In a few days Washington Community School District residents will decide who will serve the students, staff, and community for the next four years in two contested board director races.

Newcomers Johnathan Bartholomew and Michael Liska are running for an at-large director seat that’s currently held by Jason Hamilton. A 2020 Washington High School graduate, Bartholomew resides in Brighton, and he shares what good qualities the district currently has, “I think we have some highly qualified and effective teachers that aim at building a society within the classroom in our schools. I would also like to say PBIS, it’s a strong motivational program, it aims at the success of every student. It’s supported by our faculty, our staff, and our teachers. And that is a strength when it comes to education in our community.”

Liska is a 2003 Washington alum who has three children enrolled in the district. He believes the Capturing Kids Hearts program and the recent bond referendum are qualities for the district to be proud of, “The passing of the middle school bond referendum is just going to be a great thing for our community, getting our students all to another building. Definitely cuts down on expenses regarding maintenance and bussing as well. Having all these items underneath one, we’re able to share some amenities at those schools. I know that we’ll be adding the gym, we’ll also have another cafeteria there to also help cut down on the interactions that our high schoolers have with our middle schoolers.”

All residents in the Washington School District can vote for the at-large seat as well as the District 5 race between Kendra DeWolf and Mindi Rees, and the District 2 race for which incumbent Jim Almelien is running unopposed. Voters can file an absentee ballot at the Washington County Auditor’s Office during business hours now through Monday, November 1st, and Election Day polls will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, November 2nd. Absentee ballots must also be received by the auditor’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday in order to be counted. You can find polling locations here and a link to a KCII candidates forum with Bartholomew, Liska, DeWolf, and Rees here.