No one runs, so school board must appoint trustee

Though longterm trustee Alisa MacAvoy is not seeking reelection for her own Area I seat, she encouraged anyone who is qualified to to submit a written application to be considered.  

“Having served 17 years, this is by far the best job that I’ve ever had, certainly the most impactful, the most important,” MacAvoy said at the board meeting Aug. 28. “Truly, I’ve had a lot of jobs over my years, this is the hardest one but it’s also the most rewarding one.” 

To be considered, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, a citizen registered to vote, not an employee of the district, and live within Area 3 — regardless of child attendance in the district. 

The trustee area encompasses the Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School, Henry Ford School, Kennedy Middle School sites, and portions of the attendance zones for Garfield School, Henry Ford School, Hoover School and Roosevelt School. 

Trustees are responsible for setting district policies, overseeing budget and ensuring financial accountability, developing longterm strategic plans, and developing the districts’ mission and values, said Superintendent Dr. John Baker. 

Trustee David Weekly, representing Area 2, said he hopes anyone interested in serving children should consider filing an application, and spoke directly to those who may be considering doing so during the board meeting. 

“It’s OK if you haven’t held office before,” Weekly said. “You can have a meaningful home life, be an involved parent and have a full-time job, and serve on the school district.” 

Those interested can submit an application on the district’s website www.rcsdk8.net, beginning Aug. 30, and will be open for a month, until 5 p.m. Sept. 30. Eligible applicants will then likely be interviewed during open session at the Oct. 9 board meeting, made available for public viewing. 

Appointment by the board means applicants do not need to run a campaign or raise funds, but Baker recommended those considering should consult with current trustees to get a better sense of the job and its demands. 

Three trustee seats were to be considered this election cycle, Area 4 which will be filled by incumbent Mike Wells running unopposed for a second term, Area 1 with MacAvoy leaving, and Area III. 

The Area 1 seat nearly required a similar appointment process. Current unopposed candidate Jennifer Ng Kwing King did not submit paperwork for her campaign until the last possible day — a deadline that was extended a week due to the eligible incumbent not seeking reelection.

ana@smdailyjournal.com

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