Back-to-School Update

Happy back-to-school, everyone! Here's a brief update, with more details to come soon.

Communicate Your Needs for the JAMS Interim Plan -- ASAP!
The JAMS Interim Plan, covering school years 2014-15 and 2015-16, will be developed as part of the Growth Boundaries Revision Process going on right now. SPS is seeking input from the community for the Growth Boundaries process. The data collected and decisions made will determine, among other things, whether, how, and for how long JAMS and the K-8 will share space in the Jane Addams building.

It's so important for potential JAMS families to communicate what they expect from their kids' middle school experience, particularly during the interim years (2014-16).  Please share your thoughts and your family's needs with SPS by sending an email to growthboundaries@seattleschools.org and to the School Board Directors*. If you are the parent of a current 6th grader who chose the K-8 for your child's 6th grade year, it would be good to give the district feedback about whether you intend for your child to remain at the Jane Addams building with JAMS or move with the K-8 if they are moved to an interim location.

There is a School Board work session on Growth Boundaries scheduled for Thursday, September 17th, just a week away.  It's best to get your comments in to SPS staff and the Board Members well before this work session.

Our local Growth Boundaries meeting will be September 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at Nathan Hale High School Commons. Please come and participate!

* Email addresses of Seattle School Board Directors:
sharon.peaslee@seattleschools.org, sherry.carr@seattleschools.org,
harium.martin-morris@seattleschools.org, michael.debell@seattleschools.org,
kay.smithblum@seattleschools.org, martha.mclaren@seattleschools.org, betty.patu@seattleschools.org

Planning Principal Chosen to Lead JAMS
Over the summer, Paula Montgomery was chosen as the new Planning Principal for JAMS. In this position, she will be instrumental in planning JAMS and will be the school's principal for at least the 2014-2015 school year.  We look forward to getting to know Ms. Montgomery and hope to help you get to know her, too.

The Design Team is Working on JAMS
The Jane Addams Middle School Design Team (JAMS SDAT) was formed and got to work this summer. The Design Team includes JAMS Planning Principal Paula Montgomery, parents from potential JAMS feeder schools, Eckstein Middle School staff, Nathan Hale High School staff, Executive Director of Schools (NE) Kim Whitworth, Matt Christensen from Hutteball and Oremus Architecture, and SPS Project Manager Scott Hogman. There should be a public meeting sometime this fall.

Architectural Design is Under Way
The school district has chosen the architecture firm of Hutteball and Oremus to repurpose the Jane Addams building to house JAMS, and it appears a contract was executed over the summer.  More details to come!