Chuck Carpenter has announced his resignation from the Washougal School Board, effective June 30.
“Chuck will be deeply missed,” board President Sadie McKenzie said. “The board is sincerely grateful for the positive and lasting impact he has made.”
Carpenter said earlier this month that he had decided against running for reelection in the fall.
“My term ends in December, and if I were to be reelected in November for four years, at the end of my term, I would be 87 years old,” he said. “I’m less than confident that I would be an effective school board member at that time.”
Carpenter, whose board seat is set to expire at the end of 2025, said he is stepping down early to give his replacement time to adjust ahead of the 2025-2026 school year.
“It is challenging to be a school board member, especially starting in the middle of a school year,” Carpenter said. “Consequently, I choose to leave at the end of this academic year so that the board will have the opportunity to identify a replacement in time, so that person could start at the beginning of the school year, go on the board retreat and get thoroughly up to speed on what the board does before school starts.”
The board named Carpenter, a retired school superintendent, principal and human resources director, to the No. 5 director position in September 2020. Carpenter replaced former school board member Ron Dinius, who also stepped down from his position before the end of his term. Carpenter was elected to the No. 5 seat in 2021.
At the school board’s April 22 meeting, Carpenter, who has served as a volunteer music tutor at Hathaway Elementary School for the past several years, said he had a “renewed respect” for Washougal students and school district staff.
“I’ve been particularly impressed by the respect and courtesy shown by our students toward visitors and each other. We have wonderful kids and wonderful schools. We must not lose sight of that,” Carpenter said. “I have a great deal of confidence in the wisdom of this board and superintendent, and in the overall management of our schools and school district.”
Washougal School District Superintendent Aaron Hansen praised Carpenter’s volunteerism and dedication to the Washougal community.
“Chuck has been an active and engaged community member, serving on boards and commissions, running community events and volunteering in our schools for years, especially with youth serving organizations and in support of the arts in Washougal,” Hansen said.
The board will post details about its replacement process on the district’s website at washougal.k12.wa.us.
