The News Tribune asked the four candidates their thoughts on issues in the school district.
If you had been a member of the board during the strike, how would you have handled things differently?
Gordon: “I heard that, outside the board, there were tensions (between teachers and administrators). I would have wanted to work on repairing that breach.
“I would have wanted to get the superintendent to clear the air, … anticipate contract negotiations and head off potential problems.
“If we are doing our job, we would get out ahead of things.”
Heinze: “I don’t think it’s appropriate for school board members to take sides. I think the appropriate role of the board is to remain neutral.”
He said he believes the board made a mistake by turning over its powers to the superintendent during the strike. “I would have remained engaged.”
He also said it was a mistake for the board to hire an outside negotiator. “That was absolutely polarizing.”
Vialle: “They definitely should not have hired an outside negotiator. Negotiations should be between the people who will be there when it’s over. Negotiations should have started earlier.”
Washington: “I wish negotiations would not have gone on the backs of children. By agreeing to go on strike when so many people are out of work, are we serving the business of education or are we serving the children?
“We should have had another way to settle than the same traditional things that we have been doing.”
What are your opinions on the superintendent search?
Gordon: “The process used yielded a single candidate. There is a public perception that this was an inside fix. … It sends all the wrong signals. We would lose nothing by being deliberative about the process. The notion of continuity is a very weak argument.”
Heinze: “I would like to see a regional or national search. With only one candidate, we don’t have the ability to compare and contrast. Carla may be the best, but we don’t know if we can’t put her up against (other candidates).
“We need to get the next superintendent right and make sure of the best fit.”
Vialle: “I don’t know Carla, so it’s nothing personal. But we should do a national search and see who is interested in coming to Tacoma. My preference is someone from a large, diverse, urban school district who has a record of academic improvement.”
Washington: “To have only one person apply means we didn’t have a fair process. I think people were scared to apply. I would open it up again to anybody who wants to apply. Then if there are no candidates – or one – we would open it up for a national search.”
How will you address tough budget decisions?
Gordon: “We have to get ready for the next tsunami that is coming down. I want to welcome the community’s expertise and wisdom.”
Heinze: “We should quantify our priorities. We need to start having contingency plans. We need to provide some certainty and continuity for families, and we need a system to make (budget) decisions.”
Vialle: “You have to go through and set priorities in the budget. I want to see what is charged to administration, and I want to see why. Teachers, paraeducators – whoever is involved in instruction – has to be the first priority.
“We are going to look at the whole (budget), and decide what is the most efficient use of resources and how to inflict the least amount of pain.”
Washington: “We have to look at costs, look at the fat in existing programs. We need to look at everything and then collectively decide, ‘What is necessary this year?’”
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