Sibling school assignments 2011

[wsparent]

Did your entering Kindergartener get wait listed at their older siblings school? After going through the open enrollment process, and listing several schools, we are STILL assigned to our reference area school (West Seattle Elementary). We are #7 on the wait list at Gatewood, which I don’t find a very optimistic number. West Seattle is not an option for our incoming Kindergartener, for a variety of reasons, so I’m in complete outrage with the Seattle Public Schools. If anyone else is in the same boat, maybe we can band together and get some press/attention drawn to this issue? Any ideas out there? This is the time to draw attention to this, before next year’s budgets are formed and decisions about hiring potential new K teachers are made.

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[wsmama3]

I couldn’t tell from your message, but get your frustration.

Is your older kid at Gatewood? You should have been given priority and so if a mistake was made (since it’s hard to believe that all the spaces went to other sibs) you should contact SPS and ask for help.

I’ve heard a rumor that it didn’t matter what other schools you put down – it was only your 1st choice that matters (and that you can be wait listed for).

I think that 7 is hopeful – lots of families might get shifted (Pathfinder, private, ect).

I don’t know why “decisions about hiring potential new K teachers” matters? Do you mean that they need more classes open (and more teachers)?

The whole thing seems like an insane boondoggle.

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[wsparent]

Yes, my older child is at Gatewood. We were given sibling priorty, and still are #7. I’ve already contacted the district and my son’s paperwork was run correctly.

A few years ago, when my daughter was #8 on the wait list, we were nowhere near gaining entrance to our first choice school (this was 2008). But, yes, you are right. It could be much worse.

The district has not set the budget for next year. This is the time of year that discussions come up about hiring more teachers. If another K teacher at Gatewood is hired, we have a much better chance of getting in. Then, things may shift on other schools’ wait lists as well.

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