By now, your ballot has arrived and you might be wondering, “Why should I vote for Rob Tepper, versus the incumbent Chris Carlson?” In my experience as the parent of a Lakeview Elementary student, here are my observations:
Rob Tepper has spent his entire career communicating with the public. Rob is open, honest, a fierce advocate for our children and has attended every LWSD Board meeting over the last year. Rob believes in engaging with the constituents, sharing ideas, comparing thoughts and leading the LWSD Board with transparency.
Conversely, there is Chris Carlson.
Last year, the LWSD was forced to redraw their boundaries after yet another failed bond initiative. In a Nov. 6, 2014 meeting hosted by Carlson at Lakeview Elementary in Kirkland, Carlson had these things to say:
Until future bonds pass, “It’s going to be uncomfortable.“ Lakeview Elementary has lost their science, art and computer space under Carlson’s leadership on the Board. Carlson said that the district never planned for a failed bond and in his words “We blew it.”
Carlson also mentioned that the LWSD “Didn’t forecast right” and that Lakeview Elementary should have been built as an entire two-story institution, as opposed to its current partial two-story layout.
Many parents expressed concern about the reboundary process, offered suggestions on how the Board could impact the least number of families and encouraged Carlson and the other Board members to look at the data before making a decision. Carlson, who touts a science-based doctoral degree, stated, “Do we use data to make decisions? No, we’ll use feedback.”
Carlson discouraged parents from attending the public school board study sessions and stated that the Board “Doesn’t need people looking over their shoulders.”
Finally, Carlson did encourage parents to attend subsequent meetings to obtain more information. Ironic, given that Carlson himself missed 50% of the Board meetings in November 2014.
I personally can’t trust another term to Chris Carlson, and neither should you. I’m choosing to vote for honest, positive change – and that’s a vote for Rob Tepper.
L.A. Hanculak, Kirkland
