Commitment to Seattle Public Schools – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

SEATTLE -- Seattle Public Schools received an $850,000 commitment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support strategic planning, performance management and the implementation of recommendations from the Superintendent’s Community Advisory Committee for Investing in Educational Excellence (CACIEE). This grant will support the district as it focuses on addressing planning needs, financial issues and academic improvement.

“The work accomplished by my committee in identifying the kind of education system our community wants is both impressive and inspiring as we reinvent Seattle Public Schools into a model urban school district focused on closing the achievement gap and delivering a high quality education for all students,” commented Superintendent Raj Manhas. “This generous grant from the Gates Foundation will assist us in building our strategic planning capacity and implementing these important recommendations.”

The CACIEE recommendations are a comprehensive, cohesive package of actions which redirect funds into improving academics and accelerating student achievement. The committee released recommendations in the following categories: leadership and management strategies, academic investments, and fiscal viability. By implementing these recommendations, expected results include improved academic outcomes across all student groups, unified leadership and timely decisive action, and an increase in enrollment and public confidence in the system.

“Superintendent Manhas has made a clear commitment to addressing the challenges facing Seattle Public Schools,” said Steven G. Seleznow, program director for education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “The superintendent’s focus on strategic planning, performance management and the advisory committee’s recommendations provide the right starting point for developing a longer term plan that will ensure all students in the district graduate from high school ready for college and work.”

Superintendent Manhas appointed a three-member team that is focused exclusively on researching, analyzing and implementing these recommendations. Nan Stavnshoj is leading the team, along with Holly Ferguson and Aimee Hirabayashi. Ms. Stavnshoj has served as the Director of Planning and Enrollment Services. Ms. Ferguson has been a Senior Assistant General Counsel focused on academics. Ms. Hirabayashi has been a teacher, principal and Education Director and currently works with the Nesholm Foundation and the City of Seattle on education issues.

On May 3, Superintendent Manhas issued a status report to the community on several of the committee’s recommendations and it is posted on the districts web site (http://www.seattleschools.org/area/main/
Public_Affairs/06_may_report.pdf).  Accomplishments include: the reorganization of the Learning and Teaching Division; the appointment of a community committee and consulting firm to focus on school consolidation; the authorization of $2 million to implement a six-period day in all high schools; Ballard and Franklin high schools using Metro transportation next year as part of a pilot program; and the district is working with real estate management experts to maximize lease revenue income.

The superintendent’s implementation team will issue on-going status reports for the remaining recommendations and the superintendent will work closely with the School Board on adoption and implementation. Superintendent Manhas is confident students, families, staff and the community will see significant progress. 
 
“There is incredible momentum and enthusiasm for what Seattle Public Schools is doing as well as extraordinarily high expectations that we will achieve change,” said Manhas. “All of our action steps will lead to academic excellence and a brighter future for our students and our schools.”
Superintendent Manhas appointed fourteen highly qualified and accomplished individuals to his advisory committee on July 7, 2005. The committee assessed the district's current and long-term fiscal condition; identified ways to realign the district's budget to better support the academic vision; identified options to achieve long-term fiscal stability, including structural changes as well as ways to increase revenue; and recommended strategies for communicating to and receiving input from the public on these topics. The advisory committee’s final report was issued February 10, 2006.