Schweikhardt resigns after 31 years on school board

MEDICAL LAKE—Peggy Schweikhardt participated in her last school board meeting Oct. 27 after serving on the board since 1989. She was most recently vice president of the board, working with board president Ron Von Lehe.

She notified superintendent Tim Ames of her resignation in September.

“I’ve been on for 30 years. It feels like it’s time for me to move on and do other things with my life,” Schweikhardt said.

She said that both of her sons having graduated high school signified to her that it was time to resign. Her eldest, Chris, is 29, and her youngest, Mike, 20, graduated in 2019.

Schweikhardt, now retired, was hoping to use her resignation as an opportunity to travel more, but the COVID-19 pandemic has put a stall on those plans, for now.

Originally, she planned to resign in the spring, but decided to wait until the fall due to the pandemic.

The board presented Schweikhardt with a gift of a card and a mug with her first name on it and a quote reading “ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things. Thank you for making us extraordinary.” She opened the wrapped present via Zoom after it was dropped off at her house earlier that day, a sign of unusual circumstances the pandemic has presented.

“I appreciate your engagement. I appreciate your questions, because they were thought provoking,” Ames told Schweikhardt at the board meeting. “Thanks for your service, Peggy. You will be missed.”

“If I ever had an idea or something I needed some help with, I’d always call Peggy,” Von Lehe said. “I’ll miss her as a board member, and of course we’re still friends.”

The district is now advertising an opening for District No. 5 board director, per the district’s Facebook page. Applications are due Nov. 7. Applicants must live in District No. 5, which includes parts of Fairchild Airforce Base (including Michael Anderson Elementary) and extends to Ritchey Road and Brooks Road. A full district map is available on the district website.

Drew Lawson can be reached at [email protected].

 

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