by Kimberly Jacobson
This year two of the five Anacortes School Board members are up for re-election: Mitch Everton, Position 1 and Kris Lytton, Position 2. Both at-large positions are for four-year terms.
Everton and Lytton said they plan to run for re-election. They, and challengers, have until June 5 to file with the Skagit County Elections Office. The primary election is Aug. 18 and the general election is Nov. 3.
Anyone who is a resident of the district can run for the positions. District staff are precluded from serving.
The terms of the other three board members (Jeannette Papadakis, Carol Pyke and Chris Anderson) don’t expire until 2011.
Election issues this year will include school funding, declining enrollment, standardized testing and drop-out rates.
Board members are compensated $50 per day with a maximum of $4,800 per year. They are reimbursed for expenses incurred while performing their duties, including training sessions and other meetings.
The board members have a host of official responsibilities.
The board has regular meetings twice a month — a morning site visit from 8-10 a.m. the second Thursday of the month at a school and an evening meeting 6:15 p.m. fourth Thursdays in the board room on the second floor of Anacortes Middle School.
The board’s job is “to represent the community and lead the district by determining and demanding excellent organizational performance,” according to the district’s board job description.
It directs the superintendent via policy and evaluates him based on written policy criteria.
