With four weeks to go (already?) until the new school year, the Seattle Public Library has announced that two elementary schools in West Seattle will get an extra literacy boost via a new partnership:

Students at Seattle’s Sanislo and Roxhill elementary schools will benefit from expanded literacy programs and library resources this school year, thanks to a partnership with The Seattle Public Library.

The one-year pilot project is funded by a $91,000 grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Through the grant, titled, “Sharing Our Stories: A School and Public Library Partnership Project,” The Seattle Public Library will:

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(WSB file photo of Madison’s east-facing gym exterior, where the sign would go)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

2007, when Madison Middle School PTA leaders were first getting serious about raising money for a light-up signboard at school, was almost a full generation of communication ago.

It wasn’t until midway through that year that the groundbreaking smartphone, the iPhone, debuted.

It was the first full year that Facebook didn’t require members to be college students.

With the seismic shift in communication habits since then, can an electronic signboard still be relevant?

That was just one point argued in a wide-ranging appeal hearing Wednesday, with city Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner listening to sign supporters and opponents, as well as representatives of the City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools. The city has approved the sign; neighbors facing Madison along 45th SW challenged that approval.

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Seattle Public Schools has new rules about school fundraisers, and they’ve stirred up some concern today. The citywide PTSA Council mentioned them briefly in a newsletter that went out this week:

Starting in the Fall 2013, Seattle Public Schools will take a 10% cut, up to $1000, for the use of school grounds if the fundraising activity takes place during school hours (read: Walk-A-Thons, etc). (We’re trying to think of it as a “use fee” for the space).

That was in turn forwarded to WSB by several outraged parents. So we asked SPS spokesperson Teresa Wippel about the rule change. She explains:

To comply with state law, Seattle Public Schools developed new procedures for school-based fundraising. If fundraisers occur during the school day and involve students (for example, a walkathon or readathon), we are required to ensure that students receive a portion of the proceeds. We worked with PTSA leadership during the past school year to create these procedures, which are aimed at making sure that our students retain a portion of the proceeds for events that they participate in. As a result, if a PTSA fundraiser is an activity that is co-sponsored with ASB, 10 percent – up to $1,500 – goes to the school’s ASB fund. Of course, the ASB fund may be used for many of the things the PTSA supports, such as field trips and sporting and social events.

If the activity is carried out in accordance with all three items listed below, it is a PTSA event; thus the PTSA retains all proceeds:

A) outside of regular school time (after school, evening or weekend)

B) the PTSA does the event planning, organizing, money-handling

C) the event is advertised as a PTSA fundraiser (i.e. Adams PTSA, Ballard Athletics Booster Club).

We also asked when this was approved by the School Board. Answer: It wasn’t – it’s an administrative action. Meantime, a commenter on Seattle Schools Community Forum pointed out that something similar came around three years ago – and was overturned shortly after coming to light.

As West Seattle’s public STEM elementary school approaches the start of its second year, Seattle Public Schools is preparing to make decisions including a permanent home for that school. Two months ago, SPS went public with a preliminary proposal to house STEM in the current Schmitz Park Elementary, once it’s vacated in 2016, when the new Genesee Hill school is ready. This week, the STEM PTA announced two counterproposals, in advance of a round of meetings starting with one that the PTA’s executive board is convening next week: Move STEM to the Fairmount Park building when it reopens, expanded, in 2014, or keep it at Boren and expand it to K-8. The proposals are detailed in this letter, which PTA president Robin Graham shared with WSB on request after circulating it within the school community:

West Seattle STEM proposal

(If you can’t see the embedded document, get the PDF version here.) The K-8 idea has percolated for a while; yesterday, even before the STEM PTA went public with its letter, there were related discussions in this thread on the Seattle Schools Community Forum website. The district’s website has information here about what’s officially called the Enrollment Planning/Growth Boundaries process – including a community meeting planned at West Seattle High School on September 25th, before decisions are finalized later this fall.

UPDATE: As noted in comments, the meeting on Monday is now at Boren, NOT SW Library, so that more participation can be accommodated.

West Seattle’s representative on the Seattle School Board, Marty McLaren, has just announced the dates for the informal meetings she promised to set up over the summer, to get your thoughts on boundary changes and other big district decisions later in the year:

The decisions about Seattle Schools Growth Boundaries in West Seattle will be very important for our community, and I’ve scheduled two informal West Seattle meetings so that community members can gather to discuss the issues:

Saturday, August 3, from 10 to 12 noon at the Southwest Branch Library, 9010 35th Ave SW

Wednesday, August 14, 6 to 7:45 PM at the West Seattle Branch Library, 2306 42nd SW (behind the Metropolitan Market)

Related district documents are linked from this page on her website.

You might recall that Seattle Public Schools had board approval for two versions of the 2013-2014 calendar – because they were waiting to see if the state would approve a waiver allowing three professional development days (which would be off-days for students). The state denied the waiver, so the district just announced it’s going with its “Option B” calendar. However, it’s still not completely finalized, the district announcement explains:

Seattle Public Schools is now working with its labor partners, as part of ongoing contract negotiations, to determine when professional development will take place during the upcoming school year. More information will be communicated to families as soon as it is available.

Key dates for next year’s school calendar include:

First day of school: Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013
Winter break: two weeks, from Dec. 23, 2013, to Jan. 3, 2014
Mid-winter break: Feb. 17-21, 2014, including the Presidents Day holiday
Spring break: April 14-18, 2014
Last day of school: yet to be determined (June 18 or 19, 2014)

The calendar also builds in four snow make-up days, including Jan. 31, 2014, May 23, 2014, and the two days after the last day of school. It’s important that staff and families plan for students to potentially be in school during these days, and to note that the last day of school could be Monday, June 23, 2014, if snow days are not used.

The Option B calendar can be seen here.

Big news for Chief Sealth International High School, reported by its academy coordinator Gary Perkins:

This past week (July 9th-12th) in Orlando, Florida, Chief Sealth International High School was recognized as having two of the top career and vocational academies in the country.

The Academy of Business, which includes both an Academy of Finance and Academy of Hospitality & Tourism program, was awarded “Model Status” by the National Academy Foundation (NAF), an award given to only a select number of business academies in the country. NAF is a leader in the movement to prepare young people for college and career success and operates in more than 600 academies across the 50 states. For over 30 years, NAF has refined a proven educational model which included industry-focused curricula, work-based learning experience, and business partner expertise. Employees of more than 2,500 companies volunteer in classrooms, act as mentors, engaged NAF student in paid internships and serve on local advisory boards.

There are only eight academies in the state of Washington and two of those are located at Sealth. The Academy of Finance and Hospitality & Tourism programs have a long history at Sealth at over 22 and 14 years, respectively but this is the 1st year that Sealth has qualified for the award. In 2013, 100% of approximately 70 seniors that participated in the two academies graduated on time and over 95% have post secondary plans. In addition, more than 40 of those seniors were able to complete paid summer internships their junior year with an economic benefit of approximately $75,000.

In the picture (L-R) are Gary Perkins (teacher), DeAira Handugan (teacher), Pamela Mushen (teacher) and Joanne Patrick (academy director for Seattle Public Schools).

You can find out more about the program by e-mailing Perkins at gaperkins@seattleschools.org. CSIHS’s course catalog for next year and other info is on the school website here.

8:52 AM: Another West Seattle leadership change for Seattle Public Schools. In addition to six principal changes for the coming school year, all of the district’s West Seattle/South Park principals will have a new supervisor – Carmela Dellino (right) is leaving her job as the Executive Director of Schools for the Southwest Region after one year.

News of this first emerged in an open discussion on the Seattle Schools Community Forum website over the weekend (thanks to the WSB’ers who called that to our attention!); we have just confirmed it with Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Teresa Wippel. She tells WSB that Dellino, who was principal of West Seattle’s Roxhill Elementary School before taking the district management job, announced it in a note to co-workers. Here is an excerpt Wippel shared:

It is with mixed emotions that I send this email to all of you. After much reflection and discussion with my family, I have made the decision to pursue the opportunity to work for the City of Seattle and support the elementary schools that are the Family and Education Levy recipients.

Throughout the last five years I have truly enjoyed working with and learning from you. I feel honored to have worked with such an outstanding group of educators who are dedicated to closing the opportunity and achievement gaps. I experienced a great deal of joy over the last 5 years, serving the children, families, principals, staff, and communities of West Seattle and the southeast region. Additionally, my central office colleagues were always there for me and I am deeply appreciative of the support and guidance I received. Without a doubt, I learned so much from everyone. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with outstanding principals and educational teams in the committed efforts for ALL students’ success. I feel lucky that I can continue to be affiliated with many of you.

Thank you for your support, partnership and dedication to serving our students. I wish each and every one of you the very best.

Dellino’s appointment as this area’s Executive Director was announced almost exactly one year ago. That was one month after her predecessor in the role, Aurora Lora, announced she was leaving, after two years, for a job in Texas. SPS has not yet announced the plan for a replacement (or search for one). In each of the “regions” served by Seattle Public Schools, principals report to an Executive Director; here in what the district considers the Southwest Region, six of the 16 schools are changing principals for next year – Chief Sealth International High School, Madison Middle School, and Alki, Gatewood, Lafayette, and Sanislo Elementary Schools.

ADDED 4:42 PM: We sought more information about Dellino’s new job. We learned from the city that it’s a position as an Elementary School Innovation Consultant for the city’s Office for Education, working with schools that are receiving Innovation funds under the Families and Education Levy, and she’s expected to start in early August; it’s an existing position that became open when someone left recently.

West Seattle Christian Church‘s preschool has closed, and tomorrow they’re having a public “clearing out” sale, selling preschool-aged curriculum items, supplies,and furniture, according to Pastor Dan Jacobs.

Cash or check only, 10 am-2 pm Wednesday at 4425 41st SW. He says the church hasn’t yet decided on the future of the former preschool space.

The third and, we believe, final principal announcement this afternoon for West Seattle’s public schools – this time, news of a replacement, the new principal for Chief Sealth International High School principal:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Aida Fraser-Hammer as your new principal, effective July 1, 2013. She replaces Chris Kinsey who announced in June that he would not be returning in the fall.

Ms. Fraser-Hammer comes to Chief Sealth International High School from Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington, where she has been an assistant principal since 2004. At Kentwood she worked with staff, students, and families to increase on-time graduation rates and students’ academic achievement. Ms. Fraser-Hammer has an international background, and she is fluent in Spanish.

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More principal news from Seattle Public Schools this afternoon. Earlier we published word that Gatewood Elementary‘s principal has been reassigned; now, the district sends word that Alki Elementary‘s principal has a new job too. Families are receiving this note:

Today I’m announcing a leadership change at Alki Elementary School for the next school year. Your principal, Ms. Chanda E. Oatis, has been appointed principal at Van Asselt Elementary School effective for the 2013-2014 school year.

Ms. Carmela Dellino, Executive Director for K-12 schools in West Seattle, will lead the process to identify a new principal for Alki. We will move quickly to form a hiring committee, and will keep you informed of the process. We are committed to finding a strong principal who will be a great fit for your community and who can build on Alki’s successes.

I appreciate the outstanding leadership that Ms. Oatis brought to Alki Elementary the past two years which has led to impressive gains in literacy, math and science achievement. And I appreciate the dedication of Alki families and staff to student success and to creating a positive and enriching learning environment at your school.

Please join me in thanking Ms. Oatis for her years at Alki Elementary.

Sincerely,
José Banda

She’s the 6th West Seattle public school principal whose departure has been announced since April (see the list at the end of our earlier Gatewood story).

Seattle Public Schools is sending an alert about portable deliveries coming up this week and next. From Tom Redman:

· Gatewood Elementary, one single portable (one classroom) scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday, June 26 between 10 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The route, assigned by SDOT, is Fauntleroy to Myrtle, turning left to the school.

· Chief Sealth International HS, one double portable (two classrooms), scheduled to be delivered on Monday, July 1, between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. via the Kenyon Street (north) entrance to the campus. (Not sure of the route yet- SDOT will notify us later this week)

· If there are “no parking” signs to be located on any streets on the route, they will be placed in advance of the delivery day, in accordance with SDOT requirements.

The district’s been talking about more portables for crowding relief since last fall. We’re checking to see what other portables, if any, are slated for West Seattle schools before fall.

Seattle Public Schools sends word that the School Board has just approved two versions of next year’s calendar – with one major difference: Version 1 includes three days with no classes because teachers are in professional-development activities; version 2 does not. Which will be used? Depends on what the state decides about those three days, which require the district to get a waiver from the mandatory 180 days of instruction. Both versions have the feature we mentioned last month – the return of a full week of mid-winter break, after a year without it. Read on for the full announcement:

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(WSB file photo of Madison’s east-facing gym exterior, where the sign would go)
One month ago today, we reported that the city had approved the four-year-old proposal for a 30-square-foot electronic sign outside the Madison Middle School gym. A group of neighbors has appealed the decision, and tomorrow, they go downtown for a conference with the city’s Hearing Examiner, to prepare for a full hearing in July. We talked with one of the neighbors, Claudia Ludwig, who explained why they’re challenging the decision:

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One more note from the last week of school:

Thanks to Sally Heit from Hope Lutheran School for sharing the photo from a Thursday morning surprise in honor of the end of the school year. She says the 130 flamingos that surprised arrivals that day were from Westside Flockers.