I attended the Tuesday night meeting for the Lincoln community at Hamilton MS. There will be a second meeting on
Thursday, Oct 12th, at Hamilton MS from 6:30-8:00 pm. There were about 150 people in attendance. By handcount, most were parents (although we were asked "how many parents," not "how many parents with current SPS students). And, although it was asked how many community members were there, somehow they forgot about Lincoln alums (and there were at least six). It was a largely white group, with a few Asians and Latinx. I saw no black audience members. All the tables had white butcher paper, markers and scattered quotes (see below).
Eden Mack was the only candidate running for School Board that I saw. Director Rick Burke was in attendance.
Ruth Medsker, planning and future principal of Lincoln, led the meeting. She was very upbeat and said that she "guarantees that Lincoln will be a smashing success." (I asked her about that claim later and she said she stood by it. Good for her. She also told my table that the district needs "new assessments," not high stakes ones but the internal ones. Interesting.)
When she asked about audience members from the community, she remarked, "Good schools make housing prices go up."
She said we were going to have a "block party"first, then have the architects speak, then table talk. She said there would be an update on boundaries, but "we are not here to take input on them." She also said there would be an "exit ticket" to get data info.
She told the audience that they were planning an "amazing" school for students for a range of learners and it would be "a ticket to the innovation era."
So the "block party" plan was confusing to me. There were to be groups of threes to discuss a quote and then move to three other people and discuss it with them. (She also stated that they were using Hamilton's budget for this Lincoln work.)
I found it all odd and certainly too short to get any real discussion. Again, nothing like being facilitated.
But I did get the chance to hear a few comments and it was dismaying.
"I want a school for all kids and not just the cream who have a voice.""I want a school where all the kids my kid went to kindergarten with will all be." (This quote is one I saw in action at Roosevelt. While I think it a sweet thought, I can only say that I find that insular thinking and that most of those kids don't make new friends when they get to high school.)
The architect, Loren from Bassetti Architects, did a crisp presentation with drawings. He said they are about to begin demolition at Lincoln. He noted that they are getting rid of a lot of drop ceilings which hid beautiful, tall windows and that it would add more natural light.
The entry will be moved as the old entry was not accessible to all. The center of the school will have a courtyard "safe and secured" and an outdoor science classroom.
The building will be five (!) levels, made up mostly of "learning communities." He also said there would be a "maker's lab." I had not heard this term before but this is what I believe it is:
The Maker Lab is a place where people can learn and use new technologies and equipment they may otherwise not have access to. They can get help with a project they are currently working on or they can start a new project. People can also meet and collaborate with others on projects.
There will be security cameras, inside and outside the building.
The school colors will be red and black and their mascot is the same, the Lynx.
Then there was a video shown - not sure who made it or where it came from - of noted educators (and others like Thomas Friedman) talking about public education.
One guy said the old way of learning just from a teacher is gone; you can learn everything you need online (that one sent a chill down my spine). Another said having a good work ethic is not enough anymore, you have to know what to do next and be motivated. Interestingly, it was the former venture capitalist who said the ability to write creatively and have a perspective on a historical event are hard things to test but important.
One guy called students "the end product." Not one of them mentioned learning to be a critically thinking citizen.
Then we veered off on the U.N.'s SDGs - sustainable development goals which apparently may be the new goals for this school. It was hard to follow. But Lincoln wants the four years to look like this:
9th grade - the Journey - who you are in this community
10th grade - the Traveler - where do I fit in locally and globally
11th grade - Rebel with a Cause - creating change in my community
12th grade - Leaving Home - extending your impact beyond local community for global change.
Ms. Medsker said every comprehensive high school should be "globally focused" with strong STEM/STEAM programs as well as having languages.
She said some of the work is as follows:
- they are in the process of hiring lead teachers (some of whom may come from current high schools),
- maybe having the students pick the furniture,
- building and leveraging community partnerships like with nearby UW
- figuring out athletics. Lincoln will be in Metro but probably no varsity football for a couple of years - she was adamant that no younger players in 9/10th will go up against larger 11/12 graders on other teams. She did point out that there is no field at Lincoln and wistfully suggested that the nearby park become a playfield for both Hamilton and Lincoln.
- she said she would like the school to start at 9th/10th but that was not her decision
As for the exit info, there was a URL but I seem to have copied it down incorrectly. Anyone. Medsker said she was looking for parents with "talents."
I found the business of writing down "hopes and dreams" for students to be less than useful. I think if they had asked - what do you value for your child's high school and name the top five things - it might have been more useful.
