Email 12: Letter to SPS Directors Concerning Geary Amendment for Meeting 11/6/19

[Seattle Public Schools Highly Capable Services Advisory Committee]

A letter was drafted by HiCap Seattle concerning the Geary Amendment to dismantle the middle school HCC in South and Central Seattle. Please read the letter and consider adding your name to those who do not support this capricious move. This will be sent to the board prior to their meeting. Thank you! 

https://forms.gle/52Aow1LLeeXMdVsh6

Letter to SPS Directors concerning Geary Amendment for meeting 11/6/19

Tuesday, November 5th, 2019


Honorable Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors,


We are writing to you concerning the November 6th meeting agenda item, under IX (C) Business Action Items, item 5, “Amendment 1 to Approval of the Student Assignment Transition Plan for 2020-21”, under the motion for Approval of the Student Assignment Transition Plan for 2020-21.


We ask that this proposed amendment is withdrawn by the maker, or rejected by the board, because it is premature for the following reasons.


The proposed amendment discontinues the HCC service model at WMS, but there is no adopted plan for continuing to provide the legally-required HC services that are currently delivered to students in the Washington Middle School, eliminating the self-contained classroom approach to teaching HC students at Washington Middle School. The District has not offered any plan for review by affected parents and staff, including the parents of 5th graders who are currently enrolled in the HCC who will enter the 6th grade at Washington Middle School in 2020-21. The Directors need to review the fiscal and organizational risks of a plan and receive public input before making changes, in order for the District to continue to meet its obligation to these students and families receiving HC services.


The decisions concerning the HCC and TAF should be decoupled. Each needs to stand alone and be decided on their own separate merits. Linking the decision to discontinue HCC at Washington Middle School, with the decision to potentially approve a Joint Operating Agreement with TAF, means that there will be no meaningful conversation with parents on how HC services will co-exist with, or be implemented by TAF as a blended service model. Since a Joint Operating Agreement is negotiated in a confidential setting, the future of HC services would also be discussed in a confidential setting with no clear path forward, if these issues remain linked.


We welcome the opportunity to further engage on both issues, as parents deserve to know the potential outcomes at Washington Middle School.


Very Truly Yours,