GRANITE FALLS — After 16 years on the Granite Falls School Board, Bob Quarterman figured it was time to step down.
His colleagues said, “Not so fast.”
Quarterman, 63, will leave the board May 19. He intended for his resignation to take effect earlier, but he was persuaded to stay through some difficult budget cuts on the horizon. Those tough decisions will have to be made after the Legislature decides how to solve the state’s $2.6 billion shortfall.
Quarterman has been on the school board through times of enrollment growth, increasing state academic standards and accountability and the building of a new high school. He also served on the board when more state money was available to spend on strategies aimed at improving student achievement.
Until the economy improves, he fears layoffs and reduced programs and worries that larger class sizes and a higher dropout rate will be the result.
“It’s really hard,” Quarterman said. “You don’t get to make any good decisions. They are all bad.”
When Quarterman was first elected in 1993, his two daughters were in elementary school. Today, they are married and both are language arts teachers in Snohomish County.
He credits several of their teachers with inspiring them into careers in education.
During his board tenure, Quarterman has worked with five superintendents, including two who were hired on an interim basis.
He said he believes the district is in capable hands with its current superintendent.
“Karen Koschak is solid gold,” he said. “We are very lucky to have her.”
An engineer by profession, Quarterman said he will spend more time racing stock cars, which he also likes to design and build.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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