The weather has been challenging over the past three days in Pullman.

Weather predictions are never perfectly reliable since conditions can change in a short period of time.

Thank you to our facilities crews who worked through the night last night and continue throughout the day today. Because temperatures climbed, rain and freezing rain fell, and the ground below not being completely frozen, the snow, ice, and slush proved to be too difficult for our equipment to move. We solicited the help of a local contractor during the night. With some heavy equipment and our crew in support, most of the snow has been cleared. However, it took past noon to accomplish. There was simply no way to open our schools today.

In addition, transportation department staff assessed school bus route throughout the night and early morning. Driving buses and transporting students, especially in rural areas, was not safe enough for us to proceed, even if we had been able to clear the snow and operate schools.

We will continue to monitor weather conditions through the weekend. A decision will be made according to our typical procedures by 5:00 A.M. Monday morning. If delays or closures of schools are necessary that will then be communicated as it has this week via media, our automated calling system, and website.

Thank you to the staff for assisting and to families and the community for your understanding and patience.

The Supreme Court Ruling that Washington Schools are not fully funded is encouraging but may not have significant short-term implications.

The Washington Supreme Court upheld the McCleary v. State Decision that Washington State has failed to fund basic education.

The most we can hope is that the current legislative session will result in fewer cuts to public schools because of this decision.

The court acknowledged that the legislature recently enacted a promising reform package under ESHB 2261, which if fully funded, will remedy deficiencies in the K-12 funding system. The decision gives the legislature until 2018 fully fund the reforms of 2261.

Legislators and policy advocates are quickly posturing and spinning the meaning of the court decision. It will make for interesting deliberations for some time to come.

In the short run, the pending maintenance and operations (M & O) and technology levy elections are no less important to education programs and jobs in Pullman.

The San Diego Unified School Community Based Reform Model encourages teachers to be leaders in grade level and school wide Professional Learning Communities and to participate in Instructional Leadership Teams (ILT’s).

On this, Pullman Public Schools second collaboration day this year, I draw your attention to an ongoing discussion on the Bridging Differences blog on the Education Week website between education historian Diane Ravitch and co-author Deborah Meier on the Education Week website.

In Diane Ravitch’s blog posted yesterday, November 1, 2011, she talks about the successes of the Community Based Reform Model that includes a central theme of collaboration. The Community Based Reform Model website states (my emphasis) that “These professional learning communities allow teachers work together to engage in collaborative discussion to set rigorous standards and develop common assessments that measure student progress. Teachers will be involved in continuous opportunities for collaboration and assessment that is part of an ongoing cycle of continuous improvement.”

We have an incredible privilege and duty to participate in our political processes. With a levy election for Pullman Public Schools coming in February we will be posting information about the two levy measures that will be on the ballot at http://psd267.schoolwires.net/Page/624. 

Beginning November 28, 2011, a special session of the legislature will commence to address the most recent disclosure of state revenue shortfall. Undoubtedly, since school funding is nearly 50% of the state budget, the legislature and governor will be looking for reductions to school funding once again. Then, almost immediately, the legislature will return to the regular legislative session in January when school finance as well as policy issues will be considered.

I encourage you to participate by providing legislators and the governor with your perspectives. Telling your stories (giving concrete examples) about the work you do with students and how funding cuts and policy decisions have impacted and will impact your work with them have been effective when communicating with legislators. 

More than ever before public schools are expected to help students reach greater levels of achievement and be prepared for college. We are facing uphill challenges in meeting these increasingly high educational goals for every student. It is important for people who value public education and achievement for every student to participate in the process.

Hello Everyone,

I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch and listen to the video profile of one of our former students, Jennifer Johnston. She graduated in 1999. We are proud of her accomplishments and service, and the role Pullman Schools played in her development!

View the video at: 
http://stream.psd267.org/alumniprofiles/default.html.

The video was produced for Pullman Public Schools by the Northeast Washington Educational Service District #101 (NEWESD 101).

Thank you teachers and all PSD employees for all you do for the kids!

Paul

Friday, October 7, nearly 350 teachers, administrators, and board members from throughout Whitman County attended an all-day seminar conducted by Dr. Robert Eaker and Janel Keating. The focus was on using best professional practices and professional learning communities to improve student achievement.

The Whitman County Principals Association planned and organized the event. Franklin Elementary principal, Brian Moore, led the work of coordinating the event.

In my view, the day was a success on several fronts:

• Whitman County teachers and administrators came together (nearly 350 signed in) to hear and discuss a common message about professional learning.
• The common message can serve as a framework for ongoing discussions about what the work of collaborating means, what its purposes are, how to best use the gift of time, and what we and our community expect to get from it.
• A key message was for teachers to schedule the teaching of content and classroom assessments together so that collaboration occurs around common student learning.
• A strong message was given about leadership and setting the parameters for the work by administrators and teacher leaders working together.

There are surely other messages to take from the event that may emerge as we continue to work and dialog with each other to help kids achieve.

At the end of the day, the overarching theme for me was that of working together to help every child/student to learn at the highest level we can, from the struggling learner to the highest achieving.

"Collaboration" is not an end in itself. However, when done well, the principles of professional learning communities are proven to bring greater achievement to more students.

“There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequals.”
Dr. Robert Eaker

I am certain you are all aware that the State Revenue Forecast released September 15, 2011, is once again weak. The forecast is now at $1.4 billion below expected revenue for the 2011-2013 biennium.

In a press release on September 22, 2011, Governor Gregoire called for a special session of the legislature beginning November 28, 2011, to address the budget shortfall. The press release states, “More than one month ago, Gregoire asked state agencies to detail how additional 5 to 10 percent cuts would affect their abilities to serve Washingtonians,” It also stated, “Since the national recession began, the state has made nearly $10 billion in cuts.”

According to an article in the Spokesman-Review (Sept. 22, 2011) at the meeting of the Association of Business annual “policy summit,” Gregoire said, “[The State] may have to cut early learning programs, and even basic education “is not sacrosanct”.

Pullman Public Schools are better off than most, thanks to cautious planning, cooperation from employee groups, strong support from our community, and increasing enrollment over the past three years. Still, as a district we are operating with a loss in funding (without the increases in enrollment) of over $2 million. Obviously, more challenges are ahead of us - the extent of which is uncertain.

Our work is important to the present and future lives of the children we serve. Educating students is also an investment in the future character and strength of our community, state and the nation. The negative consequences of further cuts to funding education will not be evident immediately. This long view makes it difficult to compete with the urgent short term needs that challenge our legislators.

It is important for legislators to hear your stories that demonstrate to them the importance of investing in the education of our children and youth. It would be short sighted if our state abandons this investment in the future.

Local Legislators:

Senator Mark Schoesler:

110 Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40409
Olympia, WA 98504-0409
(360) 786-7620
Fax: (360) 786-1999

Email: mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov 

Representative Susan Fagan:

204 Modular Building C
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7942

Email: fagan.susan@leg.wa.gov

Representative Joe Schmick:

P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7844
Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

Email: joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov