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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Susan Phillips and Mark Zandberg   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Dana nibbles into Somers’ lead 11/7/09 • Colorado ski town legalizes pot 11/3/09 • McDonnell wins Virginia governorship for GOP 11/3/09 • Republican Christie captures N.J. governor’s race 11/3/09 • Democrat wins House seat in heavily GOP area of N.Y. 11/3/09 • Maine voters repeal gay-marriage law 11/3/09 » More ELECTION2009 stories >   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, October 23, 2009 Board incumbent challenged by Edmonds School District watchdog By Eric Stevick Herald Writer The lone contested race for a spot on the Edmonds School Board pits a district watchdog against an appointed incumbent. Challenger Mark Zandberg is a former district employee who keeps a blog that questions district land deals and spending practices as well as whether policies are being followed. Susan Phillips, the board's vice president, has been a long-time school volunteer with two children now in high school. She was named to the board two years ago to fill the unexpired term of Bruce Williams. Zandberg and Phillips square off on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Zandberg was a planning and property management specialist for the school district from 2001 to 2007. He said his responsibilities included helping the district manage property holdings, negotiate leases, monitor community use of public facilities and draft the district's capital facilities plan. Zandberg got in trouble with his bosses in March of 2007 when he wrote a letter to the editor of an Edmonds weekly newspaper and a separate e-mail to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. The letter was about the district and a land deal. He also asked the sheriff's department in an e-mail to talk to a man he suspected was causing damage to district property. Zandberg said he did nothing wrong in either instance. He said he was merely exercising his right to free speech as an Edmonds resident in the letter to the editor. Zandberg was given a letter of direction from his superiors that he says severely limited his communication with fellow employees and the public to the point he could not do his job effectively. Zandberg resigned and sued the district in federal court. His case was dismissed and is now under appeal. The case, he said, “is not about money. It's about principle.” Zandberg said his work with the district and expertise on the facilities and operations side of schools gives him a unique perspective that could help save taxpayers' money. He also said he could bring more accountability and openness to the school board. While, according to his Web site, a district administrator once described him in an e-mail as “a tech savvy, disgruntled employee who has been wreaking havoc with the district,” Zandberg says he is exactly what the board needs: someone with extensive knowledge about how the district runs who is not afraid to ask hard questions. Zandberg described as his campaign to prevent wasteful spending in the Edmonds district as “intertwined” with his long-standing interest in helping people in Africa “where resources are scarce.” He has lived and worked there in several capacities, including as a house master of a high school for boys in South Africa. Phillips, who teaches travel and hospitality courses at Edmonds Community College and the Tulalip Indian Reservation, said the district has done its best to make good decisions under tough circumstances. More than 1,000 people attended meetings earlier this year when the district was looking for suggestions on how best to trim spending brought on by state budget cuts and enrollment losses. The feedback was valuable and she said she would favor a similar process if more cuts become necessary. “I wanted to hear and see what the peoples' concerns were,” she said. “As hard as making those decisions was, it was very heart-warming to see our community come together.” Phillips said she would like to help connect the community to its schools and bring “more services onto school grounds” before and after school. She applauded partnerships between schools and outside groups to bring tutoring and resources to low-income apartment complexes, such as a mini-library of donated books for students from Chase Lake Elementary School. Phillips said she wants to see the district do more to earlier identify those students at risk of not graduating. She said she would advocate home visits if that would help make a stronger connection between schools and home. Phillips also said the district needs to look at creative ways to generate revenue. That could include advertisements at the district's stadium or considering a partnership with EdCC to use the district's print shop. “You have to look under every rock,” she said. More information about the candidates can be found at Zandberg's Web site, www.esd15.org and Phillips site www.susan4schools.com. Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com. Who's running Susan Phillips Age: 50 Occupation: Edmonds Community College hospitality and tourism instructor; senior programs manager for travel company Mark Zandberg Age: 38 Occupation: Facilities project manager for Public Health King County; real estate agent READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out There is much more to this race... I work for the Edmonds School District and I don't have the guts Mark has shown over the years. Unlike the rest of us, when he saw something inappropriate, he spoke up and took the consequences right on the chin. The mental image of board members looking under rocks for money is precious. They need look no further than the pockets of Marla's friends. I have been reading the blog since it started and I am surprised the Herald didn't even bother to touch on the many things Mark has uncovered. Anyone reading this paper should stop right now and look at the long list of reasons why this community should elect someone intelligent to the school board. www.esd15.blogspot.com Personally, I am tired of watching this district limp along under ineffective leadership. Like many people, I stopped going to board meetings because I refuse to watch five adults torture little children. I will be voting for Mark Zandberg and I strongly encourage everyone else to do so. He is the change we need and we need that change right now. H R | Oct 23, 2009 5:38 am | 2 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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