Newest Update: The Highline School Board has scheduled a public meeting to talk about board member Susan Goding’s negative comments about academic rigor at Cascade Middle School in North Highline.

The meeting, set for Monday, May 7 from 6 to 7:15 p.m., is billed as a work/study session on “board internal communication and working relationships.” It will be held at district headqaurters, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. and is open to the public.

Here’s our previous coverage:

The board will hold a meeting concerning board member Susan Goding tonight at 5 p.m. at district headquarters, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. The meeting is set as an executive session but Goding said she has the right to change it to a public meeting.

In an email to the Times/News, Goding said other board members felt comments she had made at a previous board meeting about lack of academic rigor at Cascade Middle in North Highline “were an illegal attack or something.

“They say I should have quietly brought the problem to the Interim Superintendent (Alan Spicciati.)

“Also I posted the comments on my blog, which they also find illegal.”

Goding has taken down the comments from her blog. Her blog site is at http://susangoding.blogspot.com.

Goding remains defiant, emailing, “Of course, I think as a publicly elected representative I am obligated to speak in public when I find problems.”

At the March 14 board meeting, Goding reported on her visit to Cascade Middle, which is in the midst of a two-year federal school improvement grant.

Cascade administrators are considering mandating school uniforms next fall as part of the school’s efforts to transform itself.

Goding said she had dropped by math and science classes at Cascade.

“The rigor is so low at that school,” Goding declared.

She observed that the teachers are not burned-out but remain passionate. Goding suggested that the district should spend more money at the school on top of the large federal grant.

Board president Angelica Alvarez quickly noted the issue “needs more discussion.”

Then, newest board member Tyrone Curry reported on his visits to Chinook Middle and Beverly Park Elementary schools.

Chinook in SeaTac is also receiving the federal grant aimed at improving low performing schools.

Curry said he found the students were “excited” about the personalized math instruction at Chinook.

Chinook recently was recognized with a Washington Achievement Award for improvement. The school also will institute a school uniform policy in September.

Curry also commented favorably on instruction at Beverly Park.

It is unclear what sanctions may be taken by fellow board members against Goding. She was re-elected in November without opposition, although she had sharply questioned district administrators publicly throughout her first term.

Goding originally ran for the school board, partly she said, because of the negative experiences her son had going through the Highline district’s educational system.

Interim Seattle Superintendent Susan Enfield will take over as Highline’s superintendent July 1. Reportedly, Enfield shunned the permanent position in Seattle partly because of what she considered meddling by some board members.

In a lengthy interview with the Times/News in March, Enfield said school board members have a tough job.

“If a board member is critical, it is not against the district or me. Maybe they just need more information,” Enfield said. “You can’t overcommunicate.”

The Times/News will update this developing story as more information becomes available.