Thank you for your interest in serving the community as a member of the Mercer Island School District Board of Directors in position 5 to fill the Board vacancy until the November 3, 2015 general election. The District’s 2020 Vision statement is “Our Students will thrive in the cognitive, digital, and global world while sustaining their passion and inspiration for learning.” Our mission statement is “Mercer Island Schools will deliver 21st century education that prepares students to convert information into knowledge and create innovative solutions demanded by tomorrow’s world.”
Our students and staff are supported at high levels by the voters of Mercer Island, PTA, and Foundation fundraising. Students are held to clear standards and expectations to achieve accordingly. Please visit the District website at see the accomplishments and activities that our students and staff are achieving on a daily basis.
To be eligible to be appointed to the Mercer Island School Board, you:
•Must reside within the Mercer Island city limits and must be a registered voter in the City of Mercer Island.
If you hold, participate in or are involved in any contract(s) with the Mercer Island School Board, please explain your involvement in your cover letter. If you hold any other elected public office, please state what office and where in your cover letter.
Please note that:
- Once a Board member application is filed with the District, it is a public record available to the public.
- The applications received from all candidates who meet the minimum requirements of State law, along with the answers to the application questions, will be posted on the Mercer Island School District website as part of the district's meeting packet the week of the initial interviews.
If appointed, you will be required by state law to file financial disclosure statements with the Washington Public
Disclosure Commission (
The timeline for filling the school board member vacancy is as follows:
Board Candidate Applications AvailableOnline: April 1, 2015
Applications due to Superintendent’s Office:Friday, April 24, 2015,by 4:30 pm
Candidate Interviews (dates/times):Friday, May 1 (6:00 pm – 9:00 pm)
Saturday, May 2 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm)
(if needed) Monday, May 4 (9:00 am – 12:00 pm)
Swearing in of new board member: Thursday, May 14, 2015
For further information, please contact the Board Secretary, Dr. Gary Plano, at the Superintendent’s Office at 206-236.3300,or Vice President Emanuels at 206.232.0556.
The application and any correspondence should be addressed to: Superintendent’s Office, Dr. Gary Plano, Board Secretary, Mercer Island School District,4160 86th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA, 98040. Please submit the following items: Application (page 3); 1-page cover letter indicating your interest and general qualifications for the position; resume of no more than 2 pages; and answers to the Applications Questions of no more than 2 pages total.
The Mercer Island School Board is the governing body of the Mercer Island School District. The School Board monitors and approves the school district budget, hires and evaluates the superintendent and sets policy for the school district. The School Board does not supervise or evaluate any staff other than the superintendent. The Mercer Island School District has approximately 4,300 students and employs 290 certificated employees and 205 classified staff. The General Fund budget is $50,000,000. (See the Board Governance materials for additional specifics and details.)
The duties of a School Board member will likely involve an average minimum commitment of 18-20 hours per month for preparation, participation, and attendance at meetings. Attendance is required at regular Board meetings, which are typically held on the second and fourthThursday evenings of each month, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and occasionally later. Attendance is also required at the Board’s bi-annual Board retreats in January and June. School Board members have school site visits and occasional special meetings, executive sessions or exempt sessions. Members also represent the School Board at various school-related and community functions. Annually in November, School Board members may travel to the annual Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) meeting.
Compensation is described in Board Policy 1733, and reimbursement of expenses is described in Board Policy 1731. Both policies can be found on the District website under School Board/Administrative & Board Policies and at
Each Candidate should come to the interview prepared to speak to the following questions:
- Why do you want to serve on the Board of Directors?
- Why do you think you would be a strong addition to the Board?
- What should be the relationship of the school board to the local community?
- What do you hope to accomplish in the next four years if you become a board member?
- What do you believe makes a Board more effective? Less effective?
- Do you intend to run for school board election in November?
- What questions do you have for the current school board?
Pursuant to Board Policy 1110, the Board of Directors of the Mercer Island School District shall consist of five members elected by ballot by the registered voters of the district. If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors, the remaining board members shall appoint a replacement to serve until the regular district election, at which time a director will be elected for the vacant position.
If a Board member resigns due to residence change, or for any other reason, the Board shall consider the resignation at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board shall then accept the resignation by formal action and declare the Board position vacant unless the resignation is withdrawn any time prior to the Board’s action.
When a vacancy occursdue to a resignation, the Board will give public notice and receive applications from any qualified persons seeking to fill the position. Sitting as a committee of the whole, the remaining board members will evaluate the applicants’ credentials, and conduct public meeting(s) to interview candidates and appoint the replacement.
Once a replacement is chosen, the new board member will be sworn in at the next regular board meeting. Should the Board fail to fill a vacancy within ninety days from the creation of such vacancy, the Educational Service District shall appoint the replacement. For details about interviews, nominations, use of executive session, voting, deadlock, and election, applicants are advised to review Board Policy 1110 at
APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO MERCER ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION #5
(Please type or print)
Applicant Name:Residence Address:
Home Phone: / Work Phone:
Email:
Please attach a one page cover letter and a resume of no more than two pages to this application. Please respond to the following application questions in no more than two pages.
- What experiences, talents, skills and/or knowledge do you bring to the School Board that you would like to highlight?
- What do you believe the Board’s priorities should be for the next few years?
Please return this form, your cover letter, resume and answers to the Applicant Questions to the Superintendent’s Office of the Mercer Island School Districtno later than4:30 pm on Friday, April 24, 2015. Applications received after 4:30 pm will not be accepted.
The application and any correspondence may be
hand-delivered, mailed, or emailed for receipt on or before 4:30 pm on Friday, April 24, 2015.
If sent by mail, please address to:
Superintendent’s Office, Dr. Gary Plano, Board Secretary
Mercer Island School District
4160 86th Ave. SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040
If sent by email, please send to:
KT/vaLearningServices/SuptSrvs/3-30-15/Board Member Vacancy Application
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