In Seattle, challengers have a fighting chance of turning out each of the four ed reform School Board directors. In the primary, three of the incumbents drew less than 44% in their home districts, and the fourth only drew 51% in his district. Now the race goes citywide, and the incumbents will have to campaign outside their strongholds.
With the recent spate of financial scandals, brought on by Broad-trained Maria Goodloe-Johnson's administration, the citizens of Seattle are in an anti-incumbent mood. The Board fired Goodloe-Johnson in March, but the public hasn't forgotten the incumbents' slavish endorsement of every one of her ed reform initiatives. And we teachers haven't forgotten her dismissive and hostile treatment of the dedicated educators in our district—treatment tacitly supported by the Board every step of the way.
The four challengers—Sharon Peaslee, Kate Martin, Michelle Buetow, and Marty McLaren are all capable, intelligent education advocates poised to shift the balance of power on our seven-member School Board. They are up against opponents well funded by a wealthy political elite in the Seattle area. According to Public Disclosure Commission records, Seattle School Board candidates in 2007 spent a record $608,400.90. The winners raised 81.82% of those funds, and 57.75% of their contributions came from 17 contributors—14 of which consisted of 7 wealthy couples, including Steve and Connie Ballmer. Nowhere is it more evident that a wealthy political elite drives the privatization of public education than in Seattle. However, in Seattle, money alone doesn't decide School Board elections.
A Little History
Over the last four years, the four incumbents have controlled the agenda of the seven-member Board by voting nearly in lockstep. The Board approved three successive years of teacher layoffs, even as Goodloe-Johnson filled up central administration with a small army of reformist consultants, coaches, and directors. The Board voted for a testing contract purchased from a corporation on whose Board Goodloe-Johnson sat. The Board closed schools that, because of increasing enrollment, will eventually have to be reopened at considerable expense. The Board repeatedly renewed Goodloe-Johnson's contract despite low morale among teachers and a series of no-confidence votes. Perhaps worst of all, the Board sat mute while Goodloe-Johnson's administration silenced its internal critics with threats and intimidation. Finally, in February 2011, a State Auditor's report and an internal report corroborated the climate of fear and intimidation that we had been working under for years.
Enter: The Challengers
As I said earlier, money doesn't win Seattle Board elections. In 2009, former teacher Betty Patu trounced Wilson Chin, despite his wealthy reformist supporters and nearly 6 to 1 fund-raising advantage. However, the challengers can't win without some financial backing. Please consider contributing to one of the challengers. Their victories would send shockwaves throughout the ed reform movement and would have widespread implications for the public education of our nation's children. Here are the challengers:
Sharon Peaslee has worked as a producer, director and writer since 1981, creating educational, documentary, training and commercial TV programs for dozens of clients. She's also developed feature film projects, websites, and is writing a novel and children’s trilogy. Her production company is Flying Lula Productions. She has an MA in English Education, is known for her work as a math education advocate, and has two children in Seattle Public Schools. This year her son is entering ninth grade at the high school where I teach!
Kate Martin is a professional planner and designer, an education researcher at the theseattlejournal.com, and a mother of two graduates of Seattle Public Schools. Kate Martin has a sharp intellect, a keen sense of justice, strong ties to her local community, and a passionate concern for the education of our children. Her priorities are channeling scarce resources to the classroom, engaging the community, and providing much-needed financial oversight.
Michelle Buetow has been a long-time education advocate in Seattle, working to improve communications outreach and understanding among the district, its schools, and the community. She is a former high-tech international marketing executive, with more than fifteen years of experience in online marketing and communications. She would be the only Board director with two small children in Seattle Public Schools. Hailing from a family of educators, Michelle Buetow is energetic, sharp-witted and a quick learner, and she would bring vitality and a fresh perspective to the Board.
Marty McLaren is a retired teacher and math education advocate, with deep ties to the Seattle community. She had three children who attended Seattle Public Schools and has a grandchild in a Seattle middle school. Marty McLaren's priorities are community engagement, sound instructional materials, support of Seattle's strong teaching corps, and promotion of a wide range of educational programs. Marty McLaren will be a strong advocate for children and the teachers who teach them.
If you want to strike a blow at the ed reform movement, please pick one of these campaigns and make a donation. I understand that many of you are strapped for funds, but even a small donation would be immensely helpful. Help us fend off the reformers and preserve the great American public education system.