McClure Middle School: Time for Rejuvenation, Time for Levy Support
As summer flows joyfully along, my thoughts occasionally drift to the fall as my four kids prepare to enter four grades at four schools with four fundraising auctions. It’s indicative of the fact that Seattle Public School District is undergoing a period of rapid enrollment growth, a positive step for our district and our city as parents are making choices to engage in their neighborhood school. And yet, there are some troubling warning signs about decisions that parents make. In some areas even with rapid overall growth, schools are under-enrolled and families are purposely not attending their neighborhood school.
One of my hopes is that we as a community—parents, teachers, business leaders, students and administrators—can continually improve our willingness to talk openly and courageously about educational quality and some of the reasons why some schools within some neighborhoods continue to struggle to meet community needs.
Rainier Beach is chronically under-enrolled, despite easily having sufficient numbers of students in the enrollment area to fill the school should parents make that choice. But they are not. Neighborhood parents have a modest chance of being accepted to other area schools given the small reserve allowed outside of a reference area. For Rainier Beach parents, this is a lifeline and they are seizing it. They are electing in disproportionate numbers not to attend Rainier Beach.
This is despite the district and state’s substantial investment of commitment and millions of dollars in Rainier Beach over the last few years, including bringing in a new leader and implementing new programs, such as the International Baccalaurate program, scheduled to start in Fall of 2013. But at least there seems to be a genuine public conversation that includes reaching out to neighborhood parents, students, teachers, activists, bloggers and community leaders about what needs are not being met.
But sometimes the under-enrollment is not based on a policy or practice, but instead on what seems like benign systemic neglect of a particular school despite heroic efforts over the years of parents to make improvements. One such school is McClure Middle School, centrally located in the Queen Anne neighborhood.
The elementary schools that feed into McClure are absolutely packed and the school age population is growing at extraordinary rates. Ballard High School, the high school for much of my legislative district, is also filled to the brim. This is a positive sign for our neighborhoods, but we have a serious and troubling problem at the middle school level.
At middle school a disproportionate number of families choose schools other than McClure—sometimes other nearby public schools, like Salmon Bay K-8, or local private schools, both of which now apply to our family. Of course, middle school kids are a challenge in every district across our particular planet given the nature of the population, but that’s sort of a bigger problem.
Seriously, why are disproportionate numbers of parents sending a quiet signal to make other selections than McClure Middle School and leaving for their middle school years? I think we should invite a public conversation about it.
The district is currently planning their next capital levy—the Building Excellence IV levy, or BEX IV. As a part of this levy the district is proposing to reopen Lincoln High School. Who will attend Lincoln High School, located in Wallingford? Students who live in Queen Anne and Magnolia. So in two to three years the district will be asking my family and the majority of my constituents to make a huge shift—from Ballard High School to the new Lincoln High School.
This district’s plan has not yet made the headlines of the neighborhood blogs and community newspapers, but it will soon.
When it does, I believe that in order for our family and neighbors to move willingly to Lincoln and leave the established and well-functioning Ballard that has been home for so many years without a revolt, we must have a solid cohort or grouping of students that moves through a comprehensive middle school and then moves together to Lincoln to build a strong, united freshman class. It’s about community.
We all know that if kids don’t go through the system together, parents and families will rebel—regardless of the community. But for that to happen, it’s essential that we see comprehensive improvements at McClure from physical facilities to academic rigor and prowess. It’s a good school that can and should be a great school.
McClure is not slated to receive any funding in BEX IV, when I think we can all agree that the school facility—vintage 1960– needs massive investments, if not a total rebuild. Once again, plodding along through another huge levy the McClure community—now serving three major neighborhoods—is left without a strong intervention from the district.
I have been told that the “bones”—the structure—of the building are solid, and that we need to wait at least until BEX V, in 2019, to even consider a rebuild. But the community was told that exact same thing in BEX II and BEX III, twelve and six years ago, respectively.
I’ve always had a special place in my heart for McClure. I treasure my visits to meet and greet the students, so many of whom I know as friends of my four kids. In 2009, I worked extremely hard to secure $1 million in state capital budget funds specifically for McClure to help upgrade the old building through energy efficiencies. Why invest in such an old building? Because students, teachers and administrators were wearing coats inside the building all day during the winter due to the cold.
Clearly, I am not implying that a new building in and of itself is sufficient to change a neighborhood’s attitude about a school. But I’m sure many in our community remember the rebuild of Ballard High School. When Ballard reopened, with a new building and solid leadership, we saw enrollment grow substantially and now it is one of the most popular and quality high schools in the city.
A new building is one key element to the solution, but of course it’s not enough. Like all schools, we must have solid leadership in the building and the central office to give families the reassurance that their child’s education is our number one priority. Despite some important and notable progress in recent years, we must do radically better if we expect families to accept a dramatic restructuring of where their kids attend high school.
This does not mean that kids aren’t learning at McClure and that teachers, administrators and parents are not engaged. But it does mean we need to listen to the silence of parents who are making other enrollment choices as well as those who elect to enroll. Both groups must be part of the conversation.
We need the district to stand together with the community and engage in a more transparent, vibrant dialogue about why the school is not living up to its potential. There are important community meetings September 20, 24 and 27 that will be instrumental in determining the design of the levy package. Please attend and express your views.
McClure, a 1960s, Soviet-style building with a world of potential, should be a part of the BEX IV plan.
A rebuilt, rejuvenated and reinvigorated McClure Middle School will draw literally hundreds of additional Queen Anne and Magnolia parents back to the school, and will give students and their families the confidence of a united cohort that can move intact to a rebuilt, rejuvenated and reinvigorated Lincoln High School.
The district’s plan can potentially work, but only with the community’s ownership and engagement, and with a substantial investment in McClure as part of that future.
Your partner in service,
Reuven
If you think McClure needs capital investment, then you need to visit other schools. Start at Arbor Heights.
BEX IV is almost all needed to build new space, and there is only money left to repair existing spaces that are unsafe, not just unpleasant.
Reuven, I appreciate your commitment to on-going dialog. However, in this particular instance, you are not equipped to speak about this issue except within the narrow vision of your neighborhood. This is fine but you are wrong in district-wide context.
One, RBHS. It has been neglected by the district with promises made and broken. That the IB program is coming in is great and WILL attract more students. Their PTSA? Going to the White House this week to get an award as one of 12 Champions of Change. There are things going on to help that school. It would surely help if the CITY would protect that neighborhood so that parents felt it was a safe environment for their children. I would gently ask you to advocate for that because THAT is the City’s duty.
Two, BEX IV. At our blog, we have talked extensively about BEX IV . I’m sorry you have missed our discussions. You clearly do not know the issues around this BEX and I’m happy to go over them with you.
The issues at McClure probably have less to do with the building than what is happening in the building. I know, from my long experience, that the district has many,many buildings that need replacement. But this BEX is about overcrowding and NOT just building condition. And McClure is not at the top of any list for replacement. There are far more buildings that need help.
You might tell the Board and the Superintendent (and the Mayor and the City Council) to NOT support an elementary school for South Lake Union. That’s money we don’t need to spend when we have so much overcrowding and so many poor quality buildings.
At McClure there’s a lot more concern about what happens (or doesn’t happen) in the classrooms than there are about the physical condition of the classrooms. APP grew at Lowell while that building was falling down around it. It’s still growing and it doesn’t even HAVE a building. A number of alternative schools, such as Pathfinder, ORCA, and NOVA, thrived despite gross negligence to their buildings for decades. Brighton got a totally renovated building but worked better when it was in its interim site at E.C. Hughes. Madrona K-8 has a gorgeous building, but the school is struggling and has a highly transient staff as well as a highly transient student body.
Families don’t care about the condition of the building if the classrooms are working well. The fix that McClure needs won’t come off a pickup truck.
I just want to chime in with both the above posters. As I was reading your personal post, I kept thinking you are valuing the wrong thing. It isn’t the building. It is the program, the teachers, the commitment of the community and its involvement. I grew up on QA and went through West QA elementary and spent six years at QA HS. No middle school then. I spent many happy hours at the rec center. McClure has wonderful physical opportunities. The community and the District should work together to make that school the vibrant and enriching place its potential promises.
I did have an experience with a parent of a McClure student and she was very unhappy with the administration at that school. This is a few years ago. But it is usually the program and the people that make the difference.
QA is full of creative people. Do what Salmon Bay parents do and make it work.
BTW, I found out via the voter’s handbook that I’m in your district. Thought I was in 46th so now I’m holding you extra accountable! I still love QA and you are lucky to be part of that community!
I appreciate this post and the motivation behind increasing a dialogue on school improvement in general and at McClure in particular. As a current McClure parent, I also appreciate the plug for BEX funds, although I know there are many other schools who need those funds more, both in terms of improving severe capacity issues and to make physical improvements based on health and safety.
Otherwise, I find much of your post troubling, seemingly based on innuendo.
I would like to know the enrollment data and the rationale behind your assessment that “at middle school a disproportionate number of families choose schools other than McClure.” Disproportionate to what? To the district average of number of kids in an attendance area who do go to their neighborhood middle school? (and wouldn’t that be skewed by the numbers in attendance areas where parents likely have means to pursue other options, such as private school?) I’m concerned that this statement is misleading without a more enhanced explanation of what you mean.
I took it to mean that a disproportionate number of M/QA families pick McClure and if that was the correct interpretation, I would like to know the basis/data for that statement. Specifically, what is the total number of middle school students from the M/QA attendance area who COULD attend McClure. And how many are enrolled from our attendance area? I understand McClure’s 6th grade class is approximately 180 which seems to be roughly 2/3rds of the students in the attendance area are choosing McClure. Would we like it to be higher? Could it be higher? Sure. But only 3 years into the NSAP, I think that’s not bad and it shows that M/QA parents ARE in fact choosing to attend McClure in increasing numbers. (The 7th grade class (146), 8th grade class (153) but I think both have smaller cohorts from which to draw) I suspect if you pull data from the 5-10 years prior to the NSAP you’ll see many fewer M/QA families picking McClure and THOSE would be the disproportionate enrollment numbers to which you seem to be alluding. But many more families are going to McClure since the NSAP rolled out and it takes time to build up neighborhood school enrollment after such a change.
Families make enrollment decisions based on many factors, especially at the middle school and high school levels. Without surveying the families who made other choices, it’s speculation that families are ” sending a quiet signal to make other selections than McClure Middle School and leaving for their middle school years”. Some families may have wanted a school with different special ed services, or a more developed music program, or different advanced learning options, or different after school programs, a bigger school, a smaller school. Many individual reasons based on individual children and learning needs. I fear this post exacerbates a pretty big whispering campaign without real answers to substantiate it.
And re: “we need to listen to the silence of parents who are making other enrollment choices as well as those who elect to enroll” — Certainly we do but my worry is the extent to which those choices were based on “playground talk” regarding a perception of what McClure is like v. actual experience at the school, with the students, staff and administration. Families in the school are an incredibly valuable resource as to what is happening at McClure and school satisfaction.
I respectfully disagree that a move to Lincoln will incite a rebellion, unless the district undertakes a faith building mission with respect to a united freshman class and/or community. Certainly those are vital elements to a school and community comfort in a change to the NSAP that would direct our kids to Lincoln v. Ballard. But most important are the offerings at that school. By the time kids are in high school many are looking to coursework related to interest level, propensity, achievement level and/or their college – career path. Yes it is important for kids to go through the system together, but by high school it doesn’t appear to be the main criteria in picking a school.
Ballard is indeed popular but that is largely due to the Academies that are part of the curriculum (Finance, BioTech, Maritime, STEM, Video Production) as well as other curriculum offerings. Garfield has a big music draw as well as being the APP pathway school. Ingraham has the IB program, Roosevelt has an incredible performing arts. Certainly some parents send their children to their neighborhood school simply because it’s their neighborhood school, some go there because it allows their kids to go through the system together, but most of the parents in my research picked high school based on the programs and the general fit for their student (extra curricular activities, sports, arts, music, SPED supports, proximity to home, etc… )
Other parts in the post have a twinge of damning with faint praise. And that’s disappointing to hear from my elected official. You may have a special place in your heart for McClure, but it’s hard to tell with this article. After reading it, an uninformed constituent or parent would probably be left with a negative impression of McClure, which is unfortunate.
Reuven, the problem with McClure is not the building (though it could be better). It is with the school itself. And no, it is not 2/3 of the possible students that “choose” to attend McClure, it is more likely around 1/2 of the attendance area students who attend, and mostly it is not “choice”. McClure is smaller than both Coe and Hay, and it has 2 other direct feeders: Lawton and QAE. Lawton is now quite large. It has the lowest capture rate of 5th graders from feeders of any comprehensive middle school.
McClure has an incredible leadership vacuum. Queen Anne families mistakenly thought when “those south end kids” left, McClure would magically be better. What they didn’t know was that the attitude of poverty in the building emanates from the staff, not the students. The students from the south end were in fact, an incredible asset. The school operates with a culture of lowest expectation.
The administration has no passion for anything and almost seems disdainful of the community. The principal blames every problem on the big bad district, as if other schools somehow have it better. The principal and her office staff do not bother to learn the names of students, nor do they care about them. They are not “present” with the students and spend little time doing the real work. Compared this to John Hay, where your kids went, and a larger school. All office staff at Hay know all kids within 1 week. When a disciplinary issue is noticed at McClure, it is almost always handled with gross incompetence and randomly, especially given the amount of bullying and generalized behavior problems at the school.
Although there are some good teachers, there is little supervision of teachers. Many have no syllabus. My child was in a class with no syllabus, no assignments, no reading list, no course coverage, nothing. Hollywood movies made up the “Native American” unit. That soaked up about 3 weeks of class time. By the end, the whole class was just discussion – of anything. That’s “US History” for you! Other classes are similarly lax. In the “shop” class, the teacher often didn’t even come into the classroom which is equipped with power saws and other dangerous tools. Nice work if you can get it! The whole philosophy of the leadership is that “exposure” is all that the poor kids need. And that is the poverty mentality in a nutshell.
Sure, the test scores have improved because of the changing demographics – not any instructional improvement. But go listen to the band or orchestra. They sound like a bunch of 3rd graders. It is an embarrassment. When all the other comprehensive middle schools in similarly affluent areas have excellent music programs, it’s just another indicator of lack of quality education beyond test scores. The great art program the school once had has been decimated and replaced by a slew of much weaker and poorer electives.
Rueven – fix these problems at McClure first!
Reuven? Any response? This is a dialog, right?
I share the clear sentiment in the comments that what happens inside the building is the priority. In any school, great teachers, principals, wrap around support services, counselors, librarians, technology, learning materials, before and after services and so much more all drive the quality of the learning experience for kids. It’s fundamentally about people. But there is a nuance that I do think is important as well. It touches on the idea that we need a meaningful intervention in the overall quality of McClure and many other schools. We need a dialogue–open, genuine, courageous, unafraid– about why some schools are not living up to their amazing potential. I believe our district’s lack of strong academic rigor is one of the major challenges and we simply cannot continue to pretend that it doesn’t have negative implications. There are many other challenges, of course, but I suspect most of us will acknowledge that a coordinated approach between academics, leadership, facilities and support to address some of the negative effects of poverty are all necessary to address the broader structural issues throughout our district and state. In this case, I’d like to see a rededication to McClure’s future because I think it can be so much more than what it has become.
Then have some community meetings and demand better. You of all people are in a position to do that. Lead the way. Demand more of your school leaders and then move on to Stanford. It can be done. But won’t be if you wait for someone else to do it. Just do it!
Reuven – you opted to not send your own children to McClure, although your family lives within easy walking distance. As our community-elected public official, the strongest show of support would be to send your own kids to our neighborhood school. Some of your kids are still young enough….it’s not too late to join us at McClure. Our PTSA and families are working hard and very focused on improving our school and community, and we would welcome your family’s participation.
To Glad We Graduated – your experience with our leadership team at McClure is very different than that of my family. I find your comments to be unfair, and more unfortunately, a little mean spirited. Yes, like many public schools in Seattle we have some “old school” teachers needing a dose of something, but we also have many more wonderful teachers who care deeply about our kids education and middle school experience. Our McClure Principal is fully aware of and actively working with both types, and the PTSA group, to continue to make improvements we all want to see. As we know, John Hay became the excellent school it is today with the help of parents like us, actively involved with a positive, inspiring vision for the future. Complaints and blame don’t work as well to support these efforts.
Our building is outdated, no doubt. The PTSA and many McClure families are leading improvement projects on the interior and exterior. Take a walk by and see exterior construction in process now. We also support classroom supplies, books for the library, tutoring, sports equipment, and more. We have a few projects on the horizon supporting academics and technology in a larger way…more info to come as we pull things together. Our McClure Principal and leadership team is in full support, fully involved, and always wonderful to work with on all improvement initiatives.
We are the parents, these are our kids. This is our school and our community. Dialogue is great, and taking action is even better. McClure will continue to improve if, most importantly, we support our Principal. PTSA and our families also need your time, ideas, and financial support. Watch your McClure Newletter for opportunities to be involved – if you don’t already receive it you sign up at info@mccluremavericks.org.
McClure will continue to improve if, most importantly, we support our Principal.
No PTSA parent, it’s the other way around. McClure will start to improve if the principal (with a small p) supports the community. It’s not about waving the flag. You are not talking to families who haven’t tried, or aren’t there, or haven’t given it their all. To just blow off entire groups calling them “mean spirited” – well, that doesn’t address problems. And no again, it’s not about the “old school teachers”. You’ve got to make the school something besides a revolving door for teachers or you will never build a team or community.
Part of the problem is that students have had such excellent elementary educations by comparison. Families on QA or not in poverty and have high expectations.
Graduated, I was referencing your comments specifically, which I felt were unfair and a little mean-spirited, not an entire group. I feel it is very important that incoming families especially know my family and others have had a very different experience…we are very happy at McClure and are in support of the many good things in work under the leadership of our Principal.
John Hay and other Queen Anne and Magnolia elementary schools have had the benefit of being neighborhood schools for many many years…it took a huge commitment on the part of all of us to bring these schools to the level they are today. McClure has been a neighborhood school for only a couple years, and our student population, and level of family involvement is still in transition. With any transition there are issues to work out, but I believe our neighborhood community, working together with a positive vision in partnership with our Principal, can build an excellent middle school we are all proud to send our kids.
By what reckoning would McClure PTSA Mom say that “McClure has been a neighborhood school for only a couple years”?
Even under the choice plan, McClure was available to every family in the neighborhood. The school was under-subscribed, so anyone who wanted to enroll there was free to do so.
Even if the school filled up, the distance tie-breaker would have given priority to students from the neighborhood.
So tell us please what you mean when you write “McClure has been a neighborhood school for only a couple years”.