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Reykdal and Olson clash over funding, McCleary and DEI in Washington superintendent debate
Summary
Incumbent Chris Reykdal and challenger David Olson traded sharp contrasts on school funding, McCleary, and DEI at a Microsoft‑sponsored debate broadcast by TVW; Olson called for revisiting the funding model while Reykdal defended recent investments and new revenue measures.
In a moderated debate hosted by the Association of Washington Business and broadcast by TVW, incumbent state superintendent Chris Reykdal and challenger David Olson squared off over K–12 funding, accountability and cultural issues affecting Washington schools.
Olson, a retired Navy officer and long‑time school board member, opened by blaming current leadership for falling outcomes: “Less than 50% of the kids can read and write at grade level,” he said, and called for revamping the state’s prototypical funding model and adopting weighted funding to better support rural and high‑poverty districts.
Reykdal, who has served as state superintendent since 2016, acknowledged remaining gaps but pressed for continued investment and tax‑code changes to sustain them: “I would ask our legislature … to get us to at least the national average,” he said, citing what he described as a gap between the roughly 3.1% of GDP Washington currently devotes to schools and the national average he put near 3.6%.
The candidates sparred over whether to reopen the McCleary funding framework. Olson argued the prototypical model ‘‘is absolutely not working’’ and urged a return to the negotiating table; Reykdal said lawmakers must both fill current funding holes and pursue weighted‑funding improvements without letting districts suffer in the meantime.
On culture and curriculum, Reykdal criticized comments Olson has made about diversity, equity and inclusion and urged a public apology: “Words do matter,” Reykdal said. Olson called some past remarks ‘‘facetious’’ and invited critics to visit his district to see programs he described as welcoming and successful.
The debate did not produce a policy vote. Both candidates used closing statements to frame the choice for voters as a contrast between continuity and change: Olson promised stronger advocacy and a return to academic rigor; Reykdal defended gains in readiness, graduation and dual‑credit participation and said continued investment is the path forward.
The event was moderated by Renee Radcliffe Sinclair, president and CEO of TVW, and sponsored by Microsoft and others.
