In the nick of time, no pun intended for the Christmas season, Enumclaw School District Superintendent Mike Nelson was able to swear Tina McGann into the Enumclaw School Board of Directors during its regular meeting Dec. 19.
McGann was declared the winner in a tightly-contest race for the District Director No. 4 seat Dec. 16 after a manual recount gave her an 11-vote edge over Dan Peterson.
“I’m glad it’s over,” McGann said after the meeting. She replaces Tim Nickson who, after serving one term, opted not to run for re-election. The District Director No. 4 position covers the northern portion of the Enumclaw School District, including Black Diamond, where McGann lives, runs a business with her husband and has three children enrolled at Black Diamond Elementary School.
“I can finally get started.
“It was a very long process,” she said, recalling filling in June, campaigning through the summer and early fall, enduring voting Nov. 8 and grinding through King County’s validation and recount process through most of December.
“Thankfully, it was a friendly race,” she said, praising Peterson and his work.
Nelson said it was the second closest race in Washington and also noted for such a closely contested race, it was very cordial.
In the end, Peterson finished with 3,142 votes and McGann’s winning total was 3,153. There were 24 write-in votes.
Nelson also took time to mention the dedication of both candidates to the school district. With a winner yet to be declared in November, both candidates opted to attend the Washington State School Directors Association conference for incoming school board members. Both also regularly attended school board meetings since filing.
Nancy Merrill, who has served the board for 20 years, Corey Cassell and April Schroeder also took the oath of office. All three ran unopposed and were re-elected to their positions.
The board then elected Chris VanHoof to serve another year as its president and Cassell to continue his duties as vice president. Schroeder was chosen to serve as the board’s legislative representative.
In other business, the board:
• hired teacher Molly McCoy to a temporary position at Kibler Elementary School.
• accepted the retirement of human resources director Kathleen Lockyer and Westwood Elementary School teacher Fran Watt.
• accepted the resignation of Southwood Elementary School paraeducator Marina Espinosa.
• rehired custodian Dave Reynolds for Pete’s Pool.
• granted a leave request to bus driver Ramona Mills.
• accepted a $2,222 donation from Enumclaw Foursquare Church for special education grants at Westwood Elementary; $1,000 from retiring custodian Korliss Delange to purchase a floor scrubber for Sunrise Elementary School; $500 from the State of Washington to Black Diamond Elementary for safety patrol hats; $840 from Lifetouch Studios to Black Diamond Elementary for building enhancements.
• was serenaded by the Enumclaw High School’s men’s chorus, which meets twice a week for one hour outside of class time.
