Carlson, Colleen K Saaelaaeese From: DeGrieck, Jerry [Jerry DeGrieck@seattle gov] Sent Tuesday, May 29, 2012 6:98 PM To: DeGrieck, Jerry; Hester, Beth; Torgelson, Nathan; Miller, Holly; Close, Ainsley: McCoy, Julie; Matsuno, Bernie; Groshong, Kathleen; Matsuno, Bernie; Williams, Christopher, Smith, Dannette R; Lester, Catherine L; Potter, Dewey; Johnson, Mary ce: Pickus, Aaron; Cruickshank, Robert; McEvoy, Pegi; Smith, Darryl, Day, Eliott ‘Subject: RE: Community Nights in Schools: Plan to Move Forward Hello All, ' have heard from HSD but not from Parks and DON on who their representative will be on the small work group to develop a new program to facilitate community use of school buildings after school hours, Please let me know as soon 28 possible. Mary Johnson will represent HSD. Bruce Skowyra and his team will be the representatives from Seattle Public Schools. Also, FYI, Chris Lehman from the Community Council Federation called me back about our plan to develop a new program to replace Community Nights in Schools. He believes that the City has caved into the School District and that the City should demand that the terms of the Community Nights in Schools program must continue to be adhered to by ‘the District ~ no insurance requirement, no registration fee and the $15 use charge. Chris believes that the School District is obligated to keep the Communities Nights in Schools program because itis tied to a deal involving moving the School District's headquarters to SODO. | explained that Seattle Public Schools and the City of Seattle are committed to Promoting the use of school buildings as sites for community meetings and events after schoo! hours. We should formally respond to the letter the Mayor received from the Community Council Federation about Communities Nights in Schools. Chris is likely to protest to City Council and he wants to hold up the City-School district Partnership agreement on the Families and Ed Levy over this program. Jerry DeGrieck Senior Policy Advisor to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn Human Services, Health, Education, Housing, and Financial Empowerment. 206-684-4029 (Office) 206-321-7307 (Work Cell) Jerry. dearieck@seattle,gov From: DeGrieck, Jerry Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 1:08 PM To: Hester, Beth; Torgelson, Nathan; Miller, Holly; Close, Ainsley; McCoy, Julie; Matsuno, Bernie; Groshong, Kathleen; ‘Matsuno, Bernie; Williams, Christopher; Smith, Dannette R; Lester, Catherine L; Potter, Dewey Ce: Pickus, Aaron; Cruickshank, Robert; McEvoy, Pegi Subject: Community Nights in Schools: Plan to Move Forward Hello All, Seattle Public Schools and the City have agreed to develop a new program to replace the existing Community Nights in Schools program in order to facilitate community use of schoo! buildings during non-school hours. The School District needs to have a new program in place by the beginning of the upcoming school year, 2012-2013. We need to have a small workgroup with City and District staff members. | suggest that we have one representative from each of the following departments: Parks, HSD, and DON. Please let me know by this Friday, May 25, who will represent your department. 2‘Any new plan will have to assure that the District does not have added uncovered expenses due to community use of their buildings during non-school hours. The City will not subsidize community use of school buildings either. We do want to look at City buildings that are available for community use ~ libraries and Parks community centers. For any new program that we promote we may want to publicize a number of different venues in the community for neighborhood groups to use. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks. Jerry DeGrieck Senior Policy Advisor to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn Human Services, Health, Education, Housing, and Financial Empowerment 206-684-4029 (Office) 206-321-7307 (Work Cell) Jerry dearieck@seattle. gov From: DeGrieck, Jerry Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:27 PM To: DeGrieck, Jerry; Hester, Beth; Torgelson, Nathan; Miller, Holly; Close, Ainsley; McCoy, Julie; Potter, Chris; Matsuno, Bernie; Groshong, Kathleen Cc: Pickus, Aaron; Cruickshank, Robert; McEvoy, Pegi Subject: RE: Community Nights in Schools Here’s the latest: Seattle Public Schools would actually like to have a new program in place by this coming school year, 2012-2013 because they want to be sure there is consistency between programs and policy and right now there is a disconnect. Let’s go forward and develop a new program that will promote access by community groups. | suggest that we have a small working group comprised of City and Schoo! District staff. On the City side, Parks, DON and HSD should be represented. Jerry 206-684-4029 (Office) 206-321-7307 (Cell) From: DeGrieck, Jerry Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:56 PM To: Hester, Beth; Torgelson, Nathan; Miller, Holly; Close, Ainsley; McCoy, Julie; Potter, Chris; Matsuno, Bernie; Groshong, Kathleen Cc: Pickus, Aaron; Cruickshank, Robert; McEvoy, Pegi Subject: RE: Community Nights in Schools Thanks, Beth. | am waiting to get Pegi McEvoy’s buy-in on the proposed language. If the District commits to coming up with a new program with us, |have no doubt we can do it. I worked with Seattle Public Schools eleven years ago when we developed the current program. In terms of holding the City financially harmless, | can be clear with the School! District that the City must be held financially harmless too. | would not inclade that in communications with the public/stakehalders because that would detract from the message we really want them to hear: The City and Seattle Public Schools care about community and neighborhood groups and we want our publically financed schools (as well as community centers and libraries) to be venues for community members/neighbors to use. ! know the counter to this s that community members may have false expectations and want the City to subsidize their use of school facilities, but | am certain we can come up with program that won't create a financial obligation for the City. Jerry 206-684-4029 (Office) 206-321-7307 (Cell) ”From: Hester, Beth Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:29 PM Tor DeGrieck, Jerry; Torgelson, Nathan; Miller, Holly; Close, Ainsley; McCoy, Julie; Potter, Chris; Matsuno, Bernie; Groshong, Kathleen Ce: Pickus, Aaron; Cruickshank, Robert; McEvoy, Pegi Subject: RE: Community Nights in Schools Thanks Jerry, Two questions 1) Are we sure we can make good on the promise? 2) Can we add language that hold the City financially harmless as well? ~Beth From: DeGrieck, Jerry Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 7:03 PM To: Torgelson, Nathan; Miller, Holly; Close, Ainsley; McCoy, Julie; Potter, Chris; Matsuno, Bernie; Groshong, Kathleen Cc: Hester, Beth; Pickus, Aaron; Cruickshank, Robert; McEvoy, Pegi Subject: Community Nights in Schools Hello All, Pegi McEvoy and | connected early this morning. As you know the School District indicated that itis ending the Communities Nights In Schools Program. This created quite a bit of concern in certain quarters ~ people threatening to withhold support for BEX IV, oppose the Schoo! District-City partnership agreement on the Families and Education Levy, etc. However, the Schoo! District is not ending Community Nights in Schools until after the end of the next school year, 2012-2013 school year. This gives us an opportunity to create a sustainable program that promotes access while assuring that school funds meant to educate kids aren't supporting activities that are not aligned with the Distriet’s, mission. ‘There is a lot of confusion in the District, City and community about the Community Nights in Schools program and how it was supposed to operate and be funded. The School District has received no funding from groups that utilize schoo! buildings through the program; most of these groups hold meetings/have events that are not aligned with the District's mission. There is also confusion about the role/responsibilities of Parks. Regardless, we have the opportunity to craft a new program and get everyone on the same page. | told Pegi | would craft draft language that the School District and City could use in communicating about the Community Nights in Schools Program. | suggest the following draft language, for which I'm sure, Communications staff can craft better language. The City and Seattle Public Schools will agree to develop a new program to facilitate use of school buildings, which, of course, were/are paid for by taxpayers. “Seattle Public Schools ond the City of Seattle are committed to promoting the use of school buildings as sites for community meetings and events after schoo! hours. Use of schoo! buildings for these community meetings/events cannot result in added costs to the Schoo! District that would take away from funding necessary to operate our schools and educate Seattle's students, The Community Nights in Schools program has operated for about ten year and has been utilized by many community groups. The Schoo! District has indicated that the program in its current form will end at the close of the 2012-2013 school year because the Schoo! District receives no payment to cover any additional costs it incurs for the use of school buildings after regular schoo! hours. Before the Community Nights in Schools program ends in June 2013, the City and the School District are committed to developing a new program to permit community and neighborhood groups to utilize 75