School Board Position No. 1 – uncontested

David D’Souza

Occupation: Engineer & Technology Executive

Community involvement: MI Schools Foundation co-president; on the superintendent’s advisory committee, and advisory committees for technology and diversity; chair of the MIHS College and Career Readiness Program; co-chair of the 2014 School Bond and Levy Committee; created after-school computer programming courses for Island elementary and middle school students, and participated in many art and science curriculum review forums.

Why running? Collaborative participation on the school board is a natural progression from my extensive involvement in our school district. I have enjoyed listening to the feedback from the community, teachers, parents and students, and see opportunities to help keep our district energized and moving forward.

Biggest issues? We have schools that are rated among the best in the state yet the world our children will enter continues to evolve as it becomes increasingly global, digital, and more competitive than ever. Clarity on the new learning opportunities we enable will better inform how we invest our resources into staff, training, legislative advocacy, capital projects and senior leader hiring.

Goals? To materially raise the bar on the opportunities we enable in our schools for all our children to become well-rounded, creative, independent thinkers and problem solvers ready for the modern world.

School Board Position No. 3

Bill Hochberg

Occupation: Attorney assisting injured persons and workers – the little guy

Community involvement: A 40-year community volunteer on Mercer Island, active in all school levy and bond campaigns since 2002, school volunteer, yearly School Foundation contributor, longtime sponsor of Mostly Music in the Park, Chair of the Park Board, passed the park bond, built and helped maintain the MI Recycling Center, and refurbished Franklin Landing for Eagle Scout project, member of the American Jewish Committee Board.

Why running? We need to meet the needs of all students, build on what makes MI schools great, and communicate clearly with parents and the community.

Biggest issues? Finding the next great school superintendent when Dr. Plano retires, fiercely advocating for our schools in light of the McCleary decision and the significant problems “levy equalization” could bring to our schools, and supporting the work of the diversity initiative in our schools.

Goals? Clear communication with parents, students and the community early in the process of making decisions and maintaining that communication to avoid problems, such as with the recent “tag” issue.  Ensure that the construction of IMS and Northwood stays on time and on budget and that the new elementary boundary policy is appropriately implemented.  As the only attorney on the Board, I aim to keep the School District out of litigation based on my legal experience and common sense decision making.

Tracy Drinkwater

Occupation: Educational Consultant and Tutor

Community involvement: Volunteer for MIPA, member of Lakeridge committee for students on the Autism Spectrum, PTA Treasurer, volunteer for Youth Theatre Northwest, chairperson of the Communities That Care Coalition.

Why running? I enjoy serving my community and have a passion for education issues.

Biggest issues? Future funding from the state level, and how the legislature will move forward to address the McCleary decision [with] changes to the existing additional levy-funding model. Mercer Island needs to work to assure that we do not have a net loss with levy equalization. Other current issues include start-time changes at the schools, future funding for Mental Health Counselors at our schools, hiring and retention of quality teachers, promoting appreciation for diversity, and integrating the proposed elementary global languages program.

Goals? In addition to having the state provide a net gain for all Washington school districts, I would like to see students with ethnically and intellectually diverse backgrounds feel like their academic and social needs are being met in our district. I want to negotiate for sustainable funding for mental health counselors, work toward further enhancements to curriculum  and recruit and retain quality teachers.

School Board Position No. 5 – uncontested

Ralph Jorgenson

Occupation: Research engineer in the field of analytical instrumentation and medical devices

Community involvement: V.P. of the Mercer Island School Board of Directors, on board of Mercer Island Craft Guild and Mercer Island Country Club, member of review committee for Seattle Children’s Hospital, on City of Mercer Island – Town Center Stakeholder Group, V.P of Advocacy for Mercer Island PTA Council,  2014 MISD School Bond and Levy Campaign co-chair, youth soccer, softball and T-ball coach.

Why running? To contribute my skills, background and experiences to further our district’s pursuit of educational excellence and prepare all students to achieve their individual highest potential to best contribute to our global society.

Biggest issues? School improvement, social and emotional learning and development, state school funding, high school late start decisions and teacher retention.

Goals? Pursuing educational excellence, emphasizing the whole student by encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, ensuring a physical and emotionally safe environment, promoting a welcoming and inclusive school community that is respectful of our school body diversity and offering a wide range of extracurricular activities and athletics, adapting and responding to changes in school funding and continuing to engender the public trust by encouraging public input and sharing data, and ensuring that the school construction projects are built on-time and in budget.

A note on endorsements

Over the past few weeks, many of our readers have asked if the Reporter will be endorsing candidates for the Nov. 3 election. Endorsements that were made in July have not been withdrawn. However, for the races outside of those earlier endorsements, we have elected not to do so.

This past month, I have had the opportunity to both moderate and ​co-​sponsor a number of city and county council level candidate forums here on the Eastside. ​Just last week, the Mercer Island Reporter was proud to co-host a candidate forum with the League of Women Voters​ ​at the SJCC.

​While each of the candidates came from different backgrounds and certainly held different perspectives on many important ​Island issues, there is a common thread that unites them all​ – the desire to serve their community and to make it a better place​ to live, work and play.​ We at the Mercer Island Reporter certainly applaud that ethos​.

​Here at the Reporter, our ethos has been to better serve the Island by devoting greater time and effort toward getting to know each candidate​ and to educate our loyal readers about them. With your vote comes the individual responsibility of ​increased ​knowledge and information ​about the candidates and the issues they will face. We feel that with our mission to educate our readers about the candidates, we have a greater responsibility​ not to endorse​, but to ​be a ​valued and impartial ​resource​ that will empower​ your vote with knowledge.

-William Shaw, Regional Publisher