Askew’s retirement opens school board seat
South-county seat also up for election
By TRAVIS PURSER
Express Staff Writer
Janet Askew, vice chair of the Blaine County School
District Board of Trustees, plans to retire from the board when her term
ends in July and will not seek another term in the May 15 trustee
election. Now, the school district is looking for someone living in the
area she serves north of Hailey to replace her in representing the
interests of Blaine County public school students.
In the south-county area that includes Carey, Picabo,
Gannett, Glendale and some of Bellevue, school board incumbent Howard
Royal’s current term also ends in July; however, he plans to run again.
Anyone wishing to run for either seat has until April 13
to file a declaration of candidacy with the district. The declaration must
be signed by eight supporters from the candidate’s area.
Previous school board elections have generated little
public interest, board clerk Cathy Zaccardi said during an interview,
though she’s hopeful a replacement for Askew will step forward. She
"doubts very much," however, that anyone will run against Royal.
As of Tuesday, no one had filed with the school district
office to either challenge Royal or vie for Askew’s seat. Zaccardi said
the board would likely appoint a replacement for Askew if nobody runs,
though that has never happened, and she didn’t want to provide details
about how it would work.
"The trustee election turn-outs are very, very
low," Zaccardi said. "I think voter apathy is important no
matter what you’re voting on. It’s unfortunate."
She said serving on the board is important because its
five members establish educational policies for the district; raise, spend
and account for the district’s considerable budget; and plan for the
school system’s improvement.
Trustees meet generally on the second Tuesday evening of
every month and are not paid.
During an interview, the retiring Askew said the 10 to 20
hours per month trustees spend serving on the board is important because
"the education of our children determines the future of our
community."
The board especially needs trustees with money-handling
skills, with a knowledge of law or with children in the district, she
said, though anyone with an interest in affecting education can make a
good trustee.
"A variety of perspectives is important on the school
board," she said. A nurse by profession, Askew joined the board six
years ago in part because she had children attending school in the
district.
Candidates for the three-year terms must meet the same
qualifications required when registering to vote and must live in the area
they represent.
The election is scheduled to occur on May 15 only if seats
are contested. Polls would be open from noon until 8 p.m. at the Carey
School and Bellevue Elementary School for the south-county seat and at
Hailey Elementary school for the north Hailey seat.
Only voters from the respective areas may cast ballots.
