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.