I am a retired public school teacher and care about quality public education in Washington state! 

 

I have looked over the out-line for the Five-Year plan because I was hoping to read about the plans to improve facilities - improving the buildings and learning environment for students, teachers, admininstrators, and parents.  I was disappointed to see nothing really substantial in the goals which address that issue.

 

Under Goal Two, "Provide environments which facilitate the physical, social, and emotional well being of students and staff", I will address my concerns to strategy number one -

Improve and maintain high-quality school buildings.

 

I recently visited Hamilton Middle School as part of sharing Initiative 884 information with the staff.  That school is in the poorest condition of any school I have visited recently!!  I would urge the committee members to visit the BUILDINGS as a next step to finalizing your plan.  Many classrooms in Hamilton have old, single pane windows which do NOT even close; poor heating with radiator pipes explosed in classrooms; old style 'black' boards; and need paint.  A first, year teacher I spoke with, does not even have enough workbooks for her students without appealing to parent contributions! That is not the foundation for quality learning in Seattle Public Schools.

 

I would urge the committee to get really focused on goals that are basic to the foundation of quality edudation:

 

1.  Adequate learning environments.

2.  Adequate teaching supplies.

3.  Adequate instructional staff to ensure proper class size.

 

Get focused, reduce the number of goals and organize some faclitities support for the future.

 

Mary Armstrong

1214 Crawford Ave.

Wenatchee, WA 98801

509-662-2706