Hear school board candidates talk about arts education
The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and Seattle Arts Commission asked the candidates for Seattle School Board to answer a series of questions about arts education.Listen to the full interview with each candidate or hear the candidates' responses to specific questions.
Five candidates are running for Seattle School Board, an elected body representing seven geographical regions, known as Districts, within the city of Seattle. All Seattle voters get to vote for the open board positions in the Nov. 3 general election.
Michael DeBell, a one-term incumbent, businessman and president of the Seattle School Board, is running unopposed for District 4 in Northwest/Downtown Seattle. For District 5 in the Central District, two-term incumbent and project manager Mary Bass is being challenged by business woman and school volunteer Kay Smith-Blum. In Southeast Seattle's District 7, research scientist and school volunteer Wilson Chin faces off against retired educator and community activist Betty Patu.
The candidate interviews were recorded at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on Sept. 24 and 25. Special thanks to the Youth Media Institute headed by Seattle Arts Commissioner Estevan Muñoz-Howard and to student recording engineer Cham Ba.
Full Interviews
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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Question 1
How would you describe the key duties and responsibilities of the School Board?
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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Question 2
Can you describe an accomplishment in your background that illustrates how you will/continue to make a difference as a school board member?
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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Question 3
Did you have meaningful experiences with the arts growing up—either in or out of school? Please tell us about one experience.
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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Question 4
Did/do you have children in Seattle Public Schools? Did/do they have access to arts programs in their schools? To the best of your knowledge, how important were parents to making those programs possible?
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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Question 5
Seattle's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is partnering with Seattle Public Schools with the goal of restoring access to quality arts learning opportunities for all students. What is your view of the value of arts in the student learning experience, and will you support this partnership for Seattle Public Schools?
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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Question 6
Seattle Public Schools have some outstanding arts programs, but overall access to arts is very modest and inconsistent. Judging by parent support, strong arts programs are one of the drivers in school choice. The new student assignment plan is moving to a neighborhood school model. Do you believe the arts will be important to parent satisfaction with school assignments, and how do you think the arts can be a positive tool in achieving more consistent success among our schools?
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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Question 7
The first-ever Seattle Public Schools Survey of District Arts Activity occurred this year and found that district arts instruction levels appear to be well below those necessary to meet state standards. For example, across the district K-5 students on average receive less than 40 hours per year of arts. The same survey found that approximately 3/4 of all district principals see the arts as a high or very high priority over the next three years for their schools. Why do you think principals value arts in their schools, and given the severe resource limitations, how do you think the district could support increasing student access to arts?
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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Question 8
According to a 2002 study published by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, roughly 25% of youth in cities across the United States are left unsupervised after school, between 3 and 6 p.m. Consequently, these are the peak hours during which growing numbers of youth commit crimes; experiment with drugs, alcohol and sex; and become victims of crimes and abuse. What role do you see for arts learning in supporting students in out-of-school time, especially with regard to addressing the achievement gap and graduation rates?
| District 4 |
Michael DeBell |
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| District 5 |
Mary Bass |
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Kay Smith-Blum |
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| District 7 |
Wilson Chin |
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Betty Patu |
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