Candidates wanted for vacant Kent School Board position

Candidates are wanted by the Kent School District for the vacant District No. 2 position on the Kent School Board.

Applicants must live in District No. 2. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Thursday, July 21. The board will appoint the person to fill the seat.

Michele Bettinger resigned June 21 from the five-member board. She said she no longer felt professionally or personally safe asking questions, trying to get items on the agenda for discussion or while attending executive sessions. Voters elected Bettinger to a four-year term in November 2019. Her term expires November 2023.

The Revised Code of Washington requires the following when a board position becomes vacant:

• A majority of the legally established number of board members shall fill such vacancy by appointment

• Should the board fail to fill the vacancy within 90 days from “the creation of such vacancy,” the members of the Puget Sound Educational Service District Board shall fill the vacancy by majority vote

• All appointees to fill vacancies shall meet the legal requirements for school directors

• The appointee shall serve until the next regular school district election, at which time a successor shall be elected for the unexpired term

The board plans to review applications during a July 27 executive session. The board will interview and select a replacement on Aug. 3 to start on Aug. 10. Board members are Leslie Hamada, Tim Clark, Awale Farah and Joe Bento.

Candidates must submit an online application available on the Kent School District website. They must be citizens of the United States, qualified voters and have a permanent residence within the boundaries of District No. 2.

For questions, email KSDBoardVacancy@kent.k12.wa.us.

District 2 is in the northeast section of the district near Lake Youngs. Schools in District 2 include Kentridge High School, Northwood Middle School, Meeker Middle School and several elementary schools.

For a map of District 2, click here.