PODCAST · news
Seattle Hall Pass
by Christie Robertson, Jane Tunks Demel, Jasmine Pulido
A podcast with news and conversations about Seattle Public Schools.
Episodes
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Seattle Hall Pass Bids Farewell
See our press release.
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S2 E14 - Data Night with Dr. Hart (plus, Planning for the new Strategic Plan)
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, hosts Christie, Jane, and Jasmine dive into the data-rich presentation on Seattle Public Schools' student outcomes, delivered by Dr. Ray Hart, Executive Director of the Council of Great City Schools, at the October 23rd special school board meeting. They…
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S2 E13 - School Board Director Gina Topp
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, school board director Gina Topp discusses the school closure plans with co-hosts Christie and Jane. The three also discuss Seattle Public Schools’ $94 million budget gap, the upcoming legislative session, community engagement, and student outcomes-focused...
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S2 E12 - 4 Schools
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, we dive into Seattle Public Schools' proposal to close and consolidate four elementary schools: North Beach, Sacajawea, Stevens, and Sanislo. Christie, Jane, and Jasmine explore critical questions surrounding the district’s decision-making process, including...
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S2 E11 - Can SPS go bankrupt? with Stephen Nielsen
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, we sit down with former Seattle Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Stephen Nielsen to understand the implications of “binding conditions” and potential state oversight for Seattle Public Schools if it can’t close its budget gap. Nielsen shares his insights…
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S2 E10 - Community Voices on Student Safety
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, we discuss school and student safety in Seattle Public Schools, featuring interviews with students, staff, and parents. We explore concerns about balancing physical safety measures with the need for mental health support, sharing perspectives on a $20 million...
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S2 E9 - Option C - with School Board Director Joe Mizrahi
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, School Board Director Joe Mizrahi shares his perspective on Seattle Public Schools' plans for addressing declining enrollment and budget deficits. Director Mizrahi emphasizes the importance of minimizing impacts on students and families, focusing on a more...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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S2 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...
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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!…
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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...
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S2 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]
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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...
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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...
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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...
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E44 - What Do Other Districts Do?
This is a new segment called "What Do Other Districts Do?" In this episode, we discuss how other districts handle school closures and how often other districts have school board meetings. See our Show Notes Contact us at [email protected]
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E43 - Seattle School Closures, Past and Present
This is a video! See the video here! In 2005, Seattle Public Schools was projecting falling enrollment, and over the ensuing years, 11 schools were closed. But it turned out that the projections were wrong, and SPS needed to reopen most of the buildings. New Seattle Hall Pass contributor Dawson...
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E42 - School closures: SPS finally engages
See our Show Notes Contact us [email protected] School Closure Community Engagement Meetings, May 28 - June 1. In this episode of the Seattle Hall Pass podcast, Christie Robertson and Jane Tunks Demel discuss the recent community meetings held by Seattle Public Schools regarding the...
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E41 - Community Speaks, School Board Silent (May 22 board meeting)
Seattle School Board Meeting of May 22, 2024. Guardrails on school discipline and welcoming environments will not be met, but this is not discussed. Testimony dominates the meetings, focused on tensions with the administration at Pathfinder K-8, and fears of looming school closures. See our Show...
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E40 - There Is Not a List, Part 2: 20 Schools to Close (May 8 school board meeting)
Christie Robertson & Jane Tunks Demel discuss the Seattle School Board Meeting of May 8, 2024, wherein the board agreed to entertain a plan to close 20 elementary schools. The list is coming June 10, 2024. Disclaimer: Each person's opinion is their own See our extensive Show Notes Contact us at...
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E39 - Community Engagement Is Coming, Says Board President Rankin
Show Notes Contact Us School Board President Liza Rankin shares the Seattle School Board’s immediate plans for community engagement to help inform the district's new Strategic Plan.
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E38 - New Curricula, Graduations on Eid, Time Use Monitoring - April 25 School Board Meeting
See our Show Notes Contact us [email protected]
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MINI: E37 - The Southeast Seattle Move-a-Thon
In this special episode of the Seattle Schools Pass podcast, guests discuss the role of the Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance's (SESSFA) annual Move-a-Thon in supporting 17 of our chronically underfunded schools. The Move-a-Thon raises essential funds for basic needs and educational...
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E36 - Introducing Director Mizrahi
Detailed Show Notes Contact us [email protected] Leave a message speak.seattlehallpass.org Jane Tunks Demel and Christie Robertson talk with Joe Mizrahi, the newly elected Seattle School Board Director for Director District 4. Topics include: Community engagement The SPS budget crisis...
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E35 - Board Additions, Budget Revisions, and Plans to Engage - April 3 School Board Meeting
In Episode 35, we cover the April 3 Seattle School Board meeting and the April 4 swearing-in of the new school board directors Sarah Clark (District 2) and Joe Mizrahi (District 4). We also discuss the budget work session, which included discussions around the 2024-25 school year and the 2025-26...
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E34 - Finalist Forum
The 8 finalists for the Seattle School Board Director positions for Director Districts 2 and 4 participated in a candidate forum moderated by two students, Aayush Muthuswamy and Semai Hagos. The finalists for District 2 are: Carol Thompson Sarah Clark Danielle Gahl Shawn Sullivan The finalists…
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E33 - Restarting Community Engagement
Re: School Board Community Engagement Work Session, March 13, 2024 See our Show Notes. Contact us at [email protected]. Christie & Jane review and discuss major points from the March 13 community engagement work session. Topics covered: The 2024 Strategic Plan, Part 2 of Well-Resourced...
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E32 - Budget Limbo - How Low Can You Go?
Show Notes Contact us: [email protected] Christie & Jane cover the Seattle School Board budget work session from March 20, 2024, where the Superintendent’s team outlined $111 million in budget cuts for the 2024-25 school year. School consolidations, bell times, and other changes for the...
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E31 - Turn Up the Volume on Student Voice, with Chetan Soni of the Washington Youth Alliance
See our Show Notes Email [email protected] with questions, comments, or corrections. Christie and Jane talk with Chetan Soni, an 18-year-old student and activist who has been a strong advocate for youth voice. We discuss mental health, gun violence, climate concerns, college and career...
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E30 - School Board Picks 8 Finalists for 2 Empty Seats
See our Show Notes. Send errata and other notes to [email protected] At the March 13 Special School Board meeting, the 5 sitting directors narrowed down the finalists for Districts 2 and 4. The finalists will participate at a forum at Lincoln High School in Wallingford on March 27, start...
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E29 - How to Pick a School Board Director
See our Show Notes for references. Email [email protected] with suggestions or corrections. Christie and Jane cover the major topics of the March 6, 2024 school board meeting, including: 1) passionate public testimony about school funding allocations and difficulties at Rainier View...
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E28 - 15 Compete for 2 Empty School Board Seats
See our Show Notes. Send errata and other notes to [email protected] In Episode 28 of Seattle Hall Pass, Christie and Jane talk about the 15 applicants vying for two vacant seats on the seven-person Seattle School Board. Christie and Jane also share audio statements from 12 of the 15...
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E27 - "How are the children?" with Director Brandon Hersey
See our Show Notes. Send errata and other notes to [email protected] In Episode 27 of Seattle Hall Pass, Christie and Jane talk to Seattle School Board Director Brandon Hersey about monitoring the progress of SPS students toward the goals of 3rd Grade Reading, 7th Grade Writing, and…
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E26 - February 7 meeting - Two empty chairs, and a lot on the table
Please see our Show Notes. Please send errata or other feedback to [email protected] Christie and Jane discuss the February 7, 2024 Seattle School Board meeting, focusing on the process to fill vacancies following the resignations of two board directors, district efforts related to...
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E25 - Exit Interview with Lisa Rivera
In Episode 25 of Seattle Hall Pass, Christie and Jane interview Lisa Rivera, who served on the board for four years before she resigned on January 30, 2024. Check out the Show Notes.
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E24 - Legislative Talk with Liza Rankin
In this Seattle Hall Pass episode, Christie and Jane interview Liza Rankin, discussing her roles as School Board President and Legislative Liaison. The conversation delves into legislative priorities, with President Rankin providing insights into the legislative process and the importance of...
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E23 - EXTRA: Two Seattle School Board Directors Resign
Episode 23 of Seattle Hall Pass discusses the sudden resignations of School Board directors Vivian Song and Lisa Rivera. The episode delves into the factors leading to their departure, and touches on the significant impact of their exit. The episode provides insights from various stakeholders,...
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E22 - Legislative Update: School Funding, Special Education, and School Lunch
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, Christie and Jane delve into developments shaping K-12 education in the 2024 Washington State Legislative Session. Tune in for a breakdown of these legislative developments and a preview of what to expect in the coming week. Topics covered include special...
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E21 - The 2024 Legislative Session begins
The Washington State legislative session started on Monday, January 8th. Jane and Christie talk through some of what is happening in Olympia that pertains to education. Some topics include: the governor's budget, district funding bills, student mental health, restraint and isolation, special...
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E20 - School Shuffle Stories III - Olympic Hills, Orca, and Leschi
Part III in our three-part series of on-the-ground stories from the "October shuffles" at SPS elementary schools, where teachers are moved between classes and buildings to match enrollment and class ratio requirements. In this episode, we interviewed: Jessica Warner-Grant, a parent at Olympic…
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E19 - School Shuffle Stories II - Adams and Cedar Park
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, we feature the second of a three-part series on the October shuffles at SPS elementary schools. Here, we interviewed parents at Sarah Nau at Cedar Park Elementary in Lake City and Cortny Helmink Adams Elementary in Ballard about how the upheaval affected…
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E18 - School Shuffle Stories I - Dunlap
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, we feature the first of a three-part series on the October shuffles at SPS elementary schools. We interview two parents (Nasirah Salaymane Craig and Alex Wakeman Rouse) and one teacher (Wil Depusoy) from Dunlap Elementary school in Southeast Seattle about how...
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E17 - A conversation with Edmonds education advocates Nancy Katims and Andi Nofziger-Meadows on state funding
In this episode of Seattle Hall Pass, Christie and Jane bring you a conversation with the President of the Edmonds School Board, Nancy Katims, and the President of the Edmonds Teachers Union, Andi Nofziger-Meadows. They organized a Multi-District Letter to State Legislators requesting that 44...
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E16 - Passing of the Gavel
This week we’re reporting on the first meeting of the newly elected School Board, on December 13, 2023. The Board elected a new President, Vice President, and Member at Large. Also, the board voted on the Budget Resolution, in which they authorize the superintendent on the cost-saving measures he...
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E15 - Art's Toolbox, aka The Budget Resolution
This episode of Seattle Hall Pass covers the Budget Resolution that will be voted on by the School Board on December 13. It provides a broad outline of mechanisms the district may explore to address the $105 million budget deficit for the 2024-25 school year. Jane and Christie touch briefly on…
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E14 - The Financial Policy & Exit Interview with Chandra Hampson
Christie and Jane interview outgoing Seattle School Board Director Chandra Hampson at the end of her four-year term. The focus of our conversation is the Financial Policy, co-authored by Hampson, that the Seattle School Board recently passed. We also talk about PTA funding, the belief gap,...
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E13 - Facing Our Student Outcomes
In our latest Seattle Hall Pass episode, we're confronting a critical issue: the focus on kids furthest from educational justice is so far not bearing fruit. More kids than ever are falling below proficiency for math and reading - goals set by the Seattle School Board as part of Student Outcomes...
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E12 - EXTRA: The Superintendent's Tightrope
This episode of Seattle Hall Pass has some breaking news — we have a preview of the fiscal stabilization plan to be presented at the School Board Meeting on Wednesday, November 15, that was sent to us by an anonymous source. This plan maps how the superintendent is advising that the district…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast with news and conversations about Seattle Public Schools.
HOSTED BY
Christie Robertson, Jane Tunks Demel, Jasmine Pulido
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Seattle Hall Pass have?
Seattle Hall Pass currently has 61 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Seattle Hall Pass about?
A podcast with news and conversations about Seattle Public Schools.
How often does Seattle Hall Pass release new episodes?
Seattle Hall Pass has 61 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Seattle Hall Pass?
You can listen to Seattle Hall Pass on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Seattle Hall Pass?
Seattle Hall Pass is created and hosted by Christie Robertson, Jane Tunks Demel, Jasmine Pulido.
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