EVERETT — Those competing to oversee the state’s public school system will face off in a forum Thursday evening in Everett.
Seven candidates for the nonpartisan job of Superintendent of Public Instruction are slated to take part in the 6:30 p.m. event in the historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave. The forum is free and open to the public.
Robin Fleming, Erin Jones, Chris Reykdal, David Spring, Ronald Higgins, KumRoon (Mr. Mak) Maksirisombat and Al Runte are all seeking to succeed Randy Dorn, the incumbent who plans to retire at the end of his term.
The top two finishers in the Aug. 2 primary will advance to the general election in November.
Thursday’s forum will be conducted by the League of Women Voters.
It will be the main event of a summit on Washington’s public education system organized by the nonprofit Academic Link Outreach.
The forum will follow a panel discussion on major challenges facing politicians and educators as they look to increase funding of schools and improve students’ academic performance. State Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, Jan Link, president of Academic Link Outreach, and Don Nielson, author of “Every School: One Citizen’s Guide to Transforming Education,” will participate.
Also Thursday, attorney Thomas Ahearne will provide an update on the school funding lawsuit known as the McCleary case.
Ahearne is the lead attorney for the families, teachers and education groups whose lawsuit resulted in the 2012 Supreme Court decision that the state was violating the constitutional rights of students by not amply funding public schools.
Justices gave the state until 2018 to comply and are monitoring the progress of legislative efforts to do so. The court found the state in contempt in 2014 and began imposing a $100,000-a-day fine last summer when lawmakers failed to submit a plan showing how they will achieve full compliance.
In May, state attorneys asked the court to lift the contempt order and halt the sanctions, arguing lawmakers adopted such a plan earlier this year. Ahearne has until next week to file a response.
Ahearne and Nathan Gibbs-Bowling, Washington’s reigning Teacher of the Year, will be honored at a reception prior to the panel. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and tickets cost $20 a person.
For more information on the summit, go to Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. > Give us your news tips. > Send us a letter to the editor. > More Herald contact information.Talk to us
