Central Whidbey
Coupeville School District
position 2
https://coupevillesports.com/2021/07/31/vote-for-passion-vote-for-pride/
Here’s a review of the Coupeville School Board candidates. He says upfront that he is not impartial. Neither am I. He has ferreted out information about Nancy Conard and Morgan White that I have not. He has not really looked for information on their opponents, largely because he didn’t think they were worth his time.
Nancy Conard
https://www.whidbeyfoundation.org/
After 27 years as the Coupeville School District business manager, she served 20 years as Coupeville’s mayor. For the last 10 years she has been raising her granddaughter who is now entering Coupeville High School. Some of the very qualified board members are retiring, and she is stepping into the breach. She grew up in Coupeville. In her position as business manager she dealt with all the various aspects of the district’s operating systems. She is completely conversant with both policy and administration. In her time with the district she helped to balanced the budget, build a cash reserve, and build consensus. All of those skills will be useful as a school board member. She is interested in supporting school staff. She sees the pandemic as the least of the issues facing schools, compared with issues of equity, climate change, and developing a new normal. She is very interested in getting kids back to school. Of course they need to mask. Follow the science. True leaders explain why people need to take certain actions. She can help board members be more transparent. She wants to help people understand why certain choices are made at the policy level.
I’ve known Nancy Conard at arm’s length for many years. She impressed me as a no-nonsense business woman who used those business skills to do the best for the people she was representing. Given her long history with the Coupeville school district, Nancy is a treasure trove of institutional memory.
My favorite interaction with Nancy happened in 1999 when we were hosting a “pot party” at the Greenbank Farm. We had many thousands of salvaged native plants that needed to be potted up. There were piles of pots and piles of plants and piles of topsoil. Nancy sailed right into the middle of this mess in a white suit. I couldn’t see how she could possibly do anything other than stand back and watch. Somehow she was able to be very efficient in potting up a whole lot of plants while never getting a single spot of soil on that white suit. Given that the rest of us were all well decorated, I was a bit in awe of her.
I have not always agreed with Nancy’s decisions, but I saw that they were intended for the good of the community. I expect she will bring that same mindset to the school board.
Paul Rempa
https://www.facebook.com/Elect-Paul-Rempa-For-Coupeville-Schools-Position-2-100370542251806/
“This content isn’t available right now”
There are posts to the effect that his claims as a firefighter are manufactured. To quote “He is not a firefighter. He took the free training and very expensive gear and never did anything for Central Whidbey Fire. . . He is a self promoter who has repeatedly done things to undermine protection during the pandemic, e.g. encouraging maskless celebrations. He is a big bully and tried to push me around. . . school board material he is most definitely not.”
He signed on to the somewhat hysterical anti-student, anti-free speech, anti-Covid protection, anti-everything letter authored by Oak Harbor school board candidate Jessica Thompson.
He appears to be endorsed by the Island County Republicans, based on the big image on their website. Word is that he is a Republican precinct committee officer.
"As the governor has declared that all non essential businesses should remain closed, This company is putting me and my family at risk by continually coming to my house." - Paul Rempa
The aforementioned complaint was filed by Paul Rempa in Coupeville, Washington on Tuesday April 7, 2020 with L&I covid19complaints@lni.wa.gov against Micheal’s lawn and garden saying Non-essential business is open. Email address given was paul.rempa@gmail.com and phone number given was 360-9291473.
So it looks like he may have been a firefighter in Freeland in 2013. Hard to know how long he stuck with it.
https://trellis.law/case/53029/13-2-00373-7/LVNV-FUNDING-LLC-VS-REMPA-PAUL
Not able to read the case, so not sure what its about, but it looks like Mr Rempa has failed to repay a loan. It does tell us that the case outcome was a judgement and that this was a commercial case in Island County Superior Court.
All in all one gets the impression of someone who plays fast and loose with the basic rules of good behavior. He turns in a non-essential business while advocating to reopen schools in the middle of the pandemic. Even giving him the benefit of a great many doubts, I do not believe he has the background or patience to learn required to be a good school board member.
By contrast, Nancy Conard has been there and done that and demonstrated that she is very good at it – while keeping student and staff safety foremost.
If I voted in Coupeville, I would most gladly vote for Nancy Conard.
position 5
Morgan White
https://www.electmorganwhite.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gregnmorgan.white
Why are you running for this particular position?
The primary reason I am running for school board is that I love Coupeville. My husband and I both graduated from Coupeville High School, and we have two children in the Coupeville school district. We are very invested in this community. After High School I served 8 years in the United States Air Force before I returned here to raise my children. I recognize and value the strengths of small towns.
For the past 15 years I’ve been a very active volunteer in the lives of Coupeville youth. I have built strong relationships with students, families, staff and community members. However, last year was difficult. With school closures and isolation, I learned many heartbreaking stories about students who were hurting and suffering. As an active volunteer I felt helpless; I wanted to do more; I wanted to support our students more. That experience really challenged me to identify where I could best serve our students. I genuinely want to support Coupeville students in their education and in their well-being.
What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? How does this office/board/commission accomplish its work?
School boards govern local districts under the umbrella of OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) and SBE (State Board of Education). They set vision/mission/goals for our school and they adopt policies while overseeing the resources available to our school.
The powers of this position are based on successful teamwork. A school director holds no power as an individual but with healthy teamwork; a school board can be a place of tremendous influence. A successful team recognizes each other’s strengths and weakness and works together towards accomplishing specific goals and visions for our school.
What do you hope to accomplish in this position? How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?
My primary focus is student achievement. This should be the key focus in decision making for our schools. Are we governing in a way to support high expectations for learning and are we being good stewards of the finances and resources that have been given to us to accomplish these goals? Are we building an environment where our students and staff can flourish and succeed? And are we engaging our community in this process? I hope to ask some thoughtful questions and do a lot of listening, so that as a team we can provide our students with a successful environment for growth and achievement
What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate?
During this election 2 of the 5 board members will be new. This transition is a great opportunity for our school board to reexamine priorities and goals for our district. I would like to work on improving communication and community engagement. I would like to see an increase in school board workshops, meetings, trainings and study sessions. I believe this will help increase community access to information, and increase participation in the district’s decision-making process.
This past year was difficult for students and staff, and it was also difficult for our school board. Meetings have been online and annual board retreats have been cancelled. I want to refocus our efforts towards rebuilding the school board team cohesion, and looking at our communication methods. Diversity of strengths and perspectives is important to any good team.
This past year highlighted how many different opinions and ideas exist within the students and families that we serve. Creating opportunities for those conversations and being very transparent with decision-making will be important to building community trust and equipping our students for the future.
What relevant experience do you have?
I have been dedicated to volunteering and caring for youth in Coupeville for the last 15 years. Here is a glimpse what that has looked like: I was president of the Central Whidbey Cooperative Preschool for several years. I organized and ran Popcorn Fridays at Coupeville Elementary School (CES) for several years. I created logos and designs for the high school basketball team, baseball team and tennis team, as well as the PTA at CES. I’ve been maintaining the website for Race the Reserve (a senior class fundraiser event). I’ve spent countless hours in the classroom and on field trips. I was the co-director of the drama club at CES for two years. I have helped take photographs and chaperoned several ASB functions and I have been invited to serve on several hiring committees and a district advisory committee. Last year I helped students access food and community resources to support them during the time of school closures. As an active volunteer I have a unique perspective. I am able to see and understand the challenges and functions of many different facets of school operations. I’ve built many strong relationships and those relationships help me lead from a place of compassion and bring a strong sense of community to our district. I value the impact that our school has on the lives of children and I am grateful to be a part of such a caring and connected community.
What will be your operating philosophy in office?
There are little red signs all around Coupeville with these hearts on them and they have the saying “Kindness is Contagious”. That is the operating philosophy that I want to move forward with. As a nation we are being divided over so many issues and there is a great deal of anger and shame. If you turn on the news or look at social media we are a very divided people. I believe that when we come together with respect and kindness we can have much greater success.
What message would you like to convey to voters?
That I care, and I have proven that I care by dedicating the last 15 years to serving and investing in Coupeville School District.
How will you address pandemic safety?
I applaud the measures and steps that our school is currently taking in regard to the safety and well being of students and staff. They are utilizing masks and vaccines, they are utilizing outside space and multiple common areas in the school buildings to encourage social distancing during lunch. They have replaced and updated the HVAC systems in the buildings and classrooms and some teachers are even utilizing outdoor classroom options when possible. They are offering COVID-19 rapid testing at school for students who are having symptoms and they are working hard at educating families about safety practices for this school year. Our district has organized a healthy youth task force to address some of the negative issues that have arisen from the challenges of this pandemic such as childhood obesity and mental health. I personally would just continue to support the work that is happening in our district in regard to health and safety during the pandemic so that our children can continue to have their education delivered in-person with their teacher and a really wonderful support network.
Ward Sparacio
https://islandcountyfreepress.com/red-dawn-rises-in-island-county-elections/
A post showing that many Republicans won in the November 2020 elections.
While Mr Sparacio claims to be out in the world advocating for children, there is very little evidence of that on social media. There’s plenty of medical device information. That seems to be his field.
He has recently retired as the Island County Republican treasurer but appears to continue as a precinct committee officer.
A friend bumped into Mr Sparacio in a public place and tried to question him.
1. Why no response to my many efforts over several weeks of phone messages?
answer: The person responsible has been ill. I’ll look into it.”
Several days later my friend had a call from a woman who identified herself as Mr Sparacio’s campaign manager. She apologized for failing to return calls, but said she had been ill and her husband had been in the hospital. It seems they both had Covid and neither was vaccinated.
2. You say you have 30 years of experience. In what?
answer: The medical field. Ultrasound & imaging.
3. What’s your degree in?
answer: biology
4. But ultrasound and nuclear imaging require certification.
answer: Oh, I never said I worked in the field. I worked and owned companies which provide medical technology. I worked for GE and was CEO of a smaller company in Boston.
5. What are your political connections? He initially denied any, until reminded that he was treasurer of IC GOP.
Answer: I’m not currently associated with them.
6. His opinion on students and Critical Race Theory.
answer: I think students should not be confronted with divisive issues.
7. But you tell people that you favor critical thinking.
answer: I’m a libertarian.
Mr Sparacio has gone to some lengths to make himself and his agenda unavailable to the voters of Coupeville. Its hard to take him seriously as a candidate.
Given that Morgan White has a long and very visible history of working with and advocating for students and schools in Coupeville, and Ward Sparacio states that he does not believe children should be confronted with divisive issues, it is clear that Morgan White is by far the more qualified candidate.
If I voted in Coupeville, I would vote enthusiastically for Morgan White.
Coupeville Port District
Commissioner
Michael Seraphinoff
1. Why are you running for this particular position?
No one even applied during the regular filing period for the Port Commission position, so I thought it my civic duty. Fortunately, another very able candidate has also stepped forward.
2. What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? How does this office/board/commission accomplish its work?
The port has responsibility for several properties in public ownership. There are open public meetings to achieve this management.
3.What do you hope to accomplish in this position?
Serve the interests of my community.
How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?
Consider the ideas and opinions of others and all facts and figures presented to the port commissioners, and then add my own two cents to the discussion and decision making.
4.What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate?
I would like to, after a period of initial learning of port operations and functions, have the port consider a few things that concern me. These include consideration of providing decent access parking on the farm for those wishing to use the public beach access adjoining the Greenbank Farm; look at ways the port property at the farm might help provide (minimal tent, at least) camping opportunities since the South Whidbey state park no longer offers this; and consider ways the port might begin a conversation with the Navy over their eventual turning of the Coupeville OLF over to the port for management as a county airfield. (It is my understanding that the Coupeville Port was initially formed back in the 1960s when it was believed that such a hand-over of the property to the port was likely and that the community needed a port commission to manage this property as a county air field.) Just some ideas that have occurred to me.
5.What relevant experience do you have?
Board membership experience on several community nonprofits, including South Whidbey Tilth and the Opportunity Council. I was also for two years a Chair of the Greenbank Community Council.
6.What will be your operating philosophy in office?
Open and frank discussion of community needs and priorities.
7.What message would you like to convey to voters?
It is important to pay attention to practical day-to-day operations and pay careful attention to fiscal responsibilities (something I understand that my able opponent may be quite well prepared for as a fiscal advisor to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust), but it is also important to envision ways the port might better serve the community. For example, the Coupeville OLF is mostly thought of as a permanent operation of the Navy, but nothing is permanent. Witness the break up of the Soviet Empire and the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. We thought that those were quite permanent too. And the times they are a changing, as a songster poet once wisely told us.
8. How will you address pandemic safety?
The port presently holds zoom meetings.
Patrick Kennedy
Mr Kennedy did not respond to a request for information, and provided no contact information.
Mr Kennedy is relatively new to the island, having bought land at Greenbank about 6 years ago. He is a consultant to large financial institutions, and is involved with Goosefoot Foundation and the Economic Development Council. He is a past board member of Whidbey Camano Land Trust.
I do not know Mr Kennedy at all, except that under one of my other hats I came across a Forest Practices permit to log his property at Greenbank. His familiarity with high finance makes me more than a little nervous. After all, the business of a port district is to promote commerce. I fear national scale ambitions imposed on local scale Greenbank and Coupeville.
I have considered Michael Seraphinoff a friend and advisor for something more than 40 years. We worked together in 1995 to prevent conversion of the Greenbank Farm into a 500 unit housing development. We were co-founders, back in 1982, of South Whidbey Tilth. We worked together in 1988-89 to prevent and then reduce the impact of Trillium Corp’s attempts to log 10% of south Whidbey in one fell swoop. I know Michael and I know he would/will take the Port’s business seriously.
If I voted in Coupeville, I would vote for Michael Seraphinoff – in spite of his modesty.
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