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NORTHSHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 417 Director District No. 4

No Salary, some districts offer small per diem for evening meetings. School Board Members are the elected governing body of the school district, with responsibilities that fall in four major areas: Vision – focuses the work on student achievement through a comprehensive strategic planning process; Structure – provides prudent financial planning and oversight; diligent and innovative policymaking; Accountability – sets specific goals and a process for evaluation, reporting and recommendations for improvements; and Advocacy – champions public education in the local community and before state and federal policy makers. The School Board sets the general policies of the district.

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  • Candidate picture

    Sehaj Dhaliwal
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Sandy R Hayes
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    JoAnn Tolentino
    (NP)

Biographical Information

What are your top priorities for this office? Please explain.

What would be your approach to dealing with a financial deficit in your school district?

How can school districts improve transparency and communication with parents and the community?

How should school boards respond to community calls for removing any curriculum topics, subjects, books and programs?

How will you advocate to improve educational outcomes for all children in the district?

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Phone (425) 892-4080
Email sandyrhayesforschoolboard@gmail.com
Town where you live KIRKLAND
Experience (300 characters max) I have served on the Northshore School Board for the last 16 years.
Public education is not receiving the ample funding required by the Washington State Constitution and now federal funding is being threatened. We will need all financial support to prepare our students for jobs that don't yet exist, to use technology that hasn't been invented in a world we can't possibly imagine.
Northshore has balanced its budget again this year but has had to make substantial cuts over the last couple of years. We are so grateful to our community, including our labor partners for coming together to help solve this problem. We will continue to advocate at the state level for the funding our students need.
Northshore has one of the highest community involvement in the state. We have opportunities for community members to be on committees and task forces, as well as participate in community forums. When it is a big decision, such as a hiring of a superintendent or budget cuts, we use surveys, small groups and forums to gather input. Board members are very responsive to emails and are out and about in the schools. Public comment at board meetings is also an option but it is definitely the most awkward of the options.
Parents and community have the opportunity to review curriculum both before and after it is adopted. There is a process available on our website for parents to opt their child out of anything they find concerning. There is also a form for parents to fill out if they don't want their child checking out a certain library book. Both of these allow the student their privacy and access to other intellectually enriching options.
Northshore has a long standing tradition of expecting academic excellence from our students. During my time on the board, we are working to make sure that those expectations are for each and every student. Understanding where the barriers are to academic rigor and working to remove them are both important components to this work.
Phone 425.485.7440
Email joforschoolboard@gmail.com
YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/@JoAnnTolentinoforNorthshoreSch
Town where you live kirkland
Experience (300 characters max) This field wont let me ad 300 words.
Fiscal Responsibility With expertise in Governance, Risk, and Compliance, I'll address NSD's $21 million debt through audits and prioritize classroom funding for academic excellence.

Local Control I champion local control, empowering parents, teachers, and taxpayers to shape a curriculum boosting critical thinking and test scores.

Student Safety Safety is key—I'll tackle bullying and drugs, ensuring fair athletic policies (girls vs. girls, boys vs. boys) and vibrant schools.

Academic Excellence With transparency and energy, I'll strengthen our Northshore family. Together we can achieve educational excellence for all students.
Fiscal Responsibility With expertise in Governance, Risk, and Compliance, I'll address NSD's $21 million shortfall through audits and prioritize classroom funding for academic excellence. People want to see where the funds go, with measurable outcomes.
Ongoing, open, and uncensored communication is essential in our school district. A healthy district thrives when parents, teachers, students, and community members feel safe to express their views—even when they disagree. Unfortunately, there have been instances in Northshore where individuals or groups with differing perspectives have felt silenced, dismissed, or excluded from the conversation.

This is not only unfair—it’s harmful. When voices are suppressed, trust erodes, collaboration breaks down, and the district becomes more divided. Public education should be a place where diverse viewpoints are welcomed, where respectful dialogue is encouraged, and where policy is shaped by input from the entire community—not just those who agree with the prevailing narrative.

As a school board member, I will prioritize transparent, respectful, two-way communication. Our kids benefit when adults lead with integrity, openness, and a willingness to work together.
The School Board must actively listen to the community and be willing to engage in open, honest, and sometimes difficult conversations—especially around curriculum topics, books, and programs that some may find concerning or offensive. These discussions aren’t easy, but they’re essential in a diverse district where families come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems.

When parents raise questions about classroom content—whether related to history, literature, sexuality, or social issues—it should not be dismissed as intolerance or labeled negatively. Instead, these concerns should be met with respect and a willingness to understand differing perspectives. Open dialogue builds trust and leads to better decisions for everyone involved.

As a school board member, I will work to ensure curriculum decisions are made transparently, collaboratively, and with respect for all viewpoints.
Despite increased funding, test scores in our district continue to decline. This raises a critical question: are our teaching methods and school environments truly effective?

We must have measurable outcomes to track student progress and ensure academic goals are being met. It’s not about teaching to a test—it’s about knowing whether students are gaining the skills they need to succeed.

As a school board member, I’ll push for accountability, transparency, and data-driven decisions. Our students, families, and taxpayers deserve results—not just promises.