Seattle School Board Candidate, Maryanne Wood

 I was finally able to connect Maryanne Wood, one of the two candidates in District 6, to fill the seat of departing director, Leslie Harris. I asked her the same questions as the other candidates I interviewed. Here's a link to her webpage.

Why are you running?

I am running because I don't want schools closed. She said she became "embroiled" in the Alki situation when she realized that the district wanted a large school with no parking and zoning departures had been requested using COVID-era data. She says she is still mystified why Alki Elementary was chosen to be enlarged and not Lafayette or Schmitz Park. 

Editor's note: it sure would be great if the district actually explained to voters why they selected the sites that they do. That the Board doesn't press for this transparency around millions of taxpayer dollars seems odd.

Wood said she had gone to all of the "well-resourced meetings" which I found impressive and shows a willingness to meet parents in all corners of the district. (She stated that she listened and did not participate in table discussions because she wanted parents to speak.) 

What skill set will you bring to the Board?

She simply said, "oversight of the district." She said she did not believe the current Board is doing the oversight needed. She mentioned that Director Harris had fumed because Harris only learned about the district going after Wood and the other three Alki area residents at a supermarket. 

Wood expressed puzzlement at the district's actions against the four residents and the City, saying that action could further delay the project (which means spending more money on said project). 

Besides the legal obligations of a Board member, what do you think the role of a school board director should be?

Again, she said oversight and that meeting with community regularly is part of that.

She mentioned that she had coffee with Gina Topp, the other D6 candidate, and found her a lovely person. But Wood was puzzled that Topp didn't go to the sole community meeting about Alki Elementary that was held in May. Wood says that Topp said she couldn't run for school board and be trying to run it. 

What are three things. you think need to change in SPS?

1) Better communication to families and teachers

2) Transparency on behind the scenes actions of staff AND the need for the Board to know what is happening

3) No closing schools

Do you know what SOFG (Student Outcome Focused Governance) is?

 She said yes but had nothing to add.

What is your association with SPS? 

Wood said that because her family is Catholic, they sent all five of their children to Catholic schools. She mentioned that she has a special needs granddaughter. She is a long-time resident of West Seattle.

Have you met the Superintendent?

She said she has many times as well as current Board members. She mentioned having dinner via a mutual friend with Director Sarju that lasted nearly six hours. She said she feels if he is given a chance, he can move the district forward but it has to be done transparently.

What do you think a well-resourced school is?

She said she didn't have ideas right now but there are things that were available in the past that should be put back like music and arts and after school care. 

I then asked her basic questions about SPS. She didn't know what the Operations budget is, was way over for enrollment (87,000 versus just under 50,000), she knew there were about 100 schools and did not know the minority enrollment in SPS.