Kim Pedroza is new school board member

Just months after stepping down as transportation director at La Conner Schools, Kim Pedroza is back, the newest member of the district’s board of directors.

Pedroza was selected by board members last Thursday to fill the unexpired term of Lynette Cram, who the Town of La Conner director district seat when her husband, David Cram, became deputy superintendent of finance, human resources and operations.

This director position is on the ballot for a full four-year term in November.

Retired Dunlap Towing tugboat skipper and former La Conner Fire Chief Tom Zimmerman applied. Each had a one-hour interview with the board March 23.

Board members praised Pedroza and Zimmerman for their willingness to take on a challenging volunteer position, one whose focus is on two key community resources – its children and finances.

“These are two great candidates,” said board president Susie Deyo.

Pedroza was chosen following a 40-minute executive session.

Pedroza, from Redmond, was a district employee for more than a decade before accepting a transportation department role with the Stanwood School District late last year.

“I feel with my being a parent of La Conner graduates and knowing the experience my husband had attending school here, that I’m really interested in and want to be part of the team here going into the future,” she said.

She said La Conner has a tradition of academic excellence that should not go unstated.

“I really want to bring back the view that people outside the district say: ‘Oh, La Conner, that’s the best school,’ and there’s a waiting list for students to come to La Conner,” she said. “I want to bring that back and be part of that.

Pedroza cited La Conner Schools’ small class sizes, committed teaching staff, Braves Club program and level of community support as being among the district’s major selling points.

There are challenges, too, she conceded.

Pedroza listed limited resources and needs for an increased focus on mental health services and strategies to improve student attendance, especially in the middle and high school grades, where levels have dipped to around 75%. Elementary attendance remains above 90%.

Zimmerman is a third generation La Conner alum whose wife, Judy, is a kindergarten teacher here. Their children graduated from La Conner and they have grandchildren on the campus as well.

Pedroza’s was sworn in started Monday night.