Mercer Island School District board member Dave Myerson announced on Monday that he will be running to seek another term on the board this fall.

Myerson, who was elected in 2009, said in a statement that he hopes to continue the work that the board has begun in his first term.

“The focus of my work on the board is, first and foremost, the continuing academic excellence of Mercer Island public schools,” he wrote.

“However, I maintain a balanced, holistic approach to education, which also includes the arts, music, athletics and clubs of all sorts. I also recognize that our record of distinction is only possible through the efforts of our excellent teachers. I support continuing relations with the MIEA (teachers union),” he wrote in a statement to the Reporter.

In seeking another four-year seat on the board, Myerson said he wants to continue the work that the district has done with the city on keeping both Mary Wayte Pool and Youth Theatre Northwest in operation. Myerson added that he would like to continue to work as a member of the board on the district’s issue of building new schools, despite his public disapproval of the last bond measure.

“I am on record as considering the proposal ‘premature’ and ‘unwise,’ and voted against putting it on the ballot,” he said. “We are now addressing the problem in a transparent, methodical and considered manner. Under consideration are proposals that will lead to construction of about 900 new student seats, including a single new elementary school, augmentation and partial rebuild of IMS, and an addition to MIHS, all at 35 percent the cost of the original bond issue. These plans should result in a practical ballot proposal that deserves our support.”

During his first term Myerson served as the City Council representative and District Advisory Council member.

He wants to also acknowledge Islanders for their support of his efforts.

“The record shows, and I firmly believe, that the role I’ve played as director over the past four years has been integral to the continued and improving successes of our students,” he said.

Myerson has lived on Mercer Island for 31 years, has two children who graduated from the district and is currently a pathologist at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle. He is also a faculty member at UW and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, working mostly in the field of bone marrow transplant pathology and virology.