JOYCE — The Crescent School District is accepting applications for candidates to take the place of Tracey Grover, who has retired after more than nine years on the board.
Grover, who was serving as chairwoman when she stepped down in January, had floated the idea of leaving from time to time in the past but had been encouraged to stay, she said.
“It was a hard decision to make to leave,” she said.
Her term ends November 2015.
Potential candidates for the seat must turn applications into the school district office at 50350 state Highway 112 by Wednesday.
The School Board will interview candidates for the position during its Feb. 28 meeting in the school library at 7 p.m.
The board will recess into executive session to discuss the candidates before returning to open session to possibly vote on a board member selection.
The person selected will be required to formally file for election during the May 13-17 filing period, the school district said.
Grover said she is caring for her elderly father and has other family responsibilities that are taking more of her time.
“This is a good time to step aside,” she said.
Farewell party
The district held a party Wednesday night to thank her for her years of service. They ended Jan. 24 when she submitted her resignation at a board meeting.
She said parents and teachers should expect to continue to see her in the schools, perhaps as a classroom volunteer.
Grover said she ran for the board initially to help the district pass levies after two levies failed and to improve the district’s perceived openness, transparency and communication with district voters and parents.
Now, the district has successfully passed several levies to support education, maintenance and operations, and there have been improvements in communications, she said.
She pointed to an increase of public comment periods at School Board meetings — from a single time at the end of what are sometimes very long meetings to three opportunities: at the beginning, middle and end of the meetings.
“It makes people feel they’ve been heard,” she said.
Grover said she felt confident a qualified replacement will step forward.
“Be a good listener, and be a good communicator,” she advised her successor.
Questionnaires and application forms are available at the district office at 50350 state Highway 112 or by phoning 360-928-3311.
For more information, phone School Board Chairwoman Susan Hopper at 360-928-3878; Trish Haggerty, vice chairwoman, at 360-928-0124; or board members Sandra Criss at 360-928-2053 or Holly Rose at 360-460-5650.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
