Strauch-Eggers resigns from MISD board

Mercer Island School Board president Lisa Strauch-Eggers announced at the March 24 board meeting that she intends to resign from the School Board effective April 30.

Strauch-Egger’s term would have ended in November. She has served on the board for eight years, or two terms.

“I was offered a great job,” Strauch-Eggers said.

She will be working as general counsel for Callison LLC, an architectural firm headquartered in downtown Seattle.

Strauch-Eggers said the district deserves great attention, which, in fairness, she cannot give at this time.

She reflected on her time served with the district, stating that she feels very secure about the district from a fiduciary position. She has seen many changes in the district in her two terms and said the district is better now than it was eight years ago.

Board member Pat Braman said they will have to go through a process similar to what the City Council did recently when they had to replace Steve Litzow, who won a seat in the state senate in last fall’s election.

“I’m sure we’ll take applications,” Braman said. “We will develop a process and move forward.”

Superintendent Gary Plano said he would not be involved in the process; rather, the board will have to follow state law to find an interim board member.

Braman said the board hopes to appoint a new board member at their first regular meeting in May.

“It will be a very public process,” Plano said.

Given that Strauch-Eggers’ term will be up for re-election, Braman said she can’t imagine an applicant not running for the seat and only serving in the interim, noting that the individual would not be required to run.

Braman, who is the vice president of the board now, will step into the leadership position.

The board plans to hold a work session for anyone interested in serving, April 25, at 7 p.m. at a location yet to be determined, with consultant Sue Bennett facilitating.

An attorney, Strauch-Eggers’ experience includes working in private practice in New York and in Seattle at Perkins Coie. She was also in-house counsel to Amoco and Starbucks.

Prior to being elected to the School Board, Strauch-Eggers served on the district’s recruitment and retention committee, was coordinator of the Lakeridge Chess Club and was an active classroom volunteer.

Strauch-Eggers has three sons, two of whom still attend Mercer Island High School, a sophomore and a junior.

Contact Mercer Island Reporter Reporter Linda Ball at lball@issaquahreporter.com.

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