MARYSVILLE — The Marysville School District’s Board of Directors voted on Monday to appoint Tulalip tribal member Malory Simpson to fill a vacant seat on the board.
The position was left vacant after Connor Krebbs, who was elected in 2021, resigned from his position on June 7. He resigned to take on a staff position at the Marysville School District, he said before his resignation but did not specify the position he is seeking.
Two school board members had previously resigned in 2024.
In a statement Wednesday, Simpson said she was honored to be appointed.
“As a lifelong member of the Tulalip Community and a MSD Alumni, I am very excited for the opportunity to work alongside fellow board members to help ensure the mission and goals of the district are reached,” she wrote. “I understand the responsibility and commitment and am ready to fulfill the duties necessary.”
Simpson applied for the seat along with Ray Sheldon Jr. Both Simpson and Sheldon filed to run for the position and will appear on the November general election ballot.
Board members stressed the appointment was not an endorsement for either candidate in the upcoming election.
“The long-term decision about who’s going to further direct the course of this district over the following four years is really going to be the decision of the voters,” board member Mark Tomas said Monday. “We’re addressing a specific need that we’re legally required to address and nothing more.”
Simpson works as the director of the Children’s Advocacy Center for the Tulalip Tribes. Her priorities for serving on the board include advocating for special education students, improving working conditions in the district and addressing bullying, according to her campaign website.
Sheldon, also a member of the Tulalip Tribes, previously ran for a board seat in 2017 and 2021. In previous interviews with The Daily Herald during the 2021 primary cycle, Sheldon said his priorities were securing state money for special education, increasing graduation rates, improving the curriculum and creating more welcoming classrooms for students.
The district remains under enhanced financial oversight due to years of financial difficulties. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the district will close two of its schools to help cut costs.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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