The Highline School Board is moving forward with the appointment process of two vacant board seats.
During the March 5 board meeting, the board narrowed the candidate pool to three finalists for District 4. The board also voted to re-open the application window for District 5 after two candidates withdrew from the process before the first round of public interviews.
“The board appreciated hearing a diversity of perspectives from District 4 during the interview process. We want to ensure we are hearing from all voices in District 5, which is why we are re-opening the application window for this district,” said School Board President Joe Van. “We deeply appreciate all candidates who stepped forward to serve. The level of interest and dedication to our schools speaks volumes about our community’s commitment to Highline students.”
District 4 Finalists
The finalists for District 4 are:
- Damarys Espinoza
- Kenneth Kemp
Carlos Ruiz*
The District 4 finalists will participate in a second round of interviews on Saturday, March 15 approximately between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. during the board retreat. The retreat is open to the public, live streamed and recorded.
*Carlos Ruiz withdrew his name from consideration.
District 5 Application Process
Registered voters and residents of District 5 can apply to be considered for the position. District 5 represents the southernmost portion of the district, primarily in the city of Des Moines. Review District 5 boundaries.
Candidates who meet the requirements may submit an application. Applications will close at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 13. Those candidates who previously submitted an application do not need to re-submit.
As part of the application process, background checks on candidates may be conducted, including a WATCH check and fingerprinting.
Interviews will take place on Saturday, March 15 approximately 12:00-2:00 p.m. during the board retreat. The retreat is open to the public, live streamed and recorded.
Next Steps
The School Board anticipates voting for their selection of the new board members on March 19. Selected candidates will take their oath on a future date.
District 4 finalists and new District 5 applicants are expected to attend interviews scheduled for March 15. Those appointed are expected to attend all meetings of the school board listed on the district calendar. Additional meetings may be added or times adjusted.
The new directors for District 4 and District 5 will serve until those elected in the November 2025 election take their oaths.
Background Information
Following the resignation of two board members in January and an open application process that drew 13 applicants from the community—eight for District 4 and five for District 5—demonstrating strong local engagement.
After review, the board advanced five candidates per district to the first round of interviews on February 26. Prior to the first round of interviews, two candidates for District 5 withdrew their names from consideration.