Dana Morgan Spivey is challenging incumbent Maureen Baker for the Director District No. 3 seat.
It’s the only contested race in the 930-student school district; Kim Sanders of District 1 (a seat being vacated by Dan Aschenbrenner), and incumbents Jerry Sprouffske of District No. 2 and Kathi Jo Moore of District 4 are unopposed.
The Rainier School District is in southeastern Thurston County. Its board of directors is made up of volunteers, and its 2011-12 general fund budget was about $7.69 million.
Spivey, 42, is an executive administrative assistant for the City of Yelm and a part-time cashier at Walmart. She has lived in the area almost her entire life and attended schools in the district. Now, as a parent, she is active in various school booster groups and the Rainier Education Foundation.
Spivey said that if she were elected, she would make up for her lack of political experience by approaching the role with common sense and passion for the district.
“I would deliver an open-door policy,” she said. “I would deliver the representation and voice of the people and children that I represent.”
Baker, 48, is a payroll and benefits technician for the Olympia School District. She has worked in school systems for 14 years and has been on the Rainier School Board for four years. She also served on a school board in Idaho for four years.
In addition to being a parent and being active in booster groups and the Rainier Education Foundation, Baker chaired the School Board for a year and a half.
She said she has experience in union leadership and would like to continue her work in the district.
“This year, the superintendent and School Board rolled out our schoolhouse model, which is our district’s five-year plan,” she said. “If re-elected, I would like to see this through to the end.”
Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433 lpemberton@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/edblog
