It's Sarah Clark for D2 and Joe Mizrahi for D4 to fill seats on the Seattle School Board
Per usual, this Special meeting did not start on-time. The number of times any given Board meeting has not started on time - within 5 minutes of stated time - grows and grows. I find it disrespectful.
So I missed that they are discussing the candidates in Executive Session and THEN voting at the Board meeting. I'm not sure that was made clear. So we don't get to hear any of their reasoning for their choice.
President Liza Rankin ends Special Meeting at 4:27 pm.
Board Meeting - also not starting on-time.
I think when directors are not present there should be an explanation (travel, ill, etc) because otherwise it looks like they can't be bothered to attend the business meeting of their group. And, given they are down to 1-2 Board meetings per month, why not?
President Liza Rankin starts the Board meeting at 4:39 pm. So that Special Meeting "when longer than scheduled." Hmmm. Couldn't find agreement on new members?
Superintendent Comments
Work Session on Budget during this meeting. The link is in the agenda.
He also mentioned an encampment at Garfield Community Center's tennis court and said they are working with City official to ensure student safety.
No student board members present tonight.
Board Comments
They decide to push those off until later. They will do the progress monitoring listed on the agenda later and will have the work session as scheduled.
Public Testimony
Jessi - Garfield Foreign languages. Increased support for world languages throughout district. Their program is being cut for the third year in a row. Lost Japanese and may lose French. Language IAs decided at beginning of year doesn't work. We welcomed 69 new multilingual students just today. Several speakers were near tears over this situation (plus living situation needs).
This was a theme tonight.
Chris Jackins - Personnel report should be read for early warnings for problems at schools, see Rainier View Elementary. He notes issues at Kimball Elementary where their principal is leaving. Doesn't want to see schools closed.
Carol - Safety questions. Alki elementary rebuild, 542 plus pre-K, how to pick up/drop-off with narrow streets. Second, assaults by students/teachers, standard protocol for these kinds of issues?
Consent agenda passed.
Vote for new Board directors.
Minimum of four votes for election. Hersey has appeared in person.
Director Evan Briggs jumps in and ask for yet ANOTHER Executive Session. They adjourn for 15 minutes. Clearly something is up.
Back at 5:31 pm.
Process, first nominations, don't have to have a second. After all nominations, will close and then discussion/comments. Vote in order of nominations made. Conclude when one candidate gets 4 or more votes. If not four votes, candidate with lowest number of votes get dropped and revote.
Nominations.
Sarju says they are confused a bit. Hersey says a) wealth of knowledge and aptitude here. B) excited about two people - Clark and Sullivan. Sarju says she had two people as well but said it wasn't Hersey's. Sarju thought it good that Clark talked about being a student of color and Sarju said that is good to have on the Board.
I am dumbfounded that Carol Thompson got no nomination.
Hersey said none of the Board went through SPS. Talking about Clark when Sullivan was his nomination. "Not important of the inner workings of district but balance on what makes us all individuals and really gives us aptitude and hunger for the work. "
Hersey - Sullivan's ability to approach problems and being able to articulate problems. Sullivan's understanding of the simple issue of budgeting - revenue and costs - is a good thing. Communicating that simply is good for a complex topic.
Rankin is stumbling all over the place and is now explaining their Board process. Claimed they got feedback and wanted to acknowledge that and appreciate it. Seats will be on ballot in Fall 2025. She's still talking about it being short-term. I cannot believe how she is dragging this out. Thanks other candidates.
Rankin exhausts me.
D2
Danielle Gahl -
Carol Thompson -
Sarah Clark - Sarju nominates.
Shawn Sullivan - Hersey nominates
Vote:
Clark - Briggs, Hersey, Sarju, Topp, Rankin. Clark wins.
D4
Laura Marie Rivera - Hersey nominates
Gabby Gonzalez - Briggs nominates
Joe Mizrahi - Topp nominates
Rachelle Olden -
Discussion:
Topp believes that Mizrahi can hit the ground running, having serves on boards and connection to the community.Understands targeted universalism.
Hersey goes on about being able to hit the ground running. Wanted to talk about both when thinking about our Strategic Plan and those that give representation. He says bringing people to the Board is "the whole package." I think Hersey gave him nomination to be fair. It's seems clear it's going to be Mizrahi. Let's see.
Briggs - would be jazzed to work with any of the 8 candidates and it's a "tragedy" to narrow it to 2. Impressed with Gonzalez' answers and being a Spanish speaker.
Vote:
Mizrahi - Topp, Briggs, Hersey, Sarju, Rankin (Sarju asked, "Is it Joe?" and I don't think she was joking.)
Comments
Next up - closing schools!
Rankin is awful. She speaks in veiled language and goes on and on. It’s not accessible to her constituents or beneficial to the people tuning in, as much as she likes a policy diet and streamlining process.
LOL
Mitzrahi worked to get an "uncommitted vote" on the ballot for Biden. I have to wonder how his personality type will work out for the board.
Mizrahi is also embedded with the BDS movement. Should be some great theatrics while Rome burns.
---Not LOLing
The National Black Lives Matter at Schools group tried to bring in anti-semitic curriculum during BLM at School Week. Mizrahi's take will be interesting.