Deadline is July 31 for school board vacancies

The Olympian • Published July 03, 2008

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Applications are being accepted through 5 p.m. July 31 for appointments for the two Olympia School Board seats recently vacated by board members Bob Shirley and Russ Lehman.

* Requirements: Candidates must live in District 3, the area around Olympia High School, Ward Lake and Morse Merriman, or in District 5, around Cooper Point and Delphi Valley.

* How to apply: Applications are at the district office, 1113 Legion Way S.E., or online at http://osd.wednet.edu.

* What’s next: The three remaining board members will screen candidates Aug. 5, have a community forum Aug. 12 and plan to make selections Aug. 19.

* About the vacancies: Lehman and Shirley left the board citing health reasons. Both had been critical of district administrators and the budget process. Lehman, elected to the board in 2001, had a stroke this year, and Shirley, elected to the board in 2005, said he has had non-lifethreatening health issues. The only remaining board member with more than seven months of experience is Carolyn Barclift, who was elected in 1999. Frank Wilson was elected in November, and Allen Miller was appointed last month.

Miller was appointed to replace ex-board member Rich Nafziger by the board members of Educational Service District 113. The ESD board got the task after the four members of the Olympia board deadlocked over three applicants and could not agree on an appointment within the state deadline of 90 days.

The two newly selected members and Miller will face election in fall 2009.

* More information: Call Pam Barker of the district superintendent’s office at 360-596-6114.