Tacoma school board president to retire 3 years early. Search for new member to begin
Tacoma Public Schools Board of Directors president Scott Heinze announced last week his intent to step down from the board on Aug. 31.
A board member in Tacoma for nine years, Heinze told The News Tribune he was proud of the work the board has accomplished and now wants to spend time focused elsewhere.
“Over the last nine years, I have spent thousands of hours in my role as a member of the Tacoma School Board,” Heinze said in a letter to the Tacoma community Thursday. “I’ve missed out on attending my kids’ concerts, games and school plays. These last few months have reminded me what a blessing it is to get to spend quality time with my kids, what amazing young adults they have become, and how fleeting that time is.”
Heinze, 48, was first elected to the school board in 2011 and reelected in 2017. Heinze’s current term is set to end in 2023.
“By making this announcement now, I hope to give my colleagues on the board time to recruit, interview and appoint the next community volunteer to serve the students of Tacoma Public Schools (TPS),” Heinze said in his letter.
“It also will allow me to complete one more important task that I am extremely invested in — determining how TPS will reopen schools in September safely and effectively for our 30,000 students and 5,000 staff members.”
Shannon Ergun, Tacoma Education Association president, said Heinze’s announcement took the teachers union by surprise.
“However, I wish him well as he shifts to spend more time with his family,” Ergun said via text. “Scott regularly made time to meet with TEA and was available to discuss issues of concern. As the senior Board member, his experience was valuable in decision making.”
Fellow board member Elizabeth Bonbright told The News Tribune she’s sad Heinze is leaving, but understands nine years is a long time. He’s taken on a lot as board president, she said, and out of all current members has been on the board the longest.
“He’s brought direction and character and commitment to the board, and that I think is going to be difficult to replace,” she said.
The board will follow policy for resignations and vacancies to replace Heinze, according to spokesperson Dan Voelpel. The board will put out a notice for applications, decide which applicants they want to interview and conduct those interviews in a public setting. The board then will select someone to fill the spot for the remainder of the term until the election in 2023.
It will be the third time in three years the board has embarked on the process.
Current school board director Enrique Leon was selected to fill the position vacated by director Catherine Ushka, who left the school board after being elected to Tacoma City Council in 2017. Leon was officially elected to the position in 2019. Current board director Bonbright was selected by the board to take Karen Vialle’s position after she passed away from cancer last year.
Heinze’s announcement comes several weeks after the school board was criticized by some staff and families for approving layoffs for dozens of paraeducators in addition to a salary increase for the superintendent at the same meeting.
Heinze acknowledged the evaluation of Santorno’s contract in his letter, stating that her “passionate and steadfast leadership over the last nine years” and “long track record of high-performing work” contributed to the school board’s decision to extend her contract.
Heinze also said he was proud that Tacoma was able to raise its graduation rates from 55 percent in 2011, when the district was labeled a “dropout factory” by USA Today, to 89.8 percent in 2019.
“I am grateful for the opportunity and, while I know that not everyone has always agreed with my decisions, I have always tried to treat people with dignity; be respectful in my communication; listen to and consider a variety of perspectives and opinions; and make well-reasoned decisions,” Heinze said.
Heinze said he’s ready to “pass the baton” to the next person.
“I encourage our community to stay invested and engaged in the ongoing work of Tacoma Public Schools and educating our children,” he said. “I will be listening and watching — just from the sidelines now.”
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
