As I read the biographies of the school board candidates, I question whether any of the stated qualifications for current candidates and even existing board members meets a minimum threshold required to command a 20,000 plus student/administration organization. That said, because the futures of our children are at stake depending upon the quality of education our children receive today, we parents, and I also believe the Mirror, must require these candidates to answer meaningful substantive questions due to the enormity of the responsibility they are seeking to assume.
For example: 1) Have you ever run a large business or been the leader of a large organization, i.e. more than 500 employees? Have you ever fired anyone from their position? Under what conditions would you advocate for hiring a new superintendent? The district dashboard shows for 2017- 2018 that 66% of Federal Way students failed the math SBA and 54% failed the English SBA; are these grounds to replace the superintendent? If yes, then when? If no, then why not? And if no, what proven program will you implement to ensure a minimum 70% SBA pass rate and by when?
Do you support the ABCF/1234 grading system that places our children at a grade point average (GPA) disadvantage from those school districts that use a plus/minus system; e.g. in Federal Way 2.99 class average is a 2.0 GPA, but 2.7 GPA in a plus/minus system? Will you institute mandatory tutoring sessions for all students with “F” grades until that grade is raised to a minimum of “C”? What district programs/functions will you eliminate? How will you streamline the incorporation of changes into the district from years to months? And, all other types of high quality penetrating questions.
Federal Way needs competent leaders; that is independent forward-thinking leaders who will remove non-performers, question everything, believe nothing without irrefutable proof, and require immediate meaningful positive results. Parents and our children do not need more theories and feel good intentions – we need immediate positive academic results for all students now.
Frank Comito
Federal Way
