seattle school board members

He was elected twice to the Seattle School Board serving from 2007 to 2015. Map of the seven director districts. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. A primary was scheduled for August 3, 2021. But some witnesses and school board directors got in the way. Specifically, the recall petition itself reports that Seattle school board members have: Delayed reopening Seattle schools to full-time, in-person instruction, compared to the great majority of other districts; Violated their legal duty to provide special needs students with access to in-person instruction; Given away school property in West Seattle in violation of legal standards; Failed to correct a 2015 school board decision to take $2.7 million in private money while keeping the donors name secret; Approved contracts on planned Rainier Beach High School and Northgate Elementary construction projects which involve conflicts of interest and violations of environmental review laws; Failed to protect student privacy online; Failed to consult the Duwamish Tribe regarding environmental review of the Northgate Elementary project; Failed to provide adequate school-day recreational areas for students; Sold school property to a favored buyer without holding a public hearing; Discriminated against students by canceling the Highly Capable Program at Washington Middle School; Violated the rights of Kimball Elementary School students by improperly changing the attendance area. This fall, the community can expect three new members to join the Seattle School Board . The Jason Rantz Show on KTTH has a staff of one when it comes to reporting and research: Im the one. Should classroom learning time be cut down to 4 hours a day in Washington state. I wanted it to get out afterThanksgiving, as stories printed the week before the holiday tend to get lost. 68% of the management team is White. 206-252-0000, Distributing Information to Students and Schools, Northwest Coast Art by Andrea Wilbur-Sigo, Squaxin/Skokomish. Another Washington community is having to deal with the possibility of rogue sex offenders. Board member Zachary DeWolf will not be running for re-election to the seat representing District 5, which covers the bulk of Capitol Hill, the Central District, downtown and the area near the stadiums.. It's a tumultuous time for Seattle and the city's . WA to end masking requirement in health care, correctional facilities, Fire on Lake City Way in Seattle raises smoke, flooding concerns, One Seattle business is taking a stand against tipping mania, Chef Ethan Stowell buys a historic Seattle dive bar, Amazon shutters some convenience stores, including 2 in Seattle, concluded she harassed, intimidated and bullied. It unnecessarily meddles in the employment practices. Carlyle's plan would pay board members, starting in the biggest, most complex district in Seattle, a salary in-line with state legislators, which is $42,000 per year. She coordinated with DeWolf in an attempt to limit the complainants from speaking about their work on the policy and from offering input. Hampson and DeWolf later tried to expedite the board vote on the anti-racism policy during an executive committee meeting without the staffers. Applications for the 2023-24 student member positions will be open Monday, Feb. 27 - March 24. Geary won in the general election on November 3, 2015. So, the actual people who actually do the job clearly like it and want to keep doing it.Mas argued theres a better solution to the fact that the job can be demanding, a solution that doesnt involve paying board members.They dont need to be paid themselves, they need some paid staff to answer those emails, to do some independent data gathering, he said. Student board members are appointed for one year, following the academic calendar. Hampson declined to comment. Student members are encouraged to utilize course credit, service hour, independent study, free periods, or other opportunities, as available and appropriate for their own academic schedule, to modify their class schedule to accommodate committee meeting attendance. 11% of Seattle Public Schools management is Hispanic or Latino. Scarlett and Al-ansi outlined the complaints in a memo titled Bullying, Intimidation, and Anti-Black Racism, which was sent to the full board and then-SPS Superintendent Denise Juneau. Do I need to pull out my resume? she asked, according to witness testimony. As Scarlett was discussing her desire to ensure the policy is a pro-Black anti-racist policy, she was repeatedly interrupted by DeWolf. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Student School board members will receive an orientation from staff and board directors and will be paired with a School Board Director mentor and staff mentor for ongoing support. Ghislaine Maxwell has appealed the conviction and 20-year prison sentence she received for trafficking girls to Jeffrey Epstein for sex, with her . SPS upholds all board policies and superintendent procedures and thoroughly investigates workplace complaints.. Please fill out this form by April 3, 2023 if you would like to join the School Board Student Member Selection Committee. The Board of Directors is self-perpetuating; new members are elected each year, serving up to two, 3-year terms. 2445 3rd Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98134 The School Board Student Member Selection Committee is a student-led committee that will recommend three (3) Student Members to the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors for selection. District 2 - Lisa Rivera Smith. School Board Special Meeting: Executive Session: Supt Eval Check-In; Work Session: Policy Diet. He made these comments several times. 174 (Teamsters 174). Melissa Westbrooks local blog which I just discovered actually covered this story back in October. Once selected, student members will need to obtain written permission to work from their parent or guardian. Medicare open enrollment is here and SHIBA can help! Seattle Times staff reporter. Not be a current employee of the district and/or be related to a current employee in that district. 04 Mar 2023 01:18:54 Consequently, media coverage has been scant and inadequate. Leslie Harris (incumbent), 61. SPS board members wrestled with the district boundary lines over the course of various public and community meetings, and debated how race played a role in the redistricting process. 206-252-0000, Distributing Information to Students and Schools, Northwest Coast Art by Andrea Wilbur-Sigo, Squaxin/Skokomish, School Board Student Member Selection Committee. Each district needs to meet certain criteria set by state law: having nearly the same population size, being as compact as possible and not favoring or disfavoring a political party or racial group. Yes, they get reimbursed a little for expenses such as gas and supplies but certainly not for their time. Seattle School Board President Chandra Hampson threatened volunteers with trespassing who were distributing leaflets on Monday regarding a homeless encampment on campus and school officials' refusal to address it. Students entering their junior or senior year are eligible to apply for a one-year term that will begin August 2023 and conclude at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Both Hampson and DeWolf, according to the complainants, were upset that they lost control over the anti-racism policy to two Black women. School Board student members will also attend the regular meetings of the School Board of Directors on a roughly once-per-month rotation and will have an opportunity to report on the work of their committee, offer opinions on the motions and resolutions before the board, and communicate other topics of student interest or concern. The board vacancy came on the heels of Director Betty Patu announcing her departure from the school board, and without enough time to [] Student board members will not be voting members but will serve as advisors to the Seattle School Board. Newsletter & Website Content - OPEN. Greetings from the Admissions Director; Prep At A Glance; Explore Prep; Open House; Panther For A Day; Apply to Prep; . Each School Board student member will be assigned to one of three board committees: the Audit & Finance Committee; Operations Committee; or Student Services Curriculum & Instruction Committee. They couldnt get to this sooner? Board members also believe students possess valuable insight and should have a voice in the education received from the district and the decisions made by the board. The investigative report was submitted last August and concluded that Director Hampson used her position and authority to the detriment of [staff] in violation of [the harassment, intimidation and bullying policy], according to court documents. Email the Records and Archives Center [email protected] for finding aids for paper records: school board and superintendent's working files, correspondence and meeting materials. DeWolf did not run for re-election and will suffer no immediate political consequences as a result. Geary did not file to run for re-election in 2019. However, DeWolf cut her off before the 10 minutes were up, telling her twice to wrap up her comments, the report said. Redistricting is required by law. The district's decades-long record of failure helps explain why three Seattle mothers, Emily Bramwell Cherkin, Jennifer Rebecca Olson Crow, and Beverely Diann Goodman are leading a broad coalition of concerned parents asking voters to recall six out of seven Seattle school board members. The number of hours a month may vary, but should not exceed 20 hours. It is widely acknowledged that the Seattle Public School district (with 53,000 students, the largest in Washington) is riddled with weak leadership, overly powerful unions, poor academics and deep structural problems. Attorney General Bob Ferguson's office could arrest or civilly commit conservatives for uttering mainstream positions under a terrifying and illegal plan. Selection of School Board Student Members; Approval of the Amended 2021-22 Superintendent . The Stranger, normally interested in amplifying claims of racism, offered the bare minimum in covering the story, only to link to the Seattle Times. 1st Grade Class Rep - Lauren McAlister. I think the investigation was correct in noting there was no evidence to suggest Hampson or DeWolf targeted Scarlett or Al-ansi for their racial or gender identities. Seattle school officials declined to comment on the case, although spokesperson Beverley Redmond said the replacement of the harassment, intimidation and bullying policy does not impact the superior courts decision. Some of the background facts for malfeasance include the U.S. Department of Educations civil rights investigation against Seattle Schools for not serving disabled children, the long-term closure of schools during COVID-19, and the districts inadequacy in providing children with at-home instruction. Director Harris has every right to vote yes or no on any measure that presents itself to the board. Though the District 4 primary was decided by voters in that district which includes Ballard, Magnolia, and Northern Queen Anne the runoff is citywide, so South End . The two women who made allegations against Hampson and DeWolf wrote a letter to the board on Sept. 18, 2020 almost a year earlier detailing their experiences, board member Lisa Rivera-Smith said during the meeting. The School Board has not yet voted on the policy. By. Subscribe to thepodcast here. Hampson and DeWolf come off as petty public servants because thats precisely what they are. It was clear Hampson had darts for both of them, the witness told MFR investigators. Where were they? The findings call his conduct unprofessional.. The Seattle School Board believes students possess valuable insight and should have a paramount voice in the education received from the district and in the decisions made by the board. However, the investigation did not conclude Hampson and DeWolf discriminated against staffers based on their race or gender. The board did, however, vote to take action on the investigation. It doesnt help that theyre insufferably rude, either. Some of the biggest changes: District 2, which incorporates Green Lake and Phinney Ridge, has expanded west to include Ballard and Magnolia. Student board members will not be voting members but will serve as advisors to the Seattle School Board. Contact the Student Members through Lets Talk. In a series of emails, DeWolf and Hampson accused staffers of inaccuracies in district meeting minutes and claimed the district staffers didnt do the work they said they did, the report said. The only somewhat meaningful reporting on this complaint came from the Seattle Times. For details see Revised Code of Washington 29A.56.110. 'Time for an intervention:' Seattle School Board member resigns, cites 'dysfunctional culture Jan 07, 2021 at 7:22 pm By Chris B. Bennett Co-publisher/Editor Two weeks ago, The Seattle School Board had a decision to make - who will be the next board member representing District 7, which encompasses Southeast Seattle. They found mixed and inconclusive evidence to show the conduct was based on gender. August 3, 2021. School Board student members will contribute to discussion by providing student insight and perspective, advocating their positions on district issues or needs, and serving as liaisons between the board and students. District staff thought they knew better and felt sidelined. Normally, this investigation would be posted online three days ahead of a school board meeting. All students and the more than 100 full-time faculty members live on the grounds. All current board members still reside in the districts they represent under the new map. Embattled Seattle School Board President Chandra Hampson deleted critical comments from her Facebook page. "You will not see me supporting your business and I find it intriguing you think that crime is just in Tacoma, said a Tacoma Councilmember. Scarlett and Al-ansi, who have escaped media scrutiny, should also be called out. They barely got a slap on the wrist. When Al-ansi attempted to explain why her ties to the local Black communities would help tweak the policy, Hampson interrupted to scoff at the womans bona fides. School Board Member Chandra Hampson appealed the outcome of the investigation in September. During a group phone call in August 2020, the situation took a turn for the worse. July 6, 2022 at 6:00 am Updated Aug. 2, 2022 at 4:46 pm. But attorneys representing SPS are arguing a thorough investigation was conducted, and that the outcome is supported by 20 witness interviews and thousands of documents. He will decide whether there is reasonable cause to show these board members committed an act or acts of malfeasance or misfeasance while in office or that such person has violated an oath of office.. The tension came to a head during an Aug. 28, 2020, phone call between Hampson, DeWolf, the complainants, and SPS staff. The events that took place between the Seattle Public Schools employees and board members Chandra Hampson and Zachary DeWolf happened in August and September 2020 during meetings and discussions about a draft of the districts anti-racism policy. Its a bridge too far.Carlyle says the quality and diversity of the board would improve if members were compensated.Retiring Seattle School Board Chairwoman Kay Smith-Blum agrees that its time to start paying some kind of salary.This is a job that averages, I believe, anywhere from 20-30 hours a week, Smith-Blum said. The school board attempted to bury the report. In the summer of 2020, the two staffers and board members disagreed on when the anti-racism policy should go to a board vote. John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence Your IP: And its costing taxpayers thousands of dollars. Student board members can expect to spend approximately four (4) hours a month on additional work, including reviewing meeting materials, meeting with peers, and meeting with support staff and board mentor. The campaign also builds on the Clean Schools Resolution passed by the Seattle School Board in February, which commits the district to being fossil fuel-free by 2040. Hampson and DeWolf are no strangers to controversy. Board members were under pressure to bring the resolution to the board quickly because many other board policies that were in the works hinged on this document, and district staff was pushing back on the urgency. The 2,000-acre grounds are home to approximately 535 students from more than 30 states and 13 countries. DeWolf has represented District 5, which includes Capitol Hill, downtown and the Central District. Email the Records and Archives Center [email protected] for finding aids for paper records: school board and superintendents working files, correspondence and meeting materials. More info. The School Board student member positions were created in response to student advocacy about the need to uplift and increase BIPOC student voices within Seattle Public Schools, to work toward a student-centered educational system, and to help students understand the educational system around them and share their perspectives with district leadership. 2445 3rd Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98134 The report was never posted to the Seattle Schools website. Dr. Keisha Scarlett, the SPS Chief of Equity, Partnerships, and Engagement, and Manal Al-ansi, the Director of Racial Equity Advancement, alleged an orchestrated campaign of bullying, escalating intimidation, gaslighting, and retaliation that lasted for months. I certainly understand that SPS did not make it easy to track this story. SEATTLE -- As Washington schools continue to face huge challenges with test scores and student achievement, theres a new proposal from one state lawmaker to help kick-start public education: Pay school board members, he argues, and thereby attract better leaders.We cant demand that our kids and our teachers improve their quality, and not improve the quality of our management as well, said state Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle. And District 6 in West Seattle now stretches to the other side of the Duwamish Waterway and includes Georgetown and South Park. The anti-racism policy has not been adopted by the school board. The superintendent was in attendance. Seattle media deserves to be called out on this. And why havent local TV stations picked the story up in any meaningful way? Theres also a federal law, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, with similar requirements that prohibit discriminatory practices when redistricting. A hearing is scheduled for April 16th. The conduct violated SPSs policy against harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB). March 24, 2021 Updated Wed., March 24, 2021 at 8:31 p.m. His complaint appears to come from her wanting to work more independently from him. One of the accusers tried to tell Hampson and DeWolf twice they were disrespecting her, the report said. The board voted to withhold the information from online publication in an apparent move to keep the adverse findings from the public spotlight. And thats not an unbiased source of data.Carlyle is working to get legislative support for his idea before lawmakers reconvene in Olympia in January. But the investigation said her treatment of Scarlett and Al-ansi was not based on race or gender, as alleged. Bellevue Christian Board of Directors. A left-wing media outlet used a union-backed poll to push a union-backed piece of legislation to push you into offering support. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. DeWolf engaged more harshly, disrespectfully, and/or rudely with women, regardless of race. But others note hes rude to everyone regardless of gender. In other words, they are far-left activists who dont practice what they preach on anti-racism, nor do they serve the kids they are supposed to protect. In an emailed statement, the district said its not able to comment on personnel matters but that Seattle Public Schools is committed to nondiscrimination in all our educational, employment and staff endeavors., We firmly believe this commitment to anti-racism increases student success, the statement continued. When not harassing Black, female staff, they fought to keep dangerous homeless encampments on school property, including one that housed a sex offender. The Seattle Public Schools Board Office has two main areas of focus: Supporting the Board in the preparation and planning of Board meetings to ensure they run effectively and allow for public awareness and participation, Supporting Board members in their role as Directors, John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence Three seats on the Seattle Public Schools school board in Washington were up for general election on November 2, 2021. A district that I know ardently strives to be a safe, welcoming and anti-racist institution. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Bier on the Pier takes place on October 7th and 8th and features local ciders, food trucks and live music - not to mention the beautiful views of the Guemes Channel and backdrop of downtown Anacortes. In July 2019, former School Board member Betty Patu's resignation triggered an appointment process that led to the selection . A criminal history does not automatically disqualify an applicant from serving as a School Board student member. Lake Washington Windows and Doors is a local window dealer offering the exclusive Leak Armor installation. Codd, Superintendent Denise Juneau, School Board President Zachary DeWolf and Hersey heard from community members at a Thursday evening meeting on the issue at Garfield High School. (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "https://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })(). These meetings are held Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m. at John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence. Some school board directors even declined to be interviewed for fear their comments would become public record. 2400 11th Avenue East Seattle WA 98102. But they are also fringe partisans who set up their complaint to fail when they claimed concern over the process not being able to weed out implicit bias. A list of School Board Members and Superintendents. School Board (1882 present) minutes, indexes, correspondence, email, public hearings and administrative documents. The report found Hampson worked with DeWolf to limit the impacts and remarks of the district employee. Seattle Prep. School Board Policy No. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The two SPS employees believed board members were silencing, undermining, discrediting and discriminating against them based on gender and race, court documents say. While I started to look into it then, I purposefully withheld my reporting until now. "Members of the Seattle School Board demanded the mayor's office not sweep dangerous and growing homeless encampments on two school properties," Rantz reported Tuesday . Elise Takahama. 1 and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local No. 2023 Bonneville International. The district was also to provide harassment, intimidation and bullying training to board members as needed. School board members Lisa . School Board student members will have the opportunity to participate in district policy development processes and counsel board directors on the impacts of potential district actions on students. Board members raised their voices at staff and the conversation has been described as terrible, heated, and berating, according to interviews conducted by investigators. But you wont find the report on the districts website. Inspired by the Angela Davis quote that Walls turned sideways are bridges, the board recognizes the organizational structure of the district can create a wall between decision makers and the students the district serves. There was another meeting between the board directors and the complainants on Sept. 16, 2020. The current policy doesnt codify any punishment for HIB conduct, so neither Hampson nor DeWolf were punished. As a former elected official, its bloody nonsense.. Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. Her attorneys filed a brief on Friday to the appeals court. This year's inaugural class was nominated by a student-led committee in May, and was approved by the board in June. School Board student members should expect to spend approximately ten (10) hours a month performing their duties. The investigation itself was extensive. Seattle reporter Jason Rantz noted that, in leaked emails, the school district actually refused to request the mayor's office sweep the camps for illegal activity. The employees names were redacted. And in a district like Seattle, a $1 billion annual enterprise, its a big job for someone who isnt getting paid.Dont we deserve a higher quality education system for our 50,000 kids, asked Carlyle.Carlyle argues that many of Seattles problems, and many problems in other districts, including the achievement gap, low graduation rates, and high turnover, can be tied to the fact that board members are volunteers, arent up to the job, and dont have much time for it.Carlyles plan would pay board members, starting in the biggest, most complex district in Seattle, a salary in-line with state legislators, which is $42,000 per year.It is unreasonable to expect people to have all of that knowledge and then be full-time volunteers on top, said Carlyle. And I heard them speak of treatment that they did not just want us as their leaders to be aware of but to also act upon.. BCS is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. This case highlights that particular problem and ultimately can bring affirmation to the board and the superintendent they hire.. A school board candidate must: Be a registered voter. At a meeting earlier this month, Seattle Public Schools board member Liza Rankin pointed out that the upcoming legislative session is a budget year, and called for the state to start paying for . Posting documents for regular Board meetings at least 3 days in advance of the meeting to allow for public review. Seattle Public Schools started out the 2020-2021 school year in remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The second instance that was investigated was an executive committee meeting on Sept. 16, 2020, according to the report. Pawares Pathompornvivat, a 32-year-old teacher from Franklin High School, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual misconduct. Earlier this month, in response to the school board's proposal, Washington Senator Jamie Pedersen introduced Senate bill 6282, which would require school districts to create individualized . I dont know what youre getting at by sharing yours, Hampson added, according to the witness. She is the second School Board director in recent memory to resign. Hampson did acknowledge the group phone call was terrible, the report said, but denied violating harassment, intimidation and bullying board policies. Apr 2013 - Jan 20162 years 10 months. Lets remember, six of the last seven people who had the job ran for re-election. Seattle School Board chooses new board member, approves plan to return to classrooms . The six officials parents are seeking to recall are Chandra Hampson, President, Brandon Hersey, Vice-President, Zachary DeWolf, Liza Rankin, Leslie Harris, and Lisa Rivera-Smith. March 24, 2021 at 5:12 pm Updated March 24, 2021 at 9:35 pm . 2013 - Present10 years. It only requested Hampson and DeWolf review the policy the investigation said they violated. Currently, Liza Rankin holds the district 1 spot, Lisa Rivera Smith represents district 2, Chandra Hampson represents district 3, and Leslie Harris represents district 6. During law school, I served as a Board Member on the Black Law Students Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, Academic Conduct Board, and Seattle Journal for Social Justice. Last month, the school board voted to repeal the harassment, intimidation and bullying policy for adults (a student policy still exists) and replace it with civility procedures, citing the extraneous resources it took to go through complaints that often didnt meet the threshold of the policy and prevented more serious complaints from being addressed.