(UPDATED, 9:34 a.m., with details on McGourty’s decision to stay in School Board race.)
Two days after Thomas Michaelson abruptly resigned as Nampa school superintendent, the seven candidates for three school board seats differed sharply about the shakeup.
Among the highlights from the Idaho Press-Tribune’s Nick Groff, and his coverage of Thursday night’s board candidates forum:
Brian McGourty questioned the timing of Michaelson’s departure, as did Mike Fuller. Kim Rost said the decision not to renew Michaelson’s contract appeared a kneejerk move. Clayton Trehal said the move should have been made sooner. Incumbent Bob Otten stood by the move.
It goes without saying — in a district that is wrestling with a $5.1 million deficit and has its third superintendent in eight months. But this is an unusual school board race, especially since, as Groff reports, it is Nampa’s first crop of contested school board races in six years.
No such issue this year. The lineup for Tuesday’s election:
Zone 3: Bob Otten (incumbent), Clayton Trehal.
Zone 4: Brian McGourty, Kim Rost, Cate Tedeski. Incumbent Scott Kido is not seeking re-election.
Zone 5: Mike Fuller, Dale Wheeler (incumbent).
And the fact that Nampa has seven candidates comes after some drama. McGourty originally said he would drop out of the race, but now says he’s back in the race, citing what he called an “overwhelming response” from voters. (More, again, from the Idaho Press-Tribune.)
