Patricia Kienholz, 46

Notable experience: President of Citizens Law and Safety Research Center. Kienholz serves on boards, including as trustee for Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Education: Graduated from Ferris High School in 1987. Earned degrees in social sciences and communication and the study of women and men in society from the University of Southern California.

Given the current budget shortfall of $5.6 million what programs would you take money from to make up the difference?

The district has had budget shortfalls in the past, and it’s important to keep in mind a budget is a proposed plan for revenues and expenditures, adjusted as actuals come in throughout the year. No funds can be removed from basic education; adjustments have to be taken from other areas, not necessarily programs. I wouldn’t take any funds from programming involving special needs or school safety.

The district is doing a good job addressing the issue so far by looking into the cost of lunches and Express. The cost of food has risen considerably over the past three years. University of Washington reporter Deborah Bach, cites a study finding that, “Washington families with two adults, a preschooler and a school-aged child saw the cost of meeting their most basic requirements jump as much as 72 percent between 2001 and 2014, depending on where they live. But median wages increased just 21 percent during that time.” (Bach, Deborah. “Cost of meeting basic needs rising faster than wages in Washington State.” UW Today. 11/20/14. University of Washington. Online publication. 10/07/15.)

Do you think the Washington Supreme Court made the right choice when it came to charter schools? Why or why not?

No. There are a couple arguments I’ve heard to justify the Supreme Court finding, however, the finding is 41-pages long, so the arguments are more involved than the two I’ve been presented with, and I am not a constitutional law expert. As I understand it so far (many experts have not provided feedback about the ruling), reasonable disagreement with the Supreme Court is over their referencing an early twentieth-century law (1909) which ultimately will restrict funding for many other public school connected institutions in the state. I’m waiting just like everyone else to see what comes next.

The argument I’ve heard public feedback about and which is part of the ruling, is that because Charter School boards of directors are appointed rather than elected, Charter Schools don’t fit the definition of common schools, and are therefore somehow lacking in accountability. As a trustee serving on an appointed board for an educational state agency, the chain of accountability still exists, although it takes a somewhat different form. There are a few different types of appointed state boards and that’s a broader discussion than this one. However, appointed boards are accountable to the governor, the attorney general, the Office of Financial Management, the Open Public Meetings Act, members can be prosecuted for breaking the law, and ultimately “complete control”, as discussed in the ruling, rests within the structure of our government (laws and constitution). Whether a board member is appointed or elected doesn’t change the inherent character of the board member. The difference is whether or not the public gets to have an apparent say in the appointment of the member. Because the governor is an elected official it seems reasonable to assume that complete control is still with the voters even with an appointment.

The ruling (51 Wash. At Bryan) cited by the Supreme Court establishes that “voters, through their chosen agents, to select qualified teachers, with powers to discharge them if they are incompetent, “ is interesting to me because of the lingering questions about what actually defines “complete control,” and whether or not being elected actually gives voters “complete control.” I expect the courts will address the question of “complete control” in the future because this recent Supreme Court rulin in Washington state is significant to other cases.

Another argument I’ve heard, that Charter Schools take money away from other public schools, is counter to my belief that the money should follow the student. However, the finding addresses that by interpreting Bryan to mean that Charter Schools can’t legally access the funds intended for common schools because they are not common schools. This argument seems a little circular to me and I’d expect the experts to address that at some point also.  

Spokane Public Schools spends from our levies about $2,200/Charter School student for approximately 300 Spokane Public Schools students (about 80-90% of our charter schools students are otherwise Spokane Public Schools students). Compare that to the   $12,000.00+/public school student spent for Spokane Public Schools students, is almost a $3MM delta in our favor. If Spokane Public Schools had to pay for all those students, we’d be looking at about an $8.5MM shortfall instead of a $5.6MM shortfall. What the pundits are really trying to do is create pressure for the legislature to fund basic education, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of Charter School students.

What is the most pressing issue facing Spokane Public Schools?

Providing an excellent education for Spokane Public Schools students despite the fact that Washington State is not fully funding basic education. We still need about 3.5B dollars from the state to relieve levy funding covering the cost of basic ed. If the state doesn’t want us to use levies to fund basic education, which they are recommending, then we need to figure out how to cover the 3.5B. Meanwhile, with or without a balanced budget, we still have to provide every public school child the opportunity for an excellent education, which is part of the constitutional requirement addressing k-12 public education in the state.

Do you think Spokane Public Schools should continue to offer high school football, given both the cost and the danger of concussions?

Good question. I spent years working in the NFL, have nephews who played college football, and friends in the NFL Hall of Fame. That balanced with a having a chemistry background and a reasonable knowledge of neuroscience and traumatic brain injury, it definitely concerns me quite a bit. But, the same can be said for soccer, which has, I believe, more head injuries than football, obviously because of the use of helmets.

There’s a risk issue on the horizon for public schools where football and soccer are concerned. High school students are at greater risk than college or professional players because of brain development and access to expensive equipment and special helmets. The conversation is ongoing and it’s difficult to quantify outcomes related to aggressive sports, but I’d like to hear more feedback from the community. If youth football was handled by an outside organization it probably wouldn’t be too difficult of a transition as long as scholarships were available for students who need them, but still it doesn’t get rid of the neurological or physical cost to kids, by freeing up the schools from liability.

If you’re elected, how will you ease upcoming negotiations with the Spokane Education Association?

This is an easy question for me to answer because my opponent, who’s under contract with the Washington Education Association, will be conflicted out of all discussions related to collective bargaining. That means he won’t be able to do anything to help Spokane Public Schools with their relationship with the Spokane Education Association (whose parent is the Washington Education Association). So, by default I’m the better candidate when it comes to labor.

Teacher conflicts of interest on boards are conveniently obscured from voters who don’t usually discover that there is a conflict until after a teacher is elected to serve, if ever. People easily buy-in to the idea that a teacher has experience and concern for education, which is true, without understanding the specifics of board governance and the RCW’s that mandate “Ethics in Public Service” (Chapter 42.52 RCW). So, I think it’s important to be transparent and accountable, even when those terms are over-used when talking about financial oversight.

Collective bargaining makes up 80-85% of the budget, and it’s very important all five board members are available to do the work required to address matters with the Spokane Education Association. Because I serve on the board of trustees of an education state agency (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture), I understand how important it is to have full board participation in matters involving the public trust. If a member shows up with a conflict, and it recuses the member from doing a significant portion of work, it places that work in the laps of the other members, which not only isn’t fair, but increases risk.

I understand the value of labor unions, having married into a family of union organizers, and when it comes to board business I try to be gracious and disarming, while being firm about what is in the best interests of children. As long as the Spokane Education Association and I value children, and preserving the public trust, I think we’ll get along.

Are there any books currently in libraries within the district or on class reading lists that you feel are not appropriate to be used in schools?

No.  However, books can be removed from the district if they violate the Supreme Court’s precedents for freedom of speech. (Volokh, Eugene. The First Amendment and the Government as K-12 Educator. 10/31/11.)

Do you support the sex education curriculum currently taught in the district? Why or why not?

Yes. Having a sex and gender degree from USC, and working in the third sector in areas involving exploitation of children, I think it’s important to appropriately teach children about anatomy, genetics, and culture. I also think it’s sad the things we’re charged with teaching children now days. The Internet and entertainment media expose our children to a lot of things that are violating to parental rights, and rob children of their innocence. I don’t think we’re doing a great job protecting children, with outrageously high poverty rates, child exploitation, and a society that profits from violence. But I’m pleased with all the organizations working hard to solve these problems.

Should evolution be taught in public schools?

Yes.

If you could change one thing about the district what would it be and why?

If I could change one thing about the district, it would be to stop the reliance on levies for funding basic education. With the adoption of clear, concise, state-wide guidelines defining both basic education and the state’s financial obligation to fund basic education, and increased supplemental spending for special needs, arts integration, the sciences, technology, engineering, math, English as a second language, and programs to assist struggling students, we could better address areas where we are falling short. And, I want to add that my daughter received an excellent education from Spokane Public Schools, graduation last year with honors in high school and with honors and an AA through the district-wide Running Start program. I’m a single mom, and it can be done.

Who was your favorite teacher? When and why?

My first grade teacher was my favorite. She looked liked Wonder Woman.

Favorite recess game in elementary school?

Tag.

Fondest high school memory?

Realizing I could use the Gonzaga Law Library for debate class, and then going there to study; DECA in Mr. Backlund’s class; Ferris High School Graduation.

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