Hey!
So it’s official. I thought I would be withdrawing to support another candidate that I align with but it turns out she’s withdrawing to support me so here I am.
State of the race -
Me - Pretty charismatic, easily talkative, thick skin from 20 years of dealing poker to people throwing cards and screaming at me. Former project manager with a skill set in bringing people with diverse interests together to complete a goal. Willing to work with diverse groups on the common goal of educating our children. Really wish politics wasn’t a part of the school board but this is the way it is
GH - unknown quantity, but very likely aligned with me. Very little web presence but we have some mutual friends and the friends say he isn’t real serious about running
JTB - late filer. Very likely aligned with me. Works at Evergreen State College to assist disabled students. Disabled herself and she may have disabled children in the district
CC - she’s the one dropping to support me. We’re pretty aligned, but her kids are in an alternative program (a public montesorri) in the district and we think that’s a negative as there’s 2 other parents on our 5 person board that have kids in alt programs. We have big budget cut issues and we think that having a possible 60% of the board with kids in alt programs might make the public think those decisions cutting programs have a thumb on the scales to not look at the alt programs without bias
FD - he’s the opponent for all of us, really. Supported by the local right wing nutjobs. He’s for equity, but only when it includes everyone. There’s a very vocal, small group of crazies that take over all of the board meetings and city council meetings, and they will all support him. He’ll likely fight to get any pronoun stuff and any books that might have any tangent related to gay banned and things like that
So, that’s the state of things. I think there may be a backlash against the current incumbent school board. They’ve had issues being open and transperent with the public, and one of them had this to say when they had to cut fourth grade strings due to budget issues:
Clifthorne compared white supremacy to the way the music courses taught. He claimed that while music courses were beneficial, the way they were offered results in some students missing classes.
‘There’s nothing about strings or wind instrumental music that is intrinsically White supremacist,’ Clifthorne said.
'However, the ways in which it is and the ways in which all of our institutions, not just schools — local government, state government, churches or neighborhoods — inculcate and allow White supremacy culture to continue to be propagated and cause significant institutional violence are things that we have to think about carefully as a community.
‘And I think that we have to do that interrogation. And we have to address the ways in which it creates challenges for administering the educational day for our elementary learners while we retain the program.’
The whole story is here, and it’s the daily mail so it’s not written well, but his quote is real. My wife is the equity officer for a state agency so I’m close to this stuff and even both my wife and I couldn’t figure out what Scott was trying to say here. We couldn’t follow his thread on this one. I think he really could have just said “We have a lot of bad options and cutting 4th grade strings is one the least bad.” and been done with it.
Here’s the whole story if you want to read:
https://archive.ph/gkjhh#selection-1285.0-1297.210
So, I think that’s enough for a background.
I think I have my campaign slogan worked out -
No Politics. No Culture Wars. Just Education.
And my campaign statement for the voter pamphlet that I still need to edit down to fit it in the 200 word limit:
I am Matthew , and I am excited to announce my candidacy for the position of Olympia School Board Director, District 2. With a background in project management and the ability to bring diverse interests together, I believe I can make a positive impact on the Olympia School District.
“No Politics. No Culture Wars. Just Education.”
If elected, I will prioritize the following key areas:
- Student-Centered Approach: I will advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being and success of our students. I will address achievement gaps, cater to diverse learning needs, and ensure equal opportunities for all.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: I will foster open communication and collaboration between schools, parents, teachers, and the community. Together, we can shape the future of our schools and create a supportive learning environment.
- Responsible Resource Allocation: I will ensure efficient allocation of resources, with a focus on initiatives that directly benefit students. Transparency and accountability will guide my decision-making process.
- Equity and Inclusion: I am committed to promoting equity within the Olympia School District. I will advocate for policies that create an inclusive learning environment, where all students feel valued and supported.
- Future-Oriented Education: I will work to integrate technology, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills into the curriculum, preparing our students for the future.
With your support, we can create a brighter future for our students. Together, let’s focus on education without politics or culture wars. I kindly ask for your vote as we embark on this journey together.
Thank you for your consideration.
