PORT ORCHARD — South Kitsap School District will have a “vacancy” shingle out a little bit longer as it seeks to replace school board member Seward Stevens, who resigned from the board May 18.
Applications from interested candidates will now be accepted until 4 p.m., July 27, SKSD spokeswoman Amy Miller said. The previous cutoff date set by the district was July 21. Miller said officials have received several inquiries from interested individuals, but no formal applications so far have been submitted.
The school district is seeking applications from community members who live within the boundaries of Director District No. 1, which encompasses Port Orchard, Annapolis, Old Belfair Highway and Gorst. The district also includes half of the original McCormick Woods area and all ofThe Ridge at McCormick Woods.
Stevens, who was first appointed to the school board seat after Patty Henderson left her post due to work considerations, said he was resigning because of business and personal priorities. Running unopposed in November 2017, he was elected by voters to a full term.
Miller said applications will be reviewed the first week in August, followed by a special board of directors work-study session Aug. 8 in which candidates will be interviewed. An executive session to discuss applicant qualifications will follow.
When the board makes its choice, the district will make a public announcement prior to the board of directors’ Aug. 15 meeting. At that meeting, the selected candidate will be sworn into office.
The district’s board of directors has regular board meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Board meetings typically last two hours and take two to three hours of preparation time to review the packet of action items each director receives beforehand. The board also occasionally schedules work study sessions to discuss items and issues in more detail, Miller said.
Board members also represent the school district at special events, such as dedications and class graduations, and take part in school visits, all of which “take a significant amount of time,” she said.
