\doc\web\99\15\geob1017.txt From: David Blomstrom Geobop School Board Update, October 15, 1999 Scroll to the bottom for a Microsoft Word attachment. Geobop School Board Update, October 17, 1999 Al Jones: Aw, What the Hell! Postal Lawsuit Leadership, My Ass! Who's in Charge of the Times? Hey, We're Invited! Bingo! Middle School Assignments Term Paper Alumni Suing Seattle Schools Coming Attractions Battlefield Stats Special Feature: Racial Politics! Al Jones: Aw, What the Hell! Since this is sort of a leadership issue, I thought I might as well demonstrate some leadership by leading the charge against Garfield High School Principal Al Jones. Check out my Al Jones page at http://www.geobop.com/Education/CEOs/Al_Jones Notice that I'm promoting Jones as America's next Mary Kay LeTourneau. Does that mean I have proof that he's had sex with at least three students and got two or three of them pregnant? Well, only I know, but I have a strong hunch the Seattle Post-Intelligencer will be backing me up in the next few days. And what if I'm 1) bluffing and 2) wrong, and Jones sues me? Well, that would give me ten times more publicity than I've gotten campaigning for a seat on the Seattle School Board! And wouldn't a lawsuit against me constitute an issue, in an otherwise issueless campaign? Please, Al - nail me! If John Stanford was the Benedict Arnold of public education, think of me as General Patton. Postal Lawsuit The school district that's sooooo terrified of lawsuits is suing the City of Seattle because the Seattle City Council wouldn't let the school board move into an abandoned post office in the middle of a war zone. But it isn't likely that legal whore Larry Ransom will be raking council members over the coals, a technique he practices over and over on teachers. Rather, Superintendent Joseph Olchefske has described this one as "a friendly lawsuit," intended to keep the district's options open while trying to negotiate a compromise. Reference: "Seattle School District sues city for barring move to industrial area," by education activist Keith Ervin, The Seattle Times, October 16, 1999 Leadership, My Ass! A stirring essay on leadership was recently penned by Seattle Times Executive Editor Mike Fancher - "Why does leadership matter? It's as simple as traffic and taxes," (October 17, 1999). But this is more than a one-night stand: Tomorrow, reporter Jolayne Houtz is going to give us "a fresh, provocative look at the late John Stanford's leadership of the Seattle School District." For nonresidents on this e-mail list, that's the dysfunctional school district that went beyond rock bottom during Stanford's clueless tenure. Fancher askes, "What kind of leaders does our region need to solve the problems of the future, and do people really want that kind of leadership?" The answer to the first question can be found at http://www.geobop.com/Education/CEOs/Tips.htm. I think we all know the answer to the second question. Fancher's exciting quest into the bowels of Seattle's leadership vacuum is part of a "Who's in charge of tomorrow" Front Porch Forum, produced in partnership with National Public Radio station KUOW (94.9 FM). It sounds like they're looking for citizen input, so this might be the perfect time to tell the public the truth about Stanford's midnight stroll down Broadway. You know, when the police thought he was stealing hospital equipment. Says Fancher, "The most important way a newspaper can lead in its community is by asking tough questions and seeking the truth." Which explains why they've tackled the Al Jones story with the same head-up-butt technique they used on John Stanford and Mr. Mak versus Seattle Schools. Who's in Charge of the Times? In "Who's in charge of Tomorrow?" (October 17), Seattle Times guy Alex Tizon rambles on and on about "leadership" and the folks who don't practice it: "There's Ron Sims, but he's just King County. "There's Paul Schell, but a Seattle mayor can't run the region. "There's Gov. Gary Locke. Nice fellow but too cautious." And here's my favorite: "Former Seattle school Superintendent John Stanford was named repeatedly as owning the qualities of a great leader - vision, compassion, commitment, charisma. Someone asked: 'Could we have a John Stanford of Growth or a John Stanford of Transportation?' Short of Stanford, whose brief tenure in Seattle ended when he died of leukemia 11 months ago, the discussion groups could not seem to connect a name or face with any of the region's pressing issues." Let me think about that - a John Stanford of Growth or Transportation? Are you talking about someone who divides his time between signing autographs in Starbucks and chasing whores on the monorail? Someone who engages in blackmail, then demands more time to work on his latest book project while growth proceeds according to the laws of Nature? Here's where Tizon's piece gets SLICK: He recalls how people protested the Mariners' last money grab, then says they all finally fell in line behind the great ballpark, after which he writes, "Crowley says the Seattle tradition, long before consensus leadership had a name, always involved 'gnashing, head-knocking battles.' "Just ask Jim Ellis." Now that's a propaganda gem. What he's telling us is that the Mariners protest was simply a silly stage we passed through on the way to endorsing Safeco Field; it's like people evolving into middle-school brats on the way to adulthood. Then he introduces Jim Ellis and lauds him as a great hero. Of course, we know Jim Ellis as the little weasel who led the Mariners' screw job, then abandoned ship after he'd done his dirty work. Wait a minute - that's JOHN Ellis! Why, you trickster! If the Times can promote Jim Ellis as a great leader while mentioning the Mariners in the margins, maybe the brain-dead apathons who inhabit Seattle will associate the name "Ellis" with good deeds rather than ripoffs. Well, if Seattle's sleaziest tabloid thinks Jim Ellis is a good leader, then he's probably a bum, too. The author also writes, "Leaders who came from nowhere are everywhere in history. Jesus, arguably the greatest leader the Western world has ever known, was a two-bit carpenter." What's shocking about this statement is that the author would dare to elevate Jesus above John Stanford! You know, it just occurred to me that there IS a leader among us who stands in the company of Jesus and John. His name is David Blomstrom, and I hope you'll vote for me. Coming in the Front Porch Forum: Tomorrow: "What was it about John Stanford? An exploration of charisma, chemistry and timing." [but not his arrogant contempt for community, whore-chasing, administrative mistress, blackmail attempt, alcoholism, midnight marathon, or general mental breakdown] Tuesday: "The leadership gene - or, are leaders born or made? (On the Science page.)" [I say, "Neither." Leaders are manufactured on the front page of the Seattle Times.] Hey, We're Invited! Posted at 11:41 p.m. PDT; Sunday, October 17, 1999 Join in the discussion The Front Porch Forum works best as an active conversation involving journalists, community members and leaders. That conversation began earlier this year with special focus groups that helped shape the new project on leadership. In the months ahead we will be inviting your participation in a variety of ways, including public forums. Right now, we'd like to hear your thoughts about leadership, and we'll publish some of your answers in The Seattle Times. Let us know what you think: Is there a leadership vacuum in the Puget Sound area? In the nation? Who do you think of when you think of a strong leader, and what are the characteristics that make her or him strike you as a leader? Do strong leaders simply appear when the times demand them? Would you say effective leadership is more evident in the private sector or in the public sector? Why do you think this is true. And, finally, what would you like to see us cover, in our newspaper and radio stories, as we look into the question: Who's in charge of tomorrow? Get in touch - because it wouldn't be a conversation without your voice. How to contact the Front Porch Forum: By mail: Front Porch Forum, Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. By e-mail: porch@seattletimes.com By fax: 206-464-2261. By phone: 206-464-3340. Bingo! Now I REALLY see the big picture. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce is starting to look like Roger Erskine with his pants down around with his ankles, what with parents in a snit about middle school assignments, Al Jones forced to cancel his honeymoon, a civil war brewing over the city's most expensive abandoned post office, angry taxpayers picketing Rainier Beach High School every Monday, Kenneth Camper threatening an education activist school board candidate while a Seattle Times reporter labels another activist candidate a racist, and certain items I haven't even revealed yet=85and it's all just a prelude to WTO! That's why they're taking St. John Stanford out of mothballs for an exciting new series on leadership. Let's see, who really hired Al Jones, John Stanford or Joseph Olchefske? (Both have been referenced in the media.) And who was it who wasn't even evaluating principals and was too stupid to distinguish a qualified principal from a McDonalds job applicant? Middle School Assignments Term Paper In "Seattle parents take fight-or-flight stance for school of choice" (October 17), Seattle Times staff columnist Susan Nielsen offers parents tips for getting their kids into the Seattle public school of their choice: o Change your child's race on the application form. o Get into the Spectrum program for gifted students, even if it means an expensive private test. o Pester school leaders - and if that doesn't work, threaten to file a lawsuit or flee to private school. Actually, I was rather impressed with this article. Here are some good ideas: "Yes, North-End white parents with children in gifted programs are the catalyst behind this. Yes, the real debate centers around policies on race and IQ. But it is too simplistic to talk about north vs. south, white vs. black, 'highly capable' vs. everyone else." "About 25 percent of the children living inside district boundaries don't attend public schools - as many as 40 percent in northeast Seattle." "Parents know this system cold. They know it better than school board members, a few of whom can't remember all the tiebreakers. And parents have discovered two weaknesses to exploit." Those weaknesses are Race and Spectrum. "Parents of Spectrum children are the district's most involved parents. They volunteer like mad, and their energy is contagious. "Everyone works the system, but Spectrum parents do it best. They've got the speed dial and the letterhead, and they've got private school to back up their demands for continued preferential treatment. It makes school leaders a tad testy: One said, 'I'm almost tempted to say, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."'" Rainier Beach High School protester Barbara Davis-Stevens was quoted in Nielsen's article. Alumni suing Seattle Schools I saw something on TV about a group of what appeared to be senior citizens who want to sue Seattle Schools to gain custody of Cleveland Memorial Forest. Larry Zipp and friends are apparently concerned that the district might try to profit from the forest, which I believe is a memorial to World War II veterans. The trial is due to start in December. Coming Attractions Seattle Times Editorial Endorsements Thursday, Oct. 21: Seattle School Board. Sunday, Oct. 31: Summary of endorsements. October 27 - Public hearing on middle school assignments. November 3 - The Seattle School Board will vote on a middle school assignment plan, and if you don't like the way they vote, that's just tough because the next election's a loooong ways away. Battlefield Stats War is hell, and it's going to take a war to liberate Seattle Schools from the education mafia. Here's an updated list of casualties. Body Count Garfield High School Principal Albert Jones Nina Shapiro (the Seattle Weekly's blind reporter) Lynne Varner (the Seattle Times' e-mail ranter) Laura Gauntlett (the only SPICE official sentenced to date) Wounded in Action Seattle School Board directors Ellen Roe & Michael Preston 5 Other Idiots on the School School board candidates Mary Jean Ryan, Nancy Waldman, and David Blomstrom Superintendent Joseph Olchefske Roger Erskine (SEA Executive Director) Kenneth Camper Cheryl Chow, "Seattle's most famous half-time principal) The same children who are always injured by our education mafia Special Feature: Racial Politics! Well, I finally did it - jumped headfirst into the murky waters of another taboo subject. [I loved breaking the John Stanford taboo, but I probably won't venture into the homophobia/gay books thing, which scarcely ranks as an issue.] Here's my nearly completed article about "racial politics." I'd love to hear any comments, as I'm thinking of putting it online. I'm especially anxious to be alerted of any factual mistakes I might have made and any theories that sound too hare-brained to be plausible. I think I know what I'm talking about here, but there are a number of political and social issues involved that I'm not that educated about. Introduction Scandalous Administrators The Forgotten Minorities White Trash The Flip Side: Invisible Leaders What Was Wrong With Affirmative Action? Al Jones: Is he the key? Racial Politics: Seattle Schools' Dirty Little Secret There's far more racism in Seattle than most folks realize, or care to admit. Of course, we all know that much of the city is more or less divided into ethnic enclaves that are hardly equal. It's no secret that white parents in northern Seattle pull more weight on the mostly white Seattle School Board than do parents in the Rainier Valley or Beacon Hill regions, where there are more minorities. Nor should it surprise the public to know that the school board is little more than a front for the mostly white Seattle Chamber of Commerce. African American students traditionally lag behind white students academically and drop out of school more frequently. Southeast Asian and Native American students are in similar academic straits. Though it would probably be incorrect to dismiss this state of affairs as solely the product of racism, it's certainly a contributing factor. With the passage of I-200, nonwhite will no longer have Affirmative Action to use as a tool for gaining employment. Fortunately, there are leaders among us who have long led the fight for racial equality. African American leaders include people like former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, the Reverend Samuel McKinney, and the late Seattle Schools Superintendent John Stanford, three powerful leaders in the black community. Rice and Stanford did more than their share to help shepherd numerous African Americans into positions as administrators with the Seattle School District, while McKinney's wife, Louise, long served as a schools administrator. Asian American leaders include Governor Gary Locke, Seattle City Council representative Martha Choe and former council member Cheryl Chow, Seattle School Board director Jan Kumasaka, and her predecessor, Al Sugiyama. These are the sorts of leaders that are commonly lauded in editorials in the Seattle Times. and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. But are they real leaders? Here's what I think: The Seattle School District is run by the same consortium that runs the City of Seattle. I frequently refer to it as "the Seattle Chamber of Commerce" or "John Stanford, Inc." but you could also call it the "white mafia" (even though John Stanford was African American). I believe that within this white mafia there is a "black mafia." It is composed of black administrators who, as a group, are strikingly numerous and incompetent. I believe that most of them are too busy enriching themselves to care about the black community or the larger community. To put it bluntly, I think many of these "leaders" are Uncle Toms. I believe that most Asian American officials in Seattle Schools and City Hall are similarly Uncle Toms. I further note that they are far less numerous and generally have far less power than do their African American peers. Hispanics? Native Americans? Forget it. They're scarcely represented in education or government, not even by Uncle Toms. Scandalous Administrators Seattle was recently the scene of what may have been one of the most sensational lawsuits involving public education in recent American history. It was the case of Maksirisombat versus The Seattle School District, which culminated in a five-week lawsuit in November-December, 19??. As remarkable as the lawsuit itself is the fact that the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer didn't print one word about it, even though the Seattle Weekly covered it in some detail, and the Northwest Asian Weekly really rallied. In fact, the attorney who represented the school district, Larry Ransom, complained about the media coverage, which he feared might unfairly bias the jury. Ironically, the Seattle media had probably swayed the jury in the other direction through earlier promoting Superintendent John Stanford as a hero and maintaining a remarkable news blackout during and after the trial. That's especially odd considering that St. John Stanford himself took the witness stand and the case focused on Affirmative Action at a time when it was very much in the news. Mr. Mak is one of Washington State's most celebrated educators. He's multi-lingual, has several advanced degrees, has won a number of prestigious education awards, and is beloved by the community. He's also of Southeast Asian descent, and Southeast Asian students are a numerous and troubled component of Seattle School's student body. Yet the district wouldn't give Mr. Mak a principalship. On the other side of the coin are the other "minority principals" the district is so famous for. African and Asian American students each make up about 25% of Seattle Schools' student body. Yet it was revealed by Mr. Mak's attorney that about 40% of the district's principals are black, compared to a much smaller percentage for Asian Americans, almost none of which are Southeast Asian. An even more disturbing phenomenon is the astounding malfeasance among African American principals as a group, even more striking than the malfeasance Seattle principals in general are noted for. It's popularly claimed that about 25% of Seattle Schools' principals are unfit for duty. With about 100 schools in the district, that adds up to about 25 bad apples. If 40% of the principals are African American, then, all else being equal, we might expect 10 unsatisfactory African American principals out of a total of about 40. Though I'm not familiar with all of Seattle's principals, it would appear that there are at least ten African American principals who could be rated unsatisfactory. What's particularly striking is the shocking extent of some of these individuals' problems and the extraordinary lack of vigilance that went into hiring some of them. Also, there are strong indications that some of these individuals were hired to fill an Affirmative Action quota and/or were the product of some other sort of favoritism, including nepotism. Below are some examples: Euhania Butler Hairston - Legendary for her hostility, incompetence, and sometimes bizarre behavior, she's CEO of Martin Luther King Elementary School, one of the schools that never earned its way off the list of troubled "focus schools." As I write this, it's rumored that the school district has sent Euhania into hiding. Sherrill Adams - This principal of T.T. Minor - Seattle's flagship elementary school - was recruited from Lake Washington School District, where she was the most criticized principal. It was later revealed that she was recruited without interviewing top district officials or staff at her former school. Evelyn Fairchild - Known for her stupidity, strange contempt for discipline, lack of concern for everyone but herself, and penchant for working half-days, she earned poor reviews at Olympic Hills Elementary School before sabotaging Dearborn Park Elementary School. Marella Griffin - She earned a reputation as a pitbull at Madison Middle School, after which John Stanford chose her to lead embattled Meany Middle School. His experiment ended in failure amidst community complaints, and Griffin was promoted into the central bureaucracy. Beatrice Cox - Cox reduced McClure Middle School to a shambles. After a delegation of parents and teachers started making waves, she was promoted into the central bureaucracy. Lily Brown - "A legend in her own mind," Brown may have been Seattle's most bizarre principal until she, too, was promoted into Gestapo headquarters where she served as a substitute principal until she retired. Denise Jones had a vice principalship at Sealth High School, though she had nothing but substitute teaching credentials. She was probably hidden away due to Mr. Mak's lawsuit. Seattle Schools administrator Margo Holland testified on the witness stand that Jones' hiring was "a comedy of errors." There are at least three more African American principals who I'm still investigating, at least two of which have allegedly been kicked out of schools for poor performance. Clint Webb, who was fired after he had sex with a student, wasn't an administrator (as if it makes any difference). But it was revealed that he did have a criminal record and had been hired by his brother-in-law, a former principal named Robert Gary. Of course, the man who's on everyone's mind at the moment (mid-October, 1999) is Garfield High School Principal Albert Jones. I rest my case. Political power and incompetence are also trademarks of a number of African American administrators in central administration. The legendary Alice Houston was an assistant superintendent who was demoted after she allegedly threw away $4-6 million dollars or more on a PRI program that blew up in her face. She later filed a discrimination grievance when she didn't get a pay raise. More recently, she cried discrimination via a lawsuit that didn't get her a bigger paycheck, either. Mona Bailey was an assistant superintendent who was apparently quite worthless. She was replaced by Arlene Ackerman, who actually may have been quite competent; she's now the superintendent of schools in Washington, D.C. Of course, the late Superintendent John Stanford was African American, and many people were afraid to criticize him for that very reason. However, I've heard many members of the black community disparage him. After replacing Stanford, Superintendent Joseph Olchefske raised a few eyebrows by interviewing three African American women for the position of Chief Academic Officer. Education activist Arthur Hu noted the odds against randomly picking three African American female candidates in an article in Northwest Asian Weekly. I don't know what to make about the McKinneys. Recently retired, Reverend Samuel McKinney is one of the most powerful leaders of Seattle's black community. I've never heard anything bad about him, but it was a bit troubling to read about political thugs rallying in McKinney's church when community activist Charlie Chong was campaigning for the office of mayor. McKinney's wife, Louise, was an administrator with Seattle Schools until she retired. Though I've heard no complaints of incompetence, she was widely regarded as a tyrant. She certainly must have know about the horrible problems that plague the district - including racial politics - yet I'm not aware that she ever blew the whistle or lifted a finger to help. Given the media fanfare that preceded the arrival of St. John Stanford to rescue Seattle Schools from even more tax dollars, I'm greatly disturbed by a similar media welcome for New York City Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, who's supposed to head up some education think tank at the University of Washington. I don't yet know much about Crew, except that he left his position as Superintendent of Tacoma Schools under a cloud of resentment and garnered a 25% pay raise in New York. I've also been told (though I haven't confirmed it) that Crew filed a lawsuit when a position he applied for in San Francisco was given to a white applicant. Keep your eyes on Crew! The Forgotten Minorities Hispanic administrators in Seattle Schools seemingly resemble African American administrators in quality, but are far fewer. I only know of just three Hispanic administrators, or recent administrators, in the district, and they're all bad apples. Rainier Beach High School principal Marta Cano-Hinz is considered the worst of Seattle's high school principals and is presently being picketed every Monday. Principal Teo Caliente was demoted to a teacher after getting caught in a scandalous affair with a member of his staff. (I met Caliente when I was a substitute; he was a jerk.) Ricardo Cruz was perhaps the most hated person in Seattle Schools. He was a personnel administrator with a nasty reputation for stabbing teachers in the back. He had come from the City of Seattle, where he allegedly had problems, and was later forced out of Seattle Schools, getting promoted into a position with King County. Aian American administrators in the Seattle School District are much less numerous than blacks, much more numerous than Hispanic administrators, and seem to be generally more competent than either. In fact, Asian American principals, at least, are probably generally more competent than white principals, from what I've heard (and haven't heard). I've heard of two or three that may be somewhat tyrannical, but I'm aware of none who have been described as incompetent. Asian American principals are generally Japanese or Chinese. It's notable that Southeast Asian students, a troubled and sizeable minority, have few role models in the city. One Southeast Asian principal was appointed in the wake of Mr. Mak's tragic lawsuit, perhaps as a public relations gesture. I also read an article in Northwest Asian Weekly that reported the appointment of three Asian American principals after the case. Top district officials who are Asian American appear to be almost unanimously Japanese. Art Kono is one of the most powerful administrators in the district. Amy Hirabayashi is another important administrator, and John Yasutake is in charge of the district's Affirmative Action office, which was thoroughly discredited during Mr. Mak's lawsuit. Al Sugiyama recently retired from the Seattle School Board and was replaced by Jan Kumasaka. Not one of these people lifted a finger to help Mr. Mak or the Asian community. Jan Kumasaka failed Mr. Mak twice, the first time as head of the State Human Rights Commission. Asian Americans who have climbed into political office similarly seem to consist primarily of Uncle Toms who care little about the community. These include Martha Choe, who will soon be leaving the City Council, and Cheryl Chow ("Seattle's most famous half-time principal"), who's campaigning to get her seat on the council back (while serving as an interim principal at Garfield High School). Ironically, local activist Charlie Chong, who has been criticized for not being close to the Asian American community, is probably a better role model than Choe or Chow. Governor Gary Locke is America's first governor of Chinese ancestry. While that's a nice statistic, Locke's been too busy catering to Paul Allen, the Washington Education Association, and Big Business to do anything meaningful for any community. And the community continues to take a beating as more and more Asian American educators and parents complain about being discriminated against by African American administrators while white Laurelhurst parents get whatever they want. The recent news that TV newsperson Lori Matsukawa has been given a de facto demotion may hint at something larger than one person's career. White Trash Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he knows that white folks can be bad, too. White Seattle Schools principals who have become legendary for tyranny and/or incompetence include Pat Sander (recently promoted into the central bureaucracy), Dan Barton, Sharon Aune, and Lois Freeborn, who recently retired (after hiring Dan Barton and Sharon Aune). I'm sure there are many more. Malfeasant white administrators probably outnumber malfeasant administrators of all other ethnic groups combined in the central bureaucracy. Every member of the Seattle School Board ought to be impeached, tried, and convicted, and five of them are white. Ditto for Superintendent Joseph Olchefske, Kenneth Camper, and Camper's friend, Dan Graczyk. White and black administrators alike testified against Mr. Mak on the witness stand, and most, if not all, of them were probably lying through their teeth. The Flip Side: Invisible Leaders Now, let's look at the flip side of the racial coin. There are good people in Seattle Schools, potential leaders who are kept down in the dirt by an arrogant and mean-spirited power structure. Good principals of various colors were typically at odds with the late Superintendent John Stanford, who clearly favored principals with skeletons in their closets. While the administration complains of a shortage of principals, I know of two or three qualified individuals who have been punished, even demoted, or never allowed to advance. I know of a Hispanic teacher who was the de facto leader of a school that was being pummeled by a horrible (white) principal. She was a candidate for a principalship but was instead demoted from head teacher, probably because the malfeasant principal (who's now running another school into the ground) blamed the school's problems on her. There's also a Native American principal who was demoted to a vice principal and is now going to be reduced to a head teacher. It's very, very hard to imagine that this is anything other than dirty politics. If I were to choose an Asian American who qualifies as a real leader, I'd be quick to name Mr. Mak. Unfortunately, he's now working in another school district; the Seattle Chamber of Commerce couldn't tolerate a leader who might divert community loyalty. In the African American community, I might select certain individuals who are fighting to rid Rainier Beach High School of a notoriously bad principal. Or maybe the teacher who was transferred out of Roosevelt High School last year. It seems Roosevelt administrators - one of whom (Fred Bannister) testified against Mr. Mak with curious enthusiasm - were playing games with him, and they were probably also bothered by the fact that African American students looked up to him as a role model. So they shipped him over to the African American Academy, to the detriment of Roosevelt students. In all honesty, I'm aware of extraordinarily few black, white, Asian, or Hispanic leaders in Seattle who really have status. Charlie Chong and Mr. Mak are my favorite Asian Americans, and there are probably a few good African American and Hispanic leaders who I'm not aware of. (My knowledge of Seattle politics is still sketchy, as I focus on school politics.) One of the most powerful good white leaders in the city is Nick Licata, who carries a lot of weight on the Seattle City Council. Aside from Mr. Mak, none of the above-mentioned people have ever expressed any interest in reforming the Seattle School District, which remains adrift in a sea of racial politics. Among other problems. What Was Wrong With Affirmative Action? I don't claim to be an expert on Affirmative Action or I-200. I used to support the former, but Seattle Schools changed my mind. On top of all the other problems that plague Seattle Schools, racial politics is the last straw. Still, I am a disciple of the "Mend it, don't end" it school of thought, and I was hoping that the debate over Affirmative Action versus I-200 would focus on the problems in the Seattle School District and perhaps force a few changes. But no one was willing to talk about it, not Affirmative Action supporters and not John Carlson, who led the I-200 troops. So, I voted for I-200. Ironically, I don't think Affirmative Action has really ended in Seattle Schools. On the witness stand, the late Superintendent John Stanford showed amazing contempt for federal laws mandating the implementing of Affirmative Action, and it appears to me that schools officials will manifest similar contempt for I-200. They just do whatever they want to do. Bad principals and other administrators, regardless of color, negatively impact students of diverse colors. But "racial politics" hits ethnic minorities with a double whammy. Hiring African American administrators who are loyal to the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and are incompetent to boot will do nothing to help black students. Moreover, they're an embarrassment, reinforcing the not uncommon perception that African Americans are inherently incompetent. I've heard too many teachers worry about their schools getting stuck with a "minority principal." Asian Americans are similarly betrayed by the few Uncle Toms who "represent" them in administrative positions. Moreover, it appears that white and black coalitions both mistreat Asian educators, parents, and students, especially Southeast Asians who speak poor English and have little political power. Here's another way to look at it: The Seattle School Board never stops moaning about being underfunded when, in fact, they simply can't manage money. They complain about a shortage of principals and teachers even while they drive some of their best educators away with their incompetence and nasty ways, even spending thousands of tax dollars on a whorish lawyer to get rid of Mr. Mak. They disseminate propaganda in lieu of the truth and spend money on cheerleading rather than textbooks. Many minority administrators are similarly a sham, of more use to the Seattle Chamber of Commerce than the communities they're supposed to represent. Al Jones: Is he the key? In the wake of the revelation that Garfield High School Principal Al Jones did something really, extraordinarily bad, it was disturbing to learn that he may have been of three individuals with criminal backgrounds hired to fill an Affirmative Action quota. Though Jones was hired before the passage of I-200, I'm not convinced that Affirmative Action has really ended in Seattle Schools. Moreover, I'm not convinced that Affirmative Action ever was the main thing driving the district's bizarre quota machine. Rather, I suspect some sort or political alliance or blackmail. I call it "affirmative action" or "racial politics." And, just out of curiosity, did we ever need 40 principals out of 100 who were African American to satisfy an Affirmative Action quota when Stanford - himself a beneficiary of affirmative action - showed such contempt on the witness stand for affirmative action and quota systems? Hopefully, Al Jones will finally force Seattleites to look at the ugly truth. .