Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

10-15-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:





Seattle School Board Meeting - Wednesday, September 16th
A couple of quick updates:- there are 25 people on the Public Testimony list; I see North Beach, Maple (6 people), Queen Anne Elementary, Montlake, Schmitz Park, Stevens, Fairmount Park and misc. "proposed growth boundaries."   There are 16 people on the waitlist.  I see a couple of different schools - B.F. Day, Madrona, High Point - and I would urge someone from Maple to cede a place to

One Way to Get Your Growth Boundaries Ideas to Directors
There are a LOT of concerns but ALSO a lot of good ideas out there about how to make many of the new issues arising from the "new" boundaries more palatable. Again, there is NO way to eliminate pain, no way to make everyone even just okay with these boundaries.  They are far too reaching to do that.BUT, finding a way to spread the pain, share the burden and not leave just one group of ki
Education Roundup
Popped into the City Club's One-Stop Ballot Stop this evening.  Not so many people but the mayoral debate was interesting.  One quick-fire question: "Do you think the Seattle School Board is doing a good job?"  Murray - yellow (waffle), McGinn (refused to answer - "I think they are doing the best they can at a hard job.  I don't want to put them down." , crowd (mostly yellows w

Advanced Learning Taskforce Redux
From Shauna Heath:We have had several questions regarding the AL Task Force. I have included information about members and member selection below and provided more detail about the entire task force in the attached draft charter. The draft charter will be brought before the Task Force to finalize at the meeting on Oct. 23, 2013. Our Taskforce Members Baker Harvey, Bruce; Bennett, Erinn P; Bower, S
PTA Slowly Changes Its Form - What Do Parents Think?
I have been a PTA parent.  I have served on Boards in nearly every postion and, I was co-president of a PTA at a large high school.  I've been to Legislative Assembly and conventions.  I have seen, firsthand, many, many hard-working parents - at several schools - and heard amazing stories of effort at others.  (Sad to say, not every school has a vibrant PTA.)But, just like the seeming disconnect b

Tuesday Open Thread
What's on your mind?


10-14-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle School Board Campaigns - What Does a "Positive" Campaign Look Like?Ballots are to drop on Wednesday the 16th and I have two questions:1) Is politics like love and war - all is fair in order to win?  As we are discovering about privacy, everyone has a different tolerance for what they believe is right/allowable.  2) Is a candidate defined by their