Stanwood school board measure passing

Published 9:18 am Wednesday, March 11, 2009

STANWOOD – A measure to redraw Stanwood-Camano School District boundaries for school board members was passing in Tuesday night election returns.

The school board wants the go-ahead to change from five director districts with distinct geographical boundaries to four districts defined by boundaries and a fifth at-large position that could be filled by anyone within the entire school district and elected by all district voters.

The measure was winning by a 3,852-961 vote, including both Snohomish and Island counties. Based on preliminary results, it had an approximately 80 percent approval. Final results won’t be available for another couple of weeks, but “we are making the assumption that voters approved it,” said Cathy Britt, a Stanwood-Camano School District spokeswoman.

The measure needed a simple majority to pass, said Garth Fell, Snohomish County election director.

Under the redrawn boundaries, voters would elect two board members from Camano Island and two from Stanwood. The fifth member could be from either area.

Serving on the school board is an unpaid position in the Stanwood district.

If the ballot measure passes, school director district boundaries would change by next fall.

School board director districts do not affect students’ school attendance areas and the proposal would not change the overall boundaries of the Stanwood-Camano School District.