North Beach Elementary PTA Board Retreat



PTA Board Executive Session

North Beach Elementary

April 24, 2014, 6:00 p.m.

It is the mission of the North Beach Elementary PTA to foster community inclusion, child advocacy and academic excellence by facilitating communications, supporting teachers and staff, & enhancing the educational, social & physical environment of North Beach Elementary School.

Minutes

Attendees: Debbie Bayliss, Lyn Blanchard, Kari Fera, Glory Frodesen, John Halfaker , Mark Hardy, Erika Hermanson, Bert Hopkins, Mike Kelly, Claire Korman, Rowland Morgan, Liz Ryan, Kerry Schultz, RJ Sammons, and Jodi Somm.

Location: North Beach School Conference Room

6:05 -- Call to order

Erika started the meeting by introducing John Halfaker, Education Director for the Northwest Region of the Seattle School District. John stated his hope that by sharing some background about the appointment of Principal Julie Cox for the coming school year, the PTA Board could feel more comfortable getting behind the district’s appointment.

John began by stating that School Board Policy 5000 mandates that principal appointments are up to the discretion of the Superintendent. Placements take place in multiple ways, including direct appointment and open hire/committee. In the last three years, 54 principals or assistant principals have been assigned to new buildings, and 22 of those were direct appointments.

The process for principal selection begins in December of the year proceeding with a survey to existing principals asking about next year plans. Julie Cox requested a transfer and specified type of school and region. In March and into the first week of April, the first round of hiring took place. RJ had applied for Broadview Thomson, and his hire there was finalized approximately April 7. Shortly thereafter, Julie was contacted because she’d shown interest in North Beach Elementary. There were two openings available and the next day Julie selected North Beach (middle of the week before spring break). Her hiring and RJ’s move were announced to the North Beach parent community the afternoon of April 11, the Friday before spring break. Seven principal decisions were announced that day, including six other direct appointments. RJ was the only open hire. Hiring will continue until mid July when principal hirings become interim status hires.

The principal hiring process includes heavy screening by Human Resources and Educational Directors to make competent matches and find good fits. According to John, Julie’s strength as an instructional leader is amazing.

Julie worked in the Seattle School District as a District Curriculum Specialist in Literacy/Science/Technology before getting her administrator credentials and going to Minnesota to lead several schools. She was recognized over five years for fostering growth and closing performance gaps, even when her school was undergoing a change in socioeconomic demographics. She also led several schools internationally before coming to Catherine Blaine K-8 in Seattle. She has a strong literacy passion, an area North Beach Elementary is working on. She has elementary leadership experience with schools up to 1000 kids. Additional strengths are in systems and organizational thinking, data dash boards for teachers, data summits, individual action plans for students, MTSS systems (including grade level intervention), and incorporating common planning time for staff. She believes in character education and community service for kids, “restorative justice” v. consequences that would be demeaning to children. She believes in the arts and showcasing student artwork. She is big on 21st century skills, rigor in the classroom, and having students doing the thinking with support from the teacher. .

John has witnessed her work and leadership of her team and feels she is ready to lead North Beach. In addition, she requested the placement at North Beach. Her daughter will be enrolled and she lives in the Ballard area.

John then opened it up to questions.

Rowland asked why we did not have the opportunity to interview principals like we did with RJ. Why don’t we as a school community have the chance to help choose the best person for the community amongst a group of candidates? The PTA’s game plan for allocating a large amount of discretionary funds for principal use is now “blown out of the water,” since we don’t know the new principal’s vision yet.

Another parent stated that North Beach parents have concerns about why Julie wanted to leave Catherine Blaine and whether there had been friction with some of her staff members there. John indicated that it is up to her to decide whether to explain to the North Beach community about her decision to leave CB. However, John offered assurance that if anything was of concern, the superintendent would not have appointed her here. He re-stated that evaluation of principals is rigorous, and he will be actively helping with the transition.

RJ asked the Board to help foster an open mind in the North Beach community. He reminded the Board that we have an opportunity to help create a smooth, positive transition.

Claire stated that the District should do a much better job with “transition management” in the future.

Debbie said it is unfortunate that poor communication with North Beach community has put Julie in an awkward position.

RJ announced the principal transition to the North Beach staff at a meeting right before spring break. Their first staff meeting after break will be the week of 4/28.

John is in listening mode and he will be responsive to anyone who contacts him. Part of the reason for hurrying this hire along and announcing it the Friday before break, was that Phase 1 of teacher hiring opened on Monday after spring break. The district wanted to announce principal hiring before Phase 1 teacher hiring began, because the news of principals would have gotten out during that process, and the district didn’t want the news to leak out informally. The district pace is moving very fast right now.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:25, so participants could get to the General Meeting at 6:30.

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