LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Kim Kenne (File Photo – Screengrab, KLRN)
School consolidation is not an abstract policy debate; it affects children, families, teachers, and entire neighborhoods. That is why the integrity of the process matters. After attending a recent PUSD listening session, this parent left concerned that the process is falling short of that standard.
By Warren Bleeker
Dear Board President Fredericks, Superintendent Blanco, and Board Trustees,
I am a proud PUSD parent, and I appreciated the opportunity to participate in the recent focus group for those of us not selected to serve on the Superintendent’s Consolidation Advisory Council. In a moment when school consolidation is one of the most emotional and consequential issues facing our community, these listening sessions matter. They should be spaces where stakeholders can speak candidly, feel respected, and trust that their voices are being heard.
That is why what occurred at the session is so concerning.
Board Member Kim Kenne not only attended the listening session, but actively participated—taking up valuable time, responding to participants’ comments, defending her own position on school closures, and at one point laughing dismissively at comments shared by a Latino stakeholder. That behavior was inappropriate and undermined the purpose of the session.
A Platform for Voices, Not Viewpoints
A listening session is not a debate stage. It is not an extension of a board meeting. And it is certainly not a platform for an elected official to promote her own viewpoint or justify her prior advocacy.
Board members already have ample opportunity to express their perspectives during public meetings and through official communications. Community members do not. These focus groups are among the few structured opportunities for stakeholders—parents, families, and community members—to speak openly and be heard. When a board member actively inserts herself into that space, it shifts the dynamic. When that participation includes dismissiveness toward stakeholder input, it damages trust.
When the Process Feels Predetermined
Even more troubling is the perception this creates. Many in our community already fear that decisions about school closures have been predetermined, and that advisory committees and listening sessions are merely procedural steps required to create the appearance of public input. When a board member attends a session designed to gather feedback and spends time defending her own position, it reinforces the belief that minds are already made up.
If board members attend these sessions at all, they should do so as observers, listening quietly and respectfully. They should not lecture participants. They should not dominate time. And they certainly should not react dismissively to the thoughts and ideas of community members.
Respectful Listening Is Foundational
School consolidation affects families, children, educators, and neighborhoods. It is deeply personal. The process must not only be fair; it must feel fair. Respectful listening is not a courtesy; it is foundational to public trust.
Whether Board Member Kim Kenne’s conduct warrants formal censure or reprimand is for the Board to determine. But at a minimum, as the SCAC begins its work this week, clear norms should be established to ensure that stakeholder sessions remain stakeholder-centered.
If we are truly committed to an open and transparent process, then listening must mean listening.
Warren Bleeker is a PUSD parent and an attorney who assists clients in resolving complex intellectual property controversies. He previously served as a parent representative on the Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee.
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