Is There NO One Who Truly Wants to Serve on the Seattle School Board?

UPDATE:

Just heard from President Topp who says, yes, she is applying for an open seat in the legislature but she plans on keeping her Board seat. (Yes, my jaw did drop.)

She says legally it is possible but she is consulting with legal sources to make sure she doesn't tread wrongly in either direction. 

She believes that acting in both roles will strengthen her ability to help in both roles.

end of update

 

Thanks to reader, Outsider, we learned that newly elected School Board president, Gina Topp, an appointee, has now put herself on the list to fill an empty legislative spot in SW King County. I note that another candidate, Stephanie Tidholm, is also on a school board, this one in Highline.

This from the West Seattle Blog:

Five elected officials were among the eight people who participated in an online forum this morning meant to help the 34th District Democrats choose nominees for one, possibly two appointments to state legislative seats.

It’s part of the process launched because Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson chose 34th District State Sen. Joe Nguyễn to become director of the state Commerce Department. The 34th DDs, King County Democrats, and King County Council all have roles in the fast-moving process, which is expected to end with county councilmembers making appointment(s) in a little over two weeks.

The “one or two” is because 34th District Position 1 State Rep. Emily Alvarado is seeking to succeed Nguyễn, so if she does, her State House seat will have to be filled too. She was the only would-be senator to participate this morning. The four elected officials hoping to be her potential successor are King Conservation District Supervisor Csenka Favorini-Csorba, Seattle School Board president Gina Topp, Burien City Councilmember Sarah Moore, and Highline School Board vice president Stephanie Tidholm. The other three candidates participating in the forum – which wasn’t mandatory, so others might surface – were Vashon-residing assistant state Attorney General Ben Carr, West Seattle-residing Mayor’s Office policy/labor adviser Brianna Thomas, and West Seattle-residing software engineer Geoffrey Wukelic.

 I have an email out to Topp to get a statement but here was her opening statement at this meeting:

She notes that in addition to being the newly elected Seattle school-board president, she’s also a former 34th DDs chair, a lawyer, and a mom. “The main reason I am running … this district is our home, one of the best places in the state to raise a family” but costs are skyrocketing. “I’ve never been one to sit back and just hope for change” – she takes action instead. She cited her family’s purchase of “the first restaurant (her daughter) ever went to,” after learning it would close without new ownership (though she didn’t say its name, the restaurant is Mission Cantina in The Admiral District).” Topp also said other situations she plans to tackle head-on include the “upside-down tax system … and the return of a horrible man to the White House.”

#1 – How do they believe their background and qualifications distinguish them from others?

TOPP: This would brings together her policy experience, hands-on governance experience, and deep connection to the community. In the Legislature, she would fight for school funding, but she also has experience with other areas such as justice and environment in her work in County Executive Dow Constantine’s office. Her bottom line, “I’m living the challenges of this district every single day.”

I believe she means the legislative district, not the school district. 

 

#2 – Since voters will consider these position(s) later this year, why seek this now rather than just waiting to file for the official elections?

TOPP: Washington public schools are facing an unprecedented financial crisis now that threatens a million students in the state, and decisions that are made in this session will determine their future – action needs to be taken. Plus, she adds, “We have an opportunity to finally do something about our upside-down tax system.” She says this session represents a moment in time when a door is opened and action is possible. 

I would guess from this answer that she thinks she can do more for the district as a legislator than a board director. However, from where the district and Board sit today, I think she's more valuable on the Board. But that's not my decision to make. Her leaving would mean MORE upheaval and the possibility of Liza Rankin taking back over as president. 

#3 – What are their top priorities, and what can be accomplished?

TOPP: Education and its funding are a top area but not the only challenge. She says she’s spoken with many 34th Precinct Committee Officers in the past two weeks, and “the theme that has run through most of these conversations is affordability” so her priority is “how do we ensure that everyone has the right to live, work, and contribute to this community?” She also notes the importance of a better transportation structure including ferries.

 

#4 – What committee appointments will they pursue?

TOPP: Transportation, Education, Local Government.

 

#5 – Is there a particular piece of legislation in which they’re interested?

TOPP: Housing: rent increases, transit oriented development; health care (Keep Our Care Act).

 

#6: How does Washington keep leading the nation, with the changes ahead?

TOPP: With a hostile federal administration, “we have to work to protect our communities and show the country what is possible when we invest in .. our students, housing, good jobs, affordable child care, K-12 and higher education.” But this state lags behind “most other states,” she says, in its tax system – “people making the least pay 15 percent of their income in local and state taxes, and people making the most pay 3 percent.”

 

Closing Statement:

TOPP: “The main reason I’m running is … this district is our home but it’s becoming increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible … I’ve never been one to sit back” so she’s stepping up now, wants to prioritize affordable housing, says everyone needs to feel like they belong, whether starting a family or retiring (and beyond). 

I had missed this article in the Times on December 31, 2024 about Topp becoming the new president and challenges for the board/district in the coming year.

In 2025, the district must close an estimated $94 million budget deficit, try to persuade residents to approve two levies in February, set a five-year strategic vision for the system and regain some of the community trust it lost after a bruising monthslong debate over closing schools.

The teachers union contract also expires in August.

And then there is this coming in January:

The administration plans to present preliminary, but not detailed, budget proposals to the School Board in January. These proposals will include a scenario that does not rely on additional state funds.

And Topp put this out there:

The board has also asked the administration to show how budget decisions will affect student enrollment, which has declined recently but was higher than projected this year. The budget should also show how spending aligns with the district’s academic goals, Topp said.

“Everything that we are doing should be trying to attract more students to SPS,” Topp said in an interview.

“The more successful we are, the more students will want to come to SPS. Education is the foundation of our democracy, and we want everyone to have that access to opportunity.”

And this:

 

As board president, Topp anticipates spending significant time on community engagement. This is a sore point for many parents who have criticized the district’s engagement and communication efforts.

“The way in which to repair that is to show that we are committed to engaging the folks of our city — the innovation, the smartness, the influence that we have here — in order to solve some of our difficult decisions,” she said.

She said the district will have a chance to demonstrate how it would change its approach as it finalizes a strategic plan to guide it from 2025 to 2030.

 

Some of the comments were interesting:

Better training and education on public finance for school board members and changes to the current funding model to ensure equity are what’s needed for sustainable financial practices and a more equitable funding system.

 

Except if your Board no longer does oversight on the budget.