After more than two years on the Orcas School Board, Keith Whitaker has resigned to pursue a job with the school district.

“I plan to apply for the position of business manager,” Whitaker announced at the March 31 board meeting. “There are no other hidden reasons.”

Board member Janet Brownell said they “reluctantly” accepted his resignation.

“You exemplify public service,” she said.

Board chair Scott Lancaster told Whitaker his time on the board was outstanding.

“I wasn’t sure how we would get along at first, but we worked it out,” he said. “Thank you for your effort and your time.”

Whitaker told the Sounder he wouldn’t have left the board if he didn’t feel it had accomplished his personal goals: firmly establish OASIS (it’s now the third largest school in the district), help the board become familiar with the budgeting process, and have an administration that was more accountable.

“What I set out to do when I ran for school board has been accomplished,” he said. “The specific things I was concerned about have changed.”

Whitaker also feels he can make the most difference – long-term – as business manager.

“It seems perfect to me,” he said. “I am taking what I care about and what I know and putting them together.”

Including Whitaker’s, the school has received four applications for the job. One applicant is from Orcas, while the other two are from off-island.

The position is currently held by Ben Thomas, who was assigned to Orcas School four years ago through the Northwest Education Service District. He is also the business manager for San Juan School District. Thomas, who lives on the mainland, was hired to “get the school back on its financial footing,” said Lancaster. For some time, the board has felt a local business manager, who spent more physical hours at the school, would be a better choice both financially and for other staff members. The board plans to keep the contract with Northwest Education Service District, who would oversee the new manager’s work.

“As long as I am on the board, we won’t let the fund balance get down to $5,000 again,” Lancaster said.

Whitaker’s replacement, who will have a year and a half left on the term, will be chosen by the school board. Applications (available in the district office) need to be returned by April 23. The board will conduct interviews on May 3 at 4:30 p.m., and pick a replacement on May 12 at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings will be in the school library.

The board was divided on the next step for the capital improvements bond, which is slated to be on the August ballot. The $35 million proposal, which was rejected by voters in February, will be reworked for a second try. The amount needs to be submitted by May 27.

Brownell and Lancaster advocated spending the next two months gathering community and staff input, while Chris Sutton and Tony Ghazel pushed for setting a number now, and spending the next few months educating the public.

“We’re just going to hear more of the same,” Ghazel said. “It’s clear the number we proposed is not a good number for the community … the $35 million bond is dead.”

Sutton felt comfortable with a $30 million proposal, while Ghazel said he was more in the $27 million range.

“Our responsibility is to provide a safe and productive campus for our students,” Sutton said. “I think we need to be careful about not going down the same road as when the original buildings were built (in regards to cutting the bond amount down).”

Brownell and Lancaster cautioned against setting a new bond amount too quickly.

“We’re not backed up against a tight deadline,” Lancaster said. “I don’t understand why we can’t get more input.”

Countered Ghazel: “We have given the community opportunities, but we’re not getting the public engaged.”

The board decided to have a more in depth dialogue about the bond at its regular meeting on April 22. During the coming weeks, the YES For Our Schools Committee will gather feedback from the community and school staff for the board to review. A final number for the bond will be passed at the May 20 board meeting.

“I’m disappointed we are not settling on a bond amount now,” Ghazel. “But I understand your concerns.”