In this episode of Rainy Day Recess, host Christie Robertson interviews Vivian Song, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Seattle School Board. As a former school board director making a comeback run, Vivian brings insider knowledge of Seattle Public Schools' $1.2 billion budget and her perspective on the board's challenges. She expresses frustration that "we haven't made much progress" on equitable budgeting since 2021 and argues the district struggles with community engagement—pointing to reactions over school closures, bell times, and option schools. Her platform centers on restoring institutional structures like Finance committees and Friday memos, addressing budget areas like bus transportation and substitutes, and finding a superintendent who can create long-term visions instead of "lurching from crisis to crisis." She proposes systematic community feedback tracking modeled after City Councilmember Debora Juarez's newsletters and advocates for a hybrid approach balancing school autonomy with district oversight. With experience on multiple levy oversight committees and international school systems, she offers a data-driven perspective shaped by previous board service. Listeners are encouraged to check out interviews with other District 5 candidates and stay informed for the upcoming elections.
Timestamps:
- 01:07 Interview start
- 01:19 Lightning Round
- 06:07 Main interview questions
- 17:55 Preview of other D5 candidates
Contact us at hello@rainydayrecess.org.
Rainy Day Recess music by Lester Mayo, logo by Cheryl Jenrow.
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