North Kitsap community members will enjoy a bolstered chance to be elected to the school board this year, with the incumbents in the two seats up for grabs passing on the chance to serve again.

Board member and Position 1 representative Richard L. “Dick” Endresen will step down after five terms and 20 years of service on the board this year, as will member and Position 3 representative Bethany McDonald, who has served for two terms spanning eight years.

North Kitsap residents interested in running for the District 1 position must live within the boundaries consisting primarily of central Poulsbo. Candidates for McDonald’s Position 3 must reside in the area nearest to and around Suquamish.

And they’ll have to get their names in the running soon, as interested candidates in must file for office between July 25 and July 29 at the Kitsap County Elections Office.

They are strongly encouraged to do so by every member of the current board.

“It’s a great way to serve the community and affect policy,” McDonald said.

“I can’t think of anything more important that a community can do than educate its children,” said school board member Dan Delaney, who has served since 2003. “It’s an enormous responsibility.”

The District 1 position hasn’t been vacated for more than two decades, as journeyman politician Endresen has occupied the post for the entire time. His tenure began in 1985, the very same year the world was introduced to New Coke, Marty McFly in “Back to the Future,” and the second term of President Ronald Reagan.

“You can get your name on every building in the district,” joked Endresen, who, in his span, indeed has his own name on many of the NKSD’s buildings.

More information on a school board’s responsibilities is available from the Washington State School Director’s Association, at 221 College Street NE, Olympia, WA 98516-5313. Interested candidates can also e-mail g.korsak@wssda.org or call (360) 493-9231.