Whatcom Middle School controversy

Doug karlberg  //  Sat, Dec 12, 2009, 4:03 pm

Maybe it is time to begin a serious discussion of a charter school to take up the slack.

Seems like there are a lot of empty buildings, that would work, reasonably well.

My guess is that a Charter school, would be a little less picky about buildings, and a little more picky about teachers.

Marian Beddill  //  Sun, Dec 13, 2009, 1:58 am

Nope, Doug;
I cannot favor Charter Schools as a substitute for the Public School System. My understanding of “Charter Schools” is tax money being used (“diverted”) from the public-school system to charter schools, operated privately. I see that as diminishing one of the strengths of our nation - the public education system.

I can and do support the presence of private schools (which I gather do get “chartered” or “authorized”) as a complement to the public system.

Hue Beattie  //  Sun, Dec 13, 2009, 12:49 pm

I missed that meeting so I have a few Questions.
1.Is the school district or the contractor that was working on the building the
evening the fire happened paying for the rebuild?

2. To minimize students double shifting why not construction double shifting and complete the rebuild by September?.

David Camp  //  Mon, Dec 14, 2009, 1:52 pm

To add to Hue Beatty’s comment,

Surely there is fire insurance on the school - and so the insurance will pay. If it turns out the contractor was responsible for the fire, then the insurer will collect from them.

If the school was properly insured, then the question “who pays” is simply answered.

Most fire insurance covers rebuilding as constructed, with provisions for code upgrades as a rider. So the options are pretty restricted - either the School district rebuilds the school, or collects nothing on the insurance.

Either I’m not getting something, or all this hoo ha is ignoring this pretty central fact.

Now, if the school district had no fire insurance, that’s a whole nother kettle of fish - and a pretty clear case of Board (and administration) negligence.

David Camp  //  Mon, Dec 14, 2009, 2:15 pm

Postcript - I see now the controversy is how and where Whatcom Middle School students will be housed until the school is rebuilt.

It seems to me that this may be a golden learning oportunity, both for students, who will now be in daily contact with kids from other areas of town who they might not have otherwise known, and for parents, who will make contact with other parents and PTA/booster organizations. It could actually strengthen community.

I think there’s way too much paranoia going around - the School District has had to deal with an emergency situation, and normal informational flows haven’t had time to occur. This doesn’t mean deliberate secrecy! Cut these folks some slack - they have their regular jobs as well as dealing with short- and medium- term dislocations of an entire school.

Positive communication is necessary for positive results.

Doug karlberg  //  Mon, Dec 14, 2009, 2:18 pm

Merian,

I am going to make you an offer, that you cannot refuse. You freely admit that you do not know much about Charter Schools. There is a man, Geoffery Canada, who took on the educational system in Harlem.

How could one find a more difficult educational challenge?

He has been at it for some time, and now his successes and failures have been chronicled in a book.

The book is:  Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America

Link: http://www.hepg.org/her/abstract/744

His work was chronicled on 60 minutes this last week, and this book review is by the prestigious Harvard Educational Review. This Harvard Review is slightly biased towards our current public school system, but even they have to admit, the results from this Charter School are extraordinary.

I know you are skeptical, but I figure that if you have an open mind, I might be able to convince you that we can do better in educating our children.

Mr. Canada has turned around, and on its head, the educational system in Harlem. He has produced a truly World Class educational system, where all the other experts had said could not happen.

It?s a good thing for these kids, he did not listen to the experts.

I will buy you this book, as long as I can read it after you.

Maybe you would consider writing a review of this book, here.

Over the course of this last year, I have listened to all kinds of ideas on how to economically revitalize our local economy.

What keeps capturing my attention is that all of the dynamic economic regions like Silicon Valley, are centered around educational institutions. These are not your garden variety educational institutions. They are World Class institutions. People flock to them. (So do bankers)

I started thinking, what if instead of putting all our investments into bricks and mortar, we put some of our investment in knowledge. Which came first, capital or knowledge? An investment in human capital.

I have come to the conclusion that the money went to Silicon Valley because Stanford was there, and not the other way around.

A lot of money follows the education today.

Now replicating a Stanford is probably too much to ask, but I began wondering, what would happen economically, if Whatcom County became known for one of the best Elementary educations in America?

Would people travel here and set up shop?

Today our public schools are good. I have my complaints, but in reality, they are pretty good, and they deserve well earned credit for these accomplishments.

My questions are; Could our local schools be Great? Could they be World Class?

The best in the Nation?

Why the hell not?

It is just about priorities.

I think so, but getting from good to Great is something that we would have to tackle. It does not happen overnight, nor does it happen without commitment and investment.

Getting from good to Great can only happen by measuring peformance. What we can measure, we can improve.

Would people with youngsters move here to get their kids a Great education? I think they would as long as other public schools stay merely good, and do not compete by becoming Great.

Would this revitalize Whatcom County economically?

My gut says, you betcha, and in more ways than we can imagine.

It helps to have youth stick around.

Call me at 961.2618, and I will order you a book today.

John Servais  //  Tue, Dec 15, 2009, 3:59 pm

Well, I’ve been told by a supposedly reliable source within the Bellingham School system that the Administration has decided to increase the participation of the parents, teachers and students in the planning process.  This is to be announced this week. 

How much more participation, I’ve no idea.  Currently it is a very blind process with stakeholders only allowed to fill in an online form. The form is very limited in what it allows to be suggested and how the form will be used is a secret process closed to stakeholders. 

I’m adding a link to the online questionnaire, for what it is worth.