Position 2
Ann McMurray
Age: 52
Family status: Married for 31 years to Tad; mother of two Mountlake Terrace High School graduates and now, thankfully, adults.
Residence: I lived in Mountlake Terrace for 14 years and now live in Brier for the past 5 years.
Education: Educated in the public school system in California and Oregon. Attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California.
Occupation: Operations Manager for a mental health and chemical dependency healthcare facility in Edmonds.
Political experience: None – school board is a non-partisan position
Question 1: How do you plan to advocate for school financing solutions?
As an individual, even as a school board member, my voice in Olympia can be drowned out by the cacophony of interests that swirl around the Legislature. The best way I can advocate for school funding solutions is to inform the voters and concerned citizens about the realities that face our district. Together, our multiple voices have a much better chance to be heard. Similarly, it’s why I voted for the district to be part of the NEWS lawsuit designed to compel the state to define and fund basic education, joining with numerous other stakeholders.
Question 2: What happens if the funding situation gets worse next year?
I’m not sure it’s a matter of if, but of how much. The district can only operate on the funding given to us by various sources including the state, the federal government and the levy monies provided by local taxpayers. This past year, we cut almost $12 million from our budget – much of that due to decisions at the state level – by reducing services and programs. If the state decides to make further cuts to the funding provided to school districts, it will mean a further reduction in services and programs.
Question 3: What would you like to see emphasized or strengthened in the curriculum?
I am pleased the district has already emphasized literacy and math skills. We have used literary coaches to train teachers in consistent literary skills. Last year we adopted a new math curriculum that aligns across grade levels and between same grades at different schools to enhance continuity. These are core subjects, whose mastery is fundamental to other educational endeavors. I would like to see civics strengthened, especially at the secondary level. It’s so important for our students to recognize their role as active, engaged and informed citizens. I would like arts emphasized as a vital, interconnected part of basic education.
Question 4: What should the district do about the old Lynnwood High School site now that Cypress might be changing its plans?
The best use to the district for that property is the type of arrangement currently in place with Cypress Equities for retail development and long-term ground lease. The site represents the largest piece of commercially undeveloped property next to a major mall in the United States. If something were to change with Cypress Equities, the district should open up new bidding and negotiations with other interested entities, using and learning from the process to date. Revenue generated from the property means an additional funding source for capital projects aside from district taxpayers.
Position 4
Susan Phillips
Age: 50
Marital/family: Married, 2 children
Residence: Edmonds
Education: BA, University of Washington
Occupation: Instructor, Edmonds Community College, Hospitality &Tourism Dept.; Instructor, Tulalip Reservation, Hospitality Faculty’ Senior Operations Manager, Travel Concepts, Palo Alto, CA
Political Experience: I currently serve as a School Board Director, Position #4. I have served for 2 years, this year as Vice President, and the previous year as the Legislative Representative.
Question 1: How do you plan to advocate for school financing solutions?
I will continue to meet with community groups to keep them informed about school funding, and encourage their support to advocate for better school funding. Our community is comprised of many involved and caring individuals who, when united, will encourage our legislators to make school funding a priority. I also volunteer with Citizens for Schools, which organizes efforts to pass levies and bonds that provide funding our District needs to operate, as state funding is not adequate.
Question 2: What happens if the funding situation gets worse next year?
The recent state revenue forecast indicates that the District will be facing additional budget reductions for the 2009/2010 school year, which will put the district in the position of having to make further reductions in the programs and services we provide. This past year, more than 1,000 community members attended community budget meetings to share their concerns with us. Next year, we will again work with the community when determining painful reductions impacting all students in the district.
Question 3: What would you like to see emphasized or strengthened in the curriculum?
In light of the declining resources which the district faces, we continue to put our energy in the core curriculum of math, reading and writing. I also know how important arts, music and sports are, and it would be difficult to see further reductions made in these areas. In addition, the diverse community to which the district belongs to provides many opportunities for students to learn how to become global community members. The district works with several multi-cultural citizen groups, who model for our students the importance of being accepting, tolerant and compassionate.
Question 4: What should the district do about the old Lynnwood High School site now that Cypress might be changing its plans?
Cypress Equities is working with the district and the city of Lynnwood to take the necessary steps needed to develop the property north of the Alderwood Mall. Cypress is tailoring their plans to better meet the demands in the current economic situation. It is in the district’s interest to have Cypress build a development that serves the community. If the situation changed and Cypress Equities was no longer involved, then the district would begin to negotiate with other interested developers for the school property.
Mark Zandberg
Age: 38
Status: Married
Residence: Edmonds
Education: BA, Economics and Anthropology, University of Oregon; Graduate work in Econometrics and Archaeology at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania
Occupation:Facilities Projects Manager, Public Health – Seattle &King County; Real Estate Agent, Champions Real Estate, Lynnwood &Edmonds; Moderator, www.esd15.org
Political Experience: I have never sought elected office in the past, though I have worked on many successful political campaigns.
Question 1: How do you plan to advocate for school financing solutions?
While it is true the District is in the midst of financial turbulence, their situation is worsen by an endless series of bad decisions. From the loss of nearly $3 million on the Old Woodway Elementary transaction to the purchase of contaminated land for $2.5 million more than appraised value. The Superintendent may claim that such waste is acceptable because they are Capital Funds, but in this current climate we must be more deliberate and thoughtful in how we spend scarce resources. Through preventing waste we can improve our financial situation and more adequately support educational priorities.
Question 2: What happens if the funding situation gets worse next year?
Since I started working on the District’s Capital Facilities Plan in 2001, there was undeniable evidence that our enrollment levels were falling. District management and the Board failed to acknowledge the meaning of such a decline and failed to recognize that such a decline would have a profound effect on state funding. Rather than gradually make cuts, our district leadership waited until the last possible moment and then attempted to save the budget by slashing vital programs. I offer a more analytical approach to forecasting economic conditions and will never play on the emotions of our community.
Question 3: What would you like to see emphasized or strengthened in the curriculum?
Educational fundamentals are essential in establishing a foundation upon which future academic and personal growth can take root and flourish. I strongly support a strong curriculum in math, science and literacy. However, I appreciate the need to support other elements within the existing curriculum. Additionally, I would like to immediately evaluate the manner in which resources are being deployed in support of children. Far too often I hear complaints about the inequitable distribution of International Baccalaureate opportunities and the weakening of programs for Talented and Gifted students. We need to build upon our successes and do a lot more to reduce the unacceptable dropout rate.
Question 4: What should the district do about the old Lynnwood High School site now that Cypress might be changing its plans?
No current board members were involved in the initial evaluation of proposals from prospective developers. Their involvement was only AFTER the decision was made and a public “blessing” was needed. I was involved in the evaluation process and Cypress Equities committed to a development that they now seek to alter because of temporary economic conditions. Without a doubt, the process must start over. A new developer must be found if Cypress Equities is unwilling or unable to build the project they used to beat out their opponents. The original proposal was an acceptable fit for the community – unilaterally changing it will harm our community.
Editor’s note: Mark Zandberg’s responses were sent in after this article was originally published.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
