The Highline School Board is moving forward with the process to fill two vacant board seats, announcing three finalists for District 4 while reopening the District 5 application window after two candidates withdrew before public interviews.
During its March 5 meeting, the board narrowed the District 4 candidate pool to the following three finalists:
- Damarys Espinoza
- Kenneth Kemp
- Carlos Ruiz
The District 4 finalists will advance to a second round of interviews during the board retreat on Saturday, March 15, approximately between Noon–2 p.m. The retreat, which is open to the public, will also be live-streamed and recorded.
Meanwhile, the board voted to reopen applications for District 5, citing the importance of hearing from a broad range of community voices.
“We want to ensure we are hearing from all voices in District 5, which is why we are reopening the application window,” said School Board President Joe Van. “We deeply appreciate all candidates who stepped forward to serve. The level of interest and dedication to our schools speaks volumes about our community’s commitment to Highline students.”
District 5 Application Process
- Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 13. Submit an Application here.
- Eligibility: Candidates must be registered voters and residents of District 5, which covers the southernmost portion of the district, primarily in Des Moines. Review District 5 boundaries here.
- Interviews: Qualified applicants will be interviewed on Saturday, March 15, during the board retreat.
- Background Checks: Candidates may be subject to WATCH checks and fingerprinting as part of the selection process.
Next Steps
The School Board is expected to vote on March 19 to select new board members for District 4 and District 5. The new directors for District 4 and District 5 will serve until those elected in the November 2025 election take their oaths.
The open application process has drawn strong community engagement, with 13 applicants initially vying for the positions—eight for District 4 and five for District 5.
District 4 finalists and new District 5 applicants are expected to attend interviews scheduled for March 15. Those appointed are expected to attend all meetings of the school board listed on the district calendar. Additional meetings may be added or times adjusted.
For more information, application details, or to review District 5 boundaries, visit the Highline School Board website.
