Race for Schools Chief Heats Up

The News Tribune has a hot tip on the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Former state Representative and E.D. of the Public School Employees Randy Dorn is entering the race.

Incumbent Terry Bergeson, former president of the Washington Education Association is running for her 4th term, and until today her main challenger was former Richland Superintendent Rich Semler.

The WEA endorsed Semler, despite Bergeson’s history with them. Bergeson has been criticized openly by the WEA for focusing too much on the single standardized snafu that is the WASL, and she has been criticized privately by the WEA for being willing to consider merit pay for teachers – merit pay being anathema to any union anywhere (union pay is based on seniority, not skill). Her relationship with Governor Gregoire has also been rocky.

Other challengers include David Blomstrom, of the corporate conspiracy theory party, and Donald Hansler, the guy who wrote Measure 934, which would have required every candidate for public office to pass the 10th grade WASL.