Perspectives
[NOTE FROM EDITOR: Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Highline Journal or Daniel Media. If you wish to submit a story, photo, article, or letter, please email us at info@thehighlinejournal.com. We look forward to hearing from you.]
Folks, we’re heading into the final few days of the election season, and I’m asking for a few minutes of your time to read my thoughts on the School Board election for the Highline School District this year. Our community has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move the needle in a big way this election season, with four out of five board member slots open for voting. This is due largely to two resignations in the last year as well as new, fresh candidates entering the election.
I’ve been very involved in our schools and community for a few decades now. My two daughters have collectively spent 24 years attending Highline Schools. I’ve served on the Normandy Park City Council for a decade, working toward being an active and concerned parent and neighbor. My wife, Slavka, worked for the Highline School District for several years as a para-educator volunteer and then as an employee for another four years. I’m sharing this because we know. We know that Highline School District has failed our children—all of our children—for well over 15 years now. Even as involved parents, we watched the slow spiral to nowhere, the lack of concern for academics, and the failure to set up our children for success once they leave the public school system. Highline administrators just don’t care about these things anymore. And that needs to change before it’s too late!
For parents with young children, grandparents who care, and everyone else who believes schools matter, you’ve got to make a decision. Do you want the same old, same old? Board members who are beholden to their endorsers and bullied into submission by school administrators? Or do you want to help get our district back on track to prioritize demonstrated basic learning skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic? That’s really what it comes down to.
Position 5 is unfortunately going unopposed with a candidate that can’t be challenged for another two years. But Positions 2, 3, and 4 are running with opposition, and in order to help drive sorely needed change, the following candidates are a must:
- Sue-Ann Hohimer – Position 2
- Katie Kresly – Position 3
- Ken Kemp – Position 4
These three candidates are clearly the most rational choices for our children. They are committed to a return to academic excellence and to setting our kids up for success—not the disaster and road to nowhere we’ve witnessed for well over a decade.
If you want the same policies and the same lack of concern for our kids’ success, don’t vote for these candidates. If you want change and want to see our kids become the best they can be, Sue-Ann, Katie, and Ken will be asking the tough questions and holding school administrators accountable for poor and declining schools.
My entire family has already voted for all three of these candidates, and for our kids’ sake and the future, I hope you will too.
Mike Bishoff
Normandy Park, WA
[NOTE FROM EDITOR: If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please email us at info@thehighlinejournal.com Even if you wish to remain anonymous, please include your name and phone number so we may contact you privately. We look forward to hearing from you.]
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