College board races, greater than most others, are inclined to encourage candidates for deeply private causes.
That’s actually the case for Sarah Clark, whom The Occasions editorial board is endorsing to retain her seat and signify households in Northwest Seattle.
The one graduate of Seattle Public Faculties at present sitting on its board, Clark ceaselessly notes that her lonely expertise as a scholar of coloration in accelerated-learning lessons sparked her curiosity in changing into a college board director. However in contrast to the present board majority, Clark doesn’t advocate casting off the Extremely Succesful Cohort. As an alternative, she urges its enlargement, echoing the cries of quite a few dad and mom.
Not less than as vital, Clark says she is going to reactivate the district’s Finances and Finance Committees — an vital transfer throughout a time of $100 million deficits, three years working.
Nonetheless, these are daring phrases underneath the present board regime, which dissolved each committees to focus solely on lecturers. Referred to as Scholar Outcomes Centered Governance, this management mannequin calls for slavish constancy to its identify, eradicating board members from monetary oversight, for the reason that price range is just not, technically, a scholar end result.
While you’re legally chargeable for a $1.3 billion annual spending plan, that call is, at greatest, an abdication of obligation.
“We’re not making headway underneath SOFG,” Clark stated. “It’s hindered our capacity to make essential selections.”
Throughout her temporary time as a board member appointed simply final 12 months, Clark has grown. The place she initially appeared distracted, Clark has change into extra centered, adamant and prepared to talk out in opposition to these within the majority with whom she disagrees — one other no-no underneath the foundations of SOFG.
Fortunately, she additionally has actual competitors for the place. Her two opponents — Eric Feeny, a tech entrepreneur and mother or father of two elementary-aged kids; and Kathleen Smith, a knowledge scientist working at Microsoft — convey simple smarts. Feeny, particularly, radiates a refreshing impatience with the sluggish tempo of change in Seattle Public Faculties.
The district is in disaster, he appropriately observes, and there’s no time to waste on extra research earlier than making some vital course corrections. Feeny’s important purpose is elevated educational rigor.
Smith, too, needs extra avenues for college students to advance academically. However she affords few concepts for options to SPS’ continual price range issues, other than pushing the state to search out extra progressive income sources (learn: new taxes).
Clark shares their frustration and drive, tempered by the knowledge she’s accrued by 15 months on the varsity board. Now that she’s obtained her ft moist, we look ahead to seeing Clark dig in and create actual momentum for change.
