Seattle Public School Survey Ends Today

The public invited to fill out a survey regarding Seattle Public School District's Strategic Plan.

The survey, consisting of 21 questions  is open until 9pm today. Responses will be confidential and anonymous.

The information says:

Seattle Public Schools is updating and adjusting the Strategic Plan with input from teachers, staff, principals, parents, families and members of our community. We thank you for completing this survey as we update our Strategic Plan, Excellence for All and as we continue to improve in better serving our students, families and communities.

For questions about the survey, please email performance@seattleschools.org.

Seattle Public Schools Asking Public For Input On Strategic Plan

Seattle Public Schools is seeking input through a 21 question survey on their Strategic Plan.

The website says:

As we are in the mid-point of our 5-year Strategic Plan, Excellence for All, it is a good time to look at our progress and evaluate whether any adjustments are needed going forward. As part of this Strategic Plan Update, we are requesting your input by completing the survey. 

We thank you for completing this survey as we update our Strategic Plan, Excellence for All and as we continue to improve in better serving our students, families and communities.

The survey will closes on Tuesday, May 31st. Responses to this survey are confidential and anonymous.

Important Survey Regarding Possible Funding Increase For Seattle Public Schools Kindergarten Underway Now

Seattle Public Schools is having an important survey regarding kindergarten funding options for the upcoming school year. They are asking for the public's feedback by tomorrow at 3pm so that the results can help guide decisions at the School Board at its budget working session tomorrow evening. Surveys will be accepted through Friday of this week.

The letter says: 

Dear SPS families and families with young children:


Seattle Public Schools, like all districts in Washington, is faced with an unprecedented budget gap for the 2011-2012 school year. The gap is $35 million, and we have been working with the School Board since last fall to find solutions. Some of the solutions agreed with the School Board include an approximate 20% cut in central office staff positions ($8.3 M savings); transportation plan changes ($2.3 to $4.0 M savings); possible furloughs (up to $3.9 M savings); and use of reserves ($2.3 M).


Our commitment is to reduce funding to individual schools only as a last resort. However, having explored all potential budget solutions, at this time we do not believe we can balance the budget for 2011-2012 without some direct impact to schools. So consideration is being given to reducing school funding via the Weighted Staffing Standard model by about $5.8 M. We are also considering making changes to funding for kindergarten, and we want your feedback.


The State of Washington funds only half-day kindergarten (there are a few exceptions to this for high poverty schools). For many years our district has added funding for a further half day to ensure there is one full-day kindergarten class available in every school. Over the years schools added additional full-day classes and "pay for Kindergarten" programs as more and more families wanted full-day K for their children.


For the 2010-11 school year, we implemented a standard $207 per month pay for full-day Kindergarten program across the district. Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch also receive tuition waivers for full-day kindergarten.

With the severe budget crisis, we must consider various options to balance the budget and one is related to Kindergarten services. We want your feedback about these options. Thank you.

Seattle Public Schools Transportation Meeting Tonight

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is holding several public meetings, for parents to learn more about the proposed changes to the 2011-2011 Transportation Plan and to provide feedback.

Tonight the meeting will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. at Hamilton International Middle School (1610 North 41st Street).

In the new proposed transportation plan, to be voted on on February 16th in the School Board's Legislative meeting, "transportation eligibility for attendance area elementary and K-8 students will be based on transportation zones. Students within the transportation zone and outside the walk zone for a school will be eligible for district provided transportation," the SPS Transportation website says.

Transportation zones maps are posted on-line.

The press release says:


The new Transportation Plan would save the District $4 million (the equivalent of 45 teaching positions) by creating new Transportation Zones that would streamline bus routes for attendance areas for elementary and K-8 schools.

The proposed changes would benefit students and families by decreasing bus ride time for aattendance area schools to 25 minutes or less. As routes will be shorter, buses are less likely to encounter the traffic delays that occur on longer routes, so families will find departure and arrival times to be more reliable, according to SPS. The plan also benefits the environment by taking about 80 buses off the roads and reducing the district’s carbon footprint.



Children within the transportation zone and outside of walk zones would be eligible for district-provided transportation. Transportation Zones would include the entire attendance area of a school, extending to areas within a 1.25-mile radius from the school and within the middle school service area. Existing walk zones to schools would still apply.

To sign up to give public testimony at a meeting go here.

The final public meeting will Wednesday, February 8th, from 6:30-8 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) in West Seattle.

For more information go to the press release and the SPS Transportation homepage.

(clip art courtesy of clker.com)

Informational Meeting Tonight On Early Enrollment For Kindergarteners and New Students at Seattle Public Schools

Early Enrollment for incoming Kindergarteners and others new to Seattle Public Schools started on Friday, October 1st and goes through January.

Tonight from 5:30-7pm at the Northgate Library, enrollment specialists will be available to answer questions about the New Student Assignment Plan and how it affects a student's placement.

Early enrollment saves families time in not waiting in line during the busy Spring and Summer enrollment periods and "ensures your student's enrollment in the 2010-2011 school year, the SPS website says.

The information also says that students who partipate in early enrollment will receive a school assignment based on their home address and the assignment will be mailed in early 2011.

Other informational meetings are being held throughout Seattle through November 11th.

On October 16th there is a Registration Fair.

The SPS Service Center is located at the John Stanford Center and is open Monday to Friday from 8:30-4pm. Applications can be dropped off there or can be sent by fax, mail or email.

For more information visit the SPS website or call 206-252-0760.

Seattle Public Schools Meeting on Neighborhood Schools and Effective Planning Tonight

Have you ever wondered what role planning plays in a neighborhood and student success? Or to what extent goverments plan to anticipate and collaborate growth?

This and other issues will be discussed tonight at 6pm at Eckstein Middle School, in a special community meeting with City Councilmembr Sally Clark and Seattle Public School Board Peter Maier, called "Healthy Neigborhoods, Healthy Schools."

They will explain the planning process for Seattle Public Schools and talk about ensuring quality for each neighborhood in the future.

Also on the agenda is taking questions and input from the audience. This is a great opportunity to weigh in  as the school-age population of NE Seattle is steadily growing.

5th Annual Boardwalk 5K Run/Walk and Fitness Carnival This Sunday

This Sunday starting at 9am at Husky Stadium is the 5th Annual Boardwalk 5K Run/Walk and Fitness Carnival.  

The Boardwalk, a fundraiser for School Kids Come First, is open to all ages and ability levels. The proceeds raised help "support the health and fitness programs of Seattle Public Schools with an emphasis on supporting our "underserved" students.

Funds from the event will be used to support and expand equipment for the Physical Education Equipment Resource Center (PEERC). PE teachers share everything from archery equipment to roller skates to unicycles. PEERC makes it possible for all students to have access to success-oriented fitness experiences," the website says.

The Boardwalk 5K course consists of a timed 5K run/walk through the University of Washington campus. The non-competitive Walk of Champions, Carnival of Activities and the Physical Education awards ceremony all will take place in the stadium. .

You can register on-site starting at 8:30am.  And you will have the opportunity to specify which school/team you would like to support by writing the school or team name on the registration form.

Contact Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org or call  206.252.0476 with questions.

"Help us enhance and encourage the health of our local school children and register today.  Come on out and run, race, walk, jog or crawl and have a great time while supporting a great cause," the website says.


School Kids Come First is a group site focused primarily on raising money for the needs of underserved schools in the Seattle Public School District. The goal  in raising funds is to enhance experiences of students that help supplement their work in the classroom.

"Our goal is to give community members, parents, alumni, and local businesses a quick and easy way to directly fund projects and needs at all of our public schools, with a particular focus on schools that have more difficulty fundraising," their website says.