Powell and Ridge are Right!

Finally, "Right" that I can support, endorse, and stand with! Finally!!

A few years ago, I attended the National School Boards Association's (NSBA) annual conference, where Colin Powell was a keynote speaker. Do you know how many moderate Republicans are school board directors? A lot. Frankly, a lot more than you might think. Many are the very people that Powell described to Bob Shieffer (CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent), on Sunday, May 24, 2009, when he was interviewed on Face the Nation (transcript):

"...the number of people identifying themselves as Republicans has dropped significantly, into the low 20s. And among those low 20s, they're not all conservatives. A lot of them are fairly moderate or right-of-center Republicans, who are concerned about the right wing. And they're not that vocal about it, because if you are vocal, you're going to get your voice mail filled up and you're going to get lots of emails, like I did."

Many peers that I chatted with, before and after Powell's speech, spoke of feeling alienated because either they didn't want to be associated with the Republican Party because of it's perceived extremism on social issues or they didn't feel that their local Republican Party really wanted to include them because party "loyalists" shun them as "RINOS" (Republican In Name Only) for their support of public education and moderate social positions. I have had these same quiet conversations with school board directors from across Washington State.

Colin Powell is absolutely right on the mark. If the Republican Party is to regain it's strength, it must do more than just retain a base. It must expand it's base. One more quote from Powell's Face the Nation interview:

"And if we don't do that, if we don't reach out
more, the party is going to be sitting on a very, very narrow base. You can only do two things with a base. You can sit on it and watch the world go by, or you can build on the base. And I believe we should build on the base because the nation needs two parties. Two parties debating each other. But what we have to do is debate and define who we are and what we are and not just listen to diktats that come down from the right wing of the party."

Last year, attending a similar conference on federal education issues, one speaker's statement stood out as that "take away" lesson that would not be forgotten. I have long forgotten the speaker's name, but will never forget what he said...

"If you aren't at the table, you are on the menu"

Fellow Republicans, unless we are at the table, our issues will be on the menu. We must learn to select and support candidates that have the ability to get to the table and engage the discussion on the issues most important to our party and our nation.

We cannot get to the table on fiscal issues unless we become more inclusive. We cannot address issues of the size and scope of government unless we are at the table. If we cannot get to the table, the issues will be debated by those who are at the table and Republican views on fiscal conservancy and effective government will not be represented by either conservative or moderate Republicans.

If the extremist Republican Party membership persists with an attitude of, "If I don't get 100% of my way, I'm going to take my ball and go home", then Republicans will continue to sit at home while Democrats and Independents decide the fate of our great nation.

I have very conservative social values. I chose them freely and want my fellow citizens to choose freely their own social values. If they are different than mine, I will still respect them just as I expect them to respect my choices. Getting to the table does not require us to compromise our values. It does require mutual respect. Let us respect our differences as we embrace and value the liberty that so defines our great nation.

Tom Ridge said recently, "...words mean things and how you use words is very important."

As Republicans, let us change our ways so that the words we use mean inclusion rather than exclusion. We have engaged in words and attitudes that have persisted in excluding us from the adult table as if we were children at Thanksgiving dinner relegated to the "kid's table" and forced to eat what is served by the adults who decided the menu.

We can and must earn back seats at the "adult table" where we can help select the menu and be represented and heard. In order to do so, we must first engage one another, in honest debate of the priorities of the Republican Party platform. Then we must engage our fellow citizens, united and inclusive on those issues, and let go of our childish ways.

Regards,
Kathryn Simpson

YES FOR SKFD EMS LEVY!

Please vote YES for the South Kitsap EMS Levy!

Last night, on the way to yet another baseball game, I stopped by the County Administration Building to drop off my ballot. I thought the voting deadline was yesterday, but the deadline is May 19th. So, any of you with your ballots still waiting to be returned, get them in!

For more information...
http://www.yesforems.com/default.aspx

2009 - Seeking Re-Election to the SKSD Board of Directors

I was called by a reporter recently, who asked if I would be seeking re-election to the South Kitsap School Board. When I said, "yes", she asked why. My answer was three-fold...

First, I have served you well as your representative. I have been a strong voice for transparency in what we do and how we spend taxpayer dollars. I have raised questions that, while sometimes aren't the most comfortable of discussions, have promoted increased accountability, responsiveness, and focus on our student achievement priorities. I have engaged you, the public, via blogs, conversation, and email, and have been responsive to concerns, criticism, and in celebrating success.

Second, I have been a strong advocate for public education at local, state, and federal levels. As your elected school board member, I have regularly engaged our state and federal representatives about K-12 education issues. Eighteen months ago, I was elected by my fellow school board members in surrounding local school districts to serve on the Washington State School Director's Association (WSSDA) Legislative Committee. For the past two years, I have also served on the Federal Relations Network. Through these opportunities, the needs of South Kitsap school children and our families have a strong voice in the legislative process on education issues. I will continue to encourage and help to shape education and education finance reform, insist upon fiscal and performance accountability, and promote rigorous student achievement priorities.

Third, my children approved my running again. Their vote mattered most to me in whether to run again. Balance is an art and I am not always the best of artists. Their endorsement of my running again was an approval rating of my efforts in the art of balance. For their approval and patience, I am humbled and grateful.

Each year, as I am honored to preside, with the rest of the School Board, at Graduation Night, I am in awe of the "stories behind the faces" as these wonderful young people walk at Graduation. While I will have a favorite in the Class of 2010 and the Class of 2013, I could not be more proud of each of our graduates and of our community for what you invest in them as taxpayers, parents, teachers, coaches, advisors, friends, and neighbors.

I ask for your support and vote in 2009 because I have demonstrated my commitment to the best possible public education for our children. With your support and vote, you have my commitment to continue to do so for another four years.

Regards,
Kathryn Simpson

YES! Thank You!

Thank you, voters in the South Kitsap School District!

VOTE YES!

Balancing Needs for Kids and Taxpayers...

Below is a link to SKSD’s line item description of where every levy dollar will go:

http://www.skitsap.wednet.edu/145510829122652993/lib/145510829122652993/Levy_Plan_Proposal_9_25_08.pdf

Very few school districts go to the detail that SKSD does to show where levy dollars will be spent. In fact of the 279 school districts across the state who have levies, 53 of those districts request the maximum allowed by law (generally 24%, though 44 districts are grandfathered into higher limits). Locally, districts who are “maxed out” include Bremerton, North Kitsap, and Bainbridge Island. South Kitsap takes a more conservative approach, attempting to balance the needs of our students with the needs of our taxpayers. The state wide average is 23.2%. South Kitsap’s average is 20.27%. That will go up to about 21% when the 2009 levy passes (still significantly below the state average).

Of those 279 school districts with outstanding levies (maintenance and bond levies), South Kitsap ranks 231st in total tax rate (1.90 per 1000 in valuation). When the 2009 levy passes, we will move up to 213th (2.27). The state average is 3.15.

If you would like to see a great Powerpoint presentation about the levy, try this link:

http://webapps1.skitsap.wednet.edu/apps/adobe/levy2009/index.htm

Regards,

Kathryn Simpson

SKSD LEVY DESERVES YOUR "YES" for KIDS!

Why support the levy?

In 1999, SKHS’s graduation rate was less than 77%. Today it is more than 92%. What does that mean to our community? It means that 15 more students out of every 100 are graduating from high school than were doing so when our levy funding wasn’t stable. WOW!

In 2001, average SKSD 10th grade WASL scores were 58.4% in reading, 37.2% in math, and 48.5% in writing. In 2008, those averages were 84.1% in reading, 53.4% in math, and 87.9% in writing. These strong gains were possible because levy funds provide opportunities for improved curriculum adoptions, technology that facilitates differentiated instruction for students, and extended learning opportunities (amongst other things)!

Eight years ago, SKSD had one of the oldest fleet of school busses in the state. Many were past their depreciation point which made the district ineligible for state funds to replace busses. Thanks to stable levy funding for the past 8 years, we have been able to improve the fleet and are now eligible for state funds that allow us to regularly replace aging busses.

Eight years ago, our secondary music program was nearly non-existant. Extra-curricular programs like athletics, band, and theatre, were stripped to the bare bones. Thanks to stable levy funding, these programs have flourished and infused a sense of belonging, leadership skills, and creativity into our students. These programs have also helped kids stay motivated to stay in school.
As an example of the forward progress, on New Years Day 2010, the SKHS Band has been extended a rather exclusive honor to perform in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena. Our choirs and bands are winning awards across the state and across the nation these days. Students take pride in marching with the SKHS Band and singing with the choirs.

Strong academics and challenging extra-curricular programs are building leaders in our schools. In fact, in 2008, TWO of our students were accepted into the United States Naval Academy.

Yes, levy funding is making a difference in the lives of South Kitsap students, the quality of their education, and the strength of our South Kitsap Community!

Please vote YES for the levy!

Regards,

Kathryn Simpson