School board candidates emphasize student achievement, safety and community outreach after state oversight intervention

Candidates for the Sedro-Woolley School District board emphasized restoring classroom focus, improving graduation rates, enhancing safety and rebuilding community trust at a League of Women Voters forum attended by multiple candidates and some incumbents.

Jim Kaleo (candidate, former 20-year board member), Michelle Moser (candidate and former appointee), Eric Johnson (incumbent seeking a third term), Becky Taft (appointed incumbent) and others spoke about priorities after the educational service district stepped in this year to carry out some board functions.

When asked whether Washington law requiring public schools to educate all resident children regardless of immigration status should be upheld, candidates uniformly said yes. Eric Johnson stated, "Public education is here to provide an equal playing field for everybody." Jim Kaleo said personal views are immaterial to the legal obligation: "When you become a school board member, you take an oath that you're gonna give these kids an education."

Candidates proposed goals for the superintendent that centered on raising test scores and strengthening school safety and community relationships. Eric Johnson highlighted steady improvements at Samish Elementary and said he wants continued emphasis on the multi-tier systems of support that he credited with raising SBAC scores. Michelle Moser and Becky Taft prioritized building a supportive internal culture for staff and ensuring clear communication between the district and families.

On intellectual freedom, candidates said libraries and classrooms should respect age-appropriate materials and encourage respectful discourse. Several candidates framed freedom of speech in schools as a right that must be balanced by respect and supervision to protect students from harm.

Several candidates tied improved district performance to leadership and communication. Jim Kaleo said his experience as a long-serving board member and former president taught him how to build consensus and keep the board focused on students. Eric Johnson urged a "no surprises" culture and called for servant leadership; Michelle Moser recommended transparent planning and stronger staff culture.

There were no formal board actions at the forum. Candidates encouraged voters to examine proposals and emphasized the board’s responsibility to ensure educational quality across all classrooms.