School Board Meeting Last Night

I was unable to attend the School Board meeting last night. I'd love to read comments from those of you did.

The Times and the PI had short articles about the School Board meeting:
School Board elects Chow president (PI) and
Chow picked to head Seattle School Board (Times)

Chow's election as School Board President is not a surprise, but I find it depressing. From Chow's recent quotes regarding the Mayor, to her distance from and lack of responsivenss to parents she serves, to her desire to have tightly controlled behavior during School Board meetings, I feel that Chow's election as School Board President signals change in the wrong direction.

Comments

Melissa Westbrook said…
I agree. I had hoped Michael would get the nod. Also, I am surprised Darlene is Vice-President. With Irene, Darlene and Cheryl on the Executive Committee, I'm not sure what to expect but I don't think it's good.

I was talking to someone in Cheryl's district yesterday and asked him why Cheryl causes such visceral reactions from people in her district (something I have noticed from Board meetings and she just hasn't been on the Board that long to evoke that). He said she can be arrogant and imperious to people, had a screaming match with legislator Sharon Timiko after a CAC public hearing and just doesn't answer e-mails from community members. This is from when she was on the City Council on forward. I guess she brought a lot of baggage to the Board.

Also, I did get alerted to the main reason why the Board will not have Rice be interim (unless it was for just 9 months). The Mayor and his minions have pushed so hard that I believe the Board are going to hang on to the one huge power they have; namely, finding and appointing a superintendent. If Rice came in, the election would come and go before the superintendent search and there likely might be a new crop of Board members who would select the superintendent. I'm sure it's the Mayor's fondest wish that a new Board appoint the Superintendent but the old Board is going to deny that wish (in spades). If the Mayor had used his considerable political acumen and gone privately to the Board to make his suggestions, they might have listened. Instead he chose the bully pulpit and backed them into a corner. Bad move.
12/7/06, 9:51 AM
Anonymous said…
It's true - Ms. Chow doesn't answer email very often at all. And she never seems to have an open mind on issues - it's as if she's always made it up in advance. She really plays the I know Best attitude. It's very frustrating, and not what I want in my school board member. Mr. DeBell, in constrast, is a terrific listener, and if he disagrees, will very civily tell you why.
12/7/06, 10:54 AM
Anonymous said…
I'm glad they are trying to control the behavior at the school board meetings. I can't tell you how many parents I talk to who are scared to attend-- which is a shame because everyone should feel safe enough to voice their opinions.
12/10/06, 9:42 AM
Anonymous said…
I'm glad they are trying to control the behavior at the school board meetings. I can't tell you how many parents I talk to who are scared to attend-- which is a shame because everyone should feel safe enough to voice their opinions.
12/10/06, 9:43 AM
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