NSD Bond and Levy

I have been studying the issue of Northshore School District’s Bond and Levy, and, whereas I am a proponent of public education, I have deep misgivings about the 2014 Bond and Levy.   

It recent years it has become apparent that Superintendent Francois and members of the School Board do not desire to work collaboratively with parents and community members.   Their mishandling of the “early release days” and outright refusal to involve community in the dialogue and decision making was characteristic of their ongoing choice to exclude the greater community from involvement in and with our schools.  When Superintendent Francois first hired into this school district he made a promise to be more open to dialogue and community participation in the decision making process.  This he has failed to do. 

Over the last decade Northshore implemented numerous cuts to programs and services, citing declining enrollment as the reason for the cuts.  Superintendent Francois stated earlier this month that Northshore’s enrollment is increasing and is almost to its all-time high (2005).   Although the enrollment is increasing, we are NOT seeing programs and services being restored as they should be.  Instead, since Superintendent Francois took over the reins of Northshore, we have seen an increase in the number of administrative positions.  In just the past few years the number of deputy/assistant superintendent positions alone have nearly doubled.   

Just three years ago the community supported our schools by narrowly approving a supplemental levy which promised to maintain programs.  Much of that levy money went to maintaining salaries and increasing administrative positions, not programs and services.  I fear this levy and bond will be of little difference. 

I want to support our schools –our children – but I cannot support an administration and school board which breaks its promises to the community and to the students.   I need to be able to trust Northshore to be fiscally responsible and to do what is right for our students, but at this point I cannot.    

Mark Davis