Everett School Board Announces Plan to Replace Olson

Everett Schools have issued their plan to fill the vacancy created by the abrupt resignation of Jessica Olson on Tuesday…

Jessica Olson resigned from Everett School Board Tuesday.

In an email sent to School Board President Pam LeSesne and two staff at the Daily Herald at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, Jessica Olson announced her resignation from the Board of Directors by writing, “Pam –I hereby resign from the board of directors, effective immediately.”

The announcement was unexpected and comes in the midst of the board’s work to replace another board member who resigned in December.

At the regularly scheduled board meeting on the evening of the latest board member resignation, the board added an agenda item to the published agenda. The board voted to accept the resignation and designated a process and timeline for selecting and appointing a replacement.

LeSesne emphasized the board’s commitment to abiding by established policy for filling a director vacancy. “While some have encouraged the board to use the existing, qualified pool of candidates to fill both positions, the board strongly believes it is important not to disadvantage anyone who might want to apply for this second open position. Given the greater awareness of the board’s work and this current process, we are holding the doors open for anyone who might now want to express interest in making this level of commitment to each student and to public education.”

This means the board will once again extend invitations for nominations, to be followed by applications and a public interview process leading up to the board’s appointment of a director to complete the remainder of the term for Position 4.

The board agreed to the following schedule:

·         Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, by 4:30 p.m. nominations to be received by the superintendent’s office.

·         Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, by 4:30 p.m. applications to be received by the superintendent’s office. (Nominations are not required. Those who are nominated may choose to take the next step in the process to apply to be considered among candidates to fill Position 4.)

·         Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, the board will review applications and select candidates for interview

·         Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, the board will interview candidates and appoint a successor

QUALIFICATIONS

• To be qualified, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident within Everett Public Schools district boundaries and a registered voter.

NOMINATIONS accepted Jan. 7 through Thursday, Jan. 16 at 4:30 p.m.

• Any citizen may nominate a qualified applicant. Nominations must be received in the superintendent’s office by the Jan 16, 4:30 p.m. nomination deadline.
• The superintendent will provide those nominated with a summary of school board member responsibilities and will solicit from each nominee a biographic sketch as well as a statement about his or her interest in being a board member. Nominees who choose to respond with application materials must meet the application timeline and process described below.

APPLICATIONS accepted Jan. 7 through Thursday, Jan 23, at 4:30 p.m.

• Interested citizens must submit application materials, which include:

1.       a biographical sketch of the interested candidate,

2.       a statement about an applicant’s interest in being a board member,

3.       and his or her name, residential address and contact phone number. An email address should be provided.

• Application packets must be received in the superintendent’s office by the Jan. 23, 2014 4:30 p.m. application. Packets should be submitted to Superintendent, Everett Public Schools, 3900 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201, by U.S. Postal Service or in-person delivery, or
• emailed to superintendent@everettsd.org by the Jan. 23, 2014 4:30 p.m. deadline.

Candidate nomination and application materials are subject to public disclosure under Washington’s Public Records Act.

Board selection process and timeline

• On Jan. 24, 2014, the Everett Public Schools Board of Directors will convene to review the applications received by the submission deadline. Candidates’ qualifications will be discussed in executive session. The board will select up to five finalists in open session.
• Candidate interviews will be conducted in open session. Candidates selected for interviews will be given an interview time on Feb. 3, 2014, with the first interview beginning at 3 p.m.
• Following open session interviews, the board may recess into executive session to discuss candidates’ qualifications and then will return to open session to decide whom to appoint for the remainder of the term of Position 4.

“Members of the public are encouraged to attend the public board meetings and interviews during this very important process,” LeSesne emphasized.