It Could be All Over in a Week

August 12, 9:01 AMSeattle Public Schools ExaminerCharlie Mas

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We all know that we have a "top two" primary system now in Washington. However, state law says that if any candidate gets a majority of the votes in the primary election for justice of the supreme court, judge of the court of appeals, judge of the superior court, or state superintendent of public instruction, that candidate's name will appear without opposition on the general election ballot.

There are six candidates for the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, but only two are them are regarded as serious contenders: Terry Bergeson, the incumbent, and Randy Dorn.

If one of these two candidates should get a majority of the votes - a very likely possibility - this election could be over next week.

Randy Dorn

The questions before the voters are these:

1. Is this state moving in the right direction on education?

2. Is this state making adequate progress on education?

3. Are the Standards set by the State appropriate?

4. Are the state assessments the best choice?

The answers, I believe, are "No", "No", "No", and "Hell No".  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is clearly in conflict with the legislature and the governor's office. The legislature voted to require the OSPI to re-write the the K-10 math standards and, when they reviewed the results, told them to do it again and do it right. The state is getting sued by school districts for failing to adequate fund special education and again for failing to fund basic education. The legislature, however, is reluctant to throw more money into what they perceive as a dysfunctional system. And who suffers? The students.

With a new Superintendent we have a chance for clear, meaningful Standards. We will have a chance to replace the insanely expensive and totally useless WASL. We will have a chance to bring real math education back to Washington's public schools. We will have a chance for a positive relationship between the OSPI and other elements of the state government so the schools can be adequately funded. With the incumbent we have no chance for any of these.