The school board will appoint a new member to fill the Director Position 3 seat, which became vacant following Director Caroline Mason’s resignation on March 11, 2025. Director Mason served on the school board for 11 years. Following the April 2 application deadline, five finalists were selected on April 15, 2025. The newly appointed director is scheduled to be sworn into office during the regular school board meeting on May 13, 2025.

Update on School Board Director Position 3

Initially, the district understood the appointed director would serve through the remainder of Director Mason’s term, ending in December 2027. However, after consulting with the elections office, the district has clarified its interpretation of the relevant state law. According to RCW 28A.343.370 and RCW 29A.24.171, the appointed director may serve only until the next regular school district election following the date of resignation—March 12, 2025.

As a result, the individual appointed to the vacancy in May will serve through December 2025. The appointed person, along with other qualified community members, may choose to run for the Director Position 3 seat in the November 2025 election. The filing window is May 5–9. More information about how to file is available here: Run for Office | Snohomish County, WA - Official Website.

Background 

School Board Director Caroline Mason submitted a letter of resignation to President Mitchell on February 12, 2025, to be effective March 12, 2025, subject to board acceptance during the March 11 regular board meeting. President Mitchell charged the superintendent with starting the process to accept applications to fill the vacant Director Position 3 seat in accordance with existing board policy and procedure. President Mitchell also announced the process and timeline for qualified applicants to submit application materials the school board will consider in appointing a successor to Mason.  

School board selection process and timeline 
 

• 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, 2025 

• Nominations and applications deadline. 

• 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2025 

• Everett Public Schools Board of Directors will convene to review the applications received by the submission deadline. Candidates’ qualifications will be discussed in executive session. The school board will select up to five finalists in open session.  

• 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2025 

• Candidate interviews will be conducted in open session. 
• Following open session interviews, the board may recess into executive session to discuss candidates’ qualifications and then will return to open session to decide whom to appoint to succeed Caroline Mason. 

• 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2025 

• The newly appointed director is scheduled to be sworn into office during the regular school board meeting. 

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the public school board meetings and interviews during this very important process. 

New board member orientation 

The newly appointed school director will be provided a day-long board orientation by the board, staff and others in June, and will attend the two-day annual board planning session in August. 

Questions? Please email schoolboard@everettsd.org.