Seattle School Board member Michael DeBell has announced that he will seek re-election to the post he has held since 2005.  DeBell represents School Director District IV, which includes Ballard, Queen Anne, and Magnolia. 
 
“We have plenty of work ahead of us,” DeBell said in a release announcing his bid for re-election, “but we’ve made great strides in our effort to bring positive change to Seattle Public Schools.  The pieces are now in place:  a strong new superintendent, a thoughtful and effective new board, and an ambitious five-year strategic plan to guide our work.  We are positioned to accomplish the turnaround that will make our schools a model for the nation.  I am eager to continue building on what we’ve started.”
 
Citing improved student achievement in every school as his top priority, DeBell highlighted several steps currently in progress that will have a positive impact:

- Reorganizing our budget to maximize tax dollars going to classroom instruction.

- Redesigning our Student Assignment Plan to insure that every home has a guaranteed nearby school assignment.

- Developing an accountability system to provide a detailed "report card" on every school and an overall performance report on the Seattle School District.

- Improving low performing schools by working with our union partners to develop comprehensive tools for intervention.
 
“My fellow board members and I have made some tough decisions,” DeBell said.  “I am committed to seeing them through so that we can move on to raising graduation standards, improving our performance in math and science, and continuing to rebuild our school facilities.”

DeBell currently serves as president of the Seattle School Board.  Seattle School Board candidates run within their districts in the primary election and citywide in the November general election. The primary election will be held August 18, 2009.