Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, November 21, 2013

11-21-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:






Ballard Science Class Looking for Help
Eric Muh's science class at Ballard High has signed up at Donors Choose for some financial help. We are a large urban comprehensive high school. Teachers have a variety of students from English language learners to special education students with a variety of individual needs to Advanced Placement students. We'd use the laminator for all these classes.You may recall that Donors Choose is a great o
Seattle Schools Approved Growth Boundaries Plan
That was fast (good job, SPS staff).  Here is the district's overview of the approved Growth Boundaries plan.  I don't think it answers all the questions you have but it is a good overview.From SPS Communications:At the Nov. 20 Board meeting, the Seattle School Board approved various boundary changes (Growth Boundaries) for 2014-15 as the first step in addressing overcrowded schools. Additional in

FYI - per Jane Addams Middle School
FYI, a  JAMS parent reports this:For any of you now interested in participating in a conversation about the design/programming of JAMS, there is a blog for that purpose at: jamsplans.blogspot.com

Bad Priorites -> Bad Process -> Bad Results
I have never asked the school district to do anything that they didn't promise to do. The fact that I have to ask them to do things so often is a testament to how rarely they do what they promise they will do.We hear - all the time - about how there is a division of authority with the Board focusing exclusively on policy and governance work while the administration and management decisions are del



Growth Boundaries Plan and Amendment 12 Vote
Amendment #12 - McLaren and Peaslee - Growth Boundaries will be reviewed annually (with a lot of input and data) PASSESPatu - includes where it has to come to Board? Yes.Carr - feels redundant - I know what you are doing but I feel like Tracy &Co are doing this already.Peaslee - not directing staff but acknowledging concerns of public. Discussion around this.Vote - 4-3Back to main motion for G
Growth Boundaries - Amendments 11
Amendment #11 - Smith-Blum - target feeder patterns for Central DistrictCarr - how is this different from what is currently proposed?Libros - entirely different feeder patternSmith-Blum - John Muir, Leschi and KimbleLibros - right.  The thing to understand is that if lines or patterns look like they don't make sense, I understand that but it was made based on the numbers.  If Kimble stays in Merce
Growth Boundaries - Amendments 8-10
Amendment #8 - Patu - no changes to District 7 boundaries and to reassess the boundaries - PASSESDeBell - nobody fights harder for their district than Betty Patu.  That said, you reference District #7 which is based on voting precincts, are there issues there with attendance area boundaries?Patu - no, I don't think so.Libros - it might be clearer if it says Mercer/Aki Kurose services areasDiscussi

YESTERDAY

Growth Boundaries - Amendment 4-7
Amendment#4 - DeBell/Martin-Morris - Middle Schools/APP - PASSESPeaslee - ? on North end analysis Libros - identifies feeder patterns, see initial numbers of how many APP students expected over next few years and feeder patterns.  Long discussion at Work Session of this issue. Start JAMS and then W-P program, and potential changes to APP but have flexible capacity w/o changing structure.  If okay
Growth Boundaries Part One - Amendments 1-3
Flip Herndon was up first to talk about Growth Boundaries.  Pretty much we've heard before; changes may come with each year.  Staff tried to keep up with changes and can give impact/analysis on some of the amendments ("as much as we can" - which seems fair).DeBell - recommend to Chair that things will change if amendments pass.  So they will move through the amendments first.Amendment #1

11-20-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Yes to the Seattle Council PTSA's Suggestion on the Board AgendaThis just came across my desk and, at this point, I agree.  The agenda is a mess (not to mention the Growth Boundaries plan.  There's now even some mystery motion to change the agenda (with no explanation of what).PTA members,As you know, the position of Seattle Council PTSA is that Seattle Public Scho