Seattle Student Union School Board Endorsements
The Seattle Student Union puts up only two names in two races: Christie Robertson in District 3 and Gina Topp in District 6.
I will inquire about the other two races but just to say, the other two races are the only ones with incumbents running.
They also put the results of their questionnaire. Highlights from each candidate's answers.
Liza Rankin
- Says she has no campaign manager but is using NWP Consulting (see Christian Sinderman)
- Why are you running? (partial) -
We also face increased attacks on public schools, boards, curriculum, students, and staff across the country, and we need board directors who know our communities, our schools, and have institutional and historical knowledge of SPS and proven effectiveness in governance, to continue our progress in SPS policy and practice for equitable outcomes for students.
That's some word salad that I'm sure these high school student appreciate.
-On top policy issues
District “dysfunction” can be traced to a lack of clarity in roles and responsibility of the board vs the superintendent and staff, and a policy manual that supports the board, staff, and community in clarifying the “who” “what” and “how” of district and school operations is critical to district and school improvement, and to creating the conditions within which equitable progress can be made for students across the system.
That's yet another great word salad.
Her other top issue?
Within that, priorities include developing a comprehensive student health and well-being policy that provides clear direction to the superintendent about values and expectations of the district under which specific issue-related policies would fall, a policy for climate responsibility based on three existing board resolutions for clean energy and environmental stewardship, and amendments to policy on curriculum to direct a regular review and updating of district-adopted curriculum that centers on a framework of ethnic studies and student and educator voice, and doesn’t allow budget for updating curriculum to be diverted to other expenses.
1) The Board has a resolution on climate responsibility and ALL the BEX projects follow that.
2) She wants curriculum - all of it? - tied to ethnic studies?
3) That last one is within her power - you veto a budget that has taken curriculum dollars for "other expenses."
And AGAIN, she puts down OLD endorsements from 2019. So very weird and disingenuous.
They ask about a 'full budgetary audit" and she claims it's all there in public. Detailed spending is NOT and the number of times that several board directors have asked for SPECIFIC numbers on Special Education spending is getting large.
Rankin is the only candidate that won't commit to this.
She wants "a forensic accounting audit" of...all of our schools. This is data that she should be able to get from district staff except wait a minute, they changed the relationship with the superintendent so the Board can only ask "clarifying questions."
But she's aiming at PTA funding here.
Debbie Carlsen
- John Wyble, Win Power Strategies is her consultant.
- I’ve lived in Seattle for 27 years and over the past 15 years, I served on the Best Start for Kids Advisory Board, as Executive Director of an LGBTQ+ nonprofit, as an Interim Policy Director for NAMI Washington which is (National Alliance on Mental Illness), and as Mobilization contractor for Children’s Alliance. I was a community organizer for Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 8 and currently, I am an early learning educator. As Olympic Hills PTA Advocacy Chair, I have a firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities in our schools.
1. Ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging in their school. That no matter what your identity is, students can thrive and feel safe while gaining a high-quality education;
2. Bringing more transparency back in the budget and policy development process.
- Also committed to a full budgetary audit
I think I was most interested in running this time because our current BOD is still moving forward as if we did not go through a pandemic. We are seeing increasing rates in SpEd and declining enrollment. I think we need a board that will pause the construction and demolition of communities and focus on the needs of our student.
It is indeed odd that this district just moved on from the pandemic without almost any review.
Christie Robertson
- She also has no campaign manager but is using Adam Tradii, consultant.
1) Putting inclusion at the center - we need to move away from punitive discipline that excludes and
traumatizes kids and youth and toward a welcoming and restorative approach that values the contributions
of every single individual.
2) Nothing About Us Without Us - Those impacted by decisions need to be involved in the process. For
education, that's teachers, students, and families.
- She says she is committed to "a full budgetary audit of SPS" with results made public.
- Asked about administrative costs, she answered:
Administrative salaries are very high. One thing I want to understand is why there is so much shuffling of people between jobs in central office and so much turnover every year. How do we get administrators who are dedicated to an area, such as mental health or special education and develop a vision and an expertise in that area?
Evan Briggs
- No campaign manager but yes, Upper Left Strategies is the consulting firm she is using.
- She says she's running partially because of "a community conversation around parent raised funds and their role in perpetuating the opportunity gap in SPS..." But she doesn't say PTA. Hmmm.
- Another vote for the budgetary audit of SPS.
- On administrative spending:
Yes. I believe at the district level (central office) we are overspending.
Seattle Public Schools faces a staggering $131 million budget shortfall for the 2023-2024 school year. The board is discussing cutting buses and music programs, laying off teachers, and even closing schools. It’s clear we need experienced leaders prepared to tackle these issues head-on with innovative solutions and an unwavering commitment to the students.
1) Ensuring equity in education for all students, regardless of their background, so that every child has the opportunity to succeed;
2) Cultivating safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments, where every student feels valued and respected;
3) Empowering educators through comprehensive support and fostering their professional growth, recognizing their critical role in shaping our children's future;
4) Engaging parents, students, and communities to create a collaborative educational system that restores confidence in the governance of our district, and reflects the diverse needs and perspectives of our city.
Lisa Rivera Smith
- No campaign manager or consultant
- She says her experience that is "relevant to the role" is that she's been a director. I think they meant outside of that.
- Just like in her first election (where she was the only candidate), she seems relaxed enough to wait until the general election to campaign. On endorsements:
Only one so far (36th District Democrats), because my election is not on the Primary ballot, and I am not meeting with many leaders and orgs til later in the campaign season.
Not only do I believe it, but our Superintendent believes it, as he has directed his staff to make significant cuts across the board from each administrative department, in an effort to present a balanced 2023-24 budget for our approval next month. While I believe these cuts are needed, I am also aware that the cuts need to be made very carefully, in order to maintain the vital services and supports, such as community partnership and engagement.
Comments
Top secret
W"ithin that, priorities include developing a comprehensive student health and well-being policy that provides clear direction to the superintendent about values and expectations of the district under which specific issue-related policies would fall, "
Cool, but the district will face another $100M shortfall next year.