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