School Board Candidate web sites
District 1, Far north Seattle:
Peter Maier
Sally Soriano, incumbent
District 2: Around Greenlake
Darlene Flynn, incumbent (has yet to announce if she is running for re-election)
Lisa Stuebing website
Sherry Carr website
District 3: Northeast Seattle
Brita Butler-Wall, incumbent (has yet to announce if she is running for re-election)
Harium Martin-Morris website
District 6: West Seattle
Steve Sundquist
(the incumbent in District VI, Irene Stewart, has announced that she will not run for re-election)
I hope to update this page as names and web sites are added.
Peter Maier
Sally Soriano, incumbent
District 2: Around Greenlake
Darlene Flynn, incumbent (has yet to announce if she is running for re-election)
Lisa Stuebing website
Sherry Carr website
District 3: Northeast Seattle
Brita Butler-Wall, incumbent (has yet to announce if she is running for re-election)
Harium Martin-Morris website
District 6: West Seattle
Steve Sundquist
(the incumbent in District VI, Irene Stewart, has announced that she will not run for re-election)
I hope to update this page as names and web sites are added.
Comments
On the home page of her web site, Sherry Carr writes:
"I’m Sherry Carr, and I’m running for a seat on the Seattle School Board (District II). Here’s why:
Seattle can and must provide a quality education for every child. How can an affluent and forward-looking city like ours do any less? Having grown up in the region, and now raising two children here in the city, I want all of Seattle’s kids to have the chance at excellence they deserve. I know you do, too. The situation is urgent, and the time is now. Elections are opportunities for change.
In many ways, I feel that I’ve been preparing for this position my entire adult life. My background—as finance manager for Boeing and as involved parent, longtime PTA leader, and President of the Seattle Council PTSA—has given me over 20 years of leadership experience in both the corporate setting and the education community. I’m familiar with the issues, ready for the challenge, and eager to restore confidence in our city’s schools.
The path to a brighter future for our schools starts right here, right now, in our own living rooms and kitchens, on our phones and at our computers. I need your help to get elected – first in August and then again in November. I hope I can count on you.
I thank you in advance—from the bottom of my heart—for whatever you can do.
Believe me, I do know the path ahead won’t be easy. Campaigning is hard work, and then when you win, change is difficult. But change is what it’s all about, and I’m willing to work as hard for it as I’ve ever worked for anything. What’s more important than giving our kids what they need to succeed? I hope you’ll join me.
Sherry Carr"
There is no more specific information on the site.
Her web site provides an address and phone number, but not an email address.
I'll write to her and ask for the missing details.
1) She says that she is familiar with the issues. What, in her opinion, are the issues?
2) She writes about the path to a brighter future for our schools. What is that path?
3) She writes that we need change. What change does she think our schools need?
4) She writes that she is willing to work hard for change. What work will she do?
5) The incumbent in District II is Darlene Flynn. Does she think that Director Flynn is unfamiliar with the issues, doesn't recognize the path to a brighter future, or isn't working hard for change? What does Ms Carr think is wrong with Director Flynn?
On his web site, Mr. Martin-Morris writes:
"Why am I running?
Because I have a passion for serving to improve public education. Seattle Schools students and teachers have potential to do wonderful things."
So I wrote to him and asked:
How would you improve public education as a school board director?
What is obstructing students and teachers from realizing their potential, how, as a school board director, would you remove those obstructions, and what wonderful things would the students and teachers do if un-obstructed?
A number of issues are facing Seattle Public Schools. The Board of Directors will be making decisions about assignment policy, transportation policy, curriculum, and closures. The Superintendent will be making decisions, independent of the Board, on program placement, curriculum, community engagement, and accountability. It would be helpful to know your positions on these issues and others.
More than that, it would be encouraging to know that you are willing to discuss the issues with members of the community.
www.petermaierforschoolboard.com
1) He believes that it is important to hear from the community and to review data before making any policy decisions.
2) He is a proponent of having high school students use METRO. He reports that participation in after school clubs is up significantly. He believes it promote use of public transportation. He believes that it integrates students into the community.
3) He would like to re-frame the achievement gap from being about race to being about economic status.
4) He says that the student assignment policy and practice is driving families away from public education.
5) He wants to review the structure and location of middle schools to more closely match needs.
I look forward to each of these ideas getting a discussion, and I look forward to what else he will put on his web pages.
Peter Maier's web site says:
"The current School Board is off course and too often unfocused. I will bring three essential qualities to a new Board:
» Leadership.
The School Board's role is to set policy in a steady and consistent manner - insisting that every student has an opportunity to be what she or he wants to be.
» Responsibility.
Once policies are set, the Board must take responsibility to see those policies are carried out by the District staff and in the schools across the city.
» Accountability.
Our District faces long-term financial problems. The Board must hold the District accountable for the funds being spent, and the Board must engage with the community, the Governor and the Legislature in pushing for solutions.
Is Mr. Maier suggesting that the current School Board is not setting policy in a steady and consistent manner? Have they been self-contradictory?
How does Mr. Maier propose that the School Board take responsibility to see that policies are fulfilled? Isn't that the Superintendent's job? Is this micromanagement? What if the policies are not being followed? Then what?
I'm surprised that Mr. Maier thinks that the Board should hold the District accountable for spending. How are they going to do that? Is he ready to vote no on a Warrants report? 80% of the District's spending is salaries, which are NOT approved by the Board. In fact, the only part of the budget that is subject to a vote of the Board is the total annual expenditures for each of the four funds. The Board does not vote on line items in the budget.
It is strange to read Mr. Maier writing about Board control of spending and engaging the community about spending when he oppposed discussion of the spending priorities for BEX III. Or do I misremember that?
Again, I will withhold judgment on Mr. Maier until I hear him speak at forums or read more about him but, on the surface, he will align with staff.