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Seattle Hall Pass
A podcast with news and conversations about Seattle Public Schools.
Episodes
61 episodes
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 School...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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41:40
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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 s...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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33:11
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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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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43:46
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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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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36:55
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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 fo...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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43:08
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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 mini...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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34:53
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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 contr...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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38:17
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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 S...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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33:57
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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 empha...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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25:04
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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 StoryThe Equity StoryThe Student Story... and how these competing priorities create a ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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42:32
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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 Nic...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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44:43
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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
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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19:32
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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 fundingdual-language immersion principals’ union contracthighly capable services<...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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26:40
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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 incr...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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11:12
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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 closur...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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19:19
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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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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39:13
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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
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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17:09
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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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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34:18
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E42 - School closures: SPS finally engages
See our Show NotesContact us hello@seattlehallpass.orgSchool Closure ...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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37:57
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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...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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14:55
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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'...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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40:59
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E39 - Community Engagement Is Coming, Says Board President Rankin
Show NotesContact UsSchool Board President Liza Rankin shares the Seattl...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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32:48
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E38 - New Curricula, Graduations on Eid, Time Use Monitoring - April 25 School Board Meeting
See our Show NotesContact us hello@seattlehallpass.org
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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21:59
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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 ra...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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8:08
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