Good problem to have: Seattle attracts impressive school board finalists

There is little glamour in serving on a school board, which makes the high caliber of eight finalists vying for Seattle’s two vacancies worth noting. Among the candidates is at least one with a law degree, three with master’s degrees in business or education and one with a Ph.D. in science.

Because they are seeking appointed positions that came open due to two abrupt resignations, none had to run a traditional campaign, and the editorial board is not making a formal endorsement. However, certain qualities will be especially important as Seattle Public Schools navigates a mammoth budget hole — in particular, knowledge of finance, experience governing large systems and the ability to ask hard questions.

With those criteria, three finalists stand out:

Carol Thompson, who is seeking the District 2 seat representing Ballard, Green Lake, Phinney Ridge and Magnolia, is an associate director of data management at the Allen Institute for Brain Science. Despite the wonkiness of her title, Thompson displays a refreshing willingness to challenge school district officials. At a candidates forum last week, she was the only finalist urging a deep look at which families are withdrawing from Seattle schools and why.

“Groupthink is not going to get us out of the box,” Thompson said.

She also pointed out that the district must focus on preserving its educational “gems” for long-term growth, rather than concentrating solely on immediate budget cuts.

Joe Mizrahi, seeking the District 4 seat, represents 10,000 Seattle-area grocery, retail and health care employees, as secretary-treasurer of the United Food and Commercial Workers 3000. He describes himself as an organizer and demonstrates skills that could help Seattle make a powerful case for more funding to legislators in Olympia.  

Like many of the finalists, Mizrahi said his own experience as a student navigating “highly inequitable” schools informed his decision to seek a seat on the board. Schools can level disparities between kids, he observes. But those that fall short often exacerbate the same inequities. Mizrahi appears to be riveted on closing gaps that exist between different student groups, and Seattle — which has some of the widest in the country — needs all the help it can get.

Laura Marie Rivera, who was previously endorsed for District 4 by The Seattle Times editorial board, remains a strong candidate. With a master’s degree in nonprofit management, Rivera describes the SPS budget as “a beast of a document,” without appearing to be intimidated by it. But her advocacy for students with disabilities might be Rivera’s most important role on this board. She also speaks eloquently about school directors as an essential link between district officials and families.

That’s important because the current board has been widely criticized for its opacity and unresponsiveness. Exhibit A: the recent outcry from parents at Rainier View Elementary. Dozens testified to the board, and in online comments, about documented problems with school leadership that have gone unheeded for years.

A city known worldwide for brainpower and innovation must have a school district that mirrors those values. Any of these three candidates would advance that agenda. The School Board is scheduled to make its choice on April 3.