Longview School Board swears in two directors, elects Don Latala president and Jennifer Leach vice president

Susan Donahue and Deborah Panetta were sworn in at the start of the Longview School Board’s Dec. 8 organizational meeting.

"I, Susan Donahue, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of The United States and the state of Washington...and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Longview School District," Donahue said while repeating the oath. Deborah Panetta repeated the same oath when sworn in as a returning director.

The board moved promptly into organizational business. After the Pledge of Allegiance, board members opened nominations for officers. A board member moved to nominate Don Latala for board president; the motion was seconded and carried in a roll-call-style affirmation with multiple members answering "yes." Jennifer Leach was nominated and elected vice president in a subsequent roll-call affirmation.

The board also approved its regular meeting schedule for 2026: meetings on the second and fourth Mondays each month at 5:30 p.m., with the second May meeting moved to Tuesday, May 26, and the Dec. 28, 2026 meeting canceled. The motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

On routine business, the board approved the regular meeting agenda and the consent agenda — which included Nov. 24, 2025 minutes, the personnel report and warrants — by motion and voice vote.

The board president announced tentative committee assignments and noted that the legislative representative will be chosen at the January meeting, an action reserved for even-numbered years. The meeting then continued with reports and policy items.

The board reconvened briefly to finish agenda business after an announced executive session and adjourned.