Spending ↑ x2 since 2019
More than UW in-state tuition
Math, English scores ↓ 10–18 %
Science scores and attendance ↓ 10 -15%
13% funds to Admin
Just 3% to vocational programs
MEET CHINMAY NAGARKAR
Husband, dad, tech leader, Newastle resident since 2013
There is still a way forward. We can resolve these issues with a few key steps.
Let us rebuild fiscal transparency.
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Freeze central-office headcount until academic goals are met
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Publish a line-item “promised-vs-delivered” dashboard so every voter can track where each tax dollar lands
We need to refocus on student outcomes that matter.
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Prioritize core academics (literacy, numeracy, science) and career readiness
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Expand CTE and dual-credit pathways so college-bound and trade-bound students alike have real options
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Provide safe, focused, future-ready classrooms where innovative teachers are celebrated and red tape is trimmed
Let's give parents and students a real voice.
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Create rotating parent seats on the board to move feedback beyond a two-minute microphone slot
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Listen to students: two-thirds of our middle-schoolers say classrooms don’t bring out their best
With these steps we can prove every dollar is working for kids, restore confidence, and secure the support we’ll need for a bright future. 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.
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, whom I now homeschool. What I found left me 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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Achievement is sliding: Scores have dropped as much as 18 points since 2019
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Families are 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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Trust is broken: two bond measures have failed. 7 in 10 voters I met on 500 + door steps fear taxes will cost them their homes
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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 $300 million is earmarked for a controversial high-school construction project
A Plan for Renewal
Safety and Academic Excellence
➢ Enforce zero tolerance for substance abuse
➢ Expand Career & Technical Education (CTE)
➢ Expand safe spaces for critical thinking
➢ Expert-ied strategies to boost test scores
Trust and Financial Stewardship
➢ Address overcrowding with smart solutions
➢ Regular, transparent updates on major projects
Empower Teachers, Embrace Innovation
➢ Tools to empower, not replace, great teachers
➢ Incentives for teacher-led initiatives
➢ Personalized learning with flexible pacing
Familes as Partners
➢ Let parents opt-in to programs, not just opt-out
➢ Non-voting parent representation on the board
Stay Informed
Subscribe to the Campaign YouTube channel and Facebook page, where I will post about the Issaquah School District, testimonies from students and parents, as well as ideas on how we can make things better.
If you are a supporter, subscribe and share with your friends in the district. Every click and every view counts.
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 howvering 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 who need remedial summer classes have doubled in the last four years
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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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Public School students are telling us that the classroom is not working for them. Will we listen?
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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.
1
Track Progress
For e.g.: School-wise results published regularly (e.g. monthly)
2
3
Blameless Accountability
Ask questions; ensure that gaps between promises & results are explained
4
Support Innovation
Unblock teachers, reward staff who take the initiative towards creative solutions
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