Just shy of the deadline, created with the resignation of third board member Cathy Rozinek, the Jewell School Board appointed two new directors.
Rozinek’s resignation will take effect June 30th and board members had until June 29th to appoint at least one board member or the task would fall to the Northwest Regional ESD. Along with Rozinek, chair Allan Foster and vice chair Tania Skinner interviewed the remaining three applicants who had applied for the two seats that were vacated by the recent recall election and the third seat soon to be vacated by Rozinek’s subsequent resignation.
In the end the board went with one of the first people interviewed for a director seat and one of the last. Matt Samuelson and Jennifer Blanchard were chose for positions four and five, respectively and immediately sworn in after being appointed. Samuelson was appointed first after which he named his two top choices, Kristen Kuhnly and Jennifer Blanchard. Blanchard was then nominated and unanimously appointed by all four board members. The two newest board members then asked that they be allowed to study the notes the other board members made during the interviewing process before making a decision on the fifth board member, who would take Cathy Rozinek’s place after June 30th.
Both new members have deep roots in the community and some familiarity in dealing with the Jewell School Board. Samuelson has sat on the board in previous years and Blanchard’s father had been a board member for many years. When Blanchard was asked what she hoped she would be remembered best for at the end of her service she replied, “Nothing.” She went on to explain that no one remembers who was on the board when things are going good in a school district and that is what she hopes happens. Things go so good no one remembers who was on the school board. Blanchard also said she hopes that Jewell School becomes known for its students’ achievements and not because of its money or its board members.
The things the other Board members appreciated about Samuelson was that he had only five minutes to come up with the answers to the questions they asked all the applicants yet he gave them “good, concise, answers.” Their favorite answer was to the question what is his vision for the school and he replied, “Zero percent dropouts and one hundred percent graduates.” Both Samuelson and Blanchard stated that they supported the efforts of administration to complete the curriculum process to bring it up to state standards as well as looking at programs that addressed the needs of all students so that the school retained students that were at risk to drop out.
In other board business Cathy Rozinek read a farewell letter (will be available here, soon) asking the community to be supportive during times of change and thanking Karl Meier and Ann Samuelson for all of their hard work on the board and the hours they have put in at the school and community events. Allan Foster and Tania Skinner also thanked Meier and Samuelson for their dedication and service to the school and community.
As Foster went to bang the gavel to adjourn the meeting Interim Superintendent Jerry Jones stopped him. “I, too, have a letter to read.” With more than a bit of trepidation Foster said, “It isn’t a letter of resignation, is it?” Jones smiled and began, “On behalf of the students, the staff and administration of the Jewell School …”
June 12, 2008
To Ann Samuelson, Karl Meiers, Cathy Rozinek Allan Foster and Tania Skinner,
On behalf of the students, staff and administration, we would like to say, “Thanks”. As a member of the Jewell School Board, you have provided all students with the best possible education opportunities. You had a vision for the school and kept attention focused on progress toward student achievement. Serving on the board required unselfish devotion to time, energy and service to carry out the mission and business of the district. Being an effective school board member is not an easy task, particularly in our situation of change and the challenges it brings. You never lost sight of our direction even during the most difficult times.
I commend you for your efforts and dedication to Jewell School District, and thank-you for keeping the students’ interests upfront and foremost.
Jerry Jones, Interim Superintendent
The next school board meeting will be July 28th.
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