ELECTION 2023: Seattle Public Schools Board Director Leslie Harris won’t run for reelection

(WSB file photo)

School Board director Leslie Harris has just announced this at her community meeting at West Seattle Library:

I will not be running for re-election to School Board Director Position 6 for the next four years.

It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve as your elected Director for the past 7.5 years. I ran on the platform of accountability, trust, and equity – and we’ve made progress, but there is a far way to go to deliver outstanding tax supported educational services to SPS’s approximately 47,000 students. We can and must do better.

The different Boards I’ve had the opportunity to serve on have put forth extreme effort despite decades long systemic issues, e.g., underfunding from the state, staff turn-over, Covid 19, and significant changes in the make-up of our community and housing.

Each Director has given hundreds of hours a year for four-year terms for very limited per diem pay which affects their families, employers, and the continuity/history knowledge of the Board’s and District’s work. To expect this sacrifice from working people and families is not sustainable and irresponsible for an elected Board responsible for a $1.2 Billion annual operating budget with limited staff support.

Voters who wish to run for the District 6 position need to register with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) by May 19th. The Primary Election pool is limited to West Seattle, South Park, and Georgetown. Ballots will be mailed July 12th with the top two candidates proceeding to the city-wide General Election. General election mail ballots will be mailed October 18th and the deadline for return is November 7th. There are a number of deadlines for the PDC, campaign laws, voter’s pamphlet submissions, and several debates and symposia throughout the cycle. There is no filing fee for this position. Four positions of the seven member Board (a majority) are up for election this year. I am happy to be a resource to answer questions for those considering running for election.

I will be working hard through November 2023 with my colleagues and SPS staff addressing looming issues such as the potential $131M 2024-25 budget deficit, boundary changes for attendance schools, transportation changes, curriculum adoptions/changes, legislative advocacy with the City and State, the Memorial Stadium potential public/private partnership re-build/rehabilitation to this non-ADA nor earthquake protected extraordinary capital asset in the middle of Seattle Center owned by SPS, as well as the current ongoing significant policy, procedural, operational, and outreach/communication changes already underway which fundamentally change the way the School Board operates.

To my family and the community, thank you for allowing me the opportunity and support to serve in the best and hardest job of my life. It has been worth every minute of effort and an honor to serve the furtherance of our children’s futures. A good education is truly the gateway to a good life for our students and their families.

Harris said it was a very difficult decision. She said she tried to find a successor; absent one, she is encouraging would-be candidates to run. Harris won her first term in 2015 by unseating incumbent Marty McLaren.

Thank you Leslie! April 8, 2023 (2:29 pm)

We know how much you have poured yourself into this job. Thank you for your service to our kids!

Nick April 8, 2023 (6:53 pm)

Amazing

Kat Shimon April 8, 2023 (7:01 pm)

Thank you for your public service, Leslie.

Bill April 8, 2023 (8:59 pm)

Thank you Director Harris! You are a strong, tenacious leader and will be sorely missed.

wsres April 9, 2023 (9:23 am)

She seemed more a friend of the district than a a proponent for what schools need. At the couple of meetings I attended she talked more about herself and how wonderful district employees were. I am hoping we get a new board member that will visit schools and talk with teachers. Teachers are the frontline works of the district and they know what our students and schools need the most.

Loooooonggg time SPS parent April 9, 2023 (12:43 pm)

I went to the community meeting, my first in years, and heard the following ,or have known the following, to reply to your comments. 1) Not a friend of the district, part of the process of the district. School board directors have a unique perspective and work with lots of different people, and if she says there are wonderful employees, there are. She would and did say that teachers are wonderful as well, and thanked the attending teacher for his service, like one would a veteran or active duty service person.2) She commented very specifically that it was frowned upon, by SEA and SPS, for directors to drop into schools, and that it wasn’t as easy as one would think. Also, my comment, we know that directors are not paid for their work, and most have to work at a FT job, so coming into a school is not easy. Community meetings are for staff too, although I know that attending a meeting outside of work is also inequitable.Don’t get me wrong, it is a slog to sit through those meetings, and get super frustrated with Dir. Harris’s ability to …ramble? pontificate? exasperate? But I do know she works fairly, understands the complexities, is now an expert in navigating SPS, and is just as frustrated with the District as anyone. I think she will be great if she continues to advocate from the front lines rather than inside the system, but I might not attend the meeting. Make sure everyone you know supports the next director candidate that represents and prioritizes their concerns. This will be a fascinating race.
J April 9, 2023 (12:43 pm)

That’s so true. Teachers are hard-working professionals who deserve great support from the community I’m not one, so can say it without bias. Don’t have kids either. I’m all in for teachers.
Ivan Weiss April 9, 2023 (12:49 pm)

I think most district employees, and most parents, would double over with laughter at the 180-degree inaccuracy of that assessment. They’ll be pouring champagne at the Stanford Center once Leslie is gone. She might have spoken nicely about District staff in public, but behind the scenes she has been a relentless watchdog. And she has seven months remaining to stay on their case.
Ivan Weiss April 9, 2023 (12:50 pm)

I think most district employees, most teachers, and most parents, would double over with laughter at the 180-degree inaccuracy of that assessment. They’ll be pouring champagne at the Stanford Center once Leslie is gone. She might speak nicely about District staff in public, but behind the scenes she has been a relentless watchdog. And she has seven months remaining to stay on their case.
Tae April 9, 2023 (3:52 pm)

Teachers are the frontline but not without support of the district. Spitting on the district does nothing for the teachers. Leslie has worked hard to bridge the gap between both. By the way she has visited the schools and has always been available no matter the time of the day/night for parents, teachers, district and students. Sounds as you should run for the position.
- wsres April 9, 2023 (8:59 pm)
  
  Well, maybe I as at a meeting when she was having an “off” day, but that was not the impression I got. I’m happy yo hear other opinions. I can’t run for the position yet- but maybe someday in the future.

JRam April 9, 2023 (12:37 pm)

Leslie is not afraid to speak about hard things and she speaks truth to power. There is a fine line in these types of positions between advocate and critic and Leslie has negotiated the balance gracefully throughout her two terms. That she could appear to be a “friend” of the district, as mentioned by the poster above, while still challenging the administration in important matters, speaks to her skill. I wish her well in future endeavors.

Robin April 9, 2023 (12:40 pm)

As noted above Leslie is an advocate for the SPS employees, because as individuals they are (usually) trying. That has always been my experience with them as well, 1:1 they *want* to do right and well, but the system doesn’t work. SPS is (IMO) fundamentally broken. You have to break through to the individuals to get anything done, show different ways of planning, doing, and then you might get somewhere, sometimes, but it’s and uphill, ridiculous battle when SPS should be turning to communities during the “listening sessions” and then implementing what they hear. We advocated HARD for both Arbor Heights and Genesse Hill to be built at the same time and STEM to stay at Boren and go K-8. That wasn’t a district idea, that was families who instead of pitting against each other (a typical SPS tactic) looked for the best solution for all of our community. That was HOURS of advocacy for the best solution that mathematically worked and worked best for all the families who all needed space and resources. Leslie tries for that. She did with Middle College. She was one of the first to hear us. No, it’s not that she’s gotten it all right, but for goodness sake, it’s a tireless, thankless, relentless job and the cog that is the SPS system chews it’s advocates up and spits them out. Thanks Leslie for your time and effort, I appreciate that you did try your hardest. And, in case anyone hasn’t heard lately, the state is still not fully funding education.

beach teach April 11, 2023 (7:01 pm)

I too applaud Ms Harris for her transparent dialogue and detailed, “black and white” explanation of how the district “works.” As a teacher, I feel she is on both my side, AND that of my students’. … something I do NOT feel about other SPS board members. I agree with those who predict that the SPS administration will gleefully welcome her departure. But I now have a new standard by which I will measure ANY candidate, ANY policy shift, ANY district improvement Plan…. And most of all, ANY future levy or plea for tax payer dollars. Thank you, Ms. Harris… you have done well, and will leave a big, beautiful dent in the tarnished reality of Seattle Public Schools. We need more like you, to bring back the polish and the true potential of public education in Seattle.

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