OSPI candidates at Spokane forum make student mental health and school funding central campaign themes

At a League of Women Voters forum at Ridgeline High School, three candidates for Washington state superintendent of public instruction — Chris Reykdal, the incumbent; Reid Sarris, a fourth‑generation Washington teacher and candidate; and David Olson, a Peninsula School District school board member and candidate — spent much of their time outlining how they would address student mental health, chronic absenteeism and special-education funding.

Reid Sarris, a candidate for superintendent of public instruction, said mental health is “my most important priority by far” and called for universal access to mental-health care, increased screening and evidence‑based brief interventions so schools can identify and help students who are struggling. Sarris also urged expanding recess and non-digital opportunities for students as part of recovery efforts after eight years of declining student performance.

Chris Reykdal, the incumbent superintendent of public instruction for the state of Washington, described regional mental-health networks and legislative investments in counselors and school psychologists. “In the last three years, our legislature has committed 300,000,000 more dollars per year to start hiring those counselors,” Reykdal said, adding that the state has also directed resources through educational service districts to professional learning and deployment.

David Olson, a Peninsula School District board member and candidate, pointed to a local policy that removed cell phones and social media from campus and said his district has seen students report they are “less stressed” and more engaged; he said his district uses levy dollars to hire additional counselors because, in his view, the state does not fund enough counselors. Olson also described operational responses such as vestibule security and—where districts have local support—hiring trained security staff.

Debate over whether state or local policy should lead recurred through the discussion. Sarris and Reykdal pressed for broader, statewide strategies to expand evidence‑based mental-health services and universal access; Olson emphasized local control, parent engagement and district-level responses.

The candidates also disputed how past pandemic relief funds and subsequent oversight were handled. Reid Sarris said the state was “one of only three states cited for mismanaging the federal pandemic relief dollars in our schools.” Chris Reykdal disputed that characterization, saying there was no finding that districts misused funds and that the primary issue was a delay in posting required information online rather than misspending: “The only finding of our state is that we didn't make school districts post the information on their websites fast enough,” Reykdal said.

On special education and IEPs, candidates agreed funding and staffing are central. Reykdal said historic shortfalls have been addressed by recent legislative investments and proposed additional funding to close remaining gaps; he also cited proposals to raise paraeducator wages and sustain supports. Olson said his district covers substantial special-education costs beyond state contributions, calling state funding “not helping” and urging stronger enforcement of funding commitments.

The forum closed with each candidate reiterating priorities: Reykdal pointed to investments and partnerships, Sarris emphasized mental-health access and tutoring to recover lost learning, and Olson called for new leadership and funding fixes. Organizers closed by thanking student panelists and reminding voters about the primary and the League of Women Voters voter guide.

The forum included repeated references to election logistics: Mary Coltrane said August 2 was the last day of the voting period for the primary, while moderator Renee Radcliffe Sinclair later said the primary would be August 6 and ballots mailed by July 19; voters should consult official election materials for the correct deadline.

Next steps: the candidates continue campaigning ahead of the August primary; the forum gave voters an opportunity to compare how each would approach mental health, special education, attendance recovery and school safety.