School Board 911

[April 27th, 2005] If reality TV took on school-board elections, the product would be a cross between Survivor and the hit Fox show Nanny 911, on which a tough Brit enters a troubled household to shape things up.

Each candidate for the boards of Portland Public Schools, Portland Community College and the Multnomah Education Service District is applying for a job as challenging as a living room packed with screaming brats. And in every race, you've got to kick the dopier candidates off the island-er, out of the room. What follow, based on interviews and other reporting, are our picks for the May 17 election.

^Portland Public Schools

With an ever-shrinking budget, parents pissed off over school closures, and impending teacher layoffs, the Portland Public Schools board is a rough place. Four years ago, it was worse-the board was all infighting, no leadership. The group, whose seven members are elected to four-year terms, has gotten its act together but now faces a new danger-that it will become too collegial with some of its strongest independent voices stepping down. Superintendent Vicki Phillips has filled a leadership void, but her dizzying pace of change screams for an independent board. The district also needs a strong board to fix the teachers' contract, which is plagued by costly health insurance and a transfer policy that now results in kids who most need good teachers being least likely to get them.

Zone 4 (North and Northeast Portland above Ainsworth Street):

Steve Buel

The race for Derry Jackson's seat presents the toughest call in the election. We liked several of the candidates: Portland State University fundraiser Dan Ryan, the witty, affable, PR-focused establishment pick; Charles McGee III, the brainy and charismatic 19-year-old PSU freshman; and Steve Kayfes, the down-to-earth Nabisco manager. Buel's frequent mention of his relationship to the newspaper (his brother, Ron Buel, founded WW in 1974) initially gave us pause. But this semi-retired teacher and former board member (1979-1983) won us over with his detail-oriented nature, willingness to ask tough questions and commitment to a better education in low-income schools. Buel needs to be more strategic in how he unleashes his combative nature. But Buel knows more about Portland schools than any of his opponents. And on a board stocked with team players, he wouldn't be just a rubber stamp.

Zone 5 (Laurelhurst, Rose City Park, Cully):

Sonja Henning

This was the easiest choice in the election. The race to replace Lolenzo Poe features two knee-jerk anti-taxers with a dubious grasp of the facts-oil recycler Steve Gunther and financial comptroller Jim Christiansen-versus retired grant writer Cy Nisenfeld and Henning, a labor lawyer and former pro-basketball player (though not an Olympic skater-that's Sonja Henie). With brains, independence and expertise, Henning is the clear selection. She's worked for a hardball national labor-law firm as well as advocated for the players' union in the Women's National Basketball Association. As her WW endorsement interview showed, she is calm under fire and, unlike her sometimes mind-numbing opponents, has a sophisticated understanding of the legal and financial issues facing the board.

Zone 6 (Richmond, Mount Tabor, Montavilla):

Trudy Sargent

IT manager William McCloskey, a brainy, well-spoken 20-year-old Benson graduate who was active in last year's push to save Outdoor School, made this pick surprisingly difficult. But he lacks experience, while his opponent, Sargent-a longtime PTA leader, lawyer and property manager, is knowledgeable and independent.

^Portland Community College

PCC has great facilities, including a shiny new Southeast campus and a building boom at North Portland's Cascade site-but not enough students to fill them. Enrollment dropped last year from 101,000 to 85,000 students, which administration officials ascribe to higher tuition and fewer people looking for jobs. As a result, new president Preston Pulliams is looking at wiping out entire programs while the faculty union fumes. This board needs people who will pay attention.

Zone 4 (Northwest, downtown, central east side):

George Hendrix

This race pits Hendrix, a consultant and real-estate broker, against Jim Harper, a congenial PCC Foundation board member and former corporate executive. Then there is Richard LaMountain, who seeks to combat "multiculturalism" and institute an annual "Western Heritage Month" (dude, isn't that every month?). Hendrix is energetic, smart and knowledgeable about PCC, though at times unable to translate his points out of education-speak. Then again, he did recently finish a master's dissertation on community-college governance.

Zone 5 (most of Southwest Portland):

Doreen Margolin

Challenger David Squire, a business consultant and former board member of Worksystems Inc., has the reinventing-government lingo down pat but can't offer specifics that would demonstrate his commitment to the job. Margolin, who has served on the board since 1999, is active in the community-college movement nationally and has the brains to apply her knowledge locally.

^Multnomah Education Service District

The MESD provides nursing and computer services to all seven area school districts but is better known for Outdoor School, as well as its special-ed programs that offer counselors and programs for kids with learning disabilities and other special needs. Some local school administrators feel the MESD, which has a $75 million budget and a 700-member staff, should do more cost-cutting. For example, Portland school administrators recently proposed taking back about 50 behaviorally challenged kids from the MESD, saying they could teach them for about half of the $1.5 million charged by MESD. This provocative observation was made public a month ago in meetings and in the Portland schools budget, but was news to MESD superintendent Ed Schmidt when WW contacted him last week. Clearly, this agency can be more on the ball-and a good board is crucial to that. (The MESD has one at-large member, while the rest represent zones. Confusingly, all are numbered differently from their position.)

Position 2, At Large:

Sonja-Jean Harju

Incumbent Sy Kornbrodt, a former parole officer, is challenged by George Shepard, a contractor who employs disabled kids; MESD veteran Jim Davis, a running-shoe company owner; and Sonja-Jean Harju, a former business-owner and private investigator turned activist. Kornbrodt lacks focus, whereas Harju has the skills and passion to instill a more customer-focused bottom-line mentality at the MESD.

Position 3, Zone 2 (Northwest, downtown, central east side):

Harry Ainsworth

Ainsworth, a landlord and lawyer for tenants, is the incumbent, facing John Sweeney, a former supervisor at Portland Parks. Sweeney is a perennial candidate and, though he served on the MESD nearly 20 years ago, doesn't seem to grasp the issues now. Ainsworth, meanwhile, is competent and sincere.

Position 4, Zone 4 (between East 82nd Avenue and Gresham):

Jean Haliski

Incumbent Haliski, a longtime schools activist, faces Ron McCarty, another perennial candidate. The well-spoken Haliski is a capable advocate.

Position 1, Zone 5 (Troutdale, Gresham):

Maura White-Cioeta

Candidates include Ken Kissir, a former prosecutor; Maxine Stannard, a health-care worker; and Scott Forrester, a public-power activist. But White-Cioeta, executive director of the Portland Police Activities League, easily gains our nod with smarts, experience and bureaucratic sophistication.