There are many indicators that Seattle voters care deeply about education.  They have said so to pollsters.  They've supported the Seattle Schools bonds and levies at the ballot box for many years, including a remarkable 68% and 71% last February.  And we know this from our Washington Appleseed work in the community this spring.  After all, we're an educated bunch here in Seattle, it stands to reason that voters would support Seattle Public Schools.  There’s only one time where voters seem to fall down on the job in support of education:  turning out to vote in school board races.   

Leadership at the top of our public schools was the focus of a series of "meet-ups" held in homes and businesses last spring by Washington Appleseed.  We asked Seattlites to discuss education, Seattle Public Schools, and leadership with their friends, neighbors and coworkers.  We asked them to talk about the opportunities and challenges the new superintendent faces, what priorities the district should address, what they are looking for in school board members, the most important issue facing Seattle Public Schools.  Our goal was to get people talking about the schools, gaining insight from each other, and awakening opinions on where we are and where we collectively want to go. 

The conversations were passionate, they were wide ranging, and they were filled with tangents.  People told old stories and new raves.  Above all, they valued the opportunity to talk about something as near and dear to their hearts as education.  After the discussion, participants filled out feedback forms from which we've gleaned some ideas and trends in this random sampling of Seattle opinions. 

According to our participants, opportunities in Seattle are good for our new Superintendent:  a progressive city, strong support for education, wonderful parents and neighborhoods, a broad public desire to have excellent public schools. 

Meet-Up participants encouraged the new superintendent to keep hers a  broad vision of high quality education, promote academic rigor for all students, stay in contact with parents, be bold, stay strong.   

When talking about the challenges the superintendent faces, participants mentioned the achievement gap, shaky public confidence, inequities across the city, perception of board dysfunction, financial problems, chronic underfunding from the state, and the endless "Seattle process." 

They believed that the city needs to get behind public education in Seattle.  One participant believed that passive support needs to be turned into active support.  And this has struck a chord.  Passively supporting something is good, but actively participating in a solution moves issues forward. 

We have great news for all Seattle voters concerned about education:  you can be part of the solution right now!  There are four school board seats on the ballot this November election to be decided upon by all Seattle voters.  

The superintendent needs the strongest school board team possible to take advantage of the opportunities and tackle the challenges mentioned by our meet-up participants.  This is our chance to actively participate in education in Seattle by paying attention to our ballot.  You don't have to have kids in schools to care about who's leading them.  If you're a homeowner, you should care about who's elected to spend the millions of dollars we approved in February.   

Take the time and study these races carefully so that you may make an informed decision.  Look for media endorsements, ratings by groups you trust.  Study the candidates websites and figure out which ones will take Seattle Public Schools in the direction that you think is right. 

We know you want a strong city with strong public schools.  Now go do something about it.  You, the voter, play a crucial role.  Study the four school board races, make an informed choice and vote.  The  future of Seattle school kids is in voters' hands this November. 

Barbara Schaad-Lamphere, a former Seattle School Board Director, is a Senior Fellow at the Washington Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest.