Letter to the Editor: Family Member Says McConnell Will Listen to Parent Concerns

Steve McConnell is running for BSD on the platform of 1) Openness, 2) Accountability, and 3) Community engagement. Honoring the first two - I am Steve’s mother. #3 - I can no longer remain silent.

I have attended every one of Steve’s Town Meetings. At each succeeding one, I became increasingly heartsick about what I was hearing from both the parents and the teachers who attended. We heard parent after parent after parent describe their futile attempts to secure an adequate education for their children. They tried to work with administrators, they tried to communicate with school board members, and they tried every other resource they could find. Most of them had emailed school board members, some sending one email expecting that it would be channeled to a respondent while others emailed every board member. The results we heard about were consistent. No response from any school board member or from administration.

As Steve’s mother I have followed the school board issues closely since the beginning of the campaign. As we approach the final hours of this election I would like to offer a grandparent’s perspective.

Ignoring communication is poor business practice in the private sector; it is unconscionable for public schools. When I read that some school board members and the school administrators care about every child and are open to communication, it rings hollow after hearing the anguish of these parents. I have heard only the parents who attended the meetings. How many others are there in the school district who have the same experience? Worse, how many parents are there who do not have the knowledge or the ability or the courage to even try to advocate for their children? 

Further, I’ve heard the few teachers who attended talk about the frustrations that inhibit their ability to perform as they know they can and wish to do. This is not what I want for my grandchildren or for the rest of the students of our community.

The good news is that this situation is reversible and fixable. With school board members who are willing and with leadership to help make it happen, we can see a turnaround. Steve has the experience and the skills to provide that leadership. I’d like to believe that the school board members are just as passionate about providing the best for all students as he is and that they just need the leadership he will bring to the board.

Steve will also bring the knowledge and ability to create a positive work environment so that teachers can do their best work and students will flourish, and he will bring the experience needed to supervise the Superintendent of Schools - a main function of the School Board.

The students and the community of Bellevue need Steve McConnell on the Bellevue School Board.

Betty Vene McConnell