School panel holds first of three forums

Fresh faces filled the auditorium of Seattle Public Schools' headquarters last night. The mood was optimistic, the discussion constructive.

The School Board wasn't in session. Instead, more than 100 parents, educators and community leaders gathered to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the district's programs and offer solutions.

Three months ago, Superintendent Raj Manhas charged 14 local leaders in finance, management, leadership, marketing and K-12 education with figuring out how to produce a world-class school system on a fixed income. Last night's meeting was the first of three public forums the committee plans to hold.

The committee aims to help restore trust — something the district has struggled to recover in the wake of budget problems and inconsistent communication on school closures and on lead in the drinking water.

Problems that small discussion groups cited most often last night included poor leadership in the administration and on the School Board, as well as inadequate communication with parents, especially in bilingual families. Many said the district needed to raise academic standards in the secondary grades and address inequities in the distribution of teaching talent.

The feedback wasn't all critical. Several people mentioned school choice, voters' support for education and the diversity of programs.

"I definitely thought it was worth my time," said Cynthia Green, a Garfield High School graduate who has two nephews and a niece in the schools. "I feel there's enough involvement that we can see that things move forward."

The panel, which plans to deliver its recommendations to Manhas on Dec. 15, has spent two months reviewing much of the same information that was provided to the School Board and public last fall and winter.

But co-chairwoman Trish Dziko, a T.T. Minor Elementary parent and executive at a nonprofit, said that doesn't mean her committee is going to rehash the proposal Manhas unveiled in April — closing 10 schools and limiting school choice.

"Any time you collect data more thoroughly, you're going to get a different outcome because you're going to have a chance to see all the data, and see it in a way that's consistent and meaningful," Dziko said.

The two other public forums will be held Sept. 27 and Nov. 1. Visit www.seattleschools.org/area/committeeforexc for details.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103