Wednesday, May 15, 2013

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Odds and Ends:


Give Big Day Going on Now

Have you given to your favorite charity today?  Through the Seattle Foundation's Give Big Day you can see that donation increased (from their "stretch pool").  If you are going to donate sometime this year, make it now.  Lots of great supporters of public education on the list.



Why Do School Leaders Allow this to Happen?

This comes from a reader whose child is at Washington.  I am appalled at the poor judgment on the part of these teachers. 

Why, in 2013, does anyone have to tell teachers and administrators that awards should ONLY be positive?  That they think - after the fact - that some "humorous" awards might even be the cause of bullying is deeply troubling.

Dear Senior Music Families,
We are sending this letter home to address what has become a concern to many. As a “fun activity” that was planned for the upcoming Senior Trip this weekend (May 17, 18, and 19), an “awards ceremony” was devised with varying types of awards that were to be created for serious effect, and for humorous effect.


It is our observation that some of the awards that were created are coming off as offensive to many. Please 


Odds and Ends

 Friday is the deadline to file to run for any of the three Board positions on the ballot in November.  Director Patu has indicated she is going to run.  Director Smith-Blum seems to be on the fence.  Director DeBell, after eight hard years of service, is stepping down.  There is only one candidate registered so far and that is for DeBell's seat.

I hope that every single seat has at least two candidates.  It is vital to have the important conversations that only competition for a seat can bring.  As well, I do not like the idea of anyone just walking into office, unfettered.

Over at Publicola, they are asking legislative leaders about their budgets.  Here's part of what would be cut using the Senate's budget:

$9.5 million in health care savings (that includes cutting a federally mandated $8.7 million child autism care program);
$166 million in supposed (this makes Hunter apoplectic) "Overspending?!? Really?!?" on K-12 school