Letter to Ken Gotsch, CFO
Dear Ken,
I am working with the parent leaders from various schools over the staffing cuts announced last week. I know you have given of your time to several parents in order to explain the situation. But it continues to be murky and honestly, this is not good. Parents are losing faith in what they hear from senior staff. To that end, I'm asking for clarification on some issues.
1) In Jan of 2014 you said this:
The WSS committee which includes both Central Office and school staff, examined the WSS formula, which makes up 53% of school funding. We looked at deciding on the best revisions to WSS if we have to make school-based reductions ranging between $3 million, $6 million and $9 million this year.
What is the current WSS formula being used? I tried to search for it at the SPS website but cannot find it.
2) I note that Superintendent Nyland said at the Board meeting that hiring and trips are to be curtailed at headquarters. Could you be more specific about what that looks like - are trips being cancelled or just not scheduled, does that apply to STR, the Board, the Superintendent and senior staff? What kind of money will that save?
3) And clearly, hiring will continue (I see there are still jobs today at the SPS Seattle Schools Community Forum: Letter to Ken Gotsch, CFO:
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Hit the Pause Button on October Staff Cuts http://bit.ly/1hAV3dC
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Central Administration Spending http://bit.ly/1hAVfcB
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Alki Gets Money to Retain Staff (from a complete stranger) http://bit.ly/1hB0Qjo