Big 'yes' for La Conner schools

Ken Stern | Feb 20, 20190

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WE JUST FOUND OUT: WE WON! At the County Auditor’s Office Feb. 12, School Board President Janie Beasley, School Board Member Katie Szurek and Superintendent Dr. Whitney Meissner did what students do when they are at the center of good news: they take selfies and share them with their friends. – Photo by Ken Stern

La Conner school district voters overwhelming approved renewing their school levy Feb. 12, one of four levy wins in three Skagit County school districts. The La Conner levy won with 70 percent of the vote, with 1,123 vote of over 1,600 cast. The last 200 ballots for the four districts will be counted Thursday.

Dr. Whitney Meissner, La Conner superintendent, went to the County Auditor’s office election night with School Board President Janie Beasley and Board Member Katie Szurek. They greeted the results with smiles, group selfies and texts to colleagues. Beasley gave thanks in Lushootseed, the Swinomish language, then said “thank you La Conner voters.”

Meissner offered “huge thanks to our community for the overwhelming support.” The 1.5 mill levy will raise some $874,000 annually in 2020 and 2021. It is a reduction of almost one dollar of assessed valuation. It is not a new tax but replaces an expiring two year levy.

La Conner school district voters tallied the highest yes total by far. Concrete voters came in at 67 percent yes for their levy.

Voters in Concrete, Conway and Mount Vernon all approved operating levies. Mount Vernon voters’ replacement and technology levies passed with just under 60 percent of the vote. La Conner school district voters tallied the highest yes ratio by far.

In Burlington the bond measure did not reach the needed 60 percent threshold, garnering 52.8 percent.

Elections Director David Cunningham noted the low initial vote count election night, citing the weather. “We have several thousand ballots out and some hiccups.” He was mindful of problems in November, when a poorly designed ballot caused Skagit County to lag most others in the state.

Last Thursday only 200 of 14,596 ballots for the 73 precincts were outstanding. The election department was holding ballots to mix with late arriving ones for the final count ahead of certifying the vote, also due on Feb. 22.

Voter turnout countywide was 36 percent.

School board shuffles: Thulen resigns; Beasley 2019 president

Less than a week after La Conner voters approved a school levy proposal, a

Unlike the tax measure, which passed by a wide margin, John Thulen’s resignation wasn’t a cut-and-dried decision.

John Thulen, a 1987 La Conner High and 1991 Washington State University grad who has represented rural director district No. 5, is reluctantly stepping down from the school panel, Superintendent Dr. Whitney Meissner said Monday.

“It’s a decision he really agonized over,” Meissner told La Conner Weekly News, “but he felt with the levy having passed and with all his work and family commitments that this was probably a good time to step down. He felt like he’s leaving with the school district being in a good place.”

Thulen was midway through his third term on the board.

He has also served as a Drainage District Commissioner, La Conner youth and school sports coach, and is the public address announcer for Braves home football games.

Thulen, who resides in the Dodge Valley area east of town, is co-owner of Pioneer Potatoes and Thulen Farms. His family has been actively engaged in La Conner area agriculture and public service for five generations.

His father, Gail Thulen, was also a long-serving La Conner School Board member.

La Conner School District is seeking applications from qualified persons to fill the vacancy created by Thulen’s resignation, Meissner said.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and voter residents of director district No. 5. A legal description and school district map can be accessed on the La Conner Schools website for prospective candidates to determine if they reside within the director district whose seat is being vacated.

The school board will appoint someone to fill the remainder of Thulen’s term, which ends in 2021.

Applications to succeed Thulen will be accepted through March 7. Candidate interviews are tentatively slated for March 11. The newly appointed board member will be formally sworn in at the March 25 board meeting.

Applications are now available at the La Conner School District office at 305 North Sixth Street.

Those wishing further information may contact Dr. Meissner at 360-466-3171.

2019 board officers

At its January board meeting, director Janie Beasley was elected president by her peers, replacing Katie Szurek. Brad Smith became vice president. Officer terms are for one year.