Workshop on Racial Equity in Education

Saturday, November 17

9am-12pm at New Holly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave South, Seattle WA 98118

Bus Info: Take the 106 get off at 32nd Ave S

-From the Seattle Office for Civil Rights

I want to invite you to a workshop on achieving racial equity in education and creating success for all students. This workshop will bring community members, Race and Social Justice Community Roundtable members and City of Seattle staff together to further share strategies to achieve racial equity and success for all students. An information flyer has been translated into seven languages and can be found here.  

Please RSVP here. Feel free to spread the word by inviting others to this important event.

Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, to request an accommodation, language interpretation or childcare please contact Maria Rodriguez at (206) 684-0548 or by email at Maria.Rodriguez@Seattle.gov. For childcare, translation or accommodations, please contact us by Monday, November 12.

Background: 

The City of Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative's (RSJI) Three-Year Plan (2012-2014) guides departmental work on programs and policies. Our vision is to eliminate racial inequity across the city. 

We are:

• Using community-level racial inequity data to drive our strategies and track our progress over time to measure our success.
• Measuring progress with the same dedication as we measure problems.
• Strengthening partnerships across institutions and the community.

At the outset of 2012, RSJI held community meetings co-sponsored by the RSJ Community Roundtable to determine community priorities. Education and community development were selected as the top two priorities for eliminating racial inequity.

On Monday, August 20 we convened a workshop with City staff to look at the City of Seattle's programs and policies related to racial equity and education. The meeting focused on assessing our work in terms of racial equity outcomes, and we used the education milestones and our Racial Equity Toolkit. The group met again on October 1 to review what we learned. The community workshop on November 17 will focus on furthering shared strategies for achieving racial equity in education.

Julie Nelson, Director 

Seattle Office for Civil Rights

www.seattle.gov/civilrights/

Attention PTA Treasurers!  It's Tax time!!

PTA Tax Returns- You must apply for an extension or file by November 15, 2012

If you have the usual June 30 year end, all PTAs and PTSAs must file their federal tax returns by November 15, or request an automatic three month extension by the same date to avoid late filing penalties. Depending on your gross revenue and net assets, you will file a 990-N, a 990-EZ or the full 990.  Here are the levels:

Use 990-N (e-postcard, very short and simple and can be filed electronically) - if your annual gross receipts are less that $50,000

Use 990-EZ (really not so EZ- it's about 20 pages) - if your gross revenues are $200,000 or less and your net assets are under $500,000

Use 990- if your gross revenues are above $200,000.

If you need more time to sort all this out, file for the three month Automatic Extension on Form 8868; then you have until February 15, 2013 to complete your taxes.  You must request the extension or you will face late filing fees.

Here is a link to the IRS site for more information and directions on filing.

If you do need to file one of the longer forms, here is a site that will help you- basically on-line tax software for 990s.  It is free if your gross receipts are under $100,000 and $35 for the next tier up- very reasonable!

If you have more questions, contact Tatia Vasbinder at the state PTA at

tvasbinder@wastatepta.org

Dianne Casper

SCPTSA Treasurer

2012 State of the District  

-From SPS

Superintendent Jose Banda presented the 2012 State of the District on November 1.  He will present it again with a Q&A session at 6:30pm on Wednesday, November 14 at the John Stanford Center auditorium.

A recording of the State of the District will air on Cable Channel 26 starting Monday, November 5 at 11:30am and 7pm weekdays, and 8am and 9pm weekends. It will also stream live beginning November 5 on the Instructional Broadcast Center Web page.

November College Application Events Scheduled for Seniors

-From SPS

Seattle Public Schools will be hosting a series of College Application Completion events throughout November. These events are free and open to all 12th grade students.

Resources will be provided to support students with their college applications, specifically their college essay. This includes access to computers, printers and trained writing tutors.

Each student will be given a toolkit with step-by-step guides for applying to local colleges, fee waiver information and writing tips. For more information and to register, visit www.roadmaptocollege.org.

The times, dates and high school locations for these events are:

3-6pm, Tuesday, November 13 at Rainier Beach, 8815 Seward Park S.

2:45-7pm, Thursday, November 15 at Garfield, 400 23rd Ave.

For more information, contact the College and Career Readiness Department, klrillo@seattleschools.org or call (206) 252-0075.

Imagine U @ College!

Sunday, November 18  

12-1pm lunch, 1-4pm workshops/presentations  

Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
View Map

-From SPS

Join Seattle Public Schools for a day of college exploration!  For all students in grades 9-12. Learn how you can achieve your college dreams through college preparation sessions from the experts!  

• College Admissions
• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• Campus Life
• Student Panel

For additional information, visit: www.imagineu.wsu.edu or contact Janet Blanford, College & Career Readiness at jlblanford@seattleschools.org (206) 252-0184

Translations:

Spanish

Somali

Vietnamese     

Schedule information 

SCPTSA Votes to Endorse Operations and Capital Levies Renewal

Help Support Continued Funding for Our Schools by Scheduling a Schools First Levy Presentation at Your Next PTA Meeting

Renewal of two critically important Seattle school levies will be on the February 12, 2013 ballot. The campaign to ensure successful renewal begins now and we need each and every PTA's support!

• The Operations Levy provides more than a quarter of the funds needed to operate the Seattle Public Schools.  This levy provides funding for basic day-to-day operations, teachers, instructional assistants, textbooks, classroom supplies, bilingual and special education services, bus transportation, student activities such as athletics, arts, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, professional development and training.  

• The Capital Levy (BEX IV) renews our commitment to providing safe, quality schools for our kids.  This levy will provide much needed funding to maintain and improve our aging existing schools and provide earthquake safety upgrades at 37 schools.  BEX IV will renovate and build schools to help meet the substantial and continued growing enrollment in Seattle's public schools, 1,400 additional students this school year alone!

PTA's have been the backbone of every successful campaign to ensure our critical school levies are renewed.  Get involved today!

• Schedule a brief presentation by Schools First for your November board or general meeting.  Schools First is the volunteer network of parents and education advocates that campaigns for renewal of our school levies. 

You and your school community are essential to our school levies renewals for all our schools and all Seattle Public Schools students! 

• Contact Kerry Cooley-Stroum at kcs@seanet.com for more info and to schedule a Schools First (www.schoolsfirstseattle.org) presentation at your next PTA board or general meeting.