Bergeson Pushes For School Choices

FOR THE RECORD (MAY 1, 1996): Correction: A paragraph was deleted that changed the meaning of a story Tuesday on the state superintendent of schools race. The story should have read: “If public schools go down our country will go down,” said (Terry) Bergeson, a former Central Kitsap School District administrator. “I don’t intend to let that happen.” Bergeson’s high profile in education reform could make the election a referendum on the 1993 law. Ron Taber, 54, an Olympia developer and cattle rancher who ran unsuccessfully for state Republican chairman in 1993, will try to do that with his candidacy.

Terry Bergeson, a key leader of education-reform efforts in Washington, brought her 4-day-old campaign for state superintendent to Spokane on Monday.

She pledged to work for high standards, safe classrooms and more choices within the public school system.

Bergeson, 53, nearly beat incumbent Judith Billings in 1992, making her the apparent front-runner this year in a field of seven declared candidates in the non-partisan race.

As a former president of the Washington Education Association, Bergeson appears a shoo-in for the teachers’ union endorsement and financial support.

Former House Education Chairman Randy Dorn, D-Eatonville, withdrew from the race last week, throwing his support behind Bergeson.

Billings announced in January she has AIDS and will not seek a third term.

About 40 Spokane-area school leaders applauded Bergeson’s speech at the Ridpath.

Bergeson will resign as director of the state Commission on Student Learning in mid-June. The commission is writing statewide learning standards and redesigning the state’s testing system.

Bergeson said she is running to protect the commission’s work from being dismantled by a new superintendent who might not support public schools and education reform.

“If public schools go down our country will go down,” said Bergeson, a former Central Kitsap School District administrator. “I don’t intend to let that happen.”

Ron Taber, 54, an Olympia developer and cattle rancher who ran unsuccessfully for state Republican chairman in 1993, will try to do that with his candidacy.

Taber is the main backer of a school choice initiative on the November ballot that would let parents use vouchers to send their children to private schools. Many educators see the initiative as a threat, but Taber contends it’s the “magic bullet” that will save public schools.

Taber told the state Libertarian Party convention in Spokane on Sunday he supports the death penalty for drug pushers who sell to minors.

“Minors who sell drugs should get life sentences with weekly caning until they reveal their supplier, after which they become eligible for parole,” he said.

Taber has raised $270,000 so far, mostly from his own pocket, kicking the race up to a new level of spending that worries Bergeson. She said she still owes herself $6,000 from the last time she ran.

Republican King County Councilman Chris Vance, who turns 34 Wednesday, also is running.

Vance said Bergeson is “the living, breathing, walking, talking embodiment of the education establishment” and will not be able to change the system.

Also running, but considered marginal candidates, are: Raul de la Rosa, a former migrant farm worker who heads the state superintendent’s Instructional Support Services division; Gloria Guzman Johannessen, a Tri-Cities resident who was the first administrator of the state bilingual education program; Dan Leahy, director of the Labor Center at Evergreen State College in Olympia; and Jed Brown, a Rolling Bay education consultant who ran unsuccessfully four years ago.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Carla K. Johnson Staff writer The Associated Press contributed to this report.