Buel, Smith for school board
June 16, 2008 5:06 pm
In the search for a replacement for departing director Dan Ryan, the school board need look no further than Steve Buel and Nancy Smith. I asked both if they would be willing to serve.
“I accept,” was Buel’s response. Smith was a little more circumspect, but would serve if called.
Buel finished a strong second to Ryan in the last election for this seat. His experience as an activist policy maker on the PPS school board is much needed on a body that seems paralyzed to do anything about obvious, glaring inequity.
He has demonstrated a keen understanding of the issues of poverty in education, and the various troubles with PPS policy, from middle school discipline to the student and teacher transfer policies.
In the 2005 race of five candidates, Buel won 27.94% of the vote to Ryan’s 50.65%. Not bad, considering Ryan outspent Buel five-to-one. Buel beat third-place finisher Charles McGee by a three-to-one ratio.
Of course, Buel has a tell-it-like-it-is style that rubs some “important” people the wrong way. It’s hard to imagine the existing board welcoming him into their fold, but I’d be happy to be proven wrong.
If the board won’t appoint the runner-up for the seat, Buel says he’ll be running again in the spring.
I’m not sure how much serious thought Smith has given to a 2005 run, but she seems to be edging in that direction.
Smith is currently president of the Jefferson PTSA and a high school business teacher in the Beaverton School District. Like Ryan, she is a graduate of Roosevelt High. She has real skin in the game, with children past and present in the Jefferson cluster. She is a founding member of the Neighborhood Schools Alliance and a veteran school equity activist.
Smith would bring unparalleled passion and energy to the board. If her passion sometimes boils over, it is because of her deep belief that we have a moral obligation to provide all of our children with equal opportunity.
Both Steve Buel and Nancy Smith are eligible, and both have the experience, dedication and and conviction to do the job. Most importantly, both share a fundamental, unshakable commitment to equal opportunity in education.
If the school board is as serious about equity as Carole Smith claims to be, they would be foolish to appoint anybody but one of these two. Either would bring a much-needed equity focus to the board, and help them achieve Smith’s stated, “overarching” goal of equity.
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
filed under: Elections, Equity, School Board
June 16th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Well said, Steve.
However, I think we –meaning school and equity activists– need to get behind one candidate. No disrespect to Steve Buel (who is indeed an outspoken schools advocate), but my choice is Nancy Smith.
I say that because Jefferson and its school cluster needs a passionate defender on the school board. Nancy, both as a parent of students at Jeff and as its PTSA president, fits that description perfectly.
Now that I know she’s willing to serve, I’ll start working on petition/e-mail to the board promoting Nancy’s candidacy. If other NSA members and PPS Equity contributors want to promote Steve B. as well, I’m OK with that, too.
Maybe I’ll fire off an e-mail to the NSA group to determine preferences. Either way I think we need to get something going soon.
June 17th, 2008 at 8:07 am
I’m on board 100% with any effort to promote Nancy Smith, Terry. Tell me where to sign. Not only is she well positioned to fight for the Jefferson cluster, she is a proven community leader.
I’m just glad I don’t personally have to choose between Buel and Smith. Strong arguments can be made for both, and either one could potentially tip the balance of the school board toward fairness and equal opportunity.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Nancy Smith for School Board!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I like Buel and Smith both. Can they job-share 😉 ?