Everett School Board race is on

Published 10:49 pm Friday, August 10, 2007

EVERETT – Veterinarians, counselors and CPAs aren’t the first people that come to mind when imagining a school board.

Meet Susan Kaftanski, vet; Fredrick Bletson, diversion counselor; and Court Carter and Carol Andrews, CPAs.

All are candidates for Everett School Board director, position 2.

This is the first time any of the four have run for a public position.

The position on the five-member board is unpaid. The seat is vacated by Ron Yates, who decided not to run for re-election.

Everett School District has 18,500 students.

For Andrews, being elected would provide opportunity to bring the large school district closer together.

“Schools really depend on community support to succeed,” she said. “I would like to get people in the south end more familiar with the entire district.”

The success of Everett’s students is high on Andrews’ list of issues.

“The goal of a school board should be that the kids are achieving to their potential and that they graduate,” Andrews said. “The biggest issue for any board is student achievement.”

Bletson, also, has expressed his concern for making sure Everett’s students receive diplomas.

“We’ve got to make sure kids are succeeding,” he said. “We’ve got to challenge them to excel.”

While the board’s role is more administrative, Bletson said, it has a responsibility to support the district in every way possible.

As a diversion counselor for the Snohomish County prosecutor’s office, Bletson works with at-risk youth and families.

This sets him apart from other candidates, he said.

“Any group, from time to time, needs fresh blood,” Bletson said.

Carter agreed with Andrews and Bletson that student achievement should be a big concern for any educator or administrator.

He has attended several professional conferences where it’s pointed out how far behind American students are in math and science.

“That’s where we’re just getting beat up on the WASL,” Carter said, referring to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning tests. “It may be a problem that’s just not solvable right away.”

Kaftanski said graduation rates top her list of issues, and that the current board is already working to improve those numbers.

“But it’s scary to know that of those students entering ninth grade, 30 percent will not have a diploma. Period,” Kaftanski said.

Kaftanski owns House Call Veterinary Services in Everett. With her children in college, it was her turn to “step up to the plate,” Kaftanski said.

“It’s part of giving back to the community,” she said of her decision to run.

School safety, connecting the community and working as a team were also items each candidate deemed important in running for a board seat.

Each also commented that the current board continues to work hard in those areas.

“Our school board is just made up of outstanding individuals,” Carter said. “The school board, I believe, is moving strongly in all those efforts.”

Reporter Jasa Santos: 425-339-3465 or jsantos@heraldnet.com.