ChristineB
Please read up on the public comments submitted to the school board.
There is a lot of sympathy for West Seattle families and a lot of great input. There is some valid fear from current TM families to lose resources and cohort size by splitting the South-end program.
I currently try to connect with WS families that are not aware of the decision. Families currently not attending TM.
I am also trying to find out more about these numbers. Apparently critical numbers are disclosed, making it even harder to make a conscious decision. I don’t see the point busing whole classrooms of West Seattle students to TM, if we could grow a strong program in WS. But I see a strong point in not splitting TM for a mediocre local program with only 5 to 10 APP students enrolled in each grade. It would need a fortuneteller to know these numbers for sure, but I would hope the district might know MAP scores for WS and potential number of APP.
Many parents would probably consider a strong, local Spectrum program over APP at TM, if it would be accessible to them (as Lafayette isn’t).
Helping Arbor Heights in creating a strong program would be one priority to better serve WS in the near future. Committing to making it self-contained for one or two years would attract families that did not want to buy in in the past.
Another option would be placing a Spectrum program at a WS school with the highest testing MAP scores, creating a viable cohort and self-contained classrooms. K-8 STEM might be a good option for a Spectrum program as the middle school pathway isn’t figured out yet.
The district does not provide funding and training for APP. I have a hard time buying into the argument of diluting these resources. There are barely any. If it’s mentoring by more experienced teachers, I agree, but how can you fear to lose something that isn’t there in the first place. The Advanced Learning office has only funding for the testing process. There just isn’t anything to lose. Maybe with resources it’s more about the donations by parents that will be less with splitting the program.
I think, an experienced principal and great teachers can create an APP program in WS that can provide well for our advanced learners. The risk is leaving TM for a not established program in the first years, but the risk is very low for families that did not consider TM as a viable option before and for all the students not tested unaware an option, or in demand of a local option.
Placing the APP program at Fairmount Park could help build a strong new school community there, relieve crowding at Lafayette, and allow more WS children to get the AL services they need.
There is not much help provided by the district to start the program so the core work would have to be done by an outstanding principal, staff and parents. And it will be a lot of work, but could in the end lead to a program that could be very attractive even for students outside WS. We have a very supportive, family-friendly community and can make things like this happen.
There are a lot of unknown variables in this decision making it really hard to find a straight solution. Finding these answers, discussing this with other WS families and then recommending a clear vision is my goal for now.
There is still time for your input until 11/20. See the school board and district email addresses above and give your personal input.