Education


School Board Accountability and Governance
By
Jul 10, 2007


In 1999, DC Appleseed studied local school board governance and issued a report that suggested greater accountability for the DC school board through district elections.  This report was updated at the request of Washington Appleseed in 2005. 

Barbara Schaad-Lamphere, a former Seattle School Board Director, began, in May 2005, convening community leaders in discussion groups to explore issues around school board effectiveness and governance.  In the spring and early summer of 2007, Washington Appleseed worked to expand these public conversations and dialogue.

In May and June 2007, dozens of citizens hosted "Meet-Ups" in their homes and workplaces to converse about school board governance.  On May 23, 2007, Washington Appleseed sponsored a lively public forum at Town Hall Seattle.  A video recording of the forum is available to view on-line on the Seattle Channel.


During this public event, we brought voters together to listen to a lively panel discussion, moderated by C.R. Douglas of the Seattle Channel, about the future of the Seattle School Board, in advance of the upcoming School Board elections in August.

The panel addressed a variety of topics, including differentiating the roles of the School Board versus the Superintendent, qualities of a high-functioning School Board, skills needed by School Board members, effective School Board models in other areas of the country, and how voters can best evaluate candidates vying for a seat on the board.

Our panelists included:

  • Cathy Allen, President, The Connections Group
  • Andrew Thibault, Principal, Evans/McDonough Company, Inc.
  • Porsche Everson, President, Relevant Strategies
  • Lynne Varner, Seattle Times Editorial Columnist
  • Patricia Wasley, Dean, University of Washington College of Education

We hope to build upon community conversations and voter education efforts being conducted on behalf of this topic by partnering organizations throughout Seattle.

This effort is part of a long-term campaign to engage the public in learning about and participating in School Board elections.


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