From Snoqualmie Valley Record blog

Washington state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn wants to fill vacancies on the State Board of Education this Nov. Two of the board’s 16 positions are empty — one representative from the western region and one from the eastern region. Washington is divided into two regions separated by the Cascade Mountain range. Snoqualmie Valley School District is in the western region.

The board makes policy recommendations and helps develop programs to improve student achievement in school and after. It consists of 16 members — two representatives from the eastern region, three from the western region, one private school representative, the superintendent of public instruction, seven members appointed by the governor and two student representatives selected by the state board. The regional representatives are elected by district school board members.

Candidates must be residents of the region they wish to represent and, after being elected to the board, cannot be employed by any public or private school, college, university or other educational institution, any educational service district or the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Elected board may not concurrently be a member of a district school board, public or private.

All declarations of candidacy and optional biographical data forms must be filed with the state superintendent’s office in Olympia by 5:00 p.m., Aug. 30, 2009.