The Vashon Island School Board is inviting the community to learn about the duties and responsibilities of being a school board member, and how to file for open board positions, at the next Board work session at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11, in the district office at Chautauqua Elementary School. Candidates must file between May 15-19.

In November 2023, positions 1, 2, 3, and 5 will be open during the general election.

School Board members are elected to terms of four years.

Of the current board members, only Allison Krutsinger’s board seat will not be up for election in the fall. Krutsinger currently serves as board chair.

Both Toby Holmes and Zabette Macomber, who have both served on the board for the past eight years, won’t be running again for their seats.

In an email, Macomber called her time on the board an “extraordinary journey and a huge privilege.” But she added that with one son now in college and another son graduating this year, she felt it was “time to have someone else hold Position 3 on the board.”

Holmes, too, said in an email that after completing eight years on the board, he was “ready to pass along the opportunity for public service, in this capacity, to someone new.”

Lucia Armenta, who was appointed to the board in January to fill the seat vacated by Kali Aguilera, said that she plans to run again for his position.

Mariel Fernandez Thuraisingham, who was also appointed to the board, but in January 2022, said she has not made a decision yet about running.

“Having served a little over a year so far, I am still considering whether I will run to hold onto this seat or will step back and find other ways to support the students,” Thuraisingham said. “I will continue to get the word out about the opportunity for other members of our community to run for election this year and bring their experience, time, and heart to district leadership.”

Superintendent Slade McSheehy thanked all the departing board members for their service — but said he did so with mixed emotions.

“Their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to ensuring a quality education for our students have left an indelible mark on our island, and we are deeply grateful for their service,” he said. “As we bid farewell to these members, we are also excited to welcome new school board members, in December, who will be eager to carry on the important work of providing a unique, rigorous, and place-based education to our Vashon students.”