t Applicants sought for other vacancy

Federal Way resident and businessman Tony Moore will become the newest school board member, the board voted last week.

Moore and Federal Way resident Ron Walker both interviewed for the district five position left vacant when former board president Dave Larson resigned to become a Federal Way Municipal Court judge.

After 40 minutes of deliberation, the board voted unanimously at a special meeting April 30 to appoint Moore to the position.

Moore has volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club as a basketball coach, and has started a community church. He is currently a member of the city’s Planning Commission and the Citizens for Federal Way Public Schools. He works as a business consultant and is owner of Moore’s Tires.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to actually serve the community in the area of education,” Moore said after hearing news of his appointment.

“Basically I adopted 23,000 kids tonight, and their success is at the forefront of my mind,” he said.

Moore said during his interview that he thinks financial stability should be the board’s long-term goal, and the best way to achieve that goal is to pressure state officials.

“I think financial stability is really critical because it’s the underpinning of everything we do,” he said. “I think we’ve got to put hard-core pressure on the politicians to get them to do the right thing.”

The three most important issues currently facing the district are finances, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), and teacher recruitment and retention, Moore said.

Moore noted that his wife, Trise, is a school district employee, but said he won’t allow that to become a conflict of interest. Moore will not share confidential information with his wife and will not participate in any board votes that may present a conflict of interest.

Noting the district’s increasing diversity, Moore said it will be beneficial to have a person of color serving on the school board.

Moore will be sworn in at the next school board meeting May 13. He will serve until the next school board elections in November 2009.

Walker said he won’t run against Moore in the next election.

Other vacancy

The Federal Way School Board is accepting applications for a position left vacant with Tom Madden’s recent resignation.

Madden left the board last month because his business requires him to travel and frequently be absent from board meetings, said school board president Ed Barney.

No applications have yet been received for the vacant district four position, Barney said. District four is in the southeastern portion of the school district.

School board members are responsible for adopting policy, planning and monitoring operations and controlling expenditures. They must attend two formal meetings each month as well as several work studies and planning sessions throughout the year. Board members also represent the district at a variety of community and school events.

Applicants must be United States citizens and qualified voters who reside within the district four area.

Applicants must submit a letter of interest to Chris Popich in the educational service center by noon May 16. Board members will review the applications on May 28 and select approximately five finalists.

Finalists will be interviewed during a public meeting at 7 p.m. June 11. A candidate will be selected that night.

The new school board member will be sworn in at the June 24 board meeting and will serve until November 2009.

School board members are eligible to receive $50 per day that they serve. The total compensation cannot exceed $4,800 annually.

Contact Margo Hoffman: mhoffman@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.

For more information or to apply for the vacant district four school board position, call Chris Popich at (253) 945-2003.