It’s a first: 5 women now serve on North Thurston Public Schools board
Women now fill all five seats on the North Thurston Public Schools board, making it a first for the county’s largest school district.
Three of them were sworn in during Tuesday’s school board meeting.
The two new faces are Esperanza A. Badillo-Diiorio and Michelle Gipson. Badillo-Diiorio defeated Stephanie Scott for the District 4 seat being vacated by Graeme Sackrison, while Gipson edged out incumbent Dave Newkirk for the District 5 seat.
Board President and District 1 incumbent Gretchen Maliska retained her seat in November’s general election.
The two incumbents on the board are Tiffany Sevruk and Jennifer Thomas.
“It’s really amazing,” said Maliska about the all-woman board. “I’m looking forward to that collaboration.”
For Gipson and Badillo-Diiorio, Tuesday’s meeting was their first.
“I’m honored,” said Badillo-Diiorio about the moment.
Asked about her goals as a school board member, she pointed to the two student representatives to the board, saying she wants to amplify student and staff voices.
“They really need that transparency,” she said, adding that the board needs to be held accountable for the policies it has in place and that Superintendent Debra Clemens needs to be held accountable as well.
Gipson acknowledged the moment by saying it’s time to roll up her sleeves and get to work.
“I started this journey really focused on wanting to see more work done to help the mental well-being of our kids,” she said. When students don’t get that help, she said the worst-case scenario is substance abuse or suicide.
“Education is a priority, but if things around you aren’t OK, then learning is difficult,” she said.
Other goals: Helping homeless students and making sure the district listens to students.
“When we say we want to hear their voices, we really need to mean that,” she said. “Whether it’s in a soft voice or they really need to be heard, we need to be that safe space so that they will be able to tell us what they need for their journey.”
Maliska, too, said she wants the district to continue working on student-centered decisions. She also expects a number of early learning initiatives to unfold in the state and she’s curious about the state Superintendent’s platform and whether graduation requirements might change.
Goodbye to Sackrison and Newkirk
The board also said farewell to Sackrison and Newkirk, both of whom served eight years as school directors.
Board President Maliska thanked them for their service.
“Each term as directors you have given your whole heart to our community and we couldn’t be more grateful to call you colleagues and friends,” she said.
Sackrison, who graduated from North Thurston High School in 1962, called serving on the board a significant experience in his life and something he will always treasure.
Newkirk thanked the former board, the current board, the newest board members for running, the community and district staff.
“You make this a special place to be,” he said.
Sackrison said he wants the district to continue to work on equity.
“We have a very diverse community in Lacey and in the district, and I think it’s crucial to give everybody the opportunity to move forward,” he said.
This story was originally published December 6, 2023 at 5:00 AM with the headline "It’s a first: 5 women now serve on North Thurston Public Schools board."
