1110 – Election
General Procedures
The Board of Northwest Educational Service District 189 (counties of Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom, State of Washington) consists of nine (9) members elected by local school district board members throughout the NWESD 189 area. All members represent the district as a whole, although a member must reside in one of the nine (9) director districts of NWESD 189 as provided by law. A member relinquishes their position on the Board upon change of residence outside of the director district.
A person who meets all qualifications as required by law and who is a registered voter and a resident of the NWESD 189 director district may become a candidate for the NWESD 189 Board by filing a declaration of candidacy and affidavit with the Washington State School Directors Association.
Northwest Educational Service District 189 director districts are defined as follows:
| Director District | School District(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bellingham*, Burlington-Edison, Meridian |
| 2 | Anacortes, Blaine, Ferndale, Lopez Island, Oak Harbor, Orcas Island, San Juan Island, Shaw Island |
| 3 | Bellingham*, Conway, La Conner, Lynden, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Nooksack Valley, Sedro-Woolley |
| 4 | Coupeville, Everett*, Lakewood, Mukilteo*, South Whidbey, Stanwood-Camano |
| 5 | Everett*, Marysville |
| 6 | Arlington, Concrete, Darrington, Granite Falls, Index, Monroe, Snohomish*, Sultan |
| 7 | Edmonds (Area east of Hwy 99)*, Mukilteo (Area east of Hwy 99)* |
| 8 | Edmonds (Area west of Hwy 99)*, Mukilteo (Area west of Hwy 99)* |
| 9 | Everett*, Lake Stevens, Snohomish* |
*Partial representation
NWESD 189 Board members are elected by a vote of all local school board members from each of the director districts in NWESD 189. For example, the board member residing in Director District 5 is elected by local school board members in director districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 in addition to Director District 5.
Balloting is by mail, through the Washington State School Directors Association.
Qualifications
Prospective Board members must meet the following qualifications:
- be a registered voter of the NWESD 189 director district;
- be a resident of the NWESD 189 director district;
- on or before the date for taking office, make an oath or affirmation to support the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Washington, and to faithfully discharge the duties of office according to the best of his/her ability;
- cannot concurrently serve as an employee of a school district or as a member of a board of directors of a common school district or as a member of the State Board of Education; and
- may be required by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide bond.
Timelines for Elections
Elections are held in odd-numbered years, pursuant to the following timeline:
August 25 – Washington State School Directors Association calls the election
September 1-16 – Open filing period for NWESD 189 Board vacancies
October 16 – Last day to cast a ballot
October 25 – Ballots counted and results announced
November 1 – Date for runoff election if no candidate receives a majority of the votes in a race of more than two candidates
November 16 – Last day to cast a ballot
November 25 – Ballots counted and results announced
Term of Office
The term of office for members of the Board is four (4) years and until a successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified.
The term of every Board member shall begin on the second Monday in January following the election at which he/she was elected, provided that a person elected to less than a full term shall take office as soon as the election returns have been certified and he/she has qualified.
Each appointed Board member shall serve until his/her successor has been elected at the next election called by the Washington State School Directors Association.
First Reading: 02/24/93 (as 8100)
Second Reading: 03/24/93 (as 8100)
Revised: 03/28/01
Revised: 11/20/06
Revised: 10/26/11
Revised: 01/22/24
Reference:
RCW 28A.310.070
RCW 28A.310.090
RCW 28A.310.100
RCW 28A.310.150
RCW 29A.04.151
RCW 29A.24.191
RCW 29A.24.181
RCW 29A.52.210
Cross Reference:
Policy 1610
Date Revised: 01/22/24