Seattle School Board vacancies draw more than a dozen applicants

Fifteen people have thrown their hats in the ring for the two open spots on the Seattle School Board.

The vacancies were created earlier this month, when board members Vivian Song and Lisa Rivera both suddenly stepped down amid concerns they were violating state residency requirements.

The school board shakeup comes amid looming budget cuts in Seattle Public Schools. Washington’s largest public school system faces a nearly $105-million budget deficit next year — and continued financial woes for the next several years.

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This spring, the school board is expected to not only review plans for next school year but also an overall plan for closing schools and other longer-term cost-saving measures.

Given those issues — and others, like academic recovery in the wake of the pandemic, escalating concerns about school safety, and a growing youth mental health crisis — the board wants to fill the open seats as soon as possible.

Candidates had until Sunday to submit their applications. The board plans to appoint the new members by the beginning of April.

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All Together for Seattle Schools, a new citywide parent advocacy organization, called on the board to appoint diverse board members, and to “acknowledge the resignation of two women of color board members as a call for internal organizational repair.”

The open letter, which has been signed by more than 130 people, also pushes the board to involve the public in the appointment process.

"We were hearing from a lot of families out of concern, once we learned that two board members are resigning, that their voices might not be a part of the conversation," said Erin MacDougall, one of All Together for Seattle Schools' leaders.

MacDougall says the group heard from many parents who believed the departing board members represented their community well and had "lived and work experience that were very well aligned with the needs of the board and of all of the students in the district."

And they want to see the new board members have those same qualities — especially amid such difficult financial times in the district.

The Southeast Seattle Education Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for educational justice, also urged the board to appoint people who “can represent students furthest from educational justice and have an understanding of the needs in all regions of the district.”

“There’s pressing issues that need to be supported and governed and held accountable,” said Liz Huizar, executive director of the Coalition. “So, as this process moves forward, what our hope at SECEC is that even in this quick process, attention to detail is provided and the candidates are vetted and racial equity is prioritized.”

District 2, which includes neighborhoods like Ballard, Green Lake, and Magnolia, drew the most interest with 11 applicants. Five original candidates rescinded their applications as of Wednesday afternoon.

Four people applied for the District 4 seat, which spans neighborhoods such as Fremont, Queen Anne, Westlake, and Belltown.

The candidates’ application materials — including letters of interest, resumes, answers to a series of questions from current board members, and soon, short videos — are available on the district’s website.

The board is next slated to discuss the appointments at its meeting on March 6. The board is also expected to vote on an update to its residency policy, so that it more clearly spells out when and how a board member must notify district officials if they move.

At the following board meeting on March 13, members will select finalists. A candidate forum will be held on either March 21 or 27, and the board plans to vote on the applicants April 3.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story and its headline have been updated to reflect five candidates withdrawing their applications as of Wednesday afternoon. Check the district website for updates.