In the summer of 2020, the two staffers and board members disagreed on when the anti-racism policy should go to a board vote. Districts of Seattle's size are also limited by state law to seven School Board Directors. Seattle Public Schools hired MFR Law Group PLLC (MFR) to conduct an extensive investigation into school board directors Chandra Hampson and Zachary DeWolf. An accumulation of these disagreements and misunderstandings, according to the emails, led to a group phone call and meeting on Aug. 28, 2020. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. And other directors and witnesses declined their opportunity to speak, too. Ironically, the complaints came out of work on a draft policy concerning anti-racism. The judge does not rule on the truth of the charges, only their legal sufficiency under state law. AMDG; For the Greater Glory of God; Seattle Preparatory School. School Board student members will be provided agendas and other materials in preparation for meetings and are also encouraged to attend board work sessions and other special meetings of the board. District 3 - Chandra N. Hampson. They were accused of waging sexist and . But Scarlett and Al-ansi wanted more legitimate community engagement with the Black community before passing the policy. In 2023, voters will choose board members for districts 1, 2, 3, and 6. DeWolf engaged more harshly, disrespectfully, and/or rudely with women, regardless of race. But others note hes rude to everyone regardless of gender. 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 . The filing deadline for this election was May 21, 2021 . They say it's not safe. Enrollment ('17-'18) 54,573 students. Hampson did acknowledge the group phone call was terrible, the report said, but denied violating harassment, intimidation and bullying board policies. School Board student members will receive $17.27/hour for their work in this role, not to exceed 20 hours a month. Seattle Prep. 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. As a former elected official, its bloody nonsense.. (One recently-appointed member is not eligible for recall.) Kudos to her. Every 10 years, in accordance with the U.S. census count, Seattle Public Schools board members have the task of approving a new district election map. A Seattle school board member has gone to court to fight the outcome of a district investigation that concluded she harassed, intimidated and bullied two Seattle Public Schools employees. The districts 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. In 2023, voters will choose board members for districts 1, 2, 3, and 6. 15. Seattle Public Schools started out the 2020-2021 school year in remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SPS upholds all board policies and superintendent procedures and thoroughly investigates workplace complaints.. During a group phone call in August 2020, the situation took a turn for the worse. 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. According to the investigation, Hampson and DeWolf both denied engaging in anti-Black racism or treating the two district staffers any differently from other employees. 8. This behavior is always done to Black folks and holds up anti-Blackness. Served on Corporate Advisory Board at the University of Arizona, School of Retail. Come one, come all! 1250, and incorporating student voice into district decision-making. They inexplicably chose not to embed the actual investigation, nor did they examine who made the complaints. 2445 3rd Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98134 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. Show more Show less The only somewhat meaningful reporting on this complaint came from the Seattle Times. Hampsons attorneys are seeking to overturn the finding that their client violated the districts harassment, intimidation and bullying policy and say the district has not explained how events that led to the investigation meet the threshold of causing substantial harm to staffers under the policy. 11% of Seattle Public Schools management is Hispanic or Latino. MFR investigators interviewed 20 witnesses and reviewed over 5,600 documents. Scarlett and Al-ansi, who have escaped media scrutiny, should also be called out. Two Seattle School Board members violated a board policy against harassing, intimidating and bullying staff members last year when they were working on an anti-racism policy with two Black . The Stranger, normally interested in amplifying claims of racism, offered the bare minimum in covering the story, only to link to the Seattle Times. More info. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2e666278b6291a But they did not find evidence that DeWolf discriminated against, harassed, intimidated, or bullied either Scarlett or Al-ansi based solely on race., They also said he used his position and authority to the detriment of the complainants. Part of the reason that I personally chose not to run is that it is such a huge commitment, particularly for someone who has a full-time job, and we have three board members who have full-time jobs.Smith-Blum said that there are good quality candidates who dont ever run because of the fact that its so overwhelming, with no compensation.But others doubt that board pay is a panacea.I dont think we are going to get a better corps of board candidates for that level of pay, and I dont think anybody who is doing it is doing it for the pay, said Charlie Mas who writes for the Save Seattle Schools website. King County Superior Court Judge Maf Rajul dismissed the case in April and, shortly after, Hampsons attorney filed an appeal in the states Court of Appeals. 1250, School Board Student Members. School board members Lisa . The School Board has not yet voted on the policy. I dont want to rehash our own private conversations.. I certainly understand that SPS did not make it easy to track this story. Her attorneys filed a brief on Friday to the appeals court. March 24, 2021 at 5:12 pm Updated March 24, 2021 at 9:35 pm . 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. But why did it take the Seattle Times months to cover? Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, the board will annually seat School Board student members to represent student voice through board committees and regular board meetings. Students on the selection committee must: Students on the selection committee will be able to earn community service hours for their work. Students will also have opportunities to participate in outside training, such as through the Washington State School Directors Association. Please fill out this form by April 3, 2023 if you would like to join the School Board Student Member Selection Committee. Follow@JasonRantz onTwitter,Instagram, andParler,and like me onFacebook. 11% of the management team is Black or African American. Juneau spoke with students and parents of students in the district, staff, principals, and the Seattle Council PTSA, and gathered feedback from Latinx and Black community members before making the . 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. 1250, School Board Student Members, Share a commitment to elevating the voices of students of color furthest from educational justice in district decision-making, Be currently enrolled students in Seattle Public Schools, Be currently enrolled in high school grades 9-12, Be able to meet once a week during the months of April and May 2023, and spend up to 15 hours on meeting and application evaluation, NOT be applying to be a School Board Student Member. 2023 FOX Television Stations, from SAT 6:00 PM PST until SUN 12:00 PM PST, Wenatchee Area, FOX13 News | Seattle & Western Washington | Formerly Q13 News, 'I've been really scared:' Survivor of home invasion sexual assault fighting to keep suspects in jail, Remains found tangled in a fishing line south of Marysville in 1979 identified through DNA, VIDEO: Kent police search for man who stole car with 2 children inside; children later found unharmed, Giant bug found at an Arkansas Walmart identified as a Jurassic-era insect, 7 people arrested in Seattle connected to national drug trafficking operation, Bryan Kohberger lawyer blasts 'grotesquely twisted' media coverage of stabbing that killed 4 Idaho students, Philadelphia Eagles WR Zach Pascal robbed at gunpoint in Maryland, Thurston County man dead after being hit by car in his own driveway, suspect arrested, VIDEO: Distinct red van may have been used in multiple break-ins in Seattle, Edmonds, Investigators: Former Puyallup police officer accused of rape may be linked to other assault, Skin cancer removed from President Biden's chest, Roof collapses during vacant building fire in Lake City, Seattle Police search for suspect who shot someone in the leg in Belltown, Seattle Police search for hit-and-run driver, SPD: 3 kids arrested for threats, stealing a car, having guns. As Scarlett was discussing her desire to ensure the policy is a pro-Black anti-racist policy, she was repeatedly interrupted by DeWolf. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! 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. 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. Seattle Times staff reporter. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. A district that I know ardently strives to be a safe, welcoming and anti-racist institution. Meeting days and times vary by committee and may occur during school hours. Where were they? She is the second School Board director in recent memory to resign. Right now they are relying on the superintendent and staff to provide them with data. Theres also a federal law, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, with similar requirements that prohibit discriminatory practices when redistricting. The Jason Rantz Show on KTTH has a staff of one when it comes to reporting and research: Im the one. Lake Washington Windows and Doors is a local window dealer offering the exclusive Leak Armor installation. City officials and school board members have declined to meet with the group of neighbors, parents and employees who are . 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. This year's inaugural class was nominated by a student-led committee in May, and was approved by the board in June. The school board attempted to bury the report. Board members accused both employees of inaccuracies in the policy. The student positions were created under the recently adopted School Board Policy No. One of the accusers tried to tell Hampson and DeWolf twice they were disrespecting her, the report said. Hampson appears easily slighted and is disrespectful to many people. Staff involvement was a privilege, not a right, Hampsons attorneys argue in court documents. At least one of the employees was supposed to present a 10-minute update on the anti-racist policy. Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. Hampson, on the other hand, is in office until 2023 and its unclear if shell run for re-election. 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. Normally, this investigation would be posted online three days ahead of a school board meeting. Nothing comes up. Hampson declined to comment. School Board student members will participate in committee discussions and are encouraged to question and communicate their opinions, suggestions, and concerns. Last week, the Seattle School Board approved two measures involving African Americans males by a vote of 5-1, with the lone no vote on each measure cast by senior school board director Leslie Harris. August 3, 2021. The district was also to provide harassment, intimidation and bullying training to board members as needed. General election date. Board of Directors and District Map. 2023 Bonneville International. Seattle school board directors Zachary DeWolf (L) and Chandra Hampson (R). 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.. 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. Seattle Public Schools hired MFR Law Group PLLC (MFR) to conduct an extensive investigation into school board directors Chandra Hampson and Zachary DeWolf. District 4 - Vivian Song Maritz. Indeed, they seem upset that an investigation would occur and that their claims arent believed at face value. School Board student members are charged with engaging students and student groups for feedback and with carrying forward the diverse perspectives of Seattle Public Schools students. 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. Newsletter & Website Content - OPEN. And, moving forward, new school board members would be required to take training on HIB conduct. There was another meeting between the board directors and the complainants on Sept. 16, 2020. They were accused of waging sexist and anti-Black harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) campaigns against two Black female SPS staff. School Board student members should expect to spend approximately ten (10) hours a month performing their duties. BCS is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. The report further concluded Director Hampson and Director DeWolf violated [the policy] because they intended to and did degrade and humiliate [staffers] in their workplace.. John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence Then listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). The superintendent was in attendance. The findings note that four of the 13 witnesses they interviewed opined that Dir. Mar. They were victims of HIB, no doubt. While I started to look into it then, I purposefully withheld my reporting until now. It doesnt help that theyre insufferably rude, either. "For the fiscal year 2024-25, the subsequent year, I forecasted a shortfall of $139.4 million," Gannon told Seattle school board members on Wednesday night. 'Time for an intervention:' Seattle School Board member resigns, cites 'dysfunctional culture Jan 07, 2021 at 7:22 pm Population and demographic changes in Seattle cause district boundaries to fluctuate. Since 2013, evolved legal intern program at the Allen Institute into a law school class to teach the practical aspects and soft skills . 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. West Seattle news, 24/7. 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. They couldnt get to this sooner? Do I need to pull out my resume? she asked, according to witness testimony. The Seattle Public Schools board unanimously approved the new district elections map last week. The report noted that it seemed [DeWolf] felt the need to put them in their place. One of the accusers tried to raise that there must have been a misunderstanding, but DeWolf was relentless in his negative admonishing and chastising tone, which set the stage for a terrible conversation., Hampson berated staffers, the investigation said, and the conversation became very heated and spiraled out of control.. DeWolf did not respond to requests for comment. That meeting was the focus of the investigation and what triggered the accusations against Hampson and DeWolf. According to the investigation, both complainants claimed that HIB investigations are not good enough to uncover implicit bias and anti-Blackness. 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. and are the keepers of school policy. The seven . Some of the biggest changes: District 2, which incorporates Green Lake and Phinney Ridge, has expanded west to include Ballard and Magnolia. Your IP: Yet here they wont? Geary did not file to run for re-election in 2019. Pre-K Class Rep - Clare Moffat. Ghislaine Maxwell has appealed the conviction and 20-year prison sentence she received for trafficking girls to Jeffrey Epstein for sex, with her . I found out about this a week or so before my vacation, thanks to a listener tip. Consequently, media coverage has been scant and inadequate. 2023 Washington Policy Center All Rights Reserved Terms of Use, Closer look at Superintendent Reykdal's dig at WPC has me missing "Better call Saul", Washington state students to get less classroom time under new Dem-backed plan, Proposed WA bill would cut student's classtime by 4 hours a week, Tutoring bill to help students with school-shutdown learning loss blocked in Senate Ways and Means Committee, Bill reducing WA classroom learning by four hours a week working its way through Senate. Medicare open enrollment is here and SHIBA can help! 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. Talk with Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors member Leslie Harris, who represents West Seattle and most of South Park, at 2 pm at Delridge Library. 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. Currently, Liza Rankin holds the district 1 spot, Lisa Rivera Smith represents district 2, Chandra Hampson represents . Should classroom learning time be cut down to 4 hours a day in Washington state. Some kids are back at Seattle schools, but 2 homeless camps near Meany Middle and BroadviewThomson Elementary have parents worried. Gross: Residents step up to hold government leaders accountable, Tacoma councilmember vows to not support departing local business, Rantz: AG pushing most dangerous bill in legislative history, Rantz: Union-backed bill gets friendly, misleading media support, Rantz: Washington Democrats to force businesses to hire potheads, Franklin HS teacher charged on multiple counts for having sex with student. I have been doing this for 30+ years, and I dont need to hear your qualifications. Dahlia Bazzaz. 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. The anti-racism policy has not been adopted by the school board. He was elected twice to the Seattle School Board serving from 2007 to 2015. November 2, 2021. Subscribe to thepodcast here. If a superintendent or board member directed staff to get something done by a certain time and the employee refused to and claimed that was bullying, I mean thats just unworkable, said Talmadge, who served as a state senator for 16 years. She is the Seattle School Board president. DeWolfs last day in office was Wednesday; he was elected in 2017 and did not run for a second term. 206-252-0000, Distributing Information to Students and Schools, Northwest Coast Art by Andrea Wilbur-Sigo, Squaxin/Skokomish, School Board Student Member Selection Committee, School Board Policy No. Other government bodies, like the City Council, also have to redistrict every decade per the Washington Voting Rights Act, which requires redistricting after each new census count. SPS contracted FLO Analytics, a consulting company with expertise in data analysis and redistricting, to draw new district election maps. But on Sept. 9, 2021, a month after the report was submitted, the board voted to waive the requirement that it be posted online. The complainants said that even though they didnt push for a HIB investigation, they will be positive about it. 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. 1250, School Board Student Members. District officials said that number will increase because the case is ongoing. It was an attempt to limit Scarletts contributions to the meeting. (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); })(). And District 6 in West Seattle now stretches to the other side of the Duwamish Waterway and includes Georgetown and South Park. School Board Special Meeting: Ad Hoc Community Engagement Meeting. 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.