I enjoyed the candidate forum at Leisure Estates last Tuesday, Sept. 15. Of particular interest to me was the opportunity to hear the two school board candidates speak for themselves. November will be the first time in I-don’t-know-how-long I will have the chance to make an actual choice for the school board, since all the current members were appointed and then ran unopposed.

In hearing Pam Teal speak at Tuesday’s forum, I was confused as to whether she was on the school board or on the school district staff, since she only talked in terms of “we,” as in the board and Superintendent Heuschel. I need to hear the school board talk in terms of “we,” as in the board and the parents. Board members represent the parents, not the school district administration.

Dr. Jim Grossnickle is running, not as a board appointee, but as a parent who wants his and other parents’ voices heard by the administration, not conveniently muffled. I can entrust my children’s education to someone who is interested in presenting my case to the district, not presenting the district’s case to me.

Dr. Grossnickle has the guts to be on the school board.

Christy Anderson

Renton