You might ask “Why am I running?”

When I came to this Island 47 years ago, I saw a community that took care of each other and prioritized the health, welfare and needs of the children. I wanted to be part of that. A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child. They are our future.

I am asking for your support to serve you again on the Vashon Island School Board. When my service ended on the School Board in 2007, I felt that I left the district with many improvements in policies, budget, hiring/firing, curriculum alignment, the highly capable program, Equal Employment Opportunity reporting and awareness, capital improvements, and especially communications and interactive processes with the community to ensure that our school system is accessible, responsive, transparent, and accountable.

Our five children attended, and currently, five grandchildren attend Vashon schools, one of them being a junior at the high school who resides with us. I have served you with integrity, honesty, and straightforwardness on boards for our community including the Vashon School Board, Vashon Park District, Vashon Maury Island Community Council, VIJB Basketball, Vashon Youth Baseball, Washington State Ferries Ferry Advisory Committee, Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board, King County EEO/AA Employee Advisory, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, Washington State Transportation Association, PROTEC17, and more. I have extensive experience in bringing people together to find solutions. Experience matters.

In the 1980s I chaired the Vashon Youth Baseball & Softball board and received a grant from the Seattle Mariners that paid for the VHS softball field. I also coached youth sports for more than two decades, including VYB&S, VIJB, and VHS Basketball (in the non-school season).

I drove a school bus for the VISD for 12 years, for free as a volunteer, for basketball, football, baseball, UW College Day, Mt. St. Helens, the Nordic Museum, Museum of Flight, the Ballard Locks, ASB Student Conference, Safe Graduation Night, etc. Some of these co-curricular activities and field trips might not have happened if it were not for the fact that I drove the bus for free.

Over the years, I was a classroom assistant volunteer on Fridays for Ms. Avolio-Toly, Ms. Baron, Ms. Heath, and Ms. Hunziker, and for projects led by Ms. Munger-Wolfe.

I applied for and received a Safe Routes to School grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation that paid for the sidewalks and parking lot at CES & McM.

My priorities if elected:

• Health, welfare, and safety of our students
• Transparency of district actions
• Board Leadership
• Creating interactive communication opportunities with the community, parents, teachers, staff, and students
• Improvements in special education, equity, social justice, diversity, inclusion, and kindness education for students, teachers, and staff

Even if you don’t vote for me, get involved for our children’s sake.

Visit jakeforstudents.com to learn more.

Jake Jacobovitch is a candidate for Vashon School Board Director Position #5.