just check out this list of discussion items from the agenda:Committee Discussion Itemsa. BAR for Yearbook Contract (Shauna/Kathleen/Misa)b. Policy 3130, Student Assignment (Shauna/Ronald/Janet B.)c. Policy 2415, High School Graduation Requirement (Michael/Janet B.)d.
JAN 12
Seattle Schools This Week
Monday, Jan. 13thCurriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting from 4:30-6:30 pm. AgendaDiscussion of Policy 3130, student assignment, Policy 2415, high school graduation requirement, CTE review, Equitable Access Annual report, math adoption progress reportI will be unable to attend this meeting but it does look interesting.Charter Commission Charter Applicant ForumStarting at 5 pm for Washi
JAN 10
Good Thing on a Friday
Arbor Heights Elementary School's photo.A VERY big thank you to Softchoice for their very generous donation. Today at our monthly assembly Harry Turpin, from Softchoice's Seattle office, presented a check for $3,829.49 to purchase replacement computers (stolen Fall 2012). Softchoice employees held a variety of fundraisers to help raise the dollars donated to our school. We will always remain appr
Friday Open Thread
How to fund schools properly? The Stranger Slog offers up not one but two alternatives. It can be done and done without adding onerous bills (like grading schools) in order to say "we're doing something about education" before education is truly fully funded.Here's the district's "official" notice about proposed Transportation changes. I'll note a couple of things. One, the