The 8 finalists for the Seattle School Board Director positions for Director Districts 2 and 4 participated in a candidate forum moderated by two students, Aayush Muthuswamy and Semai Hagos.

The finalists for District 2 are:

• Carol Thompson
• Sarah Clark
• Danielle Gahl
• Shawn Sullivan

The finalists for District 4 are:

• Rachelle Olden
• Joe Mizrahi
• Gabriella Gonzalez
• Laura Marie Rivera

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Leave a voice message - speak.seattlehallpass.org

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Re: School Board Community Engagement Work Session, March 13, 2024 

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Christie & Jane review and discuss major points from the March 13 community engagement work session. Topics covered:

1. The 2024 Strategic Plan, 
2. Part 2 of Well-Resourced Schools 
3. Ongoing community engagement

Thanks to AJ Crabill for permission to use clips from his audiobook, Great on Their Behalf.

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Show Notes
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Christie & Jane  cover the Seattle School Board budget work session from March 20, 2024, where the Superintendent’s team outlined $111 million in budget cuts for the 2024-25 school year. School consolidations, bell times, and other changes for the 2025-26 school year will be previewed at the May 8 meeting.

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Christie and Jane talk with Chetan Soni, an 18-year-old student and activist who has been a strong advocate for youth voice. We discuss mental health, gun violence, climate concerns, college and career readiness, and more.

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At the March 13 Special School Board meeting, the 5 sitting directors narrowed down the finalists for Districts 2 and 4. The finalists will participate at a forum at Lincoln High School in Wallingford on March 27, start time TBD.

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Christie and Jane cover the major topics of the March 6, 2024 school board meeting, including:
1) passionate public testimony about school funding allocations and difficulties at Rainier View Elementary
2) a work session in preparation for the March 13 special meeting to select the finalists for the School Board Director positions.
3) a State Auditor's Office audit "entrance meeting" 

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In Episode 28 of Seattle Hall Pass, Christie and Jane talk about the 15 applicants vying for two vacant seats on the seven-person Seattle School Board. Christie and Jane also share audio statements from 12 of the 15 applicants, so listeners can hear from them directly.

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In Episode 27 of Seattle Hall Pass, Christie and Jane talk to Seattle School Board Director Brandon Hersey about monitoring the progress of SPS students toward the goals of 3rd Grade Reading, 7th Grade Writing, and College and Career Readiness.

We hope to have a Q&A session with Director Hersey in the future. Send a short voice memo or typed question to  [email protected].  Please include how you would like to be identified.

Correction: The “Profile of a Graduate” is from the State Board of Education, not the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), as stated in the audio.

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Christie and Jane discuss the February 7, 2024 Seattle School Board meeting, focusing on the process to fill vacancies following the resignations of two board directors, district efforts related to Continuous School Improvement Plans, and an update on the legislative session.

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In Episode 25 of Seattle Hall Pass, Christie and Jane interview Lisa Rivera, who served on the board for four years before she resigned on January 30, 2024.

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