Darrington School District candidates eager to help schools

DARRINGTON — With about 100 fewer students than last school year, declining revenues and tough planning and budgeting decisions ahead, candidates for Darrington School Board know they have to be ready to work.

That's not a problem, said Andrew Hatfield, incumbent school director and current board president.

Hatfield is running for a third two-year term in the Position 4 at-large spot on the board.

“I bring to the board a strategic vision, and I can clearly communicate that vision to the school district staff,” Hatfield said. “With our funding challenges, we need to be proactive rather than just reacting to problems.”

His challenger, Roy Bryson, did not respond to requests from The Herald for an interview.

In the Snohomish County voters' pamphlet, Bryson wrote that he is a Darrington High School graduate, a Marine Corps veteran and is soon to be retired.

Also running for school board, in the Position 5 at-large campaign, are Douglas Lenker and Jentry Wright.

In the primary election, candidate Aron Harris, assistant housing director for Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, was eliminated from the race. Lenker received 41 percent of the vote to Wright's 35 percent and Harris' 22 percent. Another 2 percent of the vote went to write-in candidates.

Lenker, who's lived his whole life in Darrington, has volunteered as an assistant coach for Darrington High School's football and baseball teams. He and his wife have one last child in school, a high school senior.

“I want the opportunity to move up a level in my involvement and be a part of the decision-making process,” Lenker said. “People who know me know I am an honest, hard-working guy. I haven't done much campaigning, but people will vote for me or they won't.”

The district's finances and programs are at the top of Lenker's issues list.

“Academics and teachers' jobs come first, but I don't want to eliminate extracurricular activities,” he said.

Wright, who has been an emergency substitute teacher and classroom aid for the district, has one child. She has a bachelor's degree in social sciences from Washington State University and is a graduate of Granite Falls High School.

“I really just want to bring fresh ideas to the table,” she said. “We need someone on the board who is from a younger generation.”

Wright said she believes that quality education in Darrington is possible regardless of budgetary constraints.

“Even with a small budgets, you can keep important programs,” she said.

Hatfield has daughters in middle school and high school.

“There are many benefits to living in Darrington,” Hatfield said. “We know each other, look out for each other and support our children.”

A graduate of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., Hatfield said Darrington's programs must lead to post-graduate success among students.

“It's not enough to say we will try as hard as we can,” Hatfield said. “We need to involve the community because we must provide adequate academic offerings to help our kids meet their goals.”

It isn't going to be easy during difficult economic times, but the school board is making progress in its strategic planning process, Hatfield said.

“To be accountable, we are setting goals,” he said. “Measurements taken along the way will keep us on track.”

Darrington School Board members earn $50 for each meeting they attend.

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.