There’s little glamour in serving on a faculty board, which makes the excessive caliber of eight finalists vying for Seattle’s two vacancies value noting. Among the many candidates is a minimum of one with a regulation diploma, three with grasp’s levels in enterprise or training and one with a Ph.D. in science.
As a result of they’re searching for appointed positions that got here open as a consequence of two abrupt resignations, none needed to run a conventional marketing campaign, and the editorial board shouldn’t be making a proper endorsement. Nevertheless, sure qualities will likely be particularly necessary as Seattle Public Colleges navigates a mammoth funds gap — specifically, information of finance, expertise governing massive programs and the flexibility to ask onerous questions.
With these standards, three finalists stand out:
Carol Thompson, who’s searching for the District 2 seat representing Ballard, Inexperienced Lake, Phinney Ridge and Magnolia, is an affiliate director of information administration on the Allen Institute for Mind Science. Regardless of the wonkiness of her title, Thompson shows a refreshing willingness to problem college district officers. At a candidates discussion board final week, she was the one finalist urging a deep have a look at which households are withdrawing from Seattle colleges and why.
“Groupthink shouldn’t be going to get us out of the field,” Thompson stated.
She additionally identified that the district should give attention to preserving its academic “gems” for long-term progress, fairly than concentrating solely on fast funds cuts.
Joe Mizrahi, searching for the District 4 seat, represents 10,000 Seattle-area grocery, retail and well being care staff, as secretary-treasurer of the United Meals and Business Staff 3000. He describes himself as an organizer and demonstrates expertise that would assist Seattle make a strong case for extra funding to legislators in Olympia.
Like most of the finalists, Mizrahi stated his personal expertise as a pupil navigating “extremely inequitable” colleges knowledgeable his resolution to hunt a seat on the board. Colleges can stage disparities between children, he observes. However those who fall brief usually exacerbate the identical inequities. Mizrahi seems to be riveted on closing gaps that exist between completely different pupil teams, and Seattle — which has among the widest within the nation — wants all the assistance it may get.
Laura Marie Rivera, who was beforehand endorsed for District 4 by The Seattle Occasions editorial board, stays a powerful candidate. With a grasp’s diploma in nonprofit administration, Rivera describes the SPS funds as “a beast of a doc,” with out showing to be intimidated by it. However her advocacy for college students with disabilities is perhaps Rivera’s most necessary function on this board. She additionally speaks eloquently about college administrators as a vital hyperlink between district officers and households.
That’s necessary as a result of the present board has been extensively criticized for its opacity and unresponsiveness. Exhibit A: the current outcry from mother and father at Rainier View Elementary. Dozens testified to the board, and in on-line feedback, about documented issues with college management which have gone unheeded for years.
A metropolis recognized worldwide for brainpower and innovation should have a faculty district that mirrors these values. Any of those three candidates would advance that agenda. The Faculty Board is scheduled to make its alternative on April 3.
