Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on July 1, 2025
GRANGEVILLE, ID – Dozens of people applied for the 10 positions on the soon-to-be-formed Grangeville and Clearwater Valley school boards, EdNews learned through a public records request.
Once selected, the trustees will work together to divide up the Mountain View School District.
The large field of applicants comes nearly two months after the residents of Kooskia, Grangeville and Elk City voted to split Idaho’s largest school district, by geography, in two. Now, the Idaho State Board of Education must appoint two five-member school boards, one for each of the new districts. Those trustees will serve until November when all 10 seats will be up for election.
Those school boards will then combine to make decisions that impact Mountain View as a whole.
Four of the five current trustees applied to continue board service. Trustee Laci Myers from Kooskia is the only trustee not to apply.
The state board has yet to set a date to make the appointments but expects that temporary trustees will be appointed by the August regular board meeting at the latest, said Matthew Reiber, board spokesperson. However, a special meeting to make the appointments is possible before August.
The candidates:
(* indicates current Mountain View Trustee)
Clearwater Valley
Zone 1: Eric Nelson, Lacey Rice, Rebecca Swan, Karen Syron
Zone 2: Troy Biesecker, Carlos Martinez, Mellissa Wilson
Zone 3: Jewel Anderson, Sanford Staab, Aaron Teats
Zone 4: Erin Grinde, Deborra Hutchens, Justin Pappani, Bridget Marie Thibert, Thomas James Wellard
Zone 5: Jon Menough*, Caitland Tow
Grangeville
Zone 1: Tyler Harrington*, Katrena Hauger, Kerry McCulley
Zone 2: Jamie Russell, Raymond Speer
Zone 3: Faustina Bowen, Mary Bowen, Melissa Lane, Wes Sitala, Marvin Wong
Zone 4: Bernadette Edwards*, Roger Kenyon
Zone 5: Larry Dunn*, Roy Farmer