6 seek 3 seats on Marysville School Board

MARYSVILLE — No school district in Snohomish County has more contested races than Marysville this fall.

All three school board seats up for election Tuesday drew challengers and all three incumbents were appointed to their positions in the middle of terms, replacing school board members who resigned.

The Marysville School District serves more than 11,000 students.

Here’s a rundown of the races.

District 2

Don Wlazlak, a retired businessman and Snohomish County legislative analyst, is challenging incumbent Cindy Erickson, who was elected to the board in the district’s south end four years ago. She moved and was reappointed to fill a vacancy representing the north end.

Wlazlak favors allowing the Marysville Cooperative Education Program to expand through the eighth grade. The cooperative uses parents in kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms to help teachers and students and has recorded some of the district’s highest test scores.

“If you have this group of kids doing this well, why wouldn’t you want to at least expand it through the eighth grade?” Wlazlak said.

Erickson said the district is juggling several major projects now and the timing isn’t right.

“It’s not a bad thing,” Erickson said. “We just don’t have the time and the money right now.”

Wlazlak said his knowledge of government budgeting could help the school board.

“I have a quick learning curve,” he said.

Wlazlak has served on district levy and bond committees in the past. He also said improving the district’s math program would be a priority.

Erickson said she wants to remain on the board to see several district initiatives through. They include building a new large high school, building an elementary school, developing new learning academies at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, adopting middle- and high-school math curricula and improving graduation rates.

“It just felt important to me to go one more term,” she said. “There are so many things happening right now.”

District 3

Darci Becker, who was appointed to the school board in July 2006, faces a challenge from Steven King, co-owner of Smokey Point Diving, a family-run business.

Becker backed the change to academies at Marysville-Pilchuck High School this fall. She believes it will foster closer relationships between teachers and students and ultimately trim the district’s dropout rate.

She also wants to see more consistency in discipline from classroom to classroom.

“Discipline is a huge issue with me in our district,” Becker said. “I’m a little more old-fashioned and believe it needs to be more consistent.”

Becker also wants to improve learning opportunities for American Indian students in the district. That starts with strengthening the relationship between the district and the Tulalip Tribes, she said.

King was not reached for comment.

District 5

Incumbent Sherri Crenshaw faces Arlington police officer Lisa Vares.

Crenshaw once considered withdrawing from the race because she didn’t feel she had time to campaign. A strong showing in the three-candidate primary election persuaded her to keep running.

Crenshaw said her priorities include improving math achievement, strengthening the connection between homes and schools and helping students fit into the district regardless of their racial and ethnic backgrounds or family income.

“I strongly feel that I am looking out for the best interest of all the kids in the district academically and not just like one group here and one group there,” she said.

Vares was not reached this week. However, in an interview before the primary election, she said she wants to make sure schools are free of drugs and weapons.

“I would like to be a voice for safety in the schools,” Vares said.

She argued against a reduction in funding for the district’s school resource officer program, saying a police officer on campus is vital and makes for a better learning environment.

Vares said she would draw on her experiences serving on the Marysville City Council, Marysville Fire District and Snohomish County Developmental Disabilities Board.

The school board post pays $50 a meeting or for other school-related functions, up to $4,800 a year.

Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.

Marysville School Board

District 2

CINDY ERICKSON

Age: 45

Occupation: Stay-at-home mom

DON WLAZLAK

Age: 70

Occupation: Retired businessman and Snohomish County Council budget analyst

District 3

DARCI BECKER