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Juniors opt out of new assessment tests at high rate in Spokane area
Local students who opted out of Washington’s new assessment tests likely did so because of exam fatigue, not because of furor over Common Core standards, school officials say. Numbers released last week by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction show that roughly 90 percent of students statewide took the Smarter Balanced assessment this spring, a new test crafted around federal standards for achievement in math and language arts. Local school districts, including Spokane Public Schools and Central Valley School District, showed similar participation.
Speed cameras going up at three Spokane elementary schools
After months of traffic counts and warnings to drivers passing through school zones, the Spokane City Council agreed to put automated cameras near three Spokane schools to nab speeders. By a vote of 6-1, with Councilman Mike Fagan dissenting, the council agreed to have cameras monitor vehicle speeds near Finch, Longfellow and Stevens elementary schools.
Spokane named All-America City for work in schools
For the third time in 41 years, Spokane has been named an All-America City. The award from the National Civic Leagues went to 10 U.S. cities. Spokane, which previously won the award in 1974 and 2004, was recognized this year for focused efforts to boost high school graduation rates.
Spokane schools’ special education leader put on leave
The director of Spokane Public Schools’ special education programs has been placed on paid administrative leave at the same time those programs are under federal investigation. The district wouldn’t say when special education director Laura Pieper was placed on paid administrative leave, or why. Kevin Morrison, district spokesman, said he could not provide details because it’s a personnel matter. Superintendent Shelley Redinger was not available for comment, and Pieper declined to comment.
Guards in Spokane schools would be armed under district proposal
A sergeant with the Spokane Police Department will supervise up to 17 armed guards in Spokane’s schools, if an agreement between the city of Spokane and Spokane Public Schools is approved Monday by the City Council. It’s unclear when those guards will carry firearms because the teachers union that represents them is still at loggerheads with the school administration over what they consider a change in working conditions.
Shawn Vestal: Teachers union president explains walkout in Q-and-A
Today, 3,000 members of the Spokane Education Association will walk off the job in an effort to send a message to the Legislature that it needs to step up to its constitutional responsibility to fully fund education. As a result, nearly 30,000 students will be participating in an involuntary walkout of their own, with instructional time to be made up some mornings and at the end of the school year. The walkout has been predictably controversial, and it has raised questions even among those who support the teachers’ aims – smaller classrooms, salary increases for teachers and a reduced focus on testing. On Tuesday, SEA President Jenny Rose talked to me about the walkout and why her members felt it was necessary.
Spokane School Board candidates weigh in on walkout
Voters who have strong opinions about the Spokane teacher walkout this week likely will find a school board candidate on their August primary ballot who shares their stance. The Spokane Education Association voted last week to hold a one-day strike on Wednesday to protest the Legislature’s long delay in meeting a state Supreme Court’s demand to increase education funding.
Spokane teachers approve May 27 strike
Spokane Public Schools teachers and staff voted Wednesday to have a one-day walkout on May 27 to protest a lack of state funding for schools. More than 65 percent of nearly 2,500 Spokane Education Association members cast yes votes. All schools and work sites turned in ballots.
NC, Rogers students honored for being first in family to graduate
Lacey Sutton is the first in her family to graduate from high school, an accomplishment the Spokane teen calls a decent start. “I don’t like to feel too proud of myself, because I’m not all the way to my goal,” she said. The North Central High School senior will boast when she graduates from college.
Spokane teachers vote to strike on May 27; officials cancel school
Spokane Public Schools teachers and staff voted Wednesday to participate in a one-day walkout on May 27 to protest the Legislature not fully funding basic education.
Concert organizer going out on a high note
Coordinating a concert featuring 2,600 elementary school kids blasting brass horns, blowing through woodwinds and dragging bows across stringed instruments seems nothing short of miraculous. But the annual Band and Strings Spectacular has become a “well-oiled machine” under Dave Weatherred, visual and performing arts coordinator at Spokane Public Schools, who has organized it for 18 years. He ended his role on a high note at Tuesday night’s concert by conducting a song at the event for the first and last time; he’s moving on to other administrative duties.
Phone threats put three Spokane-area schools on lockdown
Three more schools in the Spokane area were locked down Wednesday after receiving threats by phone. Several local schools received similar phone calls that forced lockdowns earlier this year. “It’s getting a little nerve-wracking,” said Spokane Public Schools spokesman Kevin Morrison. “It is causing a real tie-up of county and city resources.”
Threats, potentially computer generated, cause lockdowns at multiple schools
Several schools in the Spokane area were locked down today after telephone threats were received around 1 p.m.
Orchard Prairie School District, taxpayers wrestle with financial realities of preserving rural benefits
Plenty of room for her twin boys to play and a small rural school drew Teri Tucker from Spokane’s South Hill to the pastoral Orchard Prairie. “It was the lifestyle that we wanted – hills to sled on, things like that,” Tucker said.
Spokane Public Schools gets tough on vaccinations
Kids showing up at Spokane public schools on Monday without proof that they’ve had required immunizations or a signed waiver will be pulled out of classrooms. This is the first time Washington’s law to exclude children from school is being enforced in the region’s largest school district. So far, no other school district has announced plans to take similar steps.
Supreme Court rules against Spokane teachers on records requests
SEATTLE – The Washington Supreme Court said Thursday that public employees don’t have a right to privacy about the fact that they’re being investigated. The ruling came after two teachers with the Spokane Public Schools, Christopher Katke and Anthony Predisik, sought to have their names redacted on documents released under a 2012 public records request from The Spokesman-Review and KREM2.
Jefferson, Betz elementary schools receive phone threats
Telephone threats put two area elementary schools on lockdown as police swept buildings and parking lots before releasing students Tuesday afternoon. One threat was made to Jefferson Elementary School on Spokane’s South Hill just before 1 p.m., only minutes before students were due to be released early for parent-teacher conferences. About a third of the 520 students had already left the building at 123 E. 37th Ave., said Spokane Public Schools spokesman Kevin Morrison. The remaining students were taken to the gym for safety.
Two elementary schools locked down after phone threats
Threats phoned in put two area elementary schools on lockdown Tuesday afternoon as police swept buildings and parking lots before releasing students.
New start times for Spokane schools approved
Lots of students will need to adjust their alarm clocks this fall. Spokane Public Schools’ board of directors voted unanimously Wednesday to move elementary school start times earlier and push back middle school start times.
Sleep researcher says area high schools should start later
One of the nation’s leading sleep researchers says Spokane Public Schools has “the biology backwards” in the district’s proposals for new school start times. The board of Spokane’s largest school district is looking at starting high schools at 8 a.m.; elementary schools at 8:30 a.m. and middle schools at 9 a.m. Another option is to swap the middle school and elementary start times.