Monday, January 11, 2016

New Middle School Spin-up Process (Meany and Eagle Staff)

I received the following email this morning:

Mr. Leis,
Good morning. You emailed Michael Tolley last week regarding Robert Eagle Staff Middle School. He asked that I respond to your questions, which I am happy to do. We agree that the planning process for Jane Adams Middle School was greatly enhanced by giving the planning principal a full year to meet with community, hire key staff, and work on the logistical issues, etc. associated with opening a new middle school. As such, we will be looking to hire for this position during our opening round of hiring this spring. While I can’t guarantee a hiring date, I would anticipate by April 1 that we have planning principals in both of the middle schools (Meany Middle School is also coming on line at the same time). Thank you for your question and the embedded feedback regarding what worked in opening Jane Adams.

Sincerely,


Jon Halfaker
Executive Director of Northwest Region Schools
Seattle Public Schools

This essentially matches the timeline for JAMS. I remember a parallel parent effort to help out and establish a PTSA. So I've set this thread up for folks to talk about what worked well last time and what they'd recommend other parents do during this process.


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks very much for sharing this update!

Jane

Anonymous said...

If they hire a strong principal these schools will start strong. If they hire a dud or a middle management type trying to crawl up the SPS career ladder then woe to the families. One meeting with whoever they hire should tell us which way the wind is blowing. If your gut is the principal is not adequate follow your gut and make a plan to default to your local school if that is a choice or to private if that is a choice. School openings are hard best case and a lame principal makes it nigh impossible.

Seen It

Anonymous said...

Will the entire HCC cohort be moved from HIMS to Robert Eagle Staff?

Thanks!

-MBS

Anonymous said...

Interesting. I wonder whether there will be a representation on this hiring committee to hire the new principal!
- future Eagle Staff parent

Anonymous said...

Meaning, I wonder whether there will be parent representation on that hiring comittee...
Future Eagle Staff parent

Anonymous said...

Wish we'd had some input in the WMS hiring and not ended up with a principal who is so hostile to advanced learning. Under her watch Spectrum has been dissolved and long-time APP teachers have been made miserable by her cluelessness.

open ears

Anonymous said...

Ben,

Did you ask that follow-up question? Will there be parent representation on the hiring committee? It'd be nice to have representation from all groups!

Anonymous said...

That comment from January 18th is really discouraging. I thought WMS was the one school getting APP right at the middle school level.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the teachers are trying to hold the line, but the principal isn't making it easy.

open ears

Anonymous said...

There was a parent committee for WMS principal hire and she was the best sent over from HR. Not sure how though consider the disregard for the HC program...


Wolf in sheep's clothing?