By MARGO HORNER, The Mirror

Outgoing school board members Evelyn Castellar and Charlie Hoff won’t be bickering during public meetings anymore, but they will continue to disagree in private.

Castellar and Hoff have openly disagreed and argued during both of their terms on the Federal Way School Board about things ranging from student dress to electronics to the value of athletics. Their arguments have, at times, escalated to raised voices.

Last week was Castellar and Hoff’s final public meeting before the newly elected school board members take their seats on Nov. 27. Hoff took the opportunity to give a nearly 30-minute monologue on the state of disrepair of Federal Way schools. He read from pre-written statements. Castellar filled in the board and audience on details of her recent vacation in Italy.

Also during the meeting, Castellar presented Hoff with a branch from a sacred olive tree that she picked up on her vacation. The branch was to symbolize a truce.

“I just said, I’m going to give an olive branch to Charlie and explain this and maybe he can come around and change his opinion, but he won’t, he just won’t,” Castellar said following the meeting, adding that Hoff seemed untouched by the gesture.

“I don’t think he really wants it… he’s such a fart,” she said.

Hoff said he will continue to disagree with Castellar.

“She gave me the olive branch and that’s fine and we have our disagreements and we, I think, are both very interested in improving schools and that’s fine and I think on some issues we agree and on some issues we disagree,” Hoff said. “I continue to hold my beliefs and she will continue to hold hers.”

Despite their disagreements, Hoff and Castellar have managed to work together and vote for some improvements to Federal Way schools.

“I do respect and appreciate all that Charlie’s done for the district and I think that everyone does. He’s just a little cranky sometimes,” Castellar said.

After his term ends, Hoff said he plans to continue trying to bring about change in the schools of Federal Way.

“I will be attending meetings and work studies and offering opinions on how to improve schools here,” he said.

After a year or so, Hoff and his wife plan to move to England.

Castellar said when her term ends she will spend more time working with high-risk students at her school in Federal Way, WASL Pass.

Contact Margo Horner: mhorner@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.