School Board Director District No. 1 candidates, incumbent Betsy Johnson and challenger Steve McConnell, shared their views with the public in an attempt to garner votes in the November election, Tuesday night.

The discussion was part of Bellevue Downtown Association’s Candidate Issues Forum held at Bellevue Hilton, which gave an opportunity for 11 candidates in the race for county council, city council and the school board to discuss their views and meet with members of the public. More than 200 people attended overall.

The school board is governed by district directors who represent specific areas of the district. District 1, represents much of the northwest portion of the city, including Cherry Crest, Medina and Clyde Hill. However all Bellevue voters can vote for the candidates.

In their opening statements, Johnson stressed her leadership as a district parent and PTSA member, a business leader as a former Microsoft executive and experience on the school board, saying she hoped to meet the needs of all students – whether they require extra help or increased challenges; McConnell, a district parent of both a gifted and special needs child, cited his management skills as the owner and CEO of Construx Software, his ability to “engage” parents and community members via social networking and blogs, his openness and accountability and his Bellevue Education Association endorsement.

The two candidates differed on issues including the current school board’s transparency, support of teachers and its handling of “no confidence” vote on schools supt. Amalia Cudeiro.

McConnell said the school board has not been doing an adequate job of keeping the community informed of its decisions and practices. He said he’d publish district scorecards and create parent satisfaction surveys. He also stated that he felt teachers weren’t being listened to, and was unhappy with the board’s negative response toward the vote of no confidence.

“That did a lot of damage and basically ignored the fact that teachers have a legitimate concern,” McConnell said. “… It was a disappointment to learn that teachers can report a problem and the board says, ‘We’re disappointed that you’d report that.'”

Johnson, on the other hand, said the board has been measuring a number of different factors for a district scorecard, including student growth and test scores.

“Should it be more transparent? Sure. Will it be more transparent? We’re only in the first quarter,” she said.

Where the “no confidence” vote is concerned, Johnson said she’s met with union leaders and individual teachers, and that the root of people’s displeasure has more to do with the big changes in the district in light of the new contract.

“We asked teachers to improve instructional practice. We asked kids to do more. We looked under every policy rock. We recognize that change is hard,” Johnson said.

Finally, she said the board has been doing much to take care of its teachers, including reinstating teacher’s salaries after they faced a 1.9 pay cut, paying teachers more than in compatriot areas and adding a professional development day.

For his closing statement, McConnell said, “I believe our current school board members are kind, caring individuals, and that includes my opponent … [But] you won’t find anyone more passionate or committed to finding accountability for people on the front lines, teachers, and they have supported my campaign.”

To illustrate her involvement in the district community, Johnson shared her past week with the audience, which included sending out numerous emails, attending a district training, having conversations with principals and teachers and attending a gifted students meeting for parents.

“I’m out there, I’m investing and meeting with people, and I will continue to do that,” she said.

For more information on the Nov. 8 elections and the Bellevue School District No. 1 candidates, go to http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections, click on “voting,” “current elections,” “candidates on the ballot,” “school,” and then scroll down to Betsy Johnson and Steve McConnell.

Gabrielle Nomura can be reached at 425-453-4270.