CHIMACUM — A Chimacum School Board director has resigned after she moved out of the district she represents, even though her move was only 3½ miles.
The board accepted the resignation of LuAnn Rogers last week during its regular business meeting.
Rogers was appointed to the District 2 seat in January 2017 and was elected to it that November when she ran without opposition.
She will stay on the school board until after this year’s November general election, Chimacum Superintendent Rick Thompson said.
“I was just getting into my stride, but life kind of got in the way,” Rogers said in a phone interview Wednesday.
She resigned March 27.
Rogers said she and her husband, Paul, moved to Irondale in 2003 to be closer to Paul’s parents, who were in their 80s at the time. When Rogers’ in-laws died in their 90s, their house on Old Ferry Road went to the family’s estate.
“We had an estate sale, and [Paul’s sisters] were going to sell the house,” Rogers said. “We didn’t get any nibbles, so we turned it into an Airbnb for a year.”
Rogers said they eventually purchased her in-laws’ home a couple of years ago, but it became difficult to manage two mortgages. Friends from Portland, Ore., contacted her March 20 with an interest in moving to Jefferson County.
“They were looking to rent in the area, so we said, ‘Why don’t you take our house, and we’ll move,’ ” Rogers said, explaining that the rental income helps with the mortgages.
Rogers said she was not previously aware of the school district’s policy on residency that requires board members to live in the district they were selected to represent for their entire term. Even though her present full-time residence is only 3½ miles away from their former home, she is now living within District 3.
The district boundary map shows the eastern edge of District 2 along Cedar Avenue. It changes to District 3 with a boundary at the intersection of Flagler Road and Oak Bay Road.
The small portion of land north of Flagler Road before the bridge to Indian Island is in District 3. The land east of Oak Bay Road, including both Indian and Marrowstone islands, is in District 1.
The current boundaries have been in place since 2013, Thompson said.
“I was getting choked up when I was writing the [resignation] letter,” Rogers said.
The Chimacum School Board has five districts with board members who serve staggered four-year terms. Three of the five seats will be on the ballot this year.
In addition to Rogers’ seat, Michael Raymond’s position in District 4 will be open after he was appointed in January. Also, current board President Mike Gould, who represents District 3, previously has said he will not run for re-election.
Candidates who seek office can file with the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office from May 13-17.
“Anybody interested in board service, I can talk to them and give them some resources to consider,” Thompson said.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
