We need someone to get the job done

It's a job.
Serving on the school board is an honor and a privilege. It's also a job. The current school board isn't getting the job done. Elect Charlie Mas and he'll do the work.

Make Policy.
The Board is supposed to function as the policy-making body for the District. The current Board has made little or no progress on the huge backlog of policies that need to be written, revised and repealed. Elect Charlie and he'll do the work.

More than that, the Board can write policy, but if they don't enforce policy, then they haven't really made policy. The current board has not enforced policy. Elect Charlie Mas and he'll do the work.

Oversee Management.
No one wants the Board to micro-manage the Superintendent, but they do have a duty to manage her. It is the Board's job to hold her accountable, but they aren't doing it. Elect Charlie Mas and he'll do the work.

It is appropriate and necessary for the Board to review the Superintendent's decisions to confirm that they conform with Board Policy, comply with state and federal law, and are consistent with the District's Guiding Principles. The current Board isn't doing this work. Elect Charlie Mas and he'll do the work.

It is also appropriate and necessary for the Board to review the Superintendent's recommendations submitted for Board approval to confirm that they are data-based, founded on sound rationale, and reflect best practices. The current Board isn't doing this work. Elect Charlie Mas and he'll do the work.

The Board also has a role in providing accountability. Someone needs to provide follow-through on the commitments made by the District. If the superintendent or the staff say that they will do something, and they are not held accountable for fulfilling those commitments at any other level of the District administration, it falls to the Board to demand accountability. A great number of Strategic Plan projects are desperately behind in their commitments. The Board has not been providing that accountability. Elect Charlie Mas and he'll do the work.

Represent the Public.
Finally, the Board members are the elected representatives of the public. As such they have a duty to represent the public. There is no one else in the District who are accountable to the public, so if the Board does not insist on public input, present the public perspective, or advocate for the public perspective, it will not happen. The Board has not been an effective advocate for the public perspective. Elect Charlie Mas and he'll do the work.


School Board Directors are volunteers paid only a small stipend, but they have a job to do. The current Board may be working hard, but they aren't getting the job done. They haven't written policy and they haven't enforced policy. They haven't reviewed the Superintendent's decisions and they haven't adequately reviewed the staff's recommendations before approving them. They haven't advocated effectively for the public's perspective or for the public's interests. They aren't getting the job done. Charlie Mas is running for the school board because he wants to do the work. Elect Charlie Mas and he'll get the job done.

Charlie Mas will run

Charlie Mas, longtime education activist, is a candidate for the Seattle School Board. Mr. Mas is running for Director from District VII representing Southeast Seattle.

He will soon announce a campaign web site where visitors can learn about Mr. Mas, his positions on the issues, and contribute to his campaign.