Award-winning Mike Town was on the agenda but couldn't make it. His video was played.
Three citizens spoke during the "Public Comment" period -- a Co-Chair of Lake Washington School Foundation advertising his Legacy Luncheon fundraiser, a new Council PTSA officer and myself.
Updated: I urged the School Board (five elected officials) to work harder at selling the Capital Improvement Bond next time. The few times Directors actively campaign are when they run for office and sell district funding measures to constituents. Based on my observations at 4 input sessions, over 5 Work Sessions, and 4 Board meetings, the Board majority didn't appear to work hard or smart in selling the bond. They relied heavily on a Levy Committee phone bank, chaired by Board President Pendergrass. With the exception of Ravi Shahani and possibly Pendergrass, it appears from my polling of the Administration, that several dropped the ball. Ravi assertively and effectively addressed the City of Redmond Council and Mayor. He also attended a community input meeting at Redmond Junior High, though did not participate. Clearly, Ravi demonstrates he cares about the District in which he lives - Education Hill, Redmond, WA. -- better than most. Pendergrass met with the Levy Committee twice/month for several months. I asked President Pendergrass to try to "speak as One Voice" in the next election (and work harder in their home-district). Hopefully, the Board will write a joint Letter to local newspapers, attract TV media and hold a public forum. What do you think they could do better? Or, is something else needed?
Next, the Board reviewed an internal report on "governance process". The results were hard "to read" and generated little enthusiasm. However, one item kindled the Board to think about organizing additional constituent groups into a 2-way dialogue with the Board.
Superintendent Chip Kimball gave insight into the District's budget needs. The district will collect about $4.5 million more in the 2010-11 school year, based on the levy authorized in February’s election. That increased local levy revenue will restore the $3.5 million in state revenues lost and about $800,000 lost in federal Title I dollars. The result is a flat budget for next year.
Even though the District could collect an additional 1.5% next year from taxpayers if they wanted, Dr.Kimball recommended against it owing to survey results and the economy. Dr. Kimball and his School Board made a prudent decision. The City of Redmond had a similar choice last year but raised their taxes by 1% (the maximum) under the prodding of Mayor John Marchione. Comments?
Opinion by Bob Yoder
I know that in talking about the levy/bond effort, I’ve mentioned Jackie Pendergrass’s role and effort. As a reminder, she was chair of the Citizen’s Levy Committee. So in addition to her school board duties, she ran twice a month meetings of the levy committee for most of last year. She spent a lot of time directing the effort and trying to get more people involved in the effort. While it may not have been so visible to you, it was absolutely critical. If there is one person who worked hardest on the bond and levy effort, it was Jackie.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you call it the PTSA Levy Committee in your blog item. The name of the group is the Lake Washington Citizen’s Levy Committee. While there are PTSA members who belong to it, it is not a committee of the PTSA.
Kathryn M. Reith, APR
Director of Communications
Lake Washington School District
I volunteered for the Levy Committee. Every committee leader who called me were PTSA members. The FaceBook Fan page was set up by a PTSA leader. You say Jackie Pendergrass ran the phone bank committee "most of the year"? Did she get in the trenches and lead by example and make calls herself to her constituents? How about the other Directors? Did they make calls to their district constituents? Dr. Kimball told Redmond City Council the phone bank was the primary campaign mechanism for selling the electorate. Shouldn't we hold these elected representatives more accountable for their actions (or lack thereof) in this limited but critical funding drive? Why can't the Board members disclose their bond campaign activities in a Regular Board meeting? Shouldn't our School Board be proud of the work they do for our District and want to disclose?
ReplyDelete