The Kent School Board is seeking candidates for the vacant board position representing District 1.

The successful candidate, who must live in District 1, will be appointed by the board to serve until the next regularly scheduled school board election in November 2021. Applications are being accepted now through Jan. 14.

District 1 is roughly between Orillia Road and 116th Avenue Southeast (west to east) and from South/SE 192nd Street to South 240th Street (north to south).

Leah Bowen resigned from the five-member board, effective Dec. 10. Bowen served one year as the District 1 director. Bowen, the mother of three children, said it wasn’t an easy decision to resign but she must put her family first, according to a Dec. 11 Kent School District news release. Voters elected Bowen in November 2019 to a four-year term.

Requirements for board members include: the applicant must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years of age, a Kent School District 1 community member for at least one year, a registered voter and not hold another incompatible public office position. It is not a paid position.

Interested community members should fill out an application. Online applications are posted on the Kent School District website at kent.k12.wa.us/SchoolBoard.

Online applications are to be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14. If you have questions, please email KSDBoardVacancy@kent.k12.wa.us.

Selection process

• Jan. 14: Online applications due by 5 p.m.

• Jan. 21: Applications reviewed by the board during an executive session.

• Jan. 28: Public interviews and selection during a board special meeting.

• Feb. 10: Candidate sworn in during a regular meeting.

Board officers chosen

The board on Dec. 9 selected Denise Daniels to be the president, replacing Leslie Hamada, whose one-year term as president ends this year. Michele Bettinger was chosen as vice president and Maya Vengadasalam as legislative representative. Daniels served as vice president this year.

Voters elected Hamada and Bettinger in 2019 to the board. Daniels was elected in 2017 and her term expires in November 2021. Vengadasalam was elected in 2013 and reelected in 2017. Her term expires in November 2021.