I cannot help but express my absolute disappointment regarding state schools superintendent Randy Dorn’s recent drunken driving arrest in Orting. Although Dorn hasn’t been convicted, there’s little doubt in my mind that his admission of “consuming beers with dinner,” combined with the WSP report that he showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.11, leaves him very little latitude for anything but a verdict of culpability.
Unfortunately, Dorn’s position does indeed set an example for youth in this state. One of my son’s high school friends, who heard about the incident Wednesday morning, mistakenly assumed it was our district’s own superintendent who received the DUI. Upon correcting him, he still questioned why someone who is responsible for making decisions affecting kids across the state could “… even do something as stupid and wrong as this.”
My son’s friend made an excellent point.
While I am expressing my disappointment as an individual in this letter, it’s difficult for me not to consider Dorn’s other manifestations of poor judgment in my capacity as an elected school director in Snohomish County. Dorn’s recent decision to lower the academic bar in math and science standards across the state, in order to increase the number of students who would then be eligible to get a high school diploma, is an excellent example of poor judgment. Following that regressive professional policy decision with this recent personal manifestation of bad judgment, I think it’s clear that Dorn is still not ready — personally nor professionally — to play the role of our state’s academic chief.
Whether Dorn voluntarily steps down or not after this incident will speak a great deal about his integrity. For the sake of our students, who deserve someone evidencing good judgment at the helm of our education system, I hope that Dorn does relinquish his post.
Michael Kundu
Marysville School Board member
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