In a press release issued June 27 from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), it was announced that Superintendent Dr. Terry Bergeson will conduct an election in November 2008 for one elected position to the State Board of Education.

The open four-year position is for Western Region No. 4, currently held by Linda Lamb of Olympia. Her term expires January 2009. The Western Washington region includes San Juan County.

The board is composed of 16 members: seven members appointed by the governor; two members from the eastern region of the state and three from the western region, all elected by public school directors; one at-large member elected by approved private schools; the superintendent of public instruction; and two student representatives selected by the State Board itself.

Candidates must be residents of the region they wish to represent and cannot be employed by any public or private school, college, university or other educational institution, any educational service district, or the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction after being elected to the State Board. Those elected to the board may not concurrently serve as a member of the board of directors of either a public school district or a private school.

The State Board of Education is working to improve student performance, increase graduation rates and ensure that all students will be successful in postsecondary education, the 21st century workforce and citizenship.

Membership on the board requires a considerable commitment of time to prepare and attend meetings. More information about board service requirements is available through the State Board of Education office in Olympia at (360)725-6025, or via e-mail at sbe@k12.wa.us.

All declarations of candidacy and optional biographical data forms must be filed with the state superintendent’s office in Olympia by 5 p.m., Aug. 1, 2008.

Elected board members will be sworn in at the January 2009 State Board of Education meeting.

Declaration and optional biographical data forms are available at http://www.k12.wa.us/ProfPractices/adminresources/SBEelections.aspx or by mail at Administrative Resource Services, Superintendent of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200. For further information contact Charles Schreck, director, Office of Professional Practices, OSPI, at (360)725-6130, or his assistant, Penny Coker, at (360) 725-6133.

About OSPI

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K-12 education in Washington state. Led by State School Superintendent Dr. Terry Bergeson, OSPI works with the state’s 295 school districts and nine Educational Service Districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.

OSPI does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual preference/orientation, age, veteran’s status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.

For more information, visit the OSPI Web site at www.k12.wa.us.