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Wenatchee School Board appoints Mark Belton to open director seat after candidate interviews
Summary
After interviewing five candidates and an executive session, the Wenatchee School District Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Mark Belton to the open Board position No. 4 and approved a resolution affirming the appointment.
The Wenatchee School District Board of Directors appointed Mark Belton to the open board position No. 4 following candidate interviews and a closed executive session on April 3.
Board members interviewed five applicants during a special interview meeting and then met in executive session to evaluate qualifications before returning to an open session to act on an appointment. "I would make a motion that we appoint Mark Belton to the open board position number 4," a board member said when the meeting reconvened; another board member seconded the motion. The board then approved a resolution affirming the appointment.
The interviews gave each applicant roughly 25 minutes to answer nine standardized questions. Candidates who spoke during the session included Alyssa Bones, Carrie Gavin, McLean Johnson, and Mark Dalton. Each described their experience, community involvement, and priorities if appointed. Candidates emphasized issues such as student supports, inclusion and dual-language programming, special education funding, facilities and bonds, enrollment declines, and community engagement.
Board members said the group of applicants was strong and the choice was difficult. After the executive session, the board moved and seconded a motion to appoint Belton and then voted to approve Resolution No. 125 affirming the appointment. Board members recorded their votes in a roll call; Martin Baron, Maria Neguez and Julie Norton each recorded “aye,” and another board member also voted "aye," carrying both the motion and the resolution.
The board also reminded the public that filing for the at-large board position will open in May for the upcoming November election cycle and encouraged interested residents to consider running. The superintendent and executive assistant said they would contact the newly appointed director to schedule an orientation meeting.
The appointment fills the immediate vacancy for position No. 4; the board did not establish an effective end date in the open session. The public record for the meeting shows the board followed district policy and state open-meeting law when moving into the closed evaluation session, referencing District Policy No. 1410 and RCW 42.31.010.
Copies of the resolutions and the official roll call vote are available in the district's posted minutes for the meeting.
