Almost a year ago, as I observed Tahoma School Board meetings and watched our district leaders cope with an unprecedented financial crisis, I was distraught to notice that the board lacked the perspective of a professional educator, and that most of the board members’ children were no longer in the district. To me, this was a dangerous predicament in which to place our children’s safety, their education, and their preparation for the future and I made a decision to run for a position on the Tahoma School Board. As it turns out, I was unsuccessful in my run for the board, but over the course of the campaign, I learned a tremendous amount about the concerns of our community, the conditions of our schools and, most importantly, I hope to have provided some new and insightful ideas on how to improve them.

Looking back at the campaign and all of the work that went into it, I would like to thank my friends, my supporters, and my army of volunteers, all of whom gave their time, their support and their money to help my campaign. I wish we could have made it to the finish line together, and although we didn’t quite get there, I will be eternally grateful for your confidence in me.

Instead of focusing on the loss, I choose to focus on the more than 3,800 people that put their faith in me. For them, all I can say is that I am humbled by your choice. Never once did I take the prospect of being on the board for granted and never once did I compromise from my position of advocacy for all children. For every member of this community, I vow to continue to bring critical safety and welfare issues to the board and public’s attention. I vow to continue to champion to improve the educational standards of our district. I vow to ensure that the cold fiscal priorities are balanced with what is educationally valuable. I vow to work together with members of the community who share these priorities and have concerns of their own. And finally, I vow to be the most persuasive voice in board meetings on behalf of all of the children of our community. Without compromise, I will strive to accomplish as much, if not more, than I ever could have as a member of the school board.

Thank you all so much!

Melissa Greenstein

Maple Valley