Sunday, October 11, 2015

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Parents Rising - Dear Directors

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Parents Rising - Dear Directors:

Parents Rising - Dear Directors






Dear Directors,

I write to you with both a heavy and joyful heart.  Heavy because there is so much frustration and sadness in our district this early in the school year.  Not because of the teachers strike but because of the staff cuts at a large number of schools.  

I am joyful because enough parents are now ready and willing.  I am joyful because, unbidden by me or anyone else, they have risen up to act.  I am joyful because they have decided that being nice, playing along and raising money for this district is no longer going to be the status quo for them.  
They feel insulted that they are expected to pay for basic education for their child when they are already paying into the system.  Now before you say McCleary, let me point out a couple of things to you.

1) It is absolutely true that this state has been starving (to use a parent phrase I heard today) our public education system.  One meal will not resuscitate nor sustain someone who is starving.

2) BUT our district is very cagey with how much money it has AND how it is spent.  There is NOT transparency in the dollars.  It does not seem to matter a whit to senior management. It is hurting the relationship that this district has 
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Parents Rising - Dear Directors: