Budget Shortfall Fuels Dissension in Seattle Over Superintendent

By Jeff Archer

Joseph Olchefske, the superintendent of the Seattle public schools, is on trial in the court of public opinion, following revelations of accounting errors that are forcing the district to make deep budget cuts.

Last week, the city's teachers' union asked him to resign, and a citizens' group is circulating a petition calling for his ouster. Meanwhile, several local education leaders—including a majority of the school board—are pledging their continued support for the superintendent.

Sparring over Mr. Olchefske's job began early last month, when he announced the discovery of multiple financial missteps that led the district to overspend last year's budget by about $22 million, and this year's by about $12 million. The errors—which represent a sizable chunk of the 47,800-student district's current $443 million spending plan—are especially striking, given the superintendent's background as an investment banker and as the district's...