School rezoning a hot topic at candidate forum

District 9 School Board candidates Lee Limbird (left) Jim Lech (center) and Alan Coverstone address rezoning plans during a candidate forum. Joon Powell for The City Paper

Comments about rezoning plans garnered applause at one of the year’s last school board candidate campaign forums.

The forum, organized by the Interdenominational Ministerial Federation at a church Wednesday on Jefferson Street, included only candidates from Bellevue’s crowded District 9 race.

The forum didn’t include a full representation of District 9’s candidates. Only three of the five contenders were present — Alan Coverstone, Jim Lech and Lee Limbird. Lech has endorsed Limbird and asked voters to consider him withdrawn from the race, though his name will appear on the ballot.

Of the audience members who participated, questions about rezoning dominated comments. The audience clapped when the question of newly elected board members reconsidering the matter came up.

Neither Coverstone nor Limbird, however, indicated a willingness to do so. After the forum, both Coverstone and Limbird said they believed other matters should be considered first.

Coverstone said he believes there are “hidden” benefits to the plan, and that time should be spent on implementation.

“I don’t want to segregate our schools. I want to make sure that every child has a chance to learn,” Coverstone said. “The plan is not a panacea. It has to be monitored on an ongoing basis. But I don’t think we gain by spending another day fighting with each other. Instead, we need to get started implementing the improvements that are planned.”

Limbird, for her part, said she believes the first priority of the board after elections should be hiring a director of schools with experience leading school districts composed of both urban and suburban populations. Once that individual is in place, Limbird said, the new director could be given “input for a timeline of implementation.”

Beyond that, Limbird said, the board should focus on improving schools.

“Until every school is excellent, what zoning plan will be excellent?” Limbird said.

Other candidates in the District 9 race are Steve Hicks and Paul Brenner. Elections will take place Aug. 7.