Letters to the editor for July 20
Vote for Seidel for school board
Having spent 30 years working for the Spokane Public Schools, I regard local school board members as the unsung heroes of our communities. As a constituent of the Olympia School District (OSD), it has been my pleasure to watch the leadership of School Board Director Hilary Seidel over these past several years.
As a parent of students in the OSD, Hilary stays closely attuned to the voices of students, parents and staff. Her decisions are focused on what is best for kids — all different kinds of kids. COVID-19 brought an array of new challenges to public education, yet OSD managed to maintain graduation rates among the highest in the state, also showing strong reading and math growth post pandemic. Academic scores like these don’t happen by accident.
Hilary visits every school regularly, using her knowledge of school finance and legislative advocacy to be a strong voice for our OSD students, parents and staff. Under Hilary’s leadership, the OSD increased social workers, family liaisons and behavior coaches to support student recovery from the pandemic; increased access to advanced classes, alternative learning, and career and technical education so that every student has the chance to achieve academic success; provided enhanced funding for schools serving higher numbers of students experiencing poverty; and greatly enhanced art, music and PE classes at elementary schools.
Our children deserve a school board director dedicated to their success. Hilary Seidel is just that person. Please mark your ballot for Hilary Seidel, District 4 Director.
Laurie Dolan, Olympia
Vote for Tourtellotte-Palumbo for school board
I am writing in strong support of Jess Tourtellotte-Palumbo for the Olympia School Board, District 2. I’ve had the great fortune of working closely with Jess for more than two years in her position as an academic specialist for student success at Evergreen, particularly supporting students with disabilities.
Jess is sharp and articulate, with a keen and incisive intellect and a remarkable ability to understand how educational systems impact individual students, and how they can be improved — just what is needed on a school board.
Jess has professional expertise and experience in education, with a master’s degree in disability and human development from the University of Illinois. She worked in Washington, DC, lobbying for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Jess is passionate about ensuring that all students have the tools they need for success in school now, and the transitional services that will enable them to succeed in the workplace and college.
We are fortunate that Jess is putting her heart, smarts, and considerable talents into this race for the Olympia School Board. In fact, one of the other candidates, Mathew Kaphan, withdrew his name and is encouraging his supporters to vote for Jess.
Jess Tourtellotte-Palumbo deserves our enthusiastic support.
Carolyn Prouty, Elma
Choosing political candidates
Having just completed voting for my choice of political candidates on my primary election ballot, my choice was made much easier by voting for candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party.
These are candidates who believe in making it easier to vote, not banning books, who believe a woman has the right to make their own health care decisions and children should not be gunned down in our schools by those armed with weapons of war. The opposite of which are dangerous, autocratic and a threat to our democracy.
Robert Swanson, Olympia
