Magnolia public schools will keep the same?start times next year, but there will be big changes for a handful of other schools in our city.?In a letter to parents, Susan Enfield, Interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools explains the need for six of Seattle schools’ change in bell times:
Dear Seattle Public School families,
Today I am announcing bell times for the 2012-13 school year. After hearing feedback from staff and families, we worked hard to keep the majority of next year?s start times consistent with what is in place this year. However, there are six schools ? View Ridge, Wedgwood, Bryant, McGilvra, North Beach and Adams ? that will see their bell times moved as much as 30 minutes later for next year.
These new bell times are a result of changes to transportation for the 2012-13 school year. The School Board voted to move forward with a transportation plan that includes longer yellow bus ride times (up to 45-minute rides) but has minimal impact on bell times. We needed to implement new start times at these six schools to continue our three-tied bus plan (where staggered start times are required so that one bus can make three trips between schools). This change will save the District between $300,000 and $500,000, allowing us to keep further budget cuts away from the classroom.
We know changing bell times is not ideal. We also know that many members of our community would like us to consider later high school start times and earlier elementary start times. This has major ramifications for high school students, including after-school jobs and athletics, as well as before- and after-school child care for elementary school families.We are committed to thoroughly studying these ideas, but we ask for your patience as it will require considerable time and public involvement. The District will work with families, staff and our current transportation task force to tackling these long-term issues, with recommendations expected for the 2014-15 school year.
Sincerely,
Susan Enfield,
Ed.D.Interim Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools
Click here for the complete list of bell times.
That really stinks. ?Blaine starts so late that working parents need both before and after care, and it gets out so late that the kids can’t participate in after-school activities, most of which start between 3:30 and 4, based on the end times for the majority of elementaries in the district.
Yes! I hate that I have to pay $470/month because Blaine can’t start at 8:30, like other elementaries. 🙁
Idiots.? There’s a ton of research showing high school kids are hardwired to stay up later and wake up later, but it’s the elementary school kids that can sleep in.? Why are after school jobs a more important consideration that the ability of high school kids to stay awake and focus during classes?
It sounds like they realize the implications of the tiered plan.? If the high schoolers start later they won’t be able to work after school.? Their peers in other countries go to school early plus work after school.? That is who will compete with them down the line.? Did you manage to go against your “natural wiring” and get to school early when you were a kid?? Discipline is what makes people go to work in the first place.? We are all wired to prefer to sleep all day and pick low hanging fruit.
Not all students have after-school jobs. ?They are the ones running around unsupervised for four hours until mommy and daddy get home. ?How quickly we forget the knife fight at the Community Center that took place in front of a playground full of toddlers. ?Here’s an idea — how about having a reasonable length school day and providing these kids with the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed in life, instead of skimping back to the bare minimum to save pennies?
I couldn’t agree more.? But voters think tough love is the answer and?won’t go with tax increases…so? the school district has to figure out how to juggle the funds it has, which means ridiculous things like this bus schedule.? Pennies are what the voters think the school district should run on.? ?Here’s an idea that matches yours…how about parents not expecting the schools, the teachers or the state to solve problems like babysitting as well as schooling in overcrowded classes.? It takes two jobs often to support a house in Magnolia or anywhere, really.?Given an unreasonable length school day and an unacceptable in-school situation, its is absolutely the parents’ responsibility to provide for their children’s safety and education.? Not to bore you with “in my day” ….but if you have mortages, car payments, and other expenses that put you in a situation where other people have to babysit your kids (for steep cost or by default) its your children who will often suffer. Its not anyone elses responsibility.? I have mentored in the schools today and am horrified by how bad the schools are compared to when my own kids were in public schools.? Parental involvement is the only hope and it starts with overseeing every detail oneself.
I agree there needs to be parental involvement, but the schools are completely dropping the ball on just about every level. ?And everyone seems to be content to let them get away with it.
?I see too many parents who are willing to back down at the low standard of education that SPS is providing, preferring to supplement with tutors or homeschooling.? Blaine has no language classes, no music, no gifted program, and many of its core subject areas (science, social studies) are severely lacking.? And this is an award-winning school???? There needs to be heavy pressure from the parents at every level — state legislature, department of education, school board, and school level — to raise the standards to competitive levels and fund the schools so that they can maintain their buildings and have basic things such as a school nurse and guidance counselor.? At the state level, there was a state supreme court ruling mandating that education be appropriately funded, but it’s obviously not happening.? At the district level, why has the district dumbed down the curriculum and cut programs?? At the school level, why aren’t teachers and principals teaching kids to the level at which they can learn?? Why aren’t people fighting mad about these things?? Private schools do a LOT more with their school day and aren’t always in a booming financial situation.? If they can have science 1-3 times per week, why can’t SPS students have more than three tiny units of science in a year?
I don’t know how to do this, but may I propose? that Magnolia Voice make THIS the subject of the story and reprint your eloquent reply?? I am accused of being an intellectual, a snob, because I really value education and made sure my kids were well prepared for the “world is flat” playing field.? When I see kids playing baseball I wonder privately if they’ve finished their second language studies for the day.? What you report is exactly what I saw in the public schools I mentored in.? Blaine sounds worse.? Please do what you can to?get local parents to see the writing on the wall…your kids won’t get educated and as a result will get minor jobs, will be so ill-prepared? they won’t be accepted into the kind of schools that might help them achieve their professional dreams.? The competition is way way ahead. And be ready to see those young adults be angry and confused.? I hope you spread this message.
Before I bow out of this posting one last proposal of my own:? All adults in Magnolia with kids out of school and some time to spare and who have expertise in music, art, sciences, dance, philosophy, foreign languages, business…please volunteer at the local schools so everyone can see what success looks like.