Literacy foundation spurs debate in Kennewick School Board race

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

A foundation aimed at promoting literacy and improving students' reading skills has become a topic of debate in the race for two positions on the Kennewick School Board.

Board President Dawn Adams, who's vying to keep the seat she's held for eight years, is a staunch supporter of the Mid-Columbia Reading Foundation. The foundation administers two successful programs that help Kennewick students and reinforces the district's important focus on literacy, she said.

But her challenger, Uby Creek, has been among those who have questioned the money the district has spent on the foundation and whether there was a conflict of interest. Creek said her intention has been to ensure the district is getting the best deal for its money and that there are proper lines between the district and foundation. She also said she thinks the two programs are valuable.

The Mid-Columbia Reading Foundation formed in the 1990s. It's a branch of The Children's Reading Foundation, a national organization that's based in Kennewick. The two groups have separate leadership.

The national foundation used to operate the READY! for Kindergarten and Team Read programs for the Kennewick district. The READY! program provides classes and other support to help parents prepare their young children for kindergarten; Team Read is a tutoring program for struggling elementary school readers.

Last year, the school board agreed to end the district's contract with the national foundation and instead enter into a contract with the Mid-Columbia foundation to run the two programs. That came after the concerns were raised about a possible conflict of interest because school board member Lynn Fielding also was serving on the board of the national foundation and has co-written books about reading with its president.

This year, the Kennewick district is paying $80,000 to the Mid-Columbia foundation to run Team Read and $194,400 to run READY! for Kindergarten. The district also is paying $18,606 to the foundation for services it provides outside those programs, including providing new teachers with books for their classrooms and promoting the importance of early literacy in the community.

The Richland and Pasco school districts also used to contribute to the foundation for that work but dropped out a couple of years ago because of tight budgets.

Adams said the foundation's work has been invaluable to the district and has helped countless kids be more successful in school and life. She's worried the district's focus on reading would be derailed if Creek is elected because two other members of the school board -- Wendy London and Kathy White -- also have expressed concerns about the foundation.

"I'm a strong proponent of the basic education curriculum. I consider literacy to be the cornerstone of our education system. It's through literacy that you gain a lifetime of knowledge and learning opportunities," Adams said.

She said the questions about the foundations already have been publicly addressed -- including through multiple legal opinions showing there was no conflict of interest -- yet critics aren't satisfied and the issue continues to be raised in the campaign.

She said Creek hasn't been clear about her position on the reading foundation and the programs it runs -- and voters should know that.

"The voters deserve the courtesy of knowing where we each stand. Let the voters decide," she said.

Reading Foundation leaders said operations have been and continue to be above board, and that's been backed up by the legal opinions and by a report done by the state auditor's office.

The work of the foundation directly benefits Kennewick students and also helps the whole community, said John Neill, president of the Mid-Columbia foundation's board.

Creek said she wants to be an advocate for district residents and that's why she's asked questions about the foundation. She wants to ensure lines between the district and reading foundation are clear and that taxpayer money is being spent wisely, she said.

Creek said she supports Team Read and READY! and even has served as a READY! instructor. She said she wouldn't vote to cut the programs if elected but would work to ensure the district is making the best use of its limited resources.

"I want the best for my community. I want to manage what we have to the best of our ability. I want to include more people in the discussion and the responsibility of educating our kids for the future," she said.

Creek ran against Fielding in the 2007 school board election but lost.

London and White have said their views on the reading foundation have been misrepresented in the election. They've said that they raised concerns because they're responsible to district residents as board members, not because they question the value of reading education or the READY! and Team Read programs.

London said she had a productive meeting with reading foundation leaders and wants to see any questions about both foundations worked out in the public eye.

The race between Adams and Creek isn't the only one on the ballot in the Kennewick School District.

Newcomers Heather Kintzley and Jason Armstrong are facing off for Position 1. The seat is being vacated by longtime board member Dan Mildon, who announced earlier this year that he didn't plan to seek re-election.

It's the first Kennewick School Board race for Kintzley and Armstrong.

Kintzley said it's important that students get a solid grounding in all core subjects, including reading. She's a Kennewick High graduate who played flute for several years, so she also understands the importance of music and similar programs, she said.

Kintzley said READY! for Kindergarten and Team Read are helping Kennewick students and are strongly supported by many people in the community. She said the tenor of the election has been frustrating and she wants to see the conversation return to how to best help kids.

Kintzley is Adams' niece but has stressed she'd make her own decisions as a board member.

Armstrong also said reading education is important and that the programs run by the reading foundation are valuable. It's been suggested in the campaign that he'd align with Creek, London and White if elected, but he's also said he'd vote independently and be especially careful when it came to taxpayer dollars.

-- Election day is Tuesday. Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday to count in the all-mail election.

-- Sara Schilling: 582-1402; sschilling@tricityherald.com

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Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Literacy foundation spurs debate in Kennewick School Board race

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer