Spending ↑ x2 since 2019
Math/Science/English Scores are down 10–18 %
In spite of $80 million in spending each year, special needs students are suspended and sent home from school at 2x the average
We spend 5x more on Admin compared to CTE/ vocational training programs
The Issaquah School District has a $400 million budget and ~20,000 students. That's $20,000 per student per year, which is more than the average private school and UW in-state tuition. Where are the results, and can we do better?
MEET CHINMAY NAGARKAR
Husband, dad, tech leader, Newcastle resident since 2013
The Board has a critical job - to hire the Superintendent, set goals, and hold the Superintendent accountable. Yet, if you scan through the objectives set for the Superintendent, you won't find a single specific, measurable target, such as improving Math and English test scores by 10% every year, increasing funding for vocational training programs by 2x, reducing the number of bullying incidents and student dissatisfaction rate from 40% to 10%, and fixing the 'unfair punishment' problem (see FAQ) for Black and special needs students.
Instead, the Superintendent's goals are vaguely written and demand “activity” as evidence of success, not results. Such 'Operational Expectations' would be laughed at in most businesses, and the board would be dismissed. As I knock on doors and share these facts with voters, one thing is clear - they are no longer ready to accept this irresponsible deployment of their tax dollars.​
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We need to: a) set clear and measurable goals to evaluate the performance of the district; b) monitor progress on a regular basis with an itemized “promised-vs-delivered” dashboard. Every voter should be able to track the progress of the district.
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And let us prioritize the basics when it comes to funding.
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Safety is first - without safety, there is no peace of mind, and no learning is possible.
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Core academics (literacy, numeracy, science) and career readiness are next. We need to expand CTE and dual-credit pathways so college-bound and trade-bound students have options.
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Provide safe, focused, future-ready classrooms where innovative teachers are celebrated and red tape is trimmed
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Freeze the central-office headcount until academic goals are me.t
Let us make sure every child has a neighborhood school that helps them grow into wonderful adults. I would be honored to earn your support in the primary on August 5th and in the general election on November 4th.
As a father of two—one with special needs and another with a gift in math—I’ve seen firsthand how every child learns differently. My years as a TEALS computer science teacher at Bellevue High School, a STEM tutor and mentor, and a youth soccer coach have deepened my understanding of diverse learning needs.
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I’m a Stanford graduate and a seasoned tech leader still in my prime. I spent the last year researching why the school system was unable to support my son's gift in Math, whom I now homeschool. When I found significant gaps in spending vs outcomes, I was left with no choice but to run for School Board and help correct the ship. Since then, while knocking on doors in Sammamish, Issaquah, Renton, and Newcastle, I’ve spoken with hundreds of families who deeply value education.
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We have a $400 million budget, $20,000 per student/yr, more than UW in-state tuition.
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Sliding achievement: Scores have dropped as much as 18 points since 2019
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Families leaving: One in three children now attends private school or homeschool, and district officials project enrollment falling by 300 + students each year
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Broken Trust: Two bond measures have failed. 7 in 10 voters I meet when knocking on doors fear more taxes for no results
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Money is mis-aimed: Less than 4 % of the general fund reaches Career & Technical Education or Gifted programs, while 10+ % goes to central administration, and an additional $300 million is earmarked for a controversial high-school construction project
Specific Proposals
Safety and Academic Excellence
➢ Enforce zero tolerance for substance abuse
➢ 2x Career & Technical Education (CTE) budget
➢ Expand safe spaces for critical thinking (Socratic dialogue)
➢ Expert-led strategies to boost test scores
Equity (No Talent Left Behind)
➢ Black students are 7x more likely to get suspended. Reduce this disparity every year by 50%
➢ End unfair suspension of special-needs children
➢ Reduce High School dissatisfaction rate below 10%
➢ Ensure students have CTE opportunities of choice
➢ Increase achievement of lowest 20% of the student population by 20% every year
Empower Teachers, Embrace Innovation
➢ Empower, not replace, great teachers. Cut red tape.
➢ Incentives for teacher-led initiatives
➢ Personalized learning with flexible pacing
Families as Partners
➢ Let parents opt-in to programs, not just opt-out
➢ Non-voting parent representation on the board
➢ Reduce parent dissatisfaction to less than 10%
Trust and Financial Stewardship
➢ Put all options on the table to address overcrowding
➢ "Promised vs Delivered" dashboard for regular, transparent updates on major initiatives and Superintendent goals for the district
Stay Informed
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No Talent Left Behind
A message from Dr. Wendy Ghiora
Why I'm running
Rebuilding Trust In Our Schools
Did you know?
Academic performance has dropped over four years, while spending and property taxes have doubled
According to district budget data, spending per student per year is now hovering at ~$20,000 (more than the University of WA in-state tuition)
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ISD spends just 3% on Career & Tech Education (CTE), and 14% (!!) on District Administration
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* CTE helps prepare students who want to work in the trades rather than go to College
Students don't feel safe speaking in class and require more remedial summer classes
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Enrollment is dropping. A third of students in the Issaquah and Bellevue school districts are homeschooled or in private school.
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Students say the classroom is not working for them and the schools are not listening
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My 4-Step Problem-Solving Approach
Let us see how we can apply this to raising academic standards
Expert Led Goals
For e.g.: Increase the 10th-graders at grade-level standards to 80% by 2027.
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Transparency
For e.g.: Results for each school published regularly (e.g. monthly)
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Blameless Accountability
Ask questions; ensure that gaps between promises & results are explained
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Support Innovation
Unblock teachers, reward staff who take the initiative towards creative solutions
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