From the good old days of budget crunches (Image: CHS)
It’s the real start of the race to become mayor of Seattle. You’ll hear a lot about Monday’s candidate gathering as the Super South Mayor’s Forum is the first time opponents lined up to compete in this summer’s primary will meet face to face. But Tuesday night, the early battle comes to our area as the candidates will line up to talk education — and convince voters that they have the best plan to help Seattle schools:
Mayoral Candidates Education Forum
CPPS, Community and Parents for Public Schools, is hosting a Mayoral candidate forum on Education.
Tuesday, April 30
6:30 – 8:30pm
Garfield High School Commons
400 – 23rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122Candidates who have confirmed their attendance:
Tim Burgess, Bruce Harrell, Kate Martin, Michael McGinn, Ed Murray, Charlie Staadecker, and Peter SteinbrueckJoin these seven candidates running for Mayor of Seattle at the CPPS Mayoral Candidates Forum on Education. Ask questions and learn how the next mayor proposes to help ALL Children receive the support that they need to gain a quality education.
Let’s make our presence known and send a message to the next mayor of Seattle!
Be there and please spread the word!
CHS recently reported on the results of a 43rd District Democrats straw poll that put Murray and incumbent McGinn on top as the candidates head for August’s “top two” primary. If you’d like to bone up on education issues before Tuesday night, CHS also recently talked with School Board president and representative for the district covering most of Capitol Hill Kay Smith-Blum. Happy politics!
UPDATE: The Garfield High teachers leading the revolt against standardized testing in Seattle say their push-back will gain new steam with a May Day rally:
On May 1st—May Day, international workers day—not only will support continue from the thousands of teachers and hundreds of education organizations nationally who have supported this boycott in the past, but teachers and organizations from other countries will participate in anInternational Day of Solidarity with the Seattle MAP Test Boycott.
A media conference will be held Monday afternoon to announce the renewed fight.
Try searching seattle.gov for “education” or “school” (or search the City Charter for those terms): you will find nothing to indicate the the Seattle City government or the Mayor have any power over the schools.
Look at the Seattle School website and you’ll find that the power resides in the School Board:
“Work of the Board
Responsibilities of the Board of Directors include: hiring and evaluating the Superintendent; establishing policies for governing the school district; adopting a balanced budget each year; having legal and fiduciary authority for the school district; adopting instructional materials; and, serving as community representatives to the district and on behalf of the district.”
What real power does the mayor have with school issues?
[…] Seattle’s mayor, eight candidates took the stage inside Garfield High Tuesday night for a forum on education. It seemed like mostly a […]