October 29, 2025 Board Special Meeting on Superintendent Search

 I might as well live blog it because I expect most of it to be in Executive Session. 

Listening into the show before the meeting, I learned that they have a new book on SPS buildings over SPS' 162 years, Building for Learning. The first book was created 24 years ago and I have a copy of that. I'll have to find out about getting the new one. I can also ask if it will be placed in any Seattle Public Libraries. 

Meeting started at 4:32. President Gina Topp and Directors Joe Mizrahi and Liza Rankin are on the dais. Briggs, Clark, Hersey are virtual. Unclear where Sarju is. 

Congratulations were given to Director Brandon Hersey on becoming a father! He says the next Board, he'll bring his son. 

Topp talked about the process for the meeting, going into Executive Session to discuss the two finalists. She said they would refer to candidates only by number. She said she thought the session will be for one hour so back at about 5:40 pm.

The announcement on who it is will be on Wednesday, November 5th.

This morning they heard from SEA on the written questions they submitted to the candidates and their answers. 

It will be interesting to see when the announcement is made when we might see the candidate start work. 

UPDATE:

The Board came back into session at 5:25 pm.

Superintendent Fred Podesta is now present as is Director Michelle Sarju. Unclear to me why Podesta is there. 

Next meeting on November 5th, a BAR for preferred candidate and contract negotiations will come from President Topp. That's when we will hear the preferred candidate's name. She seems excited but the other directors seem rather sober. 

Not doing a vote right now but she wants discussion from other directors about the candidates. 

- Mizrahi said we used candidate profile as through line for questions. 

Preference is for candidate 7. He thinks both candidates have experience. Equity-driven as well for both. Financial and operational, he thinks 7 was more specific. On authentic speaking, he thinks this candidate might be blunt but in a good way. 

- Clark stated she agreed with Mizrahi. Glad for high-quality candidates with depth of experience. She, too, likes Candidate 7 over Candidate 8. For her, it's budgeting expertise and short-term options named. Also, really appreciated how Candidate 7 has held several different leadership positions. 

- Hersey said he was taken with both candidates. I really look at this district in terms of leadership needs in phases. And now we are in a phase of growth and change. He worries about this phase. His preference for Candidate 7 has "given me a level of solace" that he hasn't felt. He feels excited and energized. He alluded to moving on to "greener pastures." He thinks the candidate has "financial acumen." 

- Rankin stated that first off, it has been a rough time for her as director and SPS parent. (And I will say, not unkindly, she does look very tired.) She said there is a "deny, delay, defend culture in SPS." "It's really easy to act like it's normal and it isn't." Feels punched down. 

Felt all the eight candidates were focused on students. She is excited that the two finalists were just great. She also said Candidate 7 is her choice. She thanked Topp for her service as Board president. 

- Briggs is in a hallway somewhere. Not much more to say but to echo a few things. Gratitude to two finalists for restoring "hope and faith" for real change in this district. Preference for Candidate 7 and a hard choice because that person is outstanding. Also thanked Topp for her extra work. "We are expected to do this work in the margins of our lives and we are unpaid." 

- Yoon (student director) says both candidates were outstanding. 

And she did slip and say "he." So Candidate 7 likely a man. She said this person was coming in with "a mindset to learn from others." 

- Mizrahi wanted to also say thanks to PASS and SEA for working with the confidential process. 

- Topp stated a preference for Candidate 7 but all interviews were impressive. Good communicator being "transparent and honest." "A visionary and change maker as well as bold and innovated."

- For some reason Sarju wanted to go last. SNL and Kate McKinnon skit was Rafferty. Always went last and started with similar concept but different execution. She is going to read her comments and she says she wrote it awhile back. 

"I am eggshell optimistic." She believes it will be a good person and that person needs good support and not "performative politics." 

States the Board is responsible for the superintendent churn. Had a quiet rant about unearned privilege and politics and liars. Again, cryptic thoughts that are hard to decipher. 

The Board needs to show the next leader that we are all voices, not some voices. And then "the disappearing Black board member" is a national trend. We see who is and isn't about kids. "If you come for ego, noise or power, wrong place for you and you are not for kids."

Acknowledged Topp and "to some people I'm different, in four years I did not assimilate. I promised to not cross the line to Topp and I didn't." (Hmmm)

She would not send her grandchild to SPS right now because the district doesn't care about that child. 

She pivoted back to the topic saying both candidates have "superpowers." 

Thinks parents will be "hipiddy dippidy" happy. 

Rambling on about writing a play with Rankin? Podesta as "best bureaucrat ever."

I can't wait to hear her farewell speech at her last Board meeting. This one is quite the thing to hear. 

She said "Let's go, Seattle" and yet it is the Board's decision.

Topp said that Candidate 7 will be in the BAR and that candidate will be invited to the November 5th meeting. She seems positively giddy. 

She then ended the meeting.