A Practical and Sustainable Plan for Seattle Public Schools . . .

Social Structure or Infrastructure?

Will an appointed school board be able to deliver a better school system?   Some legislators believe that it will.  I believe that the real trouble with our schools dates back nearly 40 years.  In the 1960s, people began to see the public school system as a way to deliver social services.  Schools, it was felt, were where we would address all of the troubling issues:  racism, class divide, opportunity gaps and more. 

When government spends money on social services, conservatives want to see measurable results for dollars spent.   More and more complicated tests were devised, most of which placed labels on individual children.  The more children in need a school could claim, the more dollars received.  This was not good for children.  It also made our schools look worse than they really were.

President Clinton understood this.  He wanted school dollars to be delivered according to school financial need.  Instead of labeling children, the question was turned to the health of the tax base that funded the school.  President Bush introduced the No Child Left Behind Act almost immediately after he was elected.  The Act, in my opinion, has a number of flaws.  However, it is the ultimate conservative tool to test whether dollars spent on social services are cost-effective.  Ultimately, because in the long run, no school will be able to pass the tests specified in NCLB and the result is the privatization of our public school system.

Public education is a part of our infrastructure.  It is more important than roads, bridges, electricity, and telecommunications.  We should treat it and fund it as a part of the infrastructure.  An educated population drives our economy, enriches us with the arts, takes us to the future with science and participates in our Democracy.

How would an appointed school board be more accountable than an elected school board?  Why give up the right to vote someone into or out of the office?

A better solution is to offer greater media scrutiny of candidates.   Educate the voters.  Public knowledge is the keystone of our Democracy.

 

What about Human Services?

Isn’t it true that, oftentimes, the best place for outreach is through the schools?  Absolutely! 

Instead of closing schools, we should forge public-public partnerships to bring services to families, right on campus.  Empty space should be leased out to appropriate city, county, state and federal services.  Consolidating services creates more family time.   The agencies appreciate being able to point-focus their administration.  The bonus is, that families tend to become involved in the life of the school.   Graduation rates rise.  This model has been successful in large and small school districts across the country.

Should we lease space to public-private operations?  That is something that must be determined case by case.  First, the school’s Principal should always be the final authority concerning campus use.  Second, the partnership should never overlap or interfere with the function of the school.  For example, an after-school science club, a Girl Scout Troop or a karate class is an entirely different matter than a competing daytime educational program. 

 

Schools Buildings are Assets

Our Schools can and should be the community centers of our neighborhoods.  We can better manage these assets to help cover the cost of overhead and also to provision our drama, music, sports and arts programs.  The list of ideas is endless and should be tailored to meet the exact needs of the neighborhood in which the schools are located.   Getting neighbors involved in the schools will give Seattle a “small town advantage”.  When the community is engaged and people are prideful of our schools – kids stay in school.

Here are a few ideas for potentially appropriate leases:

  • Pre-school programs
  • Before / After School programs
  • A training program like Fare Start could use the kitchens in the evening
  • Community use of the gyms at non-school times
  • Auditoriums for use by citizen groups
  • Senior computer classes

    Please send your ideas and comments to:  lisa@stuebingforschools.org

    Lisa Stuebing

    Candidate, NP

    Seattle School Director, Pos. 2