Quinn: Choice earns an A+

To a goodly number of you reading this editorial, the Coeur d'Alene school board selection process stunk to high heaven.

Scents can be deceiving.

By a unanimous vote Monday afternoon, district trustees selected Wanda Quinn to immediately replace chair Edie Brooks McLachlan on the school board. Denied the position were four other finalists who all would have brought something to the table.

We were especially intrigued by the prospects of local businessman Jim Purtee, who lost by seven votes to Brooks McLachlan in May 2009. Purtee tossed his hat into the ring with endorsement letters from several community stalwarts of various political and educational persuasions. We hope to see him on an upcoming school board ballot.

Although critics say the deal was rigged from the get-go - and we have been outspoken critics of the tendency for school board trustees to retire/resign and then appoint their replacements, rather than let voters decide - we can't argue with the selection of Quinn. While Quinn is the most likely of the finalists to represent a continuation of recent board policies and programs - support for superb but controversial offerings like International Baccalaureate classes, as well as giving qualified teachers a strong voice in determining what novels should be read in high school - she also is the one candidate who clearly is most qualified to jump right in at such a crucial time in public education. It's a time when education reform, bless it, is coming full throttle into a public school near you.

Wanda's personal education includes degrees from three excellent universities; a bachelor's from University of Washington, master's from University of Idaho and law degree from Gonzaga. She has extensive experience as a high school and college teacher, and has supervised student teachers through UI.

She served roughly a dozen years as a Coeur d'Alene school board trustee, was president of the state school board in 2006-2007, and since then has been executive director of the Idaho School Board Association Foundation.

Wanda is also one of the most active community members you'll find, supporting numerous charities and pitching in whenever a good cause calls. It's possible there isn't a more qualified school board candidate anywhere in the country.

The two trustee-elects, Tom Hamilton and Terri Seymour, are expected to represent the change that voters demanded. Knowing they'd be ripped for selecting an "insider" who would not appease those urging change - and thus give the merchants of change a majority on the board - trustees still chose Quinn based strictly on her ability to help their board at a most crucial time in Idaho public education. We believe they chose wisely.