On Feb. 12, the Mercer Island School Board publicly censured director Dan Glowitz in a 4-to-1 vote for violating the “board’s code of conduct and policy governance principles” by overstepping his role, giving direct instructions to the superintendent, criticizing the superintendent publicly, and disregarding the board’s collective decision.

Directors Jody Lee, Deborah Lurie, Cristina Martinez and Maggie Tai Tucker voted in favor.

Tucker emphasized the board’s responsibility to “work together to steer the district” so “every student has access to the best possible education” and to “have a safe and supportive work environment.” The censure “is about accountability,” not a “personal attack.”

Lee expressed her regret over the need for the censure, citing that “acting out of governance undermines the integrity” of the board. She also emphasized that “it’s not acceptable for individual board members to act against” the board’s collective decision.

Martinez acknowledged her struggle to come to the censure decision, citing “you are my family” and “we are not okay,” but agreed to collective decision-making. She also expressed the need for a clear policy to “express other opinions” without undermining the board’s decisions.

Lurie expressed disappointment in the public censure, favoring private resolution for growth. She criticized Glowitz for not filing a “resolution on SAT,” emphasizing that the censure was about procedure, not opposition to the SAT. She also condemned his disrespectful actions, which undermined the board’s authority.

Glowitz defended his actions, stating that “there’s no violation of board policy” and reaffirming his commitment to “advocating for the best possible education” and “safeguarding fiscal sustainability.” He expressed disbelief at being “publicly reprimanded and retaliated against” for proposing an SAT policy, gathering public information from neighboring schools, and criticized “a hostile culture” toward diverse thoughts, claiming it has led to “declining educational outcomes, a massive budget shortfall, and an exodus of students leaving for private schools.”

Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle commented that his December email was meant to highlight how Glowitz’s actions “acting outside of the policies makes doing the job really challenging” and how giving him independent direction makes it difficult to understand his role and lead effectively.

To read the censure documents, scroll to the bottom of this story.

Bond discussion

At the board meeting, Ryan Swanson from financial services company Piper Sandler provided information about the $165 million bond initiative.

• The bond will be issued in phases to align with construction needs and comply with IRS rules.

• Funds must be spent within three years and proceeds cannot exceed the $165 million authorization.

• Interest rates were estimated with a 1% buffer above current rates.

• Rising construction costs may delay projects if funds are insufficient.

• Bond-funded projects must be included in the resolution adopted by the board.

• Separate accounts for each bond sale and hiring a third-party financial manager is recommended for compliance and tracking.

• Delaying the bond vote for potential legislative changes to the threshold is not recommended due to low likelihood of success after legislative changes to the bond vote threshold.

In the public comment portion of the meeting, Leslie Farrell (former school board member), Joy Rurangwa (MIHS student), Michael Lill and Connor Auld (MIHS student) spoke in favor of the bond, highlighting the need to update school facilities, performing arts centers, and HVAC systems as a positive investment to improve learning environments.

Former MI City Councilmember Tom Acker raised concerns about a board member’s unprofessional behavior, questioning its alignment with the district’s core values of “ensuring our communities are safe and supportive.” He cited violations of board policies on inclusion, ethics and professional conduct, urging the board to “protect integrity and promote the positive image of one another.”

Catherine Lampern expressed gratitude for the school board directors, emphasizing the importance of treating each other with kindness and respect and noting that “kids are watching how we behave.”

Jane Reynolds condemned personal attacks, urged the board to resist political efforts to undermine board governance, and criticized attacks on “diversity, inclusion and equity in our schools,” citing a “national assault on public education” intended to defund public schools and dismantle school boards.

To read the bond documents, scroll to the bottom of this story.

In other board action

The Mercer Island School Board meeting recognized MIHS Pegasus Creative Arts Magazine for earning a first-class ranking from the National Scholastic Press Association and the National Council of Teachers of English and honored the girls’ swimming and dive team for winning the 3A state championship. It also approved the MIHS band’s participation in the New Year’s Day Parade in London, joined the social media mass lawsuit, and discussed the benefits and impact of hosting SAT testing, enrollment projections, budgeting for 2025-2026, and governance policies.

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Linnea Augustine is a Mercer Island resident. Send comments to editor@mi-reporter.com.

MI School Board Director Dan Glowitz censure documents by andy.hobbs on Scribd

Bond Planning – Mercer Island School District by andy.hobbs on Scribd