1 00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:10,543 ♪♪ 2 00:00:11,578 --> 00:00:12,612 -Hello. I'm Eric Blumhagen, 3 00:00:12,679 --> 00:00:13,713 and I'm running 4 00:00:13,713 --> 00:00:14,948 for Seattle's School Board. 5 00:00:15,015 --> 00:00:16,383 I've been a Seattle schools parent 6 00:00:16,416 --> 00:00:17,751 for 16 years. 7 00:00:17,784 --> 00:00:19,219 I've volunteered in classrooms, 8 00:00:19,252 --> 00:00:21,621 worked on PTA and PTO boards, 9 00:00:21,688 --> 00:00:22,722 and I've been honored 10 00:00:22,756 --> 00:00:24,457 with the Golden Acorn award, 11 00:00:24,524 --> 00:00:25,458 served on two district 12 00:00:25,525 --> 00:00:26,626 advisories committees. 13 00:00:26,693 --> 00:00:27,560 I'm running because of 14 00:00:27,594 --> 00:00:29,062 what I heard from a parent. 15 00:00:29,062 --> 00:00:30,130 The school district 16 00:00:30,196 --> 00:00:32,132 had just spent $20,000 on legal fees 17 00:00:32,198 --> 00:00:33,733 fighting their students' valid claim 18 00:00:33,767 --> 00:00:34,701 for special-education 19 00:00:34,734 --> 00:00:35,902 services. 20 00:00:35,902 --> 00:00:37,270 Those services would only have 21 00:00:37,303 --> 00:00:38,238 cost the district 22 00:00:38,271 --> 00:00:39,806 $4,000 to provide. 23 00:00:39,873 --> 00:00:41,574 This is so wrong on every level 24 00:00:41,608 --> 00:00:42,642 and a prime example 25 00:00:42,709 --> 00:00:43,743 of how the status quo 26 00:00:43,777 --> 00:00:45,645 is failing our students. 27 00:00:45,712 --> 00:00:46,579 District staff 28 00:00:46,613 --> 00:00:47,580 need to follow the rules, 29 00:00:47,580 --> 00:00:49,616 whether that's state or federal law 30 00:00:49,649 --> 00:00:52,886 or district policy and procedure. 31 00:00:52,919 --> 00:00:54,120 We also must be doing more 32 00:00:54,154 --> 00:00:55,622 to meet all our students' needs. 33 00:00:55,655 --> 00:00:57,457 Seattle has a serious equity problem, 34 00:00:57,490 --> 00:00:58,725 with the fifth-largest 35 00:00:58,758 --> 00:01:00,560 opportunity gap in the nation. 36 00:01:00,593 --> 00:01:02,128 We need measurable action. 37 00:01:02,162 --> 00:01:03,430 I'm committed to learning, 38 00:01:03,463 --> 00:01:04,731 working with the community 39 00:01:04,764 --> 00:01:06,132 to find innovative solutions 40 00:01:06,166 --> 00:01:07,233 to create 41 00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:09,269 a fair and equitable system. 42 00:01:09,269 --> 00:01:10,336 For example, 43 00:01:10,403 --> 00:01:11,438 restorative justice programs 44 00:01:11,438 --> 00:01:12,439 at Cleveland High School 45 00:01:12,472 --> 00:01:13,740 are reducing disproportionate 46 00:01:13,773 --> 00:01:14,774 discipline. 47 00:01:14,808 --> 00:01:16,443 Everett schools are increasing 48 00:01:16,476 --> 00:01:18,478 attendance and graduation rates. 49 00:01:18,511 --> 00:01:19,946 Northgate Elementary has built 50 00:01:19,946 --> 00:01:21,448 a cohesive, diverse community. 51 00:01:21,448 --> 00:01:22,449 Let's learn from what 52 00:01:22,482 --> 00:01:23,817 these schools are doing right 53 00:01:23,850 --> 00:01:25,351 and get other schools moving 54 00:01:25,418 --> 00:01:28,354 down the same path to success. 55 00:01:28,421 --> 00:01:29,789 We also need to make sure students 56 00:01:29,823 --> 00:01:31,191 see themselves in the curriculum. 57 00:01:31,257 --> 00:01:32,692 We need sustained investments 58 00:01:32,759 --> 00:01:33,793 in ethnic studies 59 00:01:33,793 --> 00:01:36,129 and Since Time Immemorial curricula. 60 00:01:36,129 --> 00:01:37,664 We need to increase representation 61 00:01:37,697 --> 00:01:39,132 of all under-served communities 62 00:01:39,132 --> 00:01:41,468 in every curriculum. 63 00:01:41,468 --> 00:01:42,702 Finally, we're likely headed 64 00:01:42,769 --> 00:01:44,137 toward budget cuts in the future 65 00:01:44,170 --> 00:01:45,138 due to persistent 66 00:01:45,171 --> 00:01:46,706 under-funding by the state. 67 00:01:46,773 --> 00:01:47,974 We need to focus our funding 68 00:01:48,007 --> 00:01:49,309 where it will do the most good -- 69 00:01:49,342 --> 00:01:51,478 in the school and in the classroom. 70 00:01:51,511 --> 00:01:52,545 I'm for funding 71 00:01:52,612 --> 00:01:53,980 teachers, nurses, counselors, 72 00:01:54,013 --> 00:01:54,981 and librarians 73 00:01:55,014 --> 00:01:56,049 and not unnecessary 74 00:01:56,116 --> 00:01:57,684 standardized tests. 75 00:01:57,717 --> 00:01:58,818 I'm Eric Blumhagen, 76 00:01:58,852 --> 00:01:59,853 and I would be honored 77 00:01:59,886 --> 00:02:01,387 to have your support.