November 6, 2009


Photography © Susie Fitzhugh


Excellence for All:
Accountability and Performance Management

Seattle Public Schools to share District Scorecard
     All Seattle Public Schools students deserve a high-quality education that prepares them for college, careers, and life. As outlined in the strategic plan, Excellence for All, the District is committed to raising achievement for all students, retaining and attracting great teachers, and increasing efficiency in Seattle Public Schools. This month, SPS will launch a Districtwide performance management system that will provide the information and data needed to continuously improve the quality of education and meet the Excellence for All goals. The District has clearly defined performance goals and is being accountable by regularly measuring, reporting, and taking steps to improve – based on progress toward the goals. On November 12, an updated District Scorecard will be shared with the School Board and community at a work session scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the John Stanford Center. The Scorecard includes Districtwide academic and operational measures, and will be posted at www.seattleschools.org on November 13.

District News

Community invited to comment on recommended attendance area boundary maps; Board vote scheduled for November 18
     Following four weeks of extensive community engagement, Recommended Attendance Area Boundary Maps were shared with the School Board and community during a Board workshop on November 3. A motion on the recommended maps was introduced at the November 4 School Board meeting. The School Board will vote on the recommended maps on November 18.
     The maps include revisions based on community input and ongoing analysis. Maps and an Address Lookup Tool, a high-level summary of comments, a document explaining the rationale for changes and other resources are posted on the New Student Assignment Web Site. The presentation given at the Board workshop and a news release provide additional details. A community meeting was held on November 5 at Roosevelt High School. An additional community meeting is scheduled 10 a.m. to noon, November 7 at Rainer Beach High School. A public hearing is scheduled for 6-8 p.m, November 9 at the John Stanford Center auditorium. Information on how to sign up for public testimony is available here. The community is also invited to send comments to newassign@seattleschools.org.

2010 Levies: Board to vote on levy package on November 18
     Seattle Public Schools depends on an operations levy for nearly 25 percent of the day-to-day educational program expenses that the state does not fully fund. Capital levies provide for upgrades to buildings and improvements in technology and academic facilities. A motion was introduced to the Board on November 4 to place on the February 9, 2010 ballot, a:
• three-year, $442.7 million operations levy, which is a replacement of the 2007 three-year levy; and
• six-year $270 million capital levy, Buildings, Technology and Academics III, which is a replacement of the 2004 BTA II levy.
     A public hearing on the levies is scheduled for 6-8 p.m., November 12 at the John Stanford Center. To sign up to testify, call (206) 252-0042 or e-mail hearing@seattleschools.org. For information about current and completed capital projects, visit the Buildings, Technology and Academics or Building Excellence Web sites.

Parent-Teacher conferences scheduled for November 23-25
    Seattle Public Schools’ elementary and K-8 schools will be closed from Monday, November 23 through Wednesday, November 25 for Parent-Teacher Conferences. These important conferences provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to share information, solve problems and establish relationships that directly contribute to student success. While the majority of parent-teacher conferences occur in the fall, parents are also welcome to schedule meetings with teachers at any time during the school year.
     This is the first year that all elementary and K-8 schools will be closed Districtwide for parent-teacher conferences. The new schedule will be less disruptive to student learning while also providing greater consistency and predictability for families. All SPS schools will also be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
     Parent/guardian engagement is critical in every child’s education, providing important family support toward achieving academic success. Information on parent/teacher conferences and helpful tips to make the conferences successful can be found at: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/fam/conferences.dxml.

After-school driver training registration begins November 12
     Registration for the next after-school driver training program is November 12. Other registration dates for after-school programs are in January and April 2010. Registration for the next Saturday program starts in January 2010. Registration for the summer program begins in May 2010. The course fee for the program is $559. Counseling offices at all high schools have forms and information regarding times and room numbers. For additional questions, call the Traffic Education Office at 252-4735 or visit the Traffic Education Web site at www.seattleschools.org/area/trafficed/index.dxml.

School Board Update - November 4, 2009
     Presentations included updates on the science alignment work and the English language learners program. The Board set the 2010-11 general fund budget reserve at 3.5 percent of non-grant General Fund expenditures for next year’s budget; approved were two Families and Education Levy grants and a contract with Sylvan Learning Center for supplemental services; the Board awarded a contract to BLRB and Architects for upgrades and waterline remediation at Jane Addams K-8. Introduction items included the resolution for the Operations Levy scheduled for February 2010, the new student assignment plan boundaries, an amendment to the 2020 Facilities Master Plan building classifications table, the resolution on the BTA III levy, a resolution to rename the Old John Hay building for Dr. Caspar W. Sharples, and a contract with Mahlum Architects for work at Viewlands Elementary.


Families attend Early Learning Resource Fair

Seattle Public Schools held an Early Learning Resource Fair last month where families registered their children for kindergarten and learned about the new student assignment plan, school programs, bus transportation services, and other information. Special guests were Dr. Bette Hyde, director, Washington State Early Learning; and Dr. Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools.

Special guests Dr. Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson and Dr. Dr. Bette Hyde join organizers and families for a photo at the Early Learning Resource Fair

Matt Lawrence

Television professionals in the Northwest have elected Ballard High School Video Production Program teacher Matt Lawrence to the Board of Governors of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), Northwest Region. NATAS serves television professionals with seminars, programs, and networking, as well as celebrating excellence with the annual Emmy Awards. They also support tomorrow?s television leaders with the National Student Television Awards and scholarships. During the last several years, students from Ballard?s Video Production Program have won student Emmy awards in a variety of categories, as well as numerous awards from prestigious film and video festivals. Lawrence has been teaching the BHS Video Production Program since 2001. For more information on the program, click on the link at bhsvideo.blogspot.com.

Where education is always in fashion Lydia Brown, from Dearborn Park Elementary; Jan Charkow, from Wing Luke Elementary; Betty Lau, from Franklin High School; and Angela Sheffey, from Dearborn Park Elementary, were all selected as this year’s Jones New York In The Classroom fashion show winners. They were models in the Jones New York Fashion Show at the Bellevue Square Macy’s on October 24.

John Muir teacher selected Teacher of the Week Emily Autrey, a teacher at John Muir Elementary, was selected last month as a Star 101.5 Teacher of the Week. The radio station awarded Autrey $100 and a plaque. Autrey was nominated by student Tatiyana Wilburn. Star 101.5 worked with Tatiyana's grandmother and John Muir principal Awnie Thompson to keep it a secret until a team came in to surprise and recognize Autrey in her classroom. Students were dressed in pajamas for their Marble Jar Party Day.

Latino poet Mart?n Espada read from his work, talked about his life in poetry, and answered questions from Chief Sealth High School students on October 23, courtesy of Seattle Arts & Lectures? Writers in the Schools (WITS) program. The author of ten books of poetry, Mart?n Espada has been deemed the "Latino poet of his generation" and "the Pablo Neruda of North American Authors." Photo by Molly Sutton Kiefer

The City of Seattle’s Youth Violence Prevention Initiative is sponsoring an art contest on Preventing Youth Violence. Secondary students are einvited to submit original artwork illustrating that youth violence can be prevented and should not be tolerated. Contest deadline is December 2, 2009. Prizes will be awarded. Click here to download a poster, rules, and entry forms. For more information, contact Judy Simon, Seattle Public Schools, Safety and Security Department at jusimon@seattleschools.org

Greenwood Elementary's      Centennial Celebration      Saturday, December 5, 2009      noon to 5 p.m.      Greenwood Elementary      144 N.W. 80th St.