Dear Maple Friends and Families,
We need your help to get in calling and reaching out to as many other Maple families as possible. We are budgeted for far less money than we were budgeted for this year. We are afraid that Maple is being unfairly targeted, because other schools with similar enrollments and/or demographics are getting more money than we are. More money results in more teachers and supplies for our kids. Please read below for further information. Then, forward this letter or post it on your Facebook page. Finally, call or e mail these three District staff members with your concerns:
Betty Patu, School Board Member (206) 252-0040 bpatu@seattleschools.org
Michael Tolley, Executive Director Schools P-12 (206) 252-0150 mftolley@seattleschools.org
Susan Enfield, SPS Superintendent (206) 252-0180 saenfield@seattleschools.org
We need your help to get in calling and reaching out to as many other Maple families as possible. We are budgeted for far less money than we were budgeted for this year. We are afraid that Maple is being unfairly targeted, because other schools with similar enrollments and/or demographics are getting more money than we are. More money results in more teachers and supplies for our kids. Please read below for further information. Then, forward this letter or post it on your Facebook page. Finally, call or e mail these three District staff members with your concerns:
Betty Patu, School Board Member (206) 252-0040 bpatu@seattleschools.org
Michael Tolley, Executive Director Schools P-12 (206) 252-0150 mftolley@seattleschools.org
Susan Enfield, SPS Superintendent (206) 252-0180 saenfield@seattleschools.org
Tracy Libros, Manager Enrollment & Planning, (206) 252-0511, trlibros@seattleschools.org
Use the talking points we’ve provided.
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) recently released their enrollment projections for 2011-2012, and Maple Elementary was not granted the funding that is awarded for schools exceeding 450 students. This is important because Maple currently has 461 students, and our enrollment has historically (10 years or more) been 460 to 470 students. Despite this enrollment trend at Maple, SPS Central Office projected Maple enrollment at 451, which was then 'rounded down' to 450; this enrollment number is important because it determines funding for staffing and programming. Only schools with enrollments of more than 450 students are able to fund a full-time Assistant Principal and part-time Certificated Teacher, resources that are critical to the success of Maple students and families.
One of our biggest budget concerns is that schools with similar enrollment projections are receiving the funding for schools with an enrollment of more than 450 students while we are not. For example, Adams Elementary School has a projected enrollment of 454, yet that number was not rounded down as it was for Maple; as a result, Adams is funded for the 2011-2012 school year for an Assistant Principal and a .5 Certificated Teacher. Adams is a north-end school with greater community and family resources, and while we laud the resources awarded to Adams, we also strongly believe that our Title I school deserves the same important budget consideration.
Other Talking Points:
· If we lose .5 teacher position, will cut down on PE (can only keep current PE teacher by assigning him .4 special ed., which will cause us to lose PE hours)
· What is the process for distributing district money fairly?
o We want to have evidence that the process is a fair one and want to know that disparities will be addressed.
· Though Maple’s current enrollment is 463, the district has projected enrollment at 451 for next year. For budgeting purposes, the enrollment has been rounded down to 450, which means that we are not funded for the Assistant Principal position and a .5 FTE certificated teacher position.
· Schools with similar enrollments are receiving more.
o Adams (projected enrollment: 454) is funded for Assistant Principal and a .5 certificated teacher, though it is a North End school with greater community resources than Maple.
· The funding for the Assistant Principal position (.5) at Maple currently funds Teacher Support person (Support Teacher funded through Performance Management),
o Terri Netke breaks down and tracks test data, which allows Maple to maintain its data-driven academic focus.
o Supports newer teachers.
o Facilitates professional learning communities
· Waiting to see if enrollment numbers go up is not a good option.
o Enrollment has been 460+ for more than 10 years
o Other schools are not being made to “wait and see”
o Waiting will make it difficult for us to keep teachers we have.
· If we lose .5 teacher position, will cut down on PE (can only keep current PE teacher by assigning him .4 special ed., which will cause us to lose PE hours)
Use the talking points we’ve provided.
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) recently released their enrollment projections for 2011-2012, and Maple Elementary was not granted the funding that is awarded for schools exceeding 450 students. This is important because Maple currently has 461 students, and our enrollment has historically (10 years or more) been 460 to 470 students. Despite this enrollment trend at Maple, SPS Central Office projected Maple enrollment at 451, which was then 'rounded down' to 450; this enrollment number is important because it determines funding for staffing and programming. Only schools with enrollments of more than 450 students are able to fund a full-time Assistant Principal and part-time Certificated Teacher, resources that are critical to the success of Maple students and families.
One of our biggest budget concerns is that schools with similar enrollment projections are receiving the funding for schools with an enrollment of more than 450 students while we are not. For example, Adams Elementary School has a projected enrollment of 454, yet that number was not rounded down as it was for Maple; as a result, Adams is funded for the 2011-2012 school year for an Assistant Principal and a .5 Certificated Teacher. Adams is a north-end school with greater community and family resources, and while we laud the resources awarded to Adams, we also strongly believe that our Title I school deserves the same important budget consideration.
Other Talking Points:
· If we lose .5 teacher position, will cut down on PE (can only keep current PE teacher by assigning him .4 special ed., which will cause us to lose PE hours)
· What is the process for distributing district money fairly?
o We want to have evidence that the process is a fair one and want to know that disparities will be addressed.
· Though Maple’s current enrollment is 463, the district has projected enrollment at 451 for next year. For budgeting purposes, the enrollment has been rounded down to 450, which means that we are not funded for the Assistant Principal position and a .5 FTE certificated teacher position.
· Schools with similar enrollments are receiving more.
o Adams (projected enrollment: 454) is funded for Assistant Principal and a .5 certificated teacher, though it is a North End school with greater community resources than Maple.
· The funding for the Assistant Principal position (.5) at Maple currently funds Teacher Support person (Support Teacher funded through Performance Management),
o Terri Netke breaks down and tracks test data, which allows Maple to maintain its data-driven academic focus.
o Supports newer teachers.
o Facilitates professional learning communities
· Waiting to see if enrollment numbers go up is not a good option.
o Enrollment has been 460+ for more than 10 years
o Other schools are not being made to “wait and see”
o Waiting will make it difficult for us to keep teachers we have.
· If we lose .5 teacher position, will cut down on PE (can only keep current PE teacher by assigning him .4 special ed., which will cause us to lose PE hours)
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