King County Local Voters Pamphlet September 14, 1999 PRIMARY ELECTION SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1 DIRECTOR DISTRICT NO. 01 Note to Voters: The statements below are written by the candidates, who are solely responsible for the contents therein. List of Candidates for SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1 DIRECTOR DISTRICT NO. 01: Martin D. Ringhofer Barbara Schlag Peterson Ken Harer Thom Langley

Martin D. RINGHOFER
Parents continue to abandon Seattle Public Schools because their concerns continue to fall on deaf ears.   Funds must be spent more wisely.  Costs can be decreased significantly.  Wasteful practices must be eliminated.  We can work within existing funding.  Parents, teachers and children must take back their schools.  Quality education first.  The district must stop wasting precious resources.     Martin supports change.  He will support programs that work; fix those that don't; work for safer schools; reduce the bureaucracy; raise ethical standards; support site based control of schools; reduce class size; and hold schools accountable to results.     School buildings are an important part of our history and provide continuity for generations.  Bagley Elementary should not be closed!  Existing facilities should be maintained to adequately support education.  The 1995 $330 million capital school levy will build larger, un-needed school buildings.  The recent soda pop vending machines contract, granting exclusive access to school children and brand name recognition, should be rescinded.  Schools should concentrate on education.  People want facts:  not public relations!     In spite of billions in operating funds, special bonds and levies since 1984, teachers can't assign homework for lack of textbooks; school librarians hold book fairs to raise money; and teachers are "expected" to spend personal funds for supplies!  This must change!  Cliches like "for the children," "world class education," and "investment in our future" fail to address the incompetence and wrong priorities of the district.     MARTIN RINGHOFER has seen changes as a student and a parent.  Martin and his wife Jennifer have lived in Ballard since 1977.  Martin has been President of the Boeing Employees Community Fund; been a member of the King County United Way Board of Directors; and has been active in Seattle since 1966.  His son Christofer, 17, and his daughter Liesl, 15, both attend Ballard High School. CAMPAIGN ADDRESS:  7012 24 NW, Seattle, WA  98117  TELEPHONE:  (206) 784-5920  FAX:  (206) 784-5920  E-MAIL:  nonuno@aol.com		Martin D. Ringhofer

List of Candidates | Local Voters Pamphlet

Barbara Schlag PETERSON
Barbara Peterson has the training, experience and commitment to be an asset to the Seattle School Board.     She knows education from many perspectives.  Barbara taught high school mathematics for eight years.  She's given 14 years as parent volunteer and PTA leader including:  president, Nathan Hale PTSA; president, Sacajawea Elementary PTA; president, Sacajawea's first site council for school based decision-making; vice president, Eckstein PTSA; and board member, PTSA Council.  She serves on a state bias review committee for two science learning standards tests and the Design and Review Committee for the Hale-Addams sports field complex.  She knows the challenges of managing Seattle's complex district and recognizes the need for timely, clear communication.  Barbara has the right background for education policy decisions, particularly regarding upcoming high school reform.     With her MBA degree and experience on the School Board Budget Review Committee, Barbara is well equipped for budget oversight, a primary Board responsibility.  She will ask hard questions, make sound decisions, listen with openness and act with integrity.  She will get the most from each education dollar.     Barbara believes school choice should be about selecting from among excellent programs.  Every school must be held to high standards, with the flexibility and programs to meet diverse learning needs.  Accountability for academic excellence is key.  A positive educational experience comes from good teachers and principals in safe, caring school environments prepared to meet 21st century needs.  She believes schools, families and the community working together can help each child succeed.     A North Seattle native and Phi Beta Kappa UW graduate, Barbara has served Lake City as Community Council secretary and as a co-founder of the park project behind former Lake City School.  Barbara is married with two daughters:  a UW sophomore (Garfield '98) and Nathan Hale senior.  She works as a preschool business administrator. CAMPAIGN ADDRESS:  11556 23 AV NE, Seattle, WA  98125  TELEPHONE:  (206) 364-8767  E-MAIL:  BSP4BOARD@AOL.COM		Barbara Schlag Peterson

List of Candidates | Local Voters Pamphlet

Ken HARER
My children have been in Seattle schools for ten years.  Since I ran for the School Board 4 years ago, I have seen significant publicity generated by and for the Seattle Public Schools, but I have not seen improvement in my children's classrooms.     Our high schools graduate only 64% of incoming students.  The schools have lost focus on what is important.  Our children are being taught to embrace mediocrity because that is all that is expected of them.  The emphasis should be on EDUCATION and PROVIDING SKILLS to help our children.     We need a customer service orientation in our schools, to recruit and retain middle class students who now go elsewhere.  We need more development of job skills and work ethics.  I would like the employment community to think positively about students who graduate from our schools.     I look for better management of the district and its facilities.  Many of our older facilities are an embarrassment, and cannot foster a good learning environment.  Deferred maintenance and poor project management have been long term problems.  This is an area where I have significant education and practical experience.     We have more public support for our schools now than any period in recent history.  We need to translate this into real improvement in the education our children receive.  I can help this happen.     My Background:  UW Law Student, Graduation expected Dec. 1999.  Washington State Teaching Certificate acquired 1997.  Masters courses in Education from Central, Western, and Seattle Pacific University.  MBA -- UW, 1983; BFA -- Industrial Design and BA -- Architecture; UW, 1981.  Director of Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union.  President of Haller Lake Community Club (Seattle Neighborhood Association).		Ken Harer

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Thom LANGLEY
I'm running for this position because Seattle School-Board members must be articulate advocates for K-12 education, putting the needs of the students, our children--our future citizens--first in their decisions.     In 1993, our state legislature adopted major changes in our state's teaching methods and approach.  I fully support these education reforms and will work to ensure their full implementation in Seattle.     In addition, many issues will challenge the District over the next 4 years.  For me, 3 areas stand out as needing special attention, attention I will put in as a Board member:      • The end of noncourt-ordered busing to achieve racial integration, while restoring the positive benefits of neighborhood schools, compels us to find new ways for all children to succeed in school, regardless of racial or socioeconomic background.  The needs of these children cannot be forgotten.  As a Board member for the Center for Human Services, I have gained an awareness of the needs of at-risk youth.  The District must find and implement innovative ways to offset the challenges all these children face in school.     • Colorado's Columbine High highlighted how many students endure verbal tauntings and mental anguish, resulting in outbreaks of violence.  The District must adopt and enforce policies supporting safe schools for all children.  No child should have to go to school afraid.     • Exclusive vending contracts and Channel One are a bad trend.  Further commercialism in our schools must end--period.     My supporters include former Seattle School Board member RANDI RYAN, King County Assessor SCOTT NOBLE, State Senator MARGARITA PRENTICE (D-11), and Rep. CAROLYN EDMONDS (D-32) and Rep. SHARON TOMIKO SANTOS (D-37), who is on the House Education Committee.     Please join them in supporting me and vote for THOM LANGLEY on September 14.		Thom Langley

List of Candidates | Local Voters Pamphlet

Updated: 08-27-1999