Seattle Schools Community Forum

I am endorsing Marty McLaren for Position 6 .   The other candidates are Steve Sundquist, Nick Esparza and Joy Anderson. Marty would bring many good things to our Board.  She's been a teacher and yet came to teaching after having other careers.  She put her own children through SPS, was a PTA President, and has worked with  pre-school and homeless children and at-risk teens.   That's a wealth of experience to bring to the Board.  Marty has a quiet strength that reminds me of Michael DeBell.   Marty also listens AND asks good questions (a trait we need on the Board). Joy Anderson is a passionate advocate and smart cookie.  However, I worry some about her focus on the issues around the closure of Cooper Elementary. Nick Esparza is also someone who seems to know what the problems are but maybe not the solutions.  I'm thinking he and Joy might be better candidates in a few years. And Steve.  Every time I talk to Steve ...

Not a complete bust but not a great interview with these candidates on The Conversation this afternoon.  First, KUOW should make up its mind on the format.  For District 2, the candidates were interviewed individually and for a longer period of time.  (There were three of them.) For District 6, they had them all in the studio and interviewed each for a much shorter period of time but did allow them to interact.   I think it would be better to have the interaction among candidates AFTER the primary and allow people more time to get to know these candidates now.  Steve was first.  He was asked about Pottergate and the sale of the MLK,Jr. building.   His answer will now set the tone for his campaign.  He says they acted promptly when they had the State Auditor's investigation report.  What!?   If he is saying he had no idea anything was wrong until that point, he was simply not paying attention.  He stated that the...