Highline School Board announces finalists for District 4, reopens District 5 applications

The Highline School Board is making strides in filling two vacant board seats, announcing three finalists for District 4: Damarys Espinoza, Kenneth Kemp, and Carlos Ruiz. These candidates will undergo a second round of interviews during a public retreat on March 15, which will be live-streamed for wider accessibility. In a proactive move, the board has reopened the application window for District 5, aiming to gather a diverse range of community voices after two candidates withdrew. School Board President Joe Van stated, “We want to ensure we are hearing from all voices in District 5,” underscoring the importance of community engagement. Interested candidates for District 5 must submit their applications by 9 a.

m. on March 13, with interviews scheduled for March 15. The board anticipates a vote on March 19 to finalize the appointments. This open application process has generated significant interest, with 13 initial applicants for the two districts. The new directors will serve until the elected officials take their oaths in November 2025.