Hearing Today on Recall of Seattle School Board President

Update:

The recall hearing failed for the plaintiffs. From what I have been told, the judge just didn't think Rankin alone could be blamed for some things. 

However, some interesting facts did come out. Like:

- It was made clear that she did dismantle some Board oversight via ending committees but the judge said there was no law for committees. (He's wrong - the law says districts have to have a capital oversight committee and an audit committee. He may have stated that but it wasn't reported to me.)

- Texts are part of FOIA.

- As I have been trying to verify, it  came out that Rankin allowed SOFG coach, AJ Crabill, to sit in an Executive Committee meeting to coach the board. He had NOTHING to do with whatever the subject was and yet, there he was. This should make you very nervous that he has such sway over Rankin. I believe there are minutes of Executive Committee meetings but they are not accessible to the public. 

Apparently Crabill's consulting contract allows him to be there. Astonishing. 

-Rankin tried to claim she was being harassed by the parent plaintiffs (and "I was twice elected.") She didn't say that but that was what her lawyer said. What the judge said is that she is an elected official and subject to recall. 

- She tried to claim that it was a different president who brought in SOFG while she was on the board. Sure, and that would be her bestie, Chandra Hampson, who apparently is now a consultant in the district on SOFG. I'll bet people duck into their offices when she walks down the halls. And, that there are two other SCPTSA members - who spend SCPTSA dollars to become SOFG trainers - on the SPS payroll as well.

And, of course, if she didn't like SOFG, as president, she could have moved to end it. But she hasn't. 

- The judge said it wasn't fair to hold her personally accountable for lack of educational outcomes. Well, she's one of seven that yes, voters can hold personally accountable for not managing the superintendent to better student outcomes. 

Also, I am hearing rumors that Crabill is trying to get rid of Superintendent Brent Jones. 

We also need a post on the NEXT Board president who I would assume is not Rankin. Hopefully. I am hearing that Rankin spends an inordinate amount of time at JSCEE trying to guide SOFG use. 

At some point, my public disclosure requests will come and I'll bet the information will continue to be disappointing. 

End of update

At 1:30 pm today in King County Superior Court, Judge Michael Scott will hear arguments in the attempt to recall Seattle School Board president Liza Rankin. Info on the issues of this case here. Apparently there are hundreds of pages of pleadings. 

Judge Scott may or may not issue a ruling today that the plaintiffs can go forward with their petition.  I'll put an update here after the hearing. 

Rankin seems to think she just has to explain that all she does as president is set and run meetings. That's simply not so. 

And, under SOFG, she has taken her power as president to a new level. For example, former Board president Leslie Harris used to give her president comments or intro a BAR and then turn to colleagues and say, "Issues, concerns, comments?" It is quite clear that some edict has come from Rankin because to see the other six remain largely silent for the entire meeting is quite odd. 

Her lawyers are being paid by the district as approved by SPS legal counsel and the board. The Times says it will probably cost the district $25K.

According to Ballotpedia:

She won re-election to a four-year term on the board on November 7, 2023, defeating one opponent in the general election with 63% of the vote.

 To get the recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures equal to 25% or 35% of the votes cast for the office at the last election, depending on the office type. Signatures must be collected within 180 days.

If a King County Superior Court judge approves the recall petition for circulation, recall supporters will have to collect 48,659 signatures to put the recall on the ballot.

That is a lot of signatures.

Also from Ballotpedia:

Ballotpedia has tracked 38 school board recall efforts against 79 board members in 2024. A recall election against one board member is being held on December 17, 2024. Earlier recall elections in 2024 removed 11 members from office and retained seven members in office. 

The chart below details the status of 2024 recall efforts by individual school board member.