Bill would let school boards be appointed, not elected

Three Seattle legislators introduced a bill that would create a way for citizens to replace elected school-board members with an appointed group.

State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, sponsored the measure, along with Democratic Sens. Ken Jacobsen and Jeanne Kohl-Welles. While the Seattle School Board was not specifically mentioned in the proposal, Murray said his legislation — which he has hinted at for months — was aimed at the state's largest school district, which is governed by seven elected members who serve staggered terms.

Seattle School Board President Cheryl Chow said she was blindsided by the bill, which she opposes. The board is set to host a luncheon today in Olympia for representatives from Seattle.

"I'm a little bit disappointed there hasn't been a discussion," Chow said. She said that the board was focused on helping pass an $887 million school bond and levy Feb. 6 and that governance questions could distract from that effort.

"I'd hate for any attention on the levies to be lost on this particular issue."

The bill sets out a procedure for citizens or organizations to file petitions with the county auditor to transform a district from an elected board to an appointed board, or vice versa. To be successful, a petition must be signed by 10 percent of registered voters in the district and clearly designate who would appoint the board.

There now is no established procedure to change school-board governance, Murray said.

Other provisions of the measure include: increasing the daily stipend for school-board members; performing an audit of school boards to analyze their roles, responsibilities and compensation; and creating a state training program for school-board members.

"My entrance into this issue is the concern and frustration I'm hearing from parents in my own district," Murray said. He said constitutional questions prevented him from tailoring the bill exclusively to Seattle.

Mayor Greg Nickels, who has publicly questioned whether Seattle's elected board members possess the appropriate skills to run the district, hadn't seen the proposal, but he welcomed the concept.

"The mayor supports Sen. Murray's effort to put the issue of how are schools governed on the table," said his spokesman, Marty McOmber. "He feels like it's the right time for the community to have this discussion."

Chow rejected any tinkering with the current system.

"I believe it should be elected. This is one of the dearest and closest issues for parents and community people," she said. "When you get to appointments, the question is: Who appoints, and why?"

As for lobbying against the bill, Chow said: "I'm sure if Sen. Murray shows up to our luncheon, it'll be a topic for discussion."

In an unrelated move, a King County Superior Court judge on Feb. 2 will hold a hearing on the legal viability of a recall petition filed against five Seattle School Board members: Chow, Brita Butler-Wall, Michael DeBell, Darlene Flynn and Irene Stewart.

Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com