Monroe School Board picks interim member with district ties

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 18, 2017

MONROE — The Monroe School Board has a new member.

Jim Langston replaces Jim Scott, who died in November. The school board appointed Langston on Friday afternoon after interviewing both candidates who applied for the vacancy.

The seat is for District 4 and the term is up for election in November.

Langston and Linda Gorordo were interviewed by the school board.

“Both candidates were excellent,” said Monroe Public Schools spokeswoman Erin Zacharda. “The board had their work cut out for them.”

Each candidate had extensive involvement in community activities.

Langston is a Monroe Public Schools Foundation Board member. He also serves on boards for the Maltby Community Club and Mount Baker Council Boy Scouts of America.

He’s volunteered at Maltby and Hidden River schools.

In his application, he wrote: “I believe I have a passion for our school system and the students and staff that truly make this community special and a wonderful place to live. It would be an honor to be part of this School Board team.”

Gorordo moved to Maltby in 2012. At the time, her three children had been homeschooled for several years. They enrolled part time in the Sky Valley Education Center.

“Meeting Mr. Scott and seeing his acceptance of and passion for alternative education convinced us to enroll at Sky Valley Education Center, and give (Monroe Public Schools) a chance despite our previous challenges with another district,” she wrote.

She said she wanted to continue to provide that voice of advocacy for alternative education programs.

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