WINDSTORM AFTERMATH: No online classes for Seattle Public Schools today

8:22 AM: Seattle Public Schools just announced this via Twitter: “Due to a citywide power outage, there won’t be live instruction today, Jan. 13. Please have your student work on independent assignments. Meal sites will remain open.”

11:11 AM: Here’s a district news release addressing what some commenters mentioned – that some educators had already started classes when the “no classes” announcement came out:

– Live remote instruction for Seattle Public Schools students is not occurring today due to storm-related power outages in Seattle.

The outages impacted about 30 percent of SPS staff and families, along with 13 SPS school buildings (where some SPS staff continue to work each day).

Based on the significant impact of the outages, it was determined that district-wide live remote instruction would not be conducted. Some educators had already begun live remote teaching prior to the district’s announcement this morning. Those educators can continue with their live remote teaching. Otherwise, families are asked to direct students to focus on independent assignments.

Meal distribution sites remain open, with the exception of the site at Beacon Hill Elementary School. Meals can be accessed at other SPS meal distribution sites.

SPS Parent January 13, 2021 (8:31 am)

Per an email from the school, Genesee Hill plans to have online instruction for those able to connect.

And my child’s class is now in session.

WSTeacher January 13, 2021 (8:34 am)

The district tweeted and you posted before any communication was sent to staff. Classes start at 8:30. Once again a bungled communication job by SPS.

WSparent January 13, 2021 (8:40 am)

My kid is in SPS live school right now. Not sure the message got out to everyone.

SPS Parent January 13, 2021 (8:45 am)

While SPS did make this announcement; my kids’ classes are in session. Now the teachers are confused and reading this announcement.

WSMOM January 13, 2021 (8:45 am)

That’s strange. Both of my kids are currently in live instruction right now.

professor robins January 13, 2021 (8:46 am)

The air sure smells good after a storm… all that tree perfume

Ashley January 13, 2021 (8:53 am)

Thanks WSB! Parents (or at least us) haven’t received an email from the district stating this yet when school as technically started. Twitter can’t be the main form of communication to families ….. the district is something else

Public Parent January 13, 2021 (8:55 am)

Both of my kids are in class, right now, with their teachers! Did SPS forget to tell the teachers?Between this and the lack of communication between SPS and the teachers on the return to school plan, it seems like the right time that we move on from lame-duck Juneau and get someone to run the district now that actually has a reason to care about it’s success in the future. Right now, it’s a mess and we need someone with a vision to make it better.

Andrea January 13, 2021 (9:13 am)

I signed up for Remind notifications for WSHS and we got a notification at 8:54 that there was no online instruction.

Lindwa January 13, 2021 (9:20 am)

Many teachers did not get the message before live sessions started. SPS tweeted at 8:22 and classes start at 8:30am. Very unfortunate delayed decision.

Anne January 13, 2021 (9:41 am)

It’s really mind boggling that communication from SPS is so disjointed. That old saying-“ the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing” seems to apply!

WS Parent January 13, 2021 (11:11 am)

We saw the notification about “no live classes” on the Blog (thank you) . We had an email from our grade school teacher fairly early that he did not have power therefore couldn’t do live instruction. We had an email from our older students middle school principal there WAS live class (if you had power – teacher may or may not show depending if they have power). What a mixed bag. We had our middle schooler log in and the teacher informed us no live instruction. Finally got the robo call from SPS saying no live classes around 9:30.

zark00` January 13, 2021 (2:18 pm)

Another terrible showing by Juneau.

Sarah January 13, 2021 (8:24 pm)

I just realized I never got an official district email, text, or call about this. Our school’s principal and teacher both sent emails, though. Meanwhile, I get notifications aplenty for every holiday school closure…