Olympia School Board gets new member

Nafziger replacement picked from pool of four

By Venice Buhain | The Olympian • Published May 15, 2008

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"I trust that (the ESD) had a process that would be beneficial to our board, and I appreciate their assistance," Barclift said.

Civic history

Miller, 53, has a long civic history, having served as past campaign chairman and past president of United Way of Thurston County, a school board member of St. Michael School, an Olympia planning commissioner, and a board member of the Olympia-Yashiro Sister City Association, South Sound YMCA and other organizations.

Miller said his experience with mediation could be an asset.

"I've been on other boards before; I've been a consensus-maker. I guess I'm a clean slate as far as knowing what the divisions are," he said. "I'm going in with an open mind and hoping to work with people to come to consensus on most decisions, if not all."

Miller's appointment comes at a time when the district is looking at cutting $2 million to $2.5 million to balance an $83.2 million budget.

"I've already reviewed the documents that talks about the various options," Miller said. "I think I can hit the ground running as far as the various issues."

ESD 113 board Chairman John Gott said that the disagreements among the board members played a part in the decision, although the board also took into consideration the district's "tremendous" budget shortfall for 2008-09.

"We tried to weigh what we knew about the candidates with the problems that Olympia had," Gott said. "We thought he was the best fit."

The seven-member ESD 113 board voted 6-0 in favor of Miller, with board member Bill Brumsickle absent. All ESD board members contacted said that Miller's non-involvement in the Olympia School District appointment process was not a factor in their decisions.

Questions

The interviews consisted of 11 questions, with some additional follow-up questions. Some of the questions were directed at the relationship of the board members with one another and with the staff. Questions also covered the budget process and whether the candidates would support bringing in a mediator to assist the board.

"I think what we were trying to think about — and get in a question — is which person is going to do the best thing for the students. We weren't trying to fix the school board's problems," said board member Howard Coble.

Board member Dean Winner said he made the motion to place Miller on the board because he thought Miller would be able to work with all of the board members.

"I think in looking at all the qualifications at all the applicants, all of them were highly qualified. Mr. Miller had the best chance of succeeding in the current environment on the board," Winner said.

"I think his skills of mediating and arbitrating and overall resume was very strong," said board member Rex Comstock.

"We were looking for people whose first priority is kids, and people who could work with other people," said board member Marvin Lam. "Because of the problem there with the existing board, we were looking for someone who could work with them."

Venice Buhain covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5445 or vbuhain@theolympian.com.