Seattle School Board directors must tell the board when they move

The Seattle School Board was thrown into disarray earlier this year when two members abruptly resigned because they had moved outside their districts.

To prevent a similar incident in the future, the School Board on Wednesday clarified the policy that caused the confusion.

What’s new: School Board members must now inform the superintendent, the district’s attorney and board president when they move or change their voter registrations — even if they’re moving just two doors down and they’re staying on the same block.

The new policy, adopted Wednesday, is meant to clarify when and how directors should let the board know that their addresses or voter registrations have changed.

Under state law, School Board directors must be registered voters and residents in the school district and area they are elected to represent. The school district has said that directors may continue to serve until the next regular election if they move outside their director area, but remain city residents. They must step down from their positions if they leave Seattle or register to vote outside the city.

Under the updated board policy, which revises one that’s been on the books since 2011, directors are also required to inform the board office of changes related to residency and voter registration, regardless of whether those changes affect their eligibility to remain on the board.

Background: Where Seattle School Board members live became a hot topic earlier this year, after revelations that former District 4 Director Vivian Song had moved to Capitol Hill, in District 5, in 2022. District 4 covers Fremont, Queen Anne, South Lake Union and part of downtown.

Song and District 2 Director Lisa Rivera jointly resigned on Feb. 2. While it’s unclear when Rivera left her district, she no longer lives in District 2, which includes Ballard, Magnolia, Phinney Ridge and Green Lake.

Because Song moved in 2022, the District 4 seat should have been on last November’s ballot.

The School Board is now considering applications from 15 city residents (11 in District 2 and four in District 4) to fill the two vacancies.

Board President Liza Rankin said the updated policy is meant to establish a clear reporting process. It also gives the district’s legal counsel and the board’s staff a chance to advise board directors, if necessary, she said. 

“My hope is that this will avoid confusion in the future related to residency and eligibility requirements,” Rankin said.

What’s next: The policy takes effect immediately.