Seattle Schools Community Forum

First weekend in August and it's starting out cool (but I'm not complaining as I know we have more great weather to come). Report from KING-5 on the upcoming Board races .   I spent awhile talking with the reporter and yet a lot of it didn't make it here.  I also want to say that this statement I made in the story: The difference in achievement between different ethnic groups is another tough issue facing the board. "If a child's not in school, a child's not learning," Melissa Westbrook said at Seattle Schools Community forum. What NOT about the achievement gap but about disproportional discipline. I did say this: "If they are disrupting learning in the classroom, something has to be done, but don't take them out of school," said Westbrook. But they left out that I said it was important to examine the reasons for the behavior and give teachers/principals training in cultural difference that might help.   Fun Event on August 9t...

I received an e-mail that Peter Maier is promoting Estey and Blanford for School Board.   And that's fine. What's funny is how he describes them (and given what he writes, I'm pretty sure he DID write it): Estey Suzanne Dale Estey is running to fill the District IV position vacated by retiring Seattle School Board Member Michael DeBell, who has endorsed her. From our work together on the School Board, both Michael and I understand the importance of having strong School Board leadership. Suzanne is a passionate, knowledgeable and experienced leader who will be a strong advocate for high quality education. I have no doubt that Suzanne will make a positive impact on the School Board at a time when we need it most. Suzanne was born and raised in Seattle, and served as the chair of the Inter-High Council and student representative to the School Board while she was a student at Roosevelt High School. Suzanne has two young boys who attend Catharine Blaine K-8. I have giv...

KIRO news is reporting that District V candidate, LaCrese Green, sent the late Cheryl Chow (as she was dying), a letter telling her that she might want to repent her homosexuality if she wanted to get to heaven. Green’s letter from last October acknowledged she had Chow had disagreements, saying Green fought bitterly for her views, “but I never considered you a personal enemy.” “To hear of your medical problems saddens me,” Green wrote, “but to think of you as a lesbian is troubling in that I don’t want to believe it. It’s more troubling because of my personal belief is that it won’t go well for you in the hearafter.” KIRO will have a full story with Ms. Green's thoughts on their 5 pm news show. Unbelievable.

Here's the link to the flyer that was apparently mailed to homes in District IV.    It is troubling for several reasons. One, it does not have all the candidates in the race - it leaves out Dean McColgan.  This is a signal that Estey's supporters don't consider him an issue or consider Sue Peters, her opponent, a real threat. Two, it tries to look like an apples to apples comparison but conveniently leaves out details that might make it look balanced.  For example, it leaves out that Sue Peters also has a Master's (in journalism from Stanford) and has been a journalist (not just the dreaded "blogger"). It grossly overdoes it when comparing supporters, showing only a poor Times quote about the majority of the Board (who support Peters) and not even putting their names.  Peters is also endorsed by many more Dems groups and other media/entities. I have not seen or heard Sue Peters say that her priority as a director is to "Get the Bill & Melinda ...

That means she got a better score than ANY of the candidates including Blanford. Peters is racking up in points and the endorsements. To update, here is the link to 411 , the online guide by the League of Women Voters.  Please note the LWV does NOT edit any replies so what you read is what the candidate themselves wrote.

With the blazing headline , " Will election be a solution to Seattle School Board turmoil ?", the Times lights into the current Board.  Some of what is said is pretty face value, that some Board members "don't trust top district staff."  Actually, that's not what any Board member said in the survey.  (I can go back but I don't remember that said.) What I believe was said is that staff felt the Board didn't always trust them.  And who can blame the Board given how many issues of trust have come up?  The Board's job IS oversight and yes, watching over the shoulders of top staff until the Board has regained its confidence. Again, you have earn trust. It is also stated that the Board is "supposed to stick to policy and oversight."  And that oversight does include accountability so yes, they must be sure their policies are enforced.  As well, the definition of what the Board is to do is in the RCW which is widely interpreted in board...

Update:   I noted in this thread that Suzanne Estey's campaign manager is former Seattle Student Senate rep, Dexter Tang (who is a great kid).  Which is kinda sweet but also to note, her consultant in the campaign is none other than Christian Cinderman who has been a very high-powered consultant to numerous campaigns.  Also to note, Stephan Blanford's and Suzanne Estey's newest contributors?  None other than the CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer and his wife, Connie, who both maxed out at $900 each for each candidate.  I believe Mr. and Mrs. Ballmer reside on the eastside. End of update. The District IV race seems to be shaping up along two lines (and no surprise what those lines are).  (District V seems to be all Blanford and there sure are confusing signs from him.  That's another thread.) I refer to Suzanne Estey and Sue Peters.  (Dean McColgan doesn't seem to be a strong candidate and is seems to be on the ed reform side although I think...

The Stranger's endorsements for School Board were pretty much on point.  (The Times hasn't issued their endorsements for School Board but does have a sweet editorial about how expensive it is to go to weddings.  No, really, apparently that's the burning issue of the day.) District No. 4 Sue Peters As if you needed more proof that the Seattle School Board is a dystopian shithole, the board members, in a self-evaluation released this summer, anonymously described themselves like this: "The poster-child for a dysfunctional school board." "It's like Kabuki Theater." "A board like this will repel all people of quality." Seriously, we didn't even have to make any of that shit up. Consequently, school board races are normally filled with wackos. But this year, the candidates were thoughtful, intelligent, and for some god-awful reason, engaged in the minutiae that makes up school board work. Take Sue Peters, for instance. An education buff wh...

KUOW's Ann Dornfeld interviewed all the candidates and got some telling responses. The transcript of each interview is what you will see and not a recorded interview. I will also encourage those of you whose children enjoyed Glee to read the NPR story about Cory Monteith who was found dead in his hotel room early Saturday.  To anyone who watched Glee, Mr. Monteith was a fresh-faced talent and many thought his high school football star persona on the show was real. It was not.  He got into drugs when he was 13, dropped out of school at 16.   Didn't get into rehab until he was 19.  It took a long time for him to get where he was when he died.  He had tried rehab again in April of this year. We don't know the cause of death (except it does not appear to be foul play).  In some ways, I hope it is something like an undetected heart issue and not caused by drug/alcohol use.  If it is from drug use, it's terribly sad. From the story, what he had to ...

Charlie and I have attempted to interview all the School Board candidates (with only partial luck). (I have since updated Sue Peters' section as iPad was making it difficult when I first published this thread.) To note: - despite the Times' drumbeat of unhappiness about the Board, yes, there will be two new Board members (Director Patu is running unopposed).  That it may not be the members they think need replacing should not be the issue.  The issue is who will work as a team player and yet be sensitive to constituent concerns. - Stephan Blanford, in District V, for all intents and purposes, will win.  Neither of the other candidates are credible.  So like, Betty Patu, it's pretty much a done deal.   - In the PRIMARY, only those voters who live in a district where a position is up for a vote, will see School Board candidates on their ballot.  In this election, only voters who live in districts IV and V  will see candidates on their ballot....

The 34th District Democrats (West Seattle, Vashon, Burien) held their endorsement meeting last night and I was there. It was very revealing.

Not exactly a surprise. In the last couple election cycles the Times has endorsed two candidates in the primary. Not so this time. Editorial: Suzanne Dale Estey and Stephan Blanford for Seattle School Board

Well, look what happens when you step away for a couple of days - apparently a lot. First up, the Muni League released its ratings of School Board candidates.  Only Suzanne Dale Estey (in Michael DeBell's district) got "outstanding."  In the same race the two candidates, Sue Peters and Dean McCoglan, received a "very good" which is the next level below "outstanding."   In Kay Smith-Blum race, Stefan Blanford received "very good", LaCrese Green received "not qualified" and Ulu Thomas was not interviewed. I was unable to access the Muni League's second page of ratings to check Director Betty Patu's rating. Charlie and I just about finished our interviews and will write up a thread before you receive your primary ballots.  The early assessment is that (clearly) Patu will retain her seat, Blanford will face off against Green but is really the only candidate in that race.  So the real race is in DeBell's district ...

 Update: Just wanted to say thanks to our readers.   There has been quite an uptick in hits to the blog and we appreciate the numbers and the input/comments. Hearing about a phone survey about School Board candidates.  Anyone received a phone call?  If so, let us know what you were asked and if you were told who was sponsoring it.  (Gotta say, it's quite early for this kind of thing and for School Board races?  Someone out there must be quite serious about who gets on the Board to spend that kind of money before the primary.) What's on your mind?

I'm reaching out to all the candidates for School Board and I'm thinking about what to ask.  Naturally, I will be asking most of the same basic questions to all the candidates but then, asking about what they would bring to the table. What would you most want to ask a candidate?

It looks like - at 5 pm - that there will be three candidates for the Central region race and three for the Ballard/Magnolia/QA/downtown race.  No one filed against Director Patu and so she will retain her seat.  For the Central Region: Stephan Blanford Olu Thomas LaCrese Green For Magnolia/QA/downtown/Ballard Region: Dean McColgan Sue Peters Suzanne Dale Estey This means a real race in the primary so it is important to keep up on these candidates.  I will try to interview them all as time permits. Link to King County Elections with their filing info that includes e-mail, phone and website (if they have one already).   Scroll to the middle of the page under School.

The Seattle Times is reporting that Kay Smith-Blum is one of six finalists for an interim seat on the Washington Board of Education.  She is being interviewed tomorrow for the seat.  She says she is not sure what she will do if offered the position.   The position is only for nine months and then she would have to run in November to stay in the position.  The election would be by members of school boards from the Western Washington region.  If she did accept, she would have to resign her position on the Seattle School Board.  That would then prompt the Board to have to take applications and then appoint a candidate from Smith-Blum's district. That person would be an interim Board member until the election in November.  Smith-Blum states that that she would like to stay connected to education but with her co-ownership of the clothing store, Butch Blum with her husband, that the BOE position might be easier for her schedule.  This could r...

The King County Democrats had their endorsement interviews this weekend and have put up the questionaires that each candidate filled out.  Very illuminating. To note: Murray, Martin, Harrell, Steinbrueck all say no to charters (and vouchers) Burgess and McGinn gave "qualified" answers to charters.  Here they are: Burgess I did not support the charter school campaign last year as I viewed that effort as a distraction from some of the larger issues we need to address related to public education. I’m a strong advocate for innovation and reform in public education, but these initiatives should be pursued in cooperation with our teachers, principals and parents. We have seen significant reforms in Seattle Public Schools through the collective bargaining process; for example, teacher evaluation protocols and creative approach schools. McGinn I believe we should monitor the 40 charter schools authorized statewide by the statewide initiative to determine whether they g...

This fall the citizens of Seattle will be voting for mayor.  As of now, I believe there are seven candidates.  I have interviewed one of them - Peter Steinbrueck - and have Kate Martin on tap.  I will reach out to Mayor McGinn but from working with him over the last several years, I have a good idea of his views.  One of the candidates is Councilman Tim Burgess.  The Councilman has been deeply involved in Seattle public education and was a big supporter of the Families & Education levy.  He also has shown a propensity for behind-the-scenes con-fabs with high-level SPS leaders and it is unclear to me whether he ever shared any of this information with other councilmembers.  (We have public disclosure e-mails to thank for this info.)  Now I see that Councilman Burgess is being thrown a fundraiser this week by the following people: Michael and Marie DeBell, Sherry Carr, Clover Codd, Bree Dusseault , Chris Eide, David Elliot, Christina Gonzal...

Word is that there are considerations/planning being done for the School Board elections in fall 2013.  Those would be for the seats of DeBell, Smith-Blum and Patu. It is my understanding that DeBell is unlikely to run for a third term and may be running for a seat in the state legislature.  As of now, he has made no public statement except to tell Publicola that he would have liked to run in his old legislative district (that his home was redistricted out of).  Director Patu appears to be running again and is having an event to celebrate her family's work in public service.  Her Legacy Luau event will be Thursday, June 28th at the Pravda Events Center, 1406 10th Avenue, Suite 200 at 7 p.m.  There is a $75 suggested donation.  RSVP at virtuouschg@msn.com or 425-891-6705.