49 Replies to "Update: Gatewood Elementary 'save the teacher' bake sale"

• Dan October 4, 2014 (12:21 pm)

  The face painters are awesome! Great Cause!

• Argonaut tear October 4, 2014 (2:17 pm)

  No kids in SPS, but we’re on our way over right now to support those of you who do..

• Gareth October 4, 2014 (2:30 pm)

  That’s been so amazing I know my kids are still thinking of ways to raise the money. I hope SPS is taking notice and does the right thing.

• Wowzers October 4, 2014 (3:13 pm)

  Wow, a non-tax-deductible donation of $10K? That is support.

• Wowzers October 4, 2014 (3:23 pm)

  Just got this off of the previous thread:

  It’s my understanding that a very good mentor teacher at GW volunteered to leave for FP yesterday. I agree with wsmomma that this money could be better spent elsewhere on children in true need.

  .
  Are the organizers aware of this? Do the people donating? There are so many kids in WS in need of food, clothing, basic school supplies, tutoring, I think if this is true then there are some very misplaced priorities here.

• bsmomma October 4, 2014 (3:23 pm)

  Is that $35,000 the amount in the Chase account and the bake sale monies? or just Chase?

• Paul October 4, 2014 (3:36 pm)

  West Seattle the Beverage House, Feedback and the Bridge have all signed on for a pub crawl tonight. Starting at 7:30 pm. So come out and enjoy the fun. It will be a direct donation at each place. There will be live music, WSU Football Games and BEER! Come out and enjoy the fun!

• HuskyFan October 4, 2014 (3:49 pm)

  I’m confused they need to raise $90k to save 1 teacher? Is that right? That seems like a lot for 1 teacher. First grade teachers make 90 grand a year?

• hawkbit October 4, 2014 (4:14 pm)

  @HuskyFan I thought the same, but the schedule lists compensation for a fifth-year teacher with average experience at ~$55,000. I’m assuming the extra $35,000 is for insurance, pension and such. That’s my best guess, but I didn’t research it.

• StringCheese October 4, 2014 (4:14 pm)

  @HuskyFan,
  No, not even remotely. It is likely between $34K- $43K for a new teacher. The $90K is the number the district puts out as including insurance, vacation, sick leave, etc. Honestly, before handing over any money I’d ask for an itemized accounting of how they get to that figure considering that teachers bring home less than half of what they are asking for. You can look up the pay schedules youself:
  http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/careers/salary/14-15CNSSalary.pdf?sessionid=3a2cad78770b7b5523f3ff8b7eebeb1e

• MyEye October 4, 2014 (4:34 pm)

  The fully burdened cost of an employee isn’t just the salary.

• GW Dad October 4, 2014 (4:34 pm)

  $90K is the district’s number to add a teacher. The district decided to move a Gatewood teacher to Fairmount, so we need this amount to keep our teacher at GW and add a teacher to FP. Rather than reallocate resources as the district intends we want to add another teacher for a West Seattle school.

• GW Dad October 4, 2014 (4:36 pm)

  Wowzers, a teacher volunteering only changes who is going from GW to FP, it doesn’t add another teacher.

• ACG October 4, 2014 (4:39 pm)

  Is the teacher’s salary 90,000 dollars for this school year (with one month already over of the school year)? I didn’t know that k-5 teachers made that much. Good luck with the fundraising. We will try to stop by to help the effort!!

• Rope October 4, 2014 (4:45 pm)

  The $90,000 figure is from the District and includes benefits. In terms of priorities…Gatewood houses two Behaviorly Disturbed programs. These are students other schools couldn’t handle. Gatewood is dedicated to serving these students in the regular classroom as much as possible. Getting District support has been a long and difficult process. Disrupting the school will undermine the work that has been done to serve these high needs students. These are not throw away kids! Someone has to step up and support them and that is what the Gatewood community is trying to do. Please support this effort!

• Lynn October 4, 2014 (4:58 pm)

  Wowzers,

  Gatewood parents are raising funds so that they don’t lose a teacher – not a particular teacher but any teacher. If someone volunteers to leave, they’ll still have to rearrange the first grade students into three rather than four classrooms.

  I wonder why Gatewood is not giving up the assistant principal instead. That would have a smaller affect on students than losing a teacher. Arbor Heights has the same number of classrooms as Gatewood and doesn’t have an AP.

• SPS is a joke October 4, 2014 (5:15 pm)

  @wowzers There are starving kids in Africa too but this isn’t about them. It’s about giving this group of kids the highest quality education we can and pushing back against misguided, disruptive policies handed down from a school board that cares more about the bottom line than our kids.

  The Seattle School Board just unanimously approved a $421,000 contract for an outside firm to tell them how to fix their broken special education program. So there’s where your tax dollars and teacher salaries are going. And we’re forced to have a bake sale to keep a teacher.

  http://www.kplu.org/post/state-freezes-part-seattles-special-ed-funding-district-takes-step-improve

• former GW parent October 4, 2014 (5:20 pm)

  Lynn – Programatically, they can’t offer up the Asst Principal, because GW houses 2 Emotional Behavioral Disorder classrooms that Arbor Hts does not have. This creates a greater need for having someone in admin to deal with behavioral issues. With these two programs we HAVE to have an AP.

  Another issue is that with the dissolving of a 1st grade class, and the teacher moving to 4th, and losing the 4th grade teacher (it is a 4/5 team) this move would directly affect 6 classrooms. (1 dissolved, 3 with lots of new students, 1 with a new homeroom teacher, and 1 with a new team teacher). Moving from 1st to 4th is no small feat either. The curriculum is significantly different, as is the developmental maturity of the students.

• West Seattle Steve October 4, 2014 (5:50 pm)

  Assistant Principals or head teachers come when enrollment passes a certain threshold. I believe it is 300 for a head teacher and 350 for an assistant principal, but my numbers could be off.

• Friend of Gatewood October 4, 2014 (6:08 pm)

  Lynn, with the two EBD programs mentioned above, keeping the AP is just as crucial as not losing a teacher.

• Wsparent October 4, 2014 (6:12 pm)

  This is such a testament to how much WS parents and the community care for our kids! I just wish SPS was showing as much gratitude towards our teachers, and concern for their clientele; the kids. This whole mess could have been handled in a different way, with transparency to the public/school community so a solution could have been reached. I love our WS community! Wish we could break away and form our own district!

• Rope October 4, 2014 (6:17 pm)

  Arbor Heights doesn’t house two Behaviorally Disturbed programs. Without an AP the disruptions would be ongoing. The programs have been stable this year and no one wants anything to interfere with that. No one!

• Kate October 4, 2014 (9:12 pm)

  I don’t understand. So Gatewood parents were told by SPS that if they raised $90K by Wednesday, they would not lose a teaching position? Is SPS able to take direct donations and use them like that? Isn’t it required to go into some general fund? This just doesn’t sound right.

  I guess what I’m asking is – did you get this in writing?

• Sarah B October 4, 2014 (9:27 pm)

  This doesn’t just disrupt 1st grade students. I have a child in the 4th grade and this will also disrupt them and the classroom sizes. This is one of the reasons we decided to enroll our child in Gatewood and haven’t switched throughout the years. The teachers are amazing and truly care about the children they are teaching. They go out of their way to help the kids they teach. The classroom sizes have remained smaller than other local schools which allows children more one on one time. Gatewood shouldn’t have to lose a a great resource because the district can’t do an accurate count when enrolling children. If a school is in need of staff because they have over enrolled then they should have to move children from that school or hire another educator, in my opinion. The teacher that volunteered is a fantastic teacher and would be a huge loss to Gatewood.

• Julia October 4, 2014 (9:47 pm)

  This troubles me when I consider the same situation might occur at another school where the parents and community aren’t able to raise money like that. Where’s the equity? If your neighborhood is richer, your kids’ life won’t be disrupted? Not saying they’re wrong, just that this won’t solve much.

• hollybee October 5, 2014 (8:04 am)

  THANK YOU Julia, I couldn’t agree more!

• Kellie October 5, 2014 (8:19 am)

  Gatewood is not a wealthy school. That is what makes this so impressive.

• Heidi A October 5, 2014 (8:38 am)

  @Kellie – exactly ! I’ve seen a number of comments about equity and PTAs that can’t raise this kind of money.

  Uh, hello is this mic on? Gatewood is one of those schools. This is why parents are literally standing on a street corner begging for money. This is not a group of affluent parents using privilege to buy a teacher.

  As to comments about equity in class size across the district, I totally agree. But these decisions should be made before the start if the year. Here it’s a timing issue.

• WSMama October 5, 2014 (8:46 am)

  @Wowzers: are you suggesting that because others suffer for various reasons (poverty, illness, etc) that we shouldn’t address this situation? SPS has put Gatewood and the community in a unnecessary position and we as parents, teachers and kids are not going to accept their decision without a fight. My kids’ education does matter. And I have seen these same people (myself included) advocate for those same causes (poverty, hunger, etc). This is about a community coming together to support children and to see it is powerful and awe-inspiring. Just because it wouldn’t be your priority, DOES NOT make it “misplaced”. It saddens me that people have to put a negative spin on this.

• Beth Bakeman October 5, 2014 (8:52 am)

  Impressive, and sad. I understand why the Gatewood families are paying the district requested ransom, but it absolves the district of any consequences of their mismanagement of the enrollment system and staffing. And based on what the district spokesperson is saying, there could be several more schools in the same situation within the next week or so. Are they all going to be asked for a ransom fee?

• evergreen October 5, 2014 (8:59 am)

  Another STEM parent here impressed with and supportive of the Gatewood community!

• Rope October 5, 2014 (9:42 am)

  So, we are concerned about the equity issues surrounding a group of parents raising $90,000 to fund a teacher? Yet, SPS mismanagement has earned them the “high risk recipient of federal funds” designation. Millions of dollars withheld, more money spent trying to fix an ongoing mess that was described as chaotic after two years of remedial efforts. When funds are inadequate to begin with you can’t afford multi-million dollar mistakes. Imagine the good for children that could have been done with the money SPS has squandered. Nature abhors a vacuum and that’s what we have down on Lander. If we have any outrage to spare that’s where it should be directed, not at parents and students who are victims of our irresponsible school district.

• Yes2WS October 5, 2014 (11:18 am)

  Partly in response to the following comment..

  “I understand why the Gatewood families are paying the district requested ransom, but it absolves the district of any consequences of their mismanagement of the enrollment system and staffing.”

  The most immediate consequence to the district would fall directly on the students. Why allow this to happen if it can be avoided?

  Prior to the start of the school year, the faculty/staff of Gatewood weighed the possible gains/losses of this year’s structuring and made difficult decisions based on what they felt was in their students’ best interest. These teachers, some of whom were deciding the fate of their own children, are intelligent and caring people. I have to believe, absolutely, that they made the best decision. And now, due to miscalculations by the district and an unwillingness to opt for a lesser disruptive alternative than the dismantling of a model Gatewood felt most appropriate for it’s students, these children are going to be impacted the hardest if the rallying falls short.

  Also; in response to earlier posts, I say this.. Children have ample opportunity to learn the lessons of resiliency. Equally important, however, is that we adults lessen the blows where we can. And who knows… maybe even teach another great lesson; effective problem-solving.

  The Gatewood community has my full support in their efforts; and should the monies fall short.. hopefully, it will have at least inspired the district to act with a conscience in this matter.

• HuskyFan October 5, 2014 (11:23 am)

  More power to everyone involved. Something smells bad in Denmark though. as @Kate states, did you get this in writing? It sounds like you could get a better return on your investment if you took your money and went to a private school.

• KD October 5, 2014 (11:32 am)

  Is there a website or place to give donation in person today (Oct 5)?

• NBC October 5, 2014 (12:43 pm)

  I believe donations are being collected at the WS Farmers Market.

• KM October 5, 2014 (2:36 pm)

  Kate-

  Agreed, I was thinking this as well. It doesn’t seem to me there is any guarantee from the school district that if they raise 90k they get to keep their teacher–or I have overlooked it in the stories printed thus far.

• Yes2WS October 5, 2014 (3:21 pm)

  @ HuskyFan…
  Sometimes, you follow your heart and don’t care if there’s anything in writing… you know?

• Kate October 5, 2014 (5:09 pm)

  Actually, I was the one who asked the question about whether you got it in writing. And it was a serious question. Like many of us, I’ve had my dealings with SPS. I find it hard to believe that you, as a parent group, will be able to directly “buy” a teaching position for your school.

  And the idea that you’ve got 5 days to raise $90K makes it seem all the stranger. So hand over the money and then “nevermind”? Doesn’t make sense.

  So yes, by all means. Teach your kids to fight for what they want and need. But you have to know the rules of the fight. And I’m asking what those rules are.

• Rope October 5, 2014 (6:24 pm)

  My guess is the District believes they made another empty promise. All the sweeter to deliver $90,000 and hold them to their word. The fundraising campaign is doing better than anyone imagined. The support has been amazing. There is still a ways to go. Check the West Seattle Blog for updates on how you can support this endeavor.

• AH Parent October 5, 2014 (6:50 pm)

  Curious what the contracts were. It’s my understanding that if the GW teacher had a valid contract with SPS they would have to teach somewhere else in SPS if needed and clearly GW doesn’t have the need — It’s just parents not wanting to see them go? I think this fundraising sets the wrong message. How may times will parents force someone else’s hand with money to get what they want instead of using the situation to show their kids that life has it’s hard knocks – deal with it! I didn’t donate. Wouldn’t if it was my school either. We lost a well loved 2nd grade teacher this year because he didn’t want to commute from Shoreline to West Seattle. Where was the AH community to pay for his gas and car wear and tear to keep him at AH?

• Lynn October 5, 2014 (8:57 pm)

  I believe it’s legit. Another elementary school did the same thing in this situation two years ago.

• Another GW Mom October 5, 2014 (9:45 pm)

  @AH parent
  It’s not just about losing one teacher. It’s about distrupting six classrooms, six teachers, and roughly 120 or so students over a month into the school year.

  Had these changes in teaching staff & classroom arrangements occurred before school started in September we would likely not have even known. I know my child will adjust to the change and yep, in her life she’ll have to learn that stuff happens that is beyond her control and she’ll learn to roll with the punches.

  I also know that this effort is teaching her to stand up and fight for what she believes is fair and right, even if others don’t always necessarily agree.

• Be mama October 5, 2014 (11:06 pm)

  Wow. Was following this story because I thought it was a bit of a joke to hold a bake sale for a teachers salary. But seriously, they raised $35K? Wow. Just wow.

• Llfauntleroy October 6, 2014 (8:21 am)

  I see that SPS has advertised for a 3/4 teacher at Fairmont Park. Does this mean they plan to hire a new teacher for the position and keep the Gatewood teacher where she is? What’s the status of the situation?

• wsk October 6, 2014 (9:18 am)

  “There are so many kids in WS in need of food, clothing, basic school supplies, tutoring, I think if this is true then there are some very misplaced priorities here.”

  It’s odd to include school supplies and “tutoring” here, when reducing the ratio of students to teachers is, in effect, providing the possibility of more one-on-one instructional time AKA tutoring! I donated. Is donating money to a PUBLIC, no doubt attended by some of those children you describe, school to be spent as the PTA and staff wish (to reduce headcount) not a positive way to impact a community? You could have all the pencils in the world but if your teacher cannot provide the time to teach you how to use it, does it matter?

• wsk October 6, 2014 (9:19 am)

  “It sounds like you could get a better return on your investment if you took your money and went to a private school”

  It’s not just about one child, it’s about ALL OF THEM.

• Erika October 8, 2014 (5:28 pm)

  The community has done a fantastic job rallied together to make this effort come to life. However I think the Seattle school district does the parents of Gatewood a full accounting of how $90,000 is what it cost us to retain one teacher as I know that is not the full salary for that one year for one year

  • WSB October 8, 2014 (5:33 pm)

    Erika, I asked SPS spokesperson Stacy Howard that exact question after the statement came in this afternoon. Her reply: “$90,000 is our average to hire a full time teacher and this includes salary and a full benefits package.”

Sorry, comment time is over.