Applications available for open Monroe School Board seat

Eligible residents must live in the Fryelands area and be registered to vote in the district.

Jerry Martin

Jerry Martin

MONROE — The Monroe School District wants you to apply for an opening on the school board.

Former director Jerry Martin vacated the school board’s District 5 position when he resigned in early June, after videos surfaced of his teenage daughter defending her use of the N-word. Now, the board has fewer than 90 days to find his replacement. The application and nomination forms are available on the district’s website, www.monroe.wednet.edu. Eligible residents must live in or near the Fryelands neighborhood and be a registered voter in the school district. The term ends in 2021.

“I would love to see 20, 30 people apply,” board President Jim Langston said during a meeting in early June. “We want as many people as possible to come forward with this process.”

Applications must be completed online, or received in the mail, by July 9. Nomination forms are due July 7. Directors plan to review them during their July 13 board meeting, with a decision by the end of August.

Board members are paid $50 per meeting they attend, not to exceed $4,800 annually.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Questions may be directed to Superintendent Justin Blasko, blaskoj@monroe.wednet.edu.

Earlier this month, former Director Martin and his daughter both publicly apologized for her use of the racial slur.

“I need to focus on my family and let the school district and school board continue to do great things for kids,” Martin wrote in his resignation letter. “I have really enjoyed being a part of this board and doing fabulous things for kids along the way.”

On Tuesday, the school board released a statement outlining district policies that address racism and discrimination.

“The Monroe School District Board of Directors firmly believes that being anti-racist, and eliminating racial inequities, discrimination, and institutional bias will increase achievement and graduation rates for our students while closing achievement and opportunity gaps,” it says. “We are committed to providing an environment for our students where dreams and goals are nurtured, history and cultural heritage are celebrated, love of learning is fostered, and educational, physical, emotional, and social needs are met.”

Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; jthompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Contributed photo from Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works contractor crews have begun their summer 2016 paving work on 13 miles of roadway, primarily in the Monroe and Stanwood areas. This photo is an example of paving work from a previous summer. A new layer of asphalt is put down over the old.
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

EVERETT – As part of its annual road maintenance and preservation program,… Continue reading

City of Everett Engineer Tom Hood, left, and City of Everett Engineer and Project Manager Dan Enrico, right, talks about the current Edgewater Bridge demolition on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How do you get rid of a bridge? Everett engineers can explain.

Workers began dismantling the old Edgewater Bridge on May 2. The process could take one to two months, city engineers said.

Smoke from the Bolt Creek fire silhouettes a mountain ridge and trees just outside of Index on Sept. 12, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County will host two wildfire-preparedness meetings in May

Meetings will allow community members to learn wildfire mitigation strategies and connect with a variety of local and state agencies.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

A person pauses to look at an art piece during the Schack Art Center’s 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to seek Creative District designation

The city hopes to grow jobs in the creative sector and access new grant funds through the state label.

Former Herald writer Melissa Slager’s new book was 14-year project

The 520-page historical novel “Contests of Strength” covers the 1700 earthquake and tsunami on Makah lands.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State budget, legislation could help vacant Lynnwood Crisis Care Center

The two-year operating budget allocates $15 million to crisis centers. Another bill would streamline Medicaid contract negotiations.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Students, educators speak out against Early Learning Center closure

Public commenters criticized Everett Community College for its handling of the closure. The board backed the move, citing the center’s lack of funding.

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.