This and That on Elections and the New Superintendent, November 8, 2025

Lots to talk about so let's go.

First up, a "guest rant" at The Stranger by former Board director, Lisa Rivera. She tells readers how The Stranger got their D2 race pick - Katie Smith - wrong and they should have endorsed Sarah Clark. This was published on Monday, Nov. 3 so it was a really last-minute effort.

Rivera lays out a very good case. But she also throws in a lot of finger-wagging like "representation" (Clark would be the remaining black director) and "she knows the ropes." Frankly, I would take a more qualified candidate than one who just knows the ropes, see Evan Briggs next election cycle.

Would Kathleen Smith “do a fine job” as a school board director, as The Stranger’s luke-warm endorsement stated? Maybe. Heck, I’ll even give it a “probably,” as I believe any number of people would “do a fine job” if given the chance—and the runway. What really matters are the values a director is guided by, and the proficiency to put them into action. So while Smith and Clark might share similar values, we don’t have the luxury of waiting—and hoping—for Smith to learn the ropes in time to make the immediate changes we need to see. The on-ramp to being an effective board director is a long and winding one, and while Smith gets up to speed, our schools and students will continue to languish in the absence of that leadership. We know Sarah can do the job, because she already is, and she’s doing better than “fine,” she’s doing spectacularly.

I do like Director Clark. But when I see her miss what is the second-most important vote a board director can take, I am sorely disappointed. That was the vote to select Ben Shuldiner as the next superintendent and for the Board to enter into negotiations with him. (The most important vote after that work is to vote him in as superintendent.) There was no explanation given by President Topp and as the roll call was taken and then the negotiation vote was taken, it appeared that Topp thought Clark would be there.

From looking at the latest King County Elections data, the gap between Clark and Smith has not budged. To note, every single Board race had under one percent voting for a write-in candidate. So no race lived or died on that voting.

The Times has an editorial AND an article on Ben Shuldiner. 

These are early days yet. But the election of a new school board majority — and the work of the current board to select a promising new superintendent — suggest the dawn of revitalized promise.

Shuldiner appears unfazed by these hurdles, affecting a New Yorker’s tough-minded willingness to roll up his sleeves and get to work.

The editorial also takes a dig at SOFG:

This week, voters strengthened that team by reelecting Joe Mizrahi and Vivian Song to seats on the board and adding Jen LaVallee. All have made clear their distaste for Student Outcomes Focused Governance, the hands-off management model that’s shaped policies, finances and oversight in Seattle for the past four years — with dispiriting results.

What we learn from the first article is that Schuldiner has a relative here as well as "good friends." This is great because it gives him more roots. He also said:

“When I go somewhere I like to stay. If I’m going to move across the country, this is a place I want to be, I want to live here, I want to raise a family,” Shuldiner said. “This is going to be my district for a long, long time.”

But he also said this:

Politically, “I’m pretty clearly on the left-hand side of the spectrum,” Shuldiner said. “The idea that I could actually say the word ‘equity’ and not get attacked for that, at least not by everybody, is really important to me.”

I don't know that was the wisest thing to say but it may be him being honest. 

He also said:

Shuldiner said he has already gone through SPS’ budget “with a fine-tooth comb,” and identified opportunities for cost-saving, including where departments are siloed and may be duplicating efforts that could be streamlined. 

“There are a lot of inefficiencies in this SPS budget that we can massage and change and thoughtfully redirect in ways that wouldn’t necessarily cause people to get fired, but it is a way to be a better stewards of the finances which the good people of Seattle are giving to us,” Shuldiner said.

In Lansing, Shuldiner said the district was in danger of being taken over by the state when he became superintendent in 2021, but that in two years, the district quadrupled its fund balance. 

There is also another Times article asking for the public to weigh in:

The Seattle Times now wants to hear your questions for and about Shuldiner. Do you want to know more about his philosophy of educational leadership? Are you interested in how he plans to connect with Seattle’s diverse communities? Do you want to hear about his most memorable teacher in school, or his least favorite academic subject?

We’ll use these questions to fuel our reporting on Shuldiner and the district at large. Let us know your questions via the form below.

The last article - also from The Times - is about the Board elections.  

It's a bit weird because all the winners are quoted but Kathleen Smith. And Clark gets in a number of quotes. Plus, the reporters don't say something like "we tried to speak with Smith but couldn't reach her."