Process starts to fill second Everett School Board seat

EVERETT — At least two candidates who weren’t selected to fill the seat of former Everett School Board member Jeff Russell say they’re interested in being considered as a replacement for Jessica Olson, who resigned last week with two years remaining of her six-year term.

Both potential applicants were finalists for Russell’s position, which was filled last week with the appointment of Caroline Mason, and both said they want to be considered for Olson’s seat:

Traci Mitchell manages pharmacy services and infection control at Valley General Hospital in Monroe. She is vice president of the executive board of the Everett Public Schools Foundation and is a PTA volunteer at Gateway Middle School. She has a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Washington.

Kristine Petereit is fund development coordinator at the Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center. She has a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Washington, is co-president of the James Monroe Elementary Parent Teacher Association and has served on the board of the Everett Public Schools Foundation.

Interested candidates have until Jan. 23 to apply for Olson’s seat. Applicants are asked to submit biographical information as well as a statement explaining their interest in being a school board member.

Others who applied for Russell’s seat said they’re unsure whether they will apply again to be considered for Olson’s position.

George Reynolds, a finalist for Russell’s seat, works at Columbia Bank as a specialist in non-profit and municipal finance. He has a master’s degree in business from Seattle University. Reynolds said he thinks his background could be of help to the board in issues such as bonds, budgeting and capital allocation.

Two people who previously ran unsuccessful campaigns for the school board — Rodman Reynolds and Cristopher Larson — were not selected as one of five finalists for Russell’s seat.

Rodman Reynolds said he would be open to being nominated as a candidate for Olson’s seat but would not directly apply. Larson said he is undecided on whether to re-apply.

As of Monday afternoon, no one had been nominated by the public to be considered for Olson’s seat, said Mary Waggoner, school district spokeswoman.

Myrna Overstreet, who was a finalist for Russell’s seat, said she will not apply again. Overstreet has served on the board of Everett’s Imagine Children’s Museum and was a founding board member of the Community Health Center of Snohomish County.

The school board interviewed each of the candidates for Russell’s seat during a six-hour meeting on Thursday. They unanimously voted to select Mason.

Finalists for Olson’s seat will undergo a similar process, which includes being interviewed by school board members for about 45 minutes during a public meeting.

The five-member school board lost two members in a little more than a month with the resignations of Russell and Olson.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.

Application process

Nominations from the public of candidates to fill the Everett School Board seat previously held by Jessica Olson will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. Thursday at superintendent@everettsd.org.

Anyone interested in directly applying for the job needs to submit an application by Jan. 23. Finalists will be selected by the school board on Jan. 24 and interviewed on Feb. 3.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.