By MARGO HORNER, The Mirror
Now is the opportunity for folks who want to make a difference in Federal Way schools.
The Federal Way School Board is accepting applications for a board member position left vacant with former president Dave Larson’s resignation. Larson left the board to become a Federal Way Municipal Court judge.
Although no applications have yet been received, Federal Way residents Ron Walker and Jack Stanford have expressed interest in the vacant position, said school district administrative assistant Chris Popich.
Walker ran against Larson for the district five position in November, receiving nearly 40 percent of the votes. He is currently a member of the Federal Way Diversity Commission and chair of the city’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. He is a graduate of the city’s Advancing Leadership program and works as a medical radiographer for Group Health.
Walker said that he knows the public supports his effort to become a school board member because he received more than 7,000 votes in the November election.
“I received 7,000 votes, and so that means there’s 7,000 people out there who feel I would be an asset to the school board,” Walker said.
Stanford was a fire commissioner from 1987 to 1997. He was a supporter of Federal Way Works, a political group that opposed the strong mayor issue. He is currently president of Stanford Insurance and a board member for Federal Way Communities in Schools.
Stanford has also been involved with schools through his work as a member of the Rotary Club.
“The board appears to be very positive and passionate about schools, and I think that I have things to offer and would enjoy it,” Stanford said.
Stanford has two children who graduated from Federal Way High School and one who is currently a teacher at Todd Beamer High School.
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 five area in the southwest portion of the school district. District five is bordered by Interstate 5 on the east and Federal Way city limits on the south and west. The northern borders include Southwest Campus Drive in the west and South 312th Street in the east.
Applicants must submit a letter of interest to Chris Popich in the educational service center by noon March 27. Board members will review the applications on April 8 and select approximately five finalists.
Finalists will be interviewed during a public meeting at 7 p.m. April 30. A candidate will be selected that night.
The new school board member will be sworn in at the May 13 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 Horner: mhorner@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.
