Some of the other records sent to the PDC regarding Spokane Public Schools election activity

Note from Laurie Rogers:
Records cited below are some of those that were included in the packages sent to the Public Disclosure Commission for Case #12-145. (The PDC did not cite these or many others in its Report of Investigation. Nevertheless, they're interesting to read. As public records, available to all, you have a right to read them.)


Mark Anderson: Associate Superintendent, Spokane Public Schools
Nancy Stowell:  formerly Superintendent, Spokane Public Schools
Terren Roloff: formerly Director of Community Relations, Spokane Public Schools
Kevin Morrison: formerly in Facility and Planning Services, now Director of Community Relations, Spokane Public Schools
Citizens for Spokane Schools (CFSS): a bond and levy advocacy group in Spokane. Its members have included Mike Livingston, Sue Livingston, Barb Chamberlain, Deana Brower, Staci Clary, Susan Legel, Scott Jones and others.


Sept. 3, 2008, Mark Anderson forwards an email (from him to Citizens for Spokane Schools) to the superintendent at her school address. A lunch meeting with CFSS is planned. Mark Anderson tells Nancy Stowell: "We need to get your home email address for the Citizens for Spokane Schools group." He tells her to begin monitoring the address "to correspond with this group on levy/bond promotional matters."
In the forwarded email, Mark Anderson tells CFSS that contributions to the levy campaign have "dipped." He writes: "Thus, in addition to talking about the bond plan, I think we should discuss gearing up for this year's October enrollment campaign to the levy/bond committee, among other topics."

Sept. 4, 2008, Mark Anderson and Terren Roloff make plans with members of Citizens for Spokane Schools to meet at noon "to update you on our planning for the 2009 bond and levy. "An attachment from Mark Anderson included payroll information "on the monthly contributions from employees to the Citizens for Spokane Schools."
Terren Roloff responds using her district email address.

Sept. 22, 2008, Mark Anderson forwards to principals and site managers payroll deduction information from Citizens for Spokane Schools. He writes: "These letters are being sent to your work site via inter-school mail in an envelope with the Citizens Committee's logo on the outside. . . . Principals should work with their SEA building representative to have them encourage participation."

Dec. 8, 2008, Mark Anderson uses his district address to tell district employees that he and "Nancy" will try to "get" Greater Spokane Inc.'s "endorsement of our proposed bond and levy election measures."

Dec. 15, 2008, Mark Anderson uses his district address regarding the "payroll letter." He writes, in part, that "it will be important for all staff to serve as ambassadors with parents, family, neighbors and patrons . . . to communicate about the critical need for the levy and bond funds."

Dec. 17, 2008, Mark Anderson forwards an email from Citizens for Spokane Schools to a district employee at her district email address. In the email, Mike Livingston writes, "when the threat of cutting 9th grade sports was addressed in a public forum at Ferris a couple years ago, there was a large turnout of passionate parents. Does it make sense to show what programs may be jeopardized by a failure of this levy?"
Mark Anderson asks the district employee: "Do you think we've hit most of his points in our brochure?"

Jan. 2, 2009, Bridget Lewis forwards a message from "Mark" regarding the upcoming levy that tells principals: "At a minimum, you will be expected to schedule two presentations with parents during January, February and March . . . "

Jan. 23, 2009, Mark Anderson reminds principals about showing the bond and levy video, doing the short PowerPoint presentation, and distributing "bond and levy factual information to your staff no later than next week. Thanks for your leadership on this important matter." Jan. 30, 2009, Jon Swett, school director, reminds staff about the "push for voter registration in your schools... please give me some specifics regarding this in your school . . . "

Jan. 28, 2009, Mark Anderson communicates with Mike Binyon, manager of Payroll & Benefits, about Citizens for Spokane Schools and a request from CFSS for the names and addresses of employees who are contributing to CFSS through payroll deduction. Mike promises to provide what CFSS wants.

Jan. 28, 2009, Michael Syron, Athletic Coordinator, pushes district staff about a meeting with the superintendent and associate superintendent on the upcoming bond and levy. He says: "A few of you responded saying you would go, but I did not hear from many of you. It would not be good for us to have a handful of representatives there from Ferris. I would like to see as many of you there that can make it. There could be massive changes in the funding of extra curricular activities if the Bond and Levy fail."

Jan. 28, 2009, Mark Anderson and Terren Roloff (former head of community relations) discuss with other employees whether to send home levy flyers and custom inserts with the children. He says: "Terren and I talked and we will be having each elementary school send home their school-specific bond/levy fact sheet - Terren said she would work to coordinate this with the print shop and principals/office managers to distribute."

Feb. 4, 2009, Chuck Demarest, principal, uses his district address to tell staff about yard signs for the bond and levy campaign: "Hello All, Ladd and I picked up several yard signs last night. The idea is that they bloom over the weekend and the city is covered with signs that voters can see on their way to/from work Monday, etc. . . . Feel free to take as many signs as you think you can get out to friends/family. Signs and mounting stands are in the lounge."

Feb. 4, 2009, Mark Anderson uses his district address to send an email to district administrators with election results for other districts. He writes: "Now, more than ever, is the time that all of our staff in Spokane Public Schools should be in high gear informing parents, relatives and patrons about the critical need for the 2009 bond renewal. . . . And, if the levy passes but the bond doesn't pass, we'll be forced to make more cuts in programs and staff to have the resources for replacement of critical building and technology systems. Your leadership is working with staff on this important matter is critical."

Feb. 4, 2009, Kevin Peterson, principal, uses his district address to urge staff participation in the levy campaign: "Now, more than ever, is the time that all of our all of us should be in high gear informing parents, relatives and patrons about the critical need for the 2009 bond renewal. . . . And, if the levy passes but the bond doesn't pass, we'll be forced to make more cuts in programs and staff to have the resources for replacement of critical building and technology systems."

Feb. 9, 2009, Mark Anderson uses his district address to email principals, assistant principals and office managers: "Sometime this week you will be receiving, via inter-school mail, a sufficient supply of the bond & levy brochures, with your school specific insert, for distribution to all parents via students. Upon receipt, please work with your staff to ensure these are distributed."

Feb. 12, 2009, Assistant Principal Steve Fisk uses a district address to email his staff: "Dear Very connected - NC Staff, Ferris has 100 students passing out leaflets on Saturday, February 21st. Like I said earlier, we can get 300! Well I would take 50. What we are doing is getting together at 12:00 on Saturday,  February 21st and passing out leaflets from 12:00 - 4:00 in neighborhoods associated with NC. I really need your help on this. . . . Let me know if you found some kids or are willing to help out in any way."

Feb. 13, 2009, Nancy Stowell tells the school board: "Staff did 17 presentations this week and we have many more scheduled before March 10. We're pulling out all the stops to ensure that we talk to as many people as possible!"

Feb. 16, 2009, Kevin Foster, principal, uses a district address to tell his teachers and staff: "Activity related to the Bond/Levy continues. We had a great group plant yard signs over the weekend. These issues are very, very important to continuing our programs and improving our facilities."

Feb. 17, 2009, Deb Johnson, principal, uses a district address to forward a lengthy campaign message from Kevin Morrison and to mention "call lists" she'll be getting. In his message, Kevin Morrison advocates that everyone "go over the top" with letters to the editor, yard signs and buttons, leafletting, sign waving and phone calling.

Feb. 19, 2009, Shawn Jordan, principal, uses district email to ask a teacher to make an announcement about the bond and levy prior to district performances. He writes, "I'm hoping you are planning to make an announcement regarding the Bond and Levy prior to each performance tonight? . . . One of our parent volunteers will be setting up an informational table at Friday's performance, just so you know."

Feb. 19, 2009, Steve Fisk, assistant principal, uses district email to ask an employee: "Do you have any students to help on Saturday with our Bond Levy activity?"

Feb. 27, 2009, Terren Roloff sends an email to elementary office managers and principals to tell them to mention the bond and levy to "new families" at kindergarten registration.

March 3, 2009, Deb Johnson, principal, uses district email to forward an email from Mark Anderson providing elections outcomes. She urges district staff to "ask everyone to remind friends, neighbors and relatives who live in Spokane Public Schools to vote by mailing in their ballot by next Tuesday."

March 9, 2009, Mike Nepean, interim director skills center, forwards an email that Mark Anderson sent to Administrators expressing concern over the vote count on the bond and levy. Mark Anderson once again urges administrators to "encourage" others to vote.
Mike Nepean passes on Mark Anderson's message, saying, "We have already met with the Manufacturing Roundtable as well as other industry partners who share our collaborative interests."

March 9, 2009, Deb Johnson, principal, uses district email to forward Mark Anderson's email about the vote count. She writes: "Libby Families.....YIKES!!!    Please mail your ballot in TODAY!!! We're at that point where truly one vote could make a difference."

March 10, 2009, Deb Johnson, principal, uses district email to tell staff and teachers: "If you have a levy/bond yard sign, please return it to Bob Bro. The district will be recycling and reusing them. If you see a sign posted somewhere on the street, in a lot, etc. after Tuesday, please pick it up and bring it to Libby for recycling."

Jan. 31, 2010, Mark Anderson uses his district email address to communicate with Nancy Stowell, another administrator and union president Jenny Rose about meeting with Citizens for Spokane Schools "to discuss the state funding issues and legislation related to school levies."

March 9, 2010, Deana Brower asks principal Mary-Dean Wooley if Lorna Walsh, of Stand for Children, can "plug" a ballot proposition called the Children's Investment Initiative at a Jefferson Elementary School PTG meeting. Mary-Dean Wooley says, "You bet"

Sept. 29, 2010, On district time and using district resources, Nancy Stowell and Mark Anderson discuss meeting with "the Citizens for Spokane Schools leadership group." Nancy Stowell writes: "Deana and Mark, I wonder if it would be good to meet after we have the results of the Nov. 2 election."

Oct. 4, 2010, Mark Anderson uses his district address to communicate with Deana Brower to set up a meeting with Citizens for Spokane Schools (CFSS). He writes: "Nancy and I chatted and we both have the following evening's free (at this point) after the fall election - Nov. 9, 15 and 16. Let us know what works for you and the rest of the CFSS leadership team."

Oct. 8, 2010, Mark Anderson uses his district email address to communicate with Deana Brower to set up a meeting with Citizens for Spokane Schools (CFSS).
 Nov. 17, 2010, Terren Roloff uses her district address to write an email to a principal on Nov. 10 to ask for "a parent leader who might be interested in the committee I told you about. They are meeting soon and we'd like to have some northside names." On Nov. 17, Terren Roloff again uses her district address to send an email to members of Citizens for Spokane Schools and to Mark Anderson and Nancy Stowell to pass on the name the principal suggested: "Hi all. Here's the name of the woman that our principal at Westview suggested..." 

March 9, 2011- April 4, 2011, School director Tammy Campbell and Tennille Jeffries-Simmons, human resources, use district addresses to set up a meeting with Deana Brower, CFSS, to obtain a citizen's support of the district's levy.
The meeting took place at lunch on Friday, April 1.
Communications took place between Deana Brower and Tammy Campbell on March 9; again on March 26, March 27 and March 29; and between Deana Brower and Tennille Jeffries-Simmons on April 4. 

March 9, 2011, In an email, Nancy Stowell indicates her awareness of the proposed meeting between Tammy Campbell, Deana Brower and the citizen.

March 27, 2011, Citizens for Spokane Schools member Deana Brower writes to Mark Anderson at his district address to tell him she plans to meet with a citizen and with district administrator Tammy Campbell "to talk about our levy campaign."
Mark Anderson replies to the email from his district address, not mentioning the planned meeting, which did take place at lunch on Friday, April 1.

August 18 and August 19, 2011, Mark Anderson communicates with Citizens for Spokane Schools (the "levy leadership team") regarding a draft presentation on the levy. 
On August 19, Mike Livingston writes: "The purpose of asking these questions is to make sure Sally Fullmer [a board candidate in 2011] or Duane Alton [a local citizen] can't say SPS is moving money "from one pocket to the other" thus not experiencing any real cuts in budget, staff, or overhead."
Mark Anderson forwards the email string to Nancy Stowell at her district address: "See feedback below from some of our levy leadership team."

More to follow. Stay tuned.