And then there were five.

The Orcas Island School Board has elected Jim Sullivan to replace former member Keith Whitaker, who resigned at the end of March.

“I’d like to thank the board for their patience and diligence in working through this,” Sullivan said. “I’m humbled and honored.”

Board chair Scott Lancaster said it was a difficult decision because “with all three parties there was a conflict of interest.”

Sullivan and candidates Marian O’Brien and Bob Connell all have a spouse employed at the school. Sullivan’s wife is a special education teacher. O’Brien’s husband is Whitaker, who is now the school’s business manager. Connell’s wife is a substitute teacher. Legally, a board member with this type of conflict is required to recuse himself from sessions influencing the employment terms of his/her spouse.

“It will be up to us to … remind Jim that he needs to recuse himself,” Lancaster said.

Chris Sutton expressed frustration with the situation, saying the board needs five members.

“Unfortunately, with this conflict of interest, we are getting four-fifths of a board member,” he said.

Upcoming school bond

Community members shared further thoughts on the $27 million bond to go before voters in August. Dave Erly said he was concerned about the potential abuse of funds, comparing the Eastsound fire station to “the Taj Mahal, with a football field of blacktop out back.”

Lancaster said, “What we truly want to do is use our dollars as wisely as we can.”

Other school news

Jean Henigson and Barb Skotte voiced their support of the district enacting a K-12 sexual education program.

Superintendent Barbara Kline said the board needs to adopt a resolution in favor of the Seattle Family Life and Sexual Health (FLASH) sexual education curriculum the school has already purchased.

Kline also reminded the board that they have a $150,000 grant that must be spent by next June, or forfeited. The board said the grant might be best applied to fixing the HVAC system and plumbing at the high school, as it’s not enough for significant repairs to the other buildings.