If you’ve ever wanted to have a heavy hand in how education in Washington State is funded and administered, now is your chance. There is an opening on the State Board of Education. Read the press release below from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Membership on the board requires a considerable commitment of time,” the press release says. And you’d be wading into the morass that is the debate on fully funding basic education, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning and and other problematical topics without easy answers. Residents of Kitsap and Mason counties are eligible. If you decide to run, and especially if you’re elected, let me know. CTH
OLYMPIA – June 27, 2008 – Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr.
Terry Bergeson will conduct an election in November 2008 for one
elected position to the State Board of Education.
The open four-year position is for Western Region No. 4, currently held by Linda Lamb of Olympia. Her term expires January 2009.
The board is composed of 16 members: seven members appointed by the governor; two members from the eastern region of the state and three from the western region, all elected by public school directors; one at-large member elected by approved private schools; the superintendent of public instruction; and two student representatives selected by the State Board itself.
Candidates must be residents of the region they wish to represent and cannot be employed by any public or private school, college, university or other educational institution, any educational service district, or the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction after being elected to the State Board. Those elected to the board may not concurrently serve as a member of the board of directors of either a public school district or a private school.
The State Board of Education is working to improve student performance, increase graduation rates and ensure that all students will be successful in postsecondary education, the 21st century workforce and citizenship.
Membership on the board requires a considerable commitment of time to prepare and attend meetings. More information about board service requirements is available through the State Board of Education office in Olympia at (360) 725-6025, or via e-mail at sbe@k12.wa.us.
All declarations of candidacy and optional biographical data forms must be filed with the state superintendent’s office in Olympia by 5 p.m., Aug. 1, 2008.
Elected board members will be sworn in at the January 2009 State Board of Education meeting.
Declaration and optional biographical data forms are available at http://www.k12.wa.us/ProfPractices/adminresources/SBEelections.aspx or by mail at Administrative Resource Services, Superintendent of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200. For further information contact Charles Schreck, director, Office of Professional Practices, OSPI, at (360) 725-6130, or his assistant, Penny Coker, at (360) 725-6133.
NOTE: As defined in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 392-109-045, for purposes of State Board elections, the regions are defined as:
Western Washington region: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum and Whatcom counties.
Eastern Washington region: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman and Yakima counties.
