Rainy Day Recess

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Rainy Day Recess episodes

October 13, 2024 S2 E8 - Behind Closed Doors
Christie, Jane, and Jasmine break down the October 9 Seattle School Board meeting, where the board passed a resolution to close up to five schools. We discuss the surprise executive session, held behind closed doors, and the newly imposed controls on board directors' questions and interactions with staff and the superintendent. Finally, we opine on where Student Outcomes Focused Governance is taking us.

Show Notes
Contact us
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Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
39 min
October 10, 2024 S2 E7 - Option C - School Board Recall, with Ben Gitenstein
In this first episode of our Option C series, we explore alternatives to Seattle Public Schools' closure plans, known as Options A and B, which initially proposed closing up to 21 schools.

Our guest, Ben Gitenstein, an SPS parent and former school board candidate, introduces the idea of a school board recall as his "Option C" in response to what he sees as the school board's undemocratic and ideological actions.

Our guests' opinions are their own.

See our Show Notes
Contact us
Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
34 min
October 04, 2024 S2 E6 - Cold Feet on Closures
In this episode, we discuss Seattle Public Schools' revised plan to close 5 schools instead of 17-21, and the renewal of Superintendent Jones' contract with modified evaluation metrics. We reflect on feedback from our previous episode and emphasize continued advocacy for education funding.

See our Show Notes.
Contact us.
Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
26 min
September 24, 2024S2 E5 - The Story of How We Got Here
This episode of Seattle Hall Pass focuses on three main stories converging in Seattle Public Schools:
The Financial Story
The Equity Story
The Student Story
... and how these competing priorities create a complex, seemingly impossible situation for the district to resolve satisfactorily.
See our Show Notes.
Contact us.
Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
43 min
September 18, 2024 S2 E4 - Student Outcomes Focused Governance, in Seattle
Seattle Public School Board President Liza Rankin, Student Outcomes Focused Governance coach AJ Crabill, and public school advocate Robert Cruickshank are interviewed about the governance model used by the SPS School Board. Thanks to Dawson Nichols for producing this episode.

This is a video! Watch the video here.
See our Show Notes.

Note: Seattle Hall Pass features a variety of voices. Each person’s opinions are their own.
Contact us with any corrections, suggestions, or other thoughts at [email protected]

Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
45 min
September 13, 2024 S2 E3 - There IS a List(s)
Seattle Public Schools has finally released potential lists of schools to close. We attempt to sort through some of the information.

See our show notes.
Contact us: Send corrections, suggestions, and comments to [email protected]. Send us a voice memo at speak.seattlehallpass.org

Disclaimer: Seattle Hall Pass features a variety of voices. Each person’s opinions are their own.
Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
20 min
September 05, 2024S2 E2 - Cake from Lemons: Tough Decisions Ahead
We review major topics from the school board meeting on August 28. Topics include:
school closures and state funding
dual-language immersion
principals’ union contract
highly capable services
See our Show Notes
Contact us at [email protected]
Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
27 min
September 02, 2024 S2 E1 - A New Year for Student Safety
Christie, Jasmine, and Jane discuss new safety measures being implemented for the upcoming school year. The total investment of $14.55 million by the city and school district includes mental health support, violence intervention, and increased police presence around schools.

Show Notes
Contact us at [email protected]
Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
12 min
August 23, 2024 E46 - Season One Lookback
Christie Robertson and intern Jasmine Pulido look back at Season One of Seattle Hall Pass, which spanned the 2023-24 school year at Seattle Public Schools. They reference Hall Pass episodes on the district’s budget woes, postponed school closures, school board director resignations and appointments, the state legislature, and student outcomes progress monitoring.
See our Show Notes.
Email us at [email protected]
Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
20 min
July 15, 2024 E45 - There Is Not a List, Part 3 - List in September? November? December?
Jane and Christie cover the June 26, 2024 school board meeting with help from our new intern, Jasmine Pulido. Topics include the postponement of releasing a list of schools to be closed in 2025, the 2024-25 budget introduction and hearing, and the reduction in school board meetings scheduled for the 2024-25 school year.
Contact us: Send corrections, suggestions, and comments to [email protected].
Disclaimer: Seattle Hall Pass features a variety of voices. Each person’s opinions are their own.
Support the show
Contact us at [email protected].
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
40 min