District officials to check out school board candidates

LANGLEY — The South Whidbey School District will begin interviewing six candidates for the school board position left vacant by Bob Riggs today.

The candidates, who will be questioned beginning at 2 p.m. in the intermediate school community room, include Freeland residents Leigh Anderson, a part-time small business consultant; Robin Doucette, a volunteer with the Whidbey Island Dance Theatre; Dorothy Ferguson, a retired school counselor; and businesswoman Kris Barker.

Rounding out the group are retired businessman and former board member John Carty from Langley and Kevin Engstrom, a self-employed mortgage broker from Clinton.

The regular school board meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. following an executive session to review and discuss the candidates.

“This a wonderful bunch of candidates,” said school board member Fred O’Neal. “I hope the ones we don’t pick will leave their hats in the ring in case we have to appoint another member down the road.”

One more slot may open this winter if Helen Price Johnson is successful in her bid for a seat on the Island County board of commissioners.

Riggs was a nine-year board veteran representing District 1. He resigned last month to concentrate on his job as a special effects supervisor for the film industry.

The board has been accepting applications from local residents interested in serving out the balance of Riggs’ term, which runs until November 2009. Since he was an “at-large” board member, anyone within the district’s boundaries could apply. If the position is a good fit, the chosen person can run on his or her own for a six-year term.

“We want to get a sense from each person about their philosophy of education and whether they can work as part of a team,” said school board member Rich Parker. “On a more practical note, we need to know their time commitments, strengths and weaknesses plus some personal background.”

Parker added that a lot of the board’s current strength comes from members having an open mind and being flexible.

“We need someone with the ability to examine an issue from multiple perspectives, beyond their personal views,” Parker said.

Whoever is chosen will have to help maintain the board’s outstanding reputation.

Last November, the Washington State School Directors’ Association named South Whidbey as one of three “Boards of the Year.” The award recognized outstanding efforts and accomplishments in promoting student achievement.

South Whidbey, with a current total enrollment of 1,766 students, received the award for school districts with 1,001 to 5,000 students. White Pass and Richland were the other recipients.

South Whidbey members honored at the time were Fred O’Neal, Rich Parker, Helen Price Johnson, Bob Riggs and Steven Scoles.

The school board meets tonight at the Intermediate School’s community room on Maxwelton Road in Langley.

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