Highline School District board recesses into 120-minute executive session to evaluate candidate for appointment

President Van, of the Highline School District Board of Directors, moved Thursday that the board immediately recess into an executive session for 120 minutes until 5:46 p.m. "In accordance with the provisions of RCW 42.30.11, the purpose of the executive session is to evaluate the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to elective office," Van said.

Director Tadholm and Director Alvarez were recorded as present when the board recessed. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; board members answered "Aye," and the chair said she heard no opposition.

After the closed deliberation, the board reconvened. President Van announced, "We are now complete," and moved to adjourn the executive session. The motion to adjourn was seconded and approved by voice vote. No public action, vote tally by individual name, or appointment decision was disclosed in the meeting record.

Under Washington law, RCW 42.30.11 permits governing bodies to meet in executive session to evaluate candidates for appointment to elective office. The board did not provide further public detail about the candidate or the outcome of the evaluation during the open portion of the meeting.

The meeting opened with roll call that recorded Director Tadholm and President Van present and noted Director Alvarez as present but "upstairs." The board recessed into executive session at the time recorded in the meeting transcript and later reconvened and adjourned the session the same evening.