By Margo Hoffman, The Mirror
Folks who want to have an impact on education in Federal Way just got another opportunity.
The Federal Way School Board is accepting applications for a position left vacant with Tom Madden’s recent resignation.
Madden resigned his position on the board effective immediately, board president Ed Barney announced at a meeting last week.
Madden left the board because his business requires him to travel and frequently be absent from board meetings, Barney said.
Madden did not attend last week’s meeting and did not return a message left on his cell phone requesting comment.
No applications have yet been received and no one has yet expressed interest in the district four position left vacant by Madden, said school district administrative assistant Chris Popich. 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.
Other vacancy
The candidate who will fill a second vacant school board position will be decided at a public meeting at 7 p.m. April 30 in the board room at the Educational Service Center, 31405 18th Ave. S. in Federal Way.
Federal Way residents Ron Walker and Tony Moore will interview for the district five position left vacant when former board president Dave Larson resigned to accept a position as Federal Way Municipal Court judge.
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 in an e-mail that as a school board member, he would work to reduce the high school dropout rate and remain mindful of changing cultural demographics. He also said that he could serve as a community resource and role model.
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.
Moore said that as a board member, he would work to close the achievement gap and improve the graduation rate. He also said that he would like to research new strategies, concepts and ideas in education.
Contact Margo Hoffman: mhoffman@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.
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For more information or to apply for the vacant district four school board position, call Chris Popich at (253) 945-2003.
