Boise voters have a good problem with three qualified school board candidates running
Our editorial board struggled with our decision on whom to endorse in Race 3 for the Boise school board.
Incumbent Elizabeth Langley is being challenged for the two-year term by Nate Dean, Dawn King and Todd Kurowski.
We gave the slight edge to Nate Dean, although our decision was not unanimous, and we all agreed that voters couldn’t go wrong with Dean, King or Langley.
We had serious reservations about Kurowski, who was evasive and lacked specifics in his answers.
The editorial board endorses Dean, a teacher who will challenge the school board in a respectful, intelligent manner.
Dean was a teacher in the Boise School District, but he became a whistleblower in a case of lead-tainted water in the school buildings. He said his treatment by the district administration led him to leave the district, and he has been with the State Board of Education the past year, before going back into the classroom to teach this year. He was also a student in the Boise School District, graduating from Timberline High School.
We don’t believe Dean is running because he’s disgruntled or has an ax to grind. We believe he’s sincere in his desire to help the Boise School District.
We have heard repeated concerns about the current board being too deferential to the administration at the detriment at times of teachers, staff, parents and students, and we believe Dean will offer a reasoned challenge to the status quo.
Dean gave the best answer we have ever heard regarding schools’ handling of the COVID pandemic.
“I think that that initial response was as strong as it could have been given the completely uncertain waters that we were thrown into,” Dean told the editorial board. “Where I saw the issue start to come up is going into the next school year. By that point. It was already known in medical research that COVID was not really transmitted surface contact to surface contact. It was known that it was an aerosol and that HVAC and airflow and those things were much more important factors to whether something became a problem or not. And yet, the opening plan didn’t really address those things.”
He said had the district addressed those problems, the issue of whether to mask would have become less important and less politicized. Going forward, he said the district still needs to keep a COVID-specific plan in place, rather than removing it for political purposes.
Voters would do very well to keep Langley, partner and vice president of a financial services firm. Her expertise in finances serves voters very well in one of the board’s most important tasks: managing the district’s $390 million budget.
We were also impressed with the perspectives and unique experience of King, a retired teacher who taught in the Boise school district for 31 years. Her front-line knowledge of how board decisions affect the classroom would make her an excellent school board member.
But in this race, Dean’s nuanced understanding of the issues and his willingness to challenge the status quo earned him our endorsement.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we write endorsements
Who decides the endorsements?
Members of Idaho Statesman editorial board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is composed of journalists and community members. Members of the Statesman editorial board are: Statesman editor Chadd Cripe, opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Statesman editorial board meets with political candidates and asks them a series of questions about policy issues. The editorial board discusses the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. The editorial board generally will not endorse a candidate who does not agree to an interview with the board members.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well-prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats. We make recommendations about who the best-qualified candidates for these jobs are.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of the Statesman’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
Do I have to vote for the candidate the Statesman endorses?
Of course not. An endorsement is just our recommendation based on the candidates’ backgrounds and their answers to editorial board questions.
Can I disagree with the Statesman’s endorsement?
Of course you can. We encourage voters to do their own research and choose the candidate who best represents your views.
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Readers are encouraged to express their thoughts by submitting a letter to the editor. Click on “Submit a letter or opinion” at idahostatesman.com/opinion.
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