50 signatures reached
To: Denise Juneau, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools
Leschi Elementary Families and Community Demand Accountability from Seattle Public Schools
As members of the Leschi Elementary community, we are demanding the following:
1. We demand to hear directly from Superintendent Juneau, not from a representative, concerning the removal of Principal Moland.
2. We demand that Anthony Ruby, Executive Director of Schools (Principal Support Team 1), be immediately removed from his role as a supervisor over Leschi Elementary School.
3. We demand to know what procedures and measures are in place or will be put in place to ensure adherence to Seattle Public Schools Board Policy #0030, “Ensuring Educational and Racial Policy.” Specifically, how are you measuring the work supporting C. Workforce Equity and D. Professional Development?
*The policy specifically states that the District will “recruit, employ, support, and
retain employees of color," but we have seen no evidence of equitable support
or retention efforts in the 2019-20 school year on behalf of Ms. Moland.
*In addition, we have heard that there may be a Policy #0040 to replace Policy
#0030. If so, we demand to know when this policy will be published and what
procedures and measures will be put in place to ensure adherence.
4. We demand to know how Seattle Public Schools Board Policy #4129, “Family Engagement,” is being applied to the Leschi School community. Specifically, “The intent of this policy is to create and maintain a districtwide climate conducive to the meaningful engagement of families …” What procedures and measures are in place or will be put in place to ensure adherence to this policy at Leschi and throughout the district?
5. We demand better communication and engagement from the district with the Leschi Elementary community. At the highest levels, representatives of Seattle Public Schools have ignored us, spoken to us in a disrespectful and dismissive manner, and have provided very little communication and information regarding the removal of Ms. Moland and the appointment of Steve Liu.
1. We demand to hear directly from Superintendent Juneau, not from a representative, concerning the removal of Principal Moland.
2. We demand that Anthony Ruby, Executive Director of Schools (Principal Support Team 1), be immediately removed from his role as a supervisor over Leschi Elementary School.
3. We demand to know what procedures and measures are in place or will be put in place to ensure adherence to Seattle Public Schools Board Policy #0030, “Ensuring Educational and Racial Policy.” Specifically, how are you measuring the work supporting C. Workforce Equity and D. Professional Development?
*The policy specifically states that the District will “recruit, employ, support, and
retain employees of color," but we have seen no evidence of equitable support
or retention efforts in the 2019-20 school year on behalf of Ms. Moland.
*In addition, we have heard that there may be a Policy #0040 to replace Policy
#0030. If so, we demand to know when this policy will be published and what
procedures and measures will be put in place to ensure adherence.
4. We demand to know how Seattle Public Schools Board Policy #4129, “Family Engagement,” is being applied to the Leschi School community. Specifically, “The intent of this policy is to create and maintain a districtwide climate conducive to the meaningful engagement of families …” What procedures and measures are in place or will be put in place to ensure adherence to this policy at Leschi and throughout the district?
5. We demand better communication and engagement from the district with the Leschi Elementary community. At the highest levels, representatives of Seattle Public Schools have ignored us, spoken to us in a disrespectful and dismissive manner, and have provided very little communication and information regarding the removal of Ms. Moland and the appointment of Steve Liu.
Why is this important?
We are writing as a collective of concerned members of the Leschi Elementary community. We are parents, teachers, staff and community members who vehemently disagree with the removal of Principal Lisa Moland and the way in which this incident is being handled.
Many of us have called or emailed the superintendent, school board and other SPS administrators, including individual emails and a May 21, 2020 statement signed by more than 60 families. More than twenty of us offered testimony at the July 8, 2020 school board meeting regarding Principal Moland’s removal. The lack of any response from an SPS official has been deeply troubling and wholly unacceptable.
As representatives of Seattle Public Schools, you are out of alignment with your proclaimed commitment to equity, partnerships and engagement, you have damaged relationships with an elementary school community, and you have failed to acknowledge the systemic and institutional racism that SPS has perpetuated in the handling of this incident. We require you to be and do better. We will not rest until our demands are met.
Many of us have called or emailed the superintendent, school board and other SPS administrators, including individual emails and a May 21, 2020 statement signed by more than 60 families. More than twenty of us offered testimony at the July 8, 2020 school board meeting regarding Principal Moland’s removal. The lack of any response from an SPS official has been deeply troubling and wholly unacceptable.
As representatives of Seattle Public Schools, you are out of alignment with your proclaimed commitment to equity, partnerships and engagement, you have damaged relationships with an elementary school community, and you have failed to acknowledge the systemic and institutional racism that SPS has perpetuated in the handling of this incident. We require you to be and do better. We will not rest until our demands are met.