Issues

The Key Challenges We'll Tackle Together

Robert O’Callahan is committed to addressing the critical challenges facing Mercer Island’s schools. Below are the key issues driving this campaign, with a vision for restoring academic excellence, ensuring equitable education, and rebuilding trust through financial responsibility.

Curriculum That Prepares for the Future

Mercer Island’s schools have seen a decline in academic standards, with math performance lagging and many families turning to private tutors or external programs to fill gaps. Twenty years ago, Algebra I was the standard for 8th-grade students; today, it’s considered accelerated, with most students delayed to 9th grade. The Common Core math curriculum has frustrated parents with its complexity and inefficiency. Robert will:

  • Advocate for a return to empirically-proven math curricula that prepares students for high school math.
  • Ensure Algebra I is accessible to 8th graders who are ready, without lowering expectations for others.
  • Place students in leveled math classes in elementary school, with separate classes for grade-accelerated students at each school when there is sufficient enrollment (a classroom’s worth) to ensure cost-effective, tailored instruction.
  • Use technology in classrooms only when it is high quality instruction material that has proven its value.

Equitable Education That Empowers Every Student

Equity means meeting each student’s unique needs, not forcing uniform outcomes. Current policies often hold back high achievers while failing to adequately support struggling learners. Robert will:

  • Ensure enough teachers are trained in instructional approaches proven effective for dyslexia, proportional to the number of affected students, to provide targeted support.
  • Expand access to holistic High Capability (HiCap) programs and clarify in-class HiCap services to challenge advanced students.

Financial Responsibility and Transparent Budgeting

Families and educators deserve a school district that prioritizes student services over administrative overhead. Recent financial mismanagement has eroded trust and strained resources. Robert will:

  • Advocate for transparent, detailed budget reports to rebuild community trust.
  • Prioritize spending on classrooms, teachers, and student programs over administrative costs.
  • Collaborate with teacher unions to secure sustainable funding, ensuring long-term financial stability for our schools.