The Chimacum School Board selected Michael Raymond of Port Ludlow on Jan. 15 to fill its vacant District 4 seat.

Raymond was approved with a 3-1 vote, with Jack McKay the lone dissenting voice. Directors Mike Gould, LuAnn Rogers and Sarah Martin voted to approve Raymond. Martin asked questions remotely via speaker phone because she could not attend in person.

Raymond was one of four candidates to be interviewed during the board meeting alongside Daniel Holtz, Kelly Pearson and Tami Robocker, all from Port Ludlow.

“We have four really qualified people here, so I would be shocked if we had a unanimous vote,” Gould said.

Holtz spent 30 years working for Boeing as an engineer and senior manager. Pearson said she’s been involved in the finance departments of three school districts in the past five years. Robocker was the Chimacum parent-teacher association president from 2005-10, a coach for the Science Olympiad 2009-13 and a coach for Destination Imagination from 2004-13.

“It’s exciting to know that such deeply intelligent people want to contribute to the education of our kids,” Gould said.

Raymond received a principal certification from Western Washington University. He has served as the Title IX coordinator for the Chimacum School District and has worked in contract and grievance administration with the Chimacum Education Association.

“I worked for this district for 40 years as an educator, teaching in classrooms for the first through 12th grades, before I retired two years ago,” Raymond said.

During his question-and-answer period with the existing board members, Raymond said he helped write an employee handbook and contract language for the Chimacum School District, in addition to serving as a contract negotiator.

When the school board candidates were asked what they would do if a school district employee approached them in the grocery store with a problem, Raymond emphasized he would maintain his neutrality while still doing everything he could to assist the employee.

“I would ask clarifying questions, to better understand,” Raymond said. “I would not agree or disagree, because it’s more important to listen.”

Raymond told the board he would be willing to contact the board president or superintendent for advice if needed, and he would endeavor to provide the employee with whatever information he could so they might know how they could proceed.

A similar hypothetical question regarding a call from a parent elicited a similar answer from Raymond.

“I would need to understand the context in which this issue was taking place,” said Raymond, who added that “confidentiality has to apply” and the school board needs to follow up on inquiries from the public.

Raymond described the board as a team and pledged to be part of its collaborative decision-making. He also emphasized the importance of being “inclusive,” noting that, in his time as a Title IX compliance officer, he had focused on bullying harassment and intimidation.

The District 4 director position became vacant when Robert Bunker resigned Nov. 2 following a now-removed protection order that prevented him from being within 500 feet of the school district’s main campus.

Raymond will fill the District 4 seat, which will be up for election in 2019. The window to file for the seat is May 13-17. If three or more candidates file for the position, a primary election will be held Aug. 6. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 5.

“It’s a test drive,” Gould said. “If you think the board made the wrong choice, (Raymond’s) name will be back on the ballot later this year. … And if you’re especially angry about it, my position will be on the ballot, too.”