From my education advocacy, direct interactions and participation with Bellevue’s school board and administration, I believe we are moving in the right direction; good work progresses that puts kids first. More is needed.

Some adapt to change more easily. Parents and community are the check and balance on special

interests and bureaucracy. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.

I continue to support Dr. Amalia Cudeiro and school board members. School board members only receive expense stipends, have day jobs, no aides. They receive hundreds of emails, often repetitive, uninformed, self-centered.

Bellevue’s school administration was cut last year, in one of several new, unprecedented, very public processes with the goal to preserve classrooms. Communications and transparency are improving.

Until more people exercise citizenship rights and responsibilities by fully engaging, educating themselves on issues, showing up regularly

and voting smart, detrimental wrangling and special interest dominance will continue.

Sharon Taubel, Bellevue