school board members Archive

  • Hello parents and visitors, I have a few questions.  I have a  daughter who attends school in this district.  Does anyone know the proper procedure when dealing with bullying incidents?  I thought I did.  I was wrong.  I thought our school knew.  I was wrong again.  My daughter dealt with the same bully on a daily basis FOR THE ENTIRE 2011-2012  SCHOOL YEAR.  As parents are we going to stand for this?  I won’t.  Why are there procedures in place, governed by state law if our district does not have to abide by them?  These are a few questions I have for other parents. 

    Have You Ever Felt Victimized by the KSD?

    Posted on April 5, 2012 | No Comments
    Hello parents and visitors, I have a few questions.  I have a  daughter who attends school in this district.  Does anyone know the proper procedure when dealing with bullying incidents?  I thought I did.  I was wrong.  I thought our school knew.  I was wrong again.  My daughter dealt with the same bully on a daily basis FOR THE ENTIRE 2011-2012  SCHOOL YEAR.  As parents are we going to stand for this?  I won’t.  Why are there procedures in place, governed by state law if our district does not have to abide by them?  These are a few questions I have for other parents. 

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  • I met with Ron after the school board meeting on September 28.  This is what I learned about the candidate for Kennewick School Board position 4. As a young man growing up in rural North Carolina, Ron experienced low expectations from his teachers who advised many students to plan their futures on the farms around his town.  He was determined to find success in engineering and is now with PNNL managing a facility dedicated to improving national security at U.S. borders.

    Ron Mabry – Candidate for Kennewick School Board position 4

    Posted on October 2, 2011 | 4 Comments
    I met with Ron after the school board meeting on September 28.  This is what I learned about the candidate for Kennewick School Board position 4. As a young man growing up in rural North Carolina, Ron experienced low expectations from his teachers who advised many students to plan their futures on the farms around his town.  He was determined to find success in engineering and is now with PNNL managing a facility dedicated to improving national security at U.S. borders.

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  • Brian Brooks, interim school board member and candidate for position 5 on the Kennewick School Board has been electioneering on Kennewick School District property by placing his campaign literature on vehicles parked in school parking lots during open house events.  Chip Beatty of the Public Disclosure Commission affirmed that electioneering on school grounds by school board members is specifically prohibited by state law (see Guidelines for School Districts in Election Campaigns, p.8). Beatty noted that electioneering on school property by any candidate would violate PDC guidelines and would advise school districts to stop the practice. It is certain elected school board members are aware of the state guidelines and should inform candidates to discontinue this abuse of district facilities.  When will this happen? For details see this link: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/archive/pdf/01-03Revised092806.pdf  

    Brooks Breaks the Rules

    Posted on September 14, 2011 | 1 Comment
    Brian Brooks, interim school board member and candidate for position 5 on the Kennewick School Board has been electioneering on Kennewick School District property by placing his campaign literature on vehicles parked in school parking lots during open house events.  Chip Beatty of the Public Disclosure Commission affirmed that electioneering on school grounds by school board members is specifically prohibited by state law (see Guidelines for School Districts in Election Campaigns, p.8). Beatty noted that electioneering on school property by any candidate would violate PDC guidelines and would advise school districts to stop the practice. It is certain elected school board members are aware of the state guidelines and should inform candidates to discontinue this abuse of district facilities.  When will this happen? For details see this link: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/archive/pdf/01-03Revised092806.pdf  

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  • “Test data can be precise, but not accurate.” - Charlotte Danielson

    Can We Be Confident That Test Scores Provide Useful Information About Kennewick Students?

    Posted on September 11, 2011 | 3 Comments
    “Test data can be precise, but not accurate.” - Charlotte Danielson

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  • At Wednesday’s school board meeting I spoke to the board when president Dawn Adams asked for communication from the community.  I stated that some Kennewick residents are disappointed and puzzled by the appointment of a school board candidate to fill the vacated board position.  The complaint is that this appointment appears to be based on politics and not on merit.  My request was to meet with school board members to help me understand their decision so I could report facts, not speculation to people who read this blog.  Adams responded immediately saying she has heard no complaints about their appointment.  She explained that the board had made no requirement limiting applicants to non-school board candidates.  So the board went into executive session and made their decision. This answer did not bring clarity to the selection criteria or speak to the...

    KSD School Board Triumvirate Responds

    Posted on August 19, 2011 | 9 Comments
    At Wednesday’s school board meeting I spoke to the board when president Dawn Adams asked for communication from the community.  I stated that some Kennewick residents are disappointed and puzzled by the appointment of a school board candidate to fill the vacated board position.  The complaint is that this appointment appears to be based on politics and not on merit.  My request was to meet with school board members to help me understand their decision so I could report facts, not speculation to people who read this blog.  Adams responded immediately saying she has heard no complaints about their appointment.  She explained that the board had made no requirement limiting applicants to non-school board candidates.  So the board went into executive session and made their decision. This answer did not bring clarity to the selection criteria or speak to the...

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  • Kennewick School Board Meeting   May 11, 2011   5:30 PM    Adjournment at 7:30 PM All board members were present. Business: • Superintendent Dave Bond recommended that KSD take no official position regarding construction of a private RV park near Cottonwood Elementary school. The board concurred. • The school board will conduct a retreat for discussions on Saturday, June 11. • The state legislature has not yet produced a state budget. A special session is possible in June. • Board members Kathy White and Wendy London participated in a two day Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) training for school board members. • Bond presented a comprehensive report of information collected from KSD parents, staff, teachers and administrators regarding the proposed KSD Strategic Plan North Star goals. See details below. • Ron Williamson presented the second reading of Policy No. 3207 Students: Prohibition...

    Kennewick School Board Report for May 11

    Posted on May 13, 2011 | 1 Comment
    Kennewick School Board Meeting   May 11, 2011   5:30 PM    Adjournment at 7:30 PM All board members were present. Business: • Superintendent Dave Bond recommended that KSD take no official position regarding construction of a private RV park near Cottonwood Elementary school. The board concurred. • The school board will conduct a retreat for discussions on Saturday, June 11. • The state legislature has not yet produced a state budget. A special session is possible in June. • Board members Kathy White and Wendy London participated in a two day Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) training for school board members. • Bond presented a comprehensive report of information collected from KSD parents, staff, teachers and administrators regarding the proposed KSD Strategic Plan North Star goals. See details below. • Ron Williamson presented the second reading of Policy No. 3207 Students: Prohibition...

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  • I was the only member of the Kennewick School Board to attend this event. Dave Bond, KSD Superintendent also attended. Our neighboring districts, Richland and Pasco, each had four members and the superintendent in attendance. The purpose of this meeting is professional development for School Board Directors.

    KSD Board Member Kathy White on WSSDA

    Posted on December 10, 2010 | 4 Comments
    I was the only member of the Kennewick School Board to attend this event. Dave Bond, KSD Superintendent also attended. Our neighboring districts, Richland and Pasco, each had four members and the superintendent in attendance. The purpose of this meeting is professional development for School Board Directors.

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  • Here are some quotes lifted from a Huffington Post article by Charles Kerchner, research professor at Claremont Graduate University. “There is little doubt that the Times is intent on publishing the names” (of LA teachers who did not show well on the value-added analysis of student test scores).” But they shouldn’t. Here’s why:” “First, there is a difference between public officials and public employees. Public officials are fair game for just about anything, from their expense accounts to their sex lives. Traditionally, journalism has had a different relationship with public employees. We recognize that exposing rogue cops and racist firefighters falls within the purview of journalism, but we haven’t seen their performance rankings listed. That’s considered an internal personnel matter, just as it is with employees in the private sector.” “I understand shaming mayors, school board members, even superintendents, but...

    Test Score Bomb: Don’t Name Names, Fix the System

    Posted on August 23, 2010 | 1 Comment
    Here are some quotes lifted from a Huffington Post article by Charles Kerchner, research professor at Claremont Graduate University. “There is little doubt that the Times is intent on publishing the names” (of LA teachers who did not show well on the value-added analysis of student test scores).” But they shouldn’t. Here’s why:” “First, there is a difference between public officials and public employees. Public officials are fair game for just about anything, from their expense accounts to their sex lives. Traditionally, journalism has had a different relationship with public employees. We recognize that exposing rogue cops and racist firefighters falls within the purview of journalism, but we haven’t seen their performance rankings listed. That’s considered an internal personnel matter, just as it is with employees in the private sector.” “I understand shaming mayors, school board members, even superintendents, but...

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