UPDATE, 10/16, A comparison of the City of Redmond & Lake Washington School District governments.

Photo of a "Work Session" when the School Board discusses items requireing action.  A hot buffet is provided.  Accept for the Deputy Superintendent, Director staff rarely speak or present.  Staff is seated on the right.

PART ONE - An opinion on the scope of our elected responsibility, Boad participation and advocacy.

CITY OF REDMOND
In Redmond, seven (7) paid councilmembers are elected to a "position" and represent the people at large.  They divide their "work" responsibilities into Committees, each with a different Committee Chair and two other councilmembers.   The Committees are:  Finance,  Parks and Human Services,  Planning and Public Works, Public Safety, and Regional.  It's best to address the Committee Chairs on their work.   Councilmembers are paid ~ $90/meeting for five meetings/month.

LWSD
Updated, 10/16:  Five (5) unpaid school board directors are each elected to a  "voting district" in witch they live and are assigned a list of schools to represent.  All LWSD high schools and junior highs are assigned  2-4 directors.  Evergreen Junior and Eastside High is the exception, with Mr. Eglington solely assigned.  Most elementary schools are assigned only one Director.  The exceptions are Audubon, Bell, Rush and *Twain which have two Directors.  It is assumed constituents would seek advocacy representation from the Director responsible for their school.  The directors have decided not to accept the minimum $50/meeting pay to which they are entitled.

As an example, we have a daughter residing in Director Ravi Shahani's District No. 5.  Director Ravi Shahani is the sole representative assigned  to Horace Mann Elementary. No other Director is assigned to Mann.   However, Dirctor Shahani  shares his representation and assignment with Directors Doug Eglington and Nancy Bernard for both Redmond Junior and Redmond High.  

In addition, Director Shahani has the exclusive assignment of *Einstein, *Redmond El, Rockwell, Rosa Parks and Wilder elementary schools in his voting district.  Thus, constituents are best to go to Director Shahadi for representation, advocacy (and "voice") at these schools.  Currently, Redmond El and Einstein are under Title 1 federal review for substandard "average yearly performance" in three categories.   Director Ravi is the Board Member most familiar with these two schools:  Director Ravi Shahani's contact information is:  rshahani@lwsd.org or 425-702-3257.

Our five school board directors are responsible collectively for all 51 LWSD schools.  In addition, each Director was elected to represent or advocate for the stakeholders the specific cluster of schools in his/her district.  There is a fine distinction between being responsible and being representative.  Staff  tends to muddy this distinction   I think this is wrong.  I think we should hold our representatives accountable for the specific schools assigned to the voting district they reside in.  (According to policy, "Boards are ultimately responsible for governance and managing daily activities.")  Since elementary schools have usually one assigned representative, Directors should be especially attentive to their needs.    Any comments on this you'd like to share? 

Update:  10/16. of note, the seating configuration in Chambers puts Superintendent Kimpball front and center on the Diaz as "the King and his Court".  The superintendent dominates the conversation in both Work Sessions and Regular Meetings.  Director input is minimal.  Conversely the Chamber seating configuration for the Hospital district and City of Redmond places the CEO at the end of the Diaz allowing speakers to address their elected officials directly.  The President runs the show with the elected in the spotlight.  The hospital and city CEO (Mayor) talk much less, usually defering to the administrative Directors and staff. 

I've observed and scrutinized the City of Redmond government process for over three years. Conversely, this year I've  attended  five LWSD school board meetings, watched another meeting LIVE on their website, attended 3 levy bond input sessions, addressed the Board once in person and in writing and will meet with the Superintendent tomorrow.

text and photos by Bob Yoder