Submitted by John Arbeeny. In an Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) statement dated 3 May 2022, Superintendent Chris Reykdal inserted himself into discussion of the leaked US Supreme Court majority opinion about Roe v. Wade. “As Washington state’s elected K–12 schools chief, it would be short-sighted for me to believe that my job […]
Letter: Cultural competence? Which one? How about USA cultural competence!
Submitted by John Arbeeny. I attended (via ZOOM) the Clover Park School District Board meeting on 28 March 2022 I was particularly interested in the presentation by Tim Garchow, Executive Director, Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) about their “Cultural Competency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (CCDEI) program. CPSD’s discussion of this program was a prior Board […]
Letter: CPSD discipline policy. A recipe for chaos.
Submitted by John Arbeeny. “There are none so blind as those who will not see,” Jonathan Swift, 1738. I reviewed the 14 March 2022 Clover Park School District (CPSD) Board regular meeting and came away with observations on the most significant issue: District discipline policy. Agenda Item 22-102, Adoption of Policies, Policy 3241 “Student Discipline” […]
Letter: When Striving Mightily Isn’t Good Enough: Clover Park School District
Submitted by John Arbeeny. A drowning man strives mightily expending far more energy than an accomplished swimmer. The result of all that striving? A drowned man. So too it is with organizations; specifically Clover Park School District striving mightily but drowning academically. I reviewed the 28 February 2022 Clover Park School Board retreat on YouTube […]
Letter: School Board Meeting Valentine’s Day – A Night to Love Informed Debate
Submitted by John Arbeeny. Two prominent and important actions were taken at the Clover Park School Board meeting this past Valentine’s Day. The issue of District discipline (Policy 3241 “Student Discipline”) had been brought up in a previous Board meeting (10 January 2022) by Director David Anderson based upon some shocking numbers received in a […]
Letter: Discipline in Clover Park School District: 2017-2021
Submitted by John Arbeeny. At the 10 January 2022 Clover Park School Board meeting Director David Anderson made motion “that the school Board have on its regular agenda, as soon as time for relevant reports are prepared, the subject of school discipline.” The motion, seconded by Director Paul Wagemann, was passed unanimously by the Board. […]
Observations and commentary on the Jan. 10 Clover Park School Board Meeting
Submitted by John Arbeeny. I attended the 10 January 2022 Clover Park School District (CPSD) Board meeting which was conducted both “virtually” and in person which was the right thing to do and a pleasant surprise. However we are still awaiting the minutes for the 13 December 2021 which will not be forthcoming before the […]
Letter: Why is Lakewood City Council endorsing a questionable self promoting “swami”?
Submitted by John Arbeeny. I read with interest the Suburban Times (22 December 2021) article entitled “Lakewood City Council Summary Monday December 20” which contains the following proclamation endorsing a certain “brand” of Hinduism. It declares 3 January 2022 in honor of the religion but more specifically an individual with a Hindu connection named “Nithyananda”. […]
Letter: Observations on the ‘new’ Clover Park School Board Meeting 13 December 2021
Submitted by John Arbeeny, Lakewood. I attended the 13 December 2021 Clover Park School District (CPSD) Board meeting which was conducted “virtually” rather than in person. In the past, minutes of such meetings have not been published for weeks or months after the meeting which made them somewhat irrelevant for the public to stay abreast […]