MARYSVILLE — In the wake of the resignation of Cindy Rebain (formerly Erickson) from the Marysville School District Board of Directors on Sept. 3, the school district is looking to fill the vacant seat on its board within the required 90-day window, but as district officials solicit the public’s input in the process of replacing Rebain, the board reflected on her eight years of service.
“Cindy was the last of the previous board,” said Board President Chris Nation, who worked with her for four years. “She was the foundation of the board, and I looked to her for wisdom and guidance. Cindy always brought to the table a real thoughtful inquisitiveness. She asked questions that had to do with all of our kids, and she made her decisions based on what was best for all involved. I really admired her for that broad vision which took into account how what was done for one group would affect another group.”
While Nation believes that any candidate will find themselves with tough shoes to fill in replacing Rebain, he feels confident that the district’s process and the public’s input will ensure a suitable new board member.
“I’m going to miss that camaraderie, though,” Nation said. “She and I sat right next to each other for so many years.”
Rebain resigned from the board due to financial strains that required her to move out of the district, but she expressed no regrets about the years she’d been able to serve on the board.
“We’ve come a long way, and there will be more to come, and I’m only sad that I’ll miss it,” Rebain said. “We set the groundwork, which took a long time, but a lot of good has happened because of it.”
Rebain noted that she’s seen the graduation rate jump from 50 percent to 70 percent during her tenure, and expressed pride in having been part of the design team for the Marysville Getchell High School campus.
“We needed that school for a long time,” Rebain said. “My daughter is 28 now, and when she was in sixth grade, I was already saying that we needed another high school. Obviously, it took longer than five years.”
Rebain thanked her fellow board members for their professionalism, which she credited with allowing them to work together pleasantly to ask and answer all the necessary questions, and recalled how she’d gotten involved in the first place.
“My youngest graduated in June, but I’ve had kids in this school district for more than 23 years,” Rebain said. “I’ve been working with the district for more than 20 of those years. It felt like a calling. I had to serve, to help our schools and the community. I look forward to seeing and hearing more wonderful things from the Marysville schools in the future.”
Applications to fill the District 2 director position on the board are being accepted through Friday, Oct. 4, at 4:30 p.m. Application packets are available at the district’s Educational Service Center, located at 4220 80th St. NE in Marysville, or online at www.msvl.k12.wa.us.
A broad-based steering committee, representing different constituencies across Marysville schools, will begin meeting to review legal requirements, recommendations from the state school board association, and findings from interviews with school boards recognized for outstanding success.
Applications are set to be screened in time to finalize the applicant list and conduct a public meeting for interviews of the candidates with the board on Oct. 14. The appointed board member will be announced prior to Nov. 18.
Interested parties must reside in the District 2 area, whose map and description can be viewed on the district website at www.msvl.k12.wa.us or verified by calling the Snohomish County Elections office at 425-388-3444. For more information, contact Jodi Runyon by phone at 360-653-0800 or via email at jodi_runyon@msvl.k12.wa.us.
