though stanford had no background in educational administration he was recruited, in 1995, superintendent of the seattle school district, becoming the district's first african-american administrator. stanford believed the school system exhibited the lethargic characteristics of a monopoly and said it had "an inward kind of thinking that is more concerned about the comfort of the people who run the system than the public it is supposed to serve." arriving in seattle, stanford reassigned one-third of the district's principals. he announced that poor customer service by staff would be punishable by firing, students who did not meet minimum academic requirements would be prevented from advancing to the next grade level, and that future school construction would be "on cost and on time." he also moved to end desegregation busing.